Parks Manager

National parks near Hillsborough, New Brunswick

Hillsborough sits inside the Moncton area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Moncton for the full write-up.

Fundy National Park is the closest national park to Hillsborough, New Brunswick — 42.3 km (26.3 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 57 min behind the wheel.

Fundy, Pituamkek, Kouchibouguac, and Prince Edward Island make a full day trip — leave early. Kejimkujik, Cape Breton Highlands, Acadia, and Forillon are better with a night booked nearby.

Nothing near Hillsborough gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.

Hillsborough has a population of about 1,348.

National parks near Hillsborough

Parks ranked by distance from Hillsborough
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Fundy National Park42.3 km (26.3 mi)57 minDoable as a day trip
Pituamkek National Park102 km (63.3 mi)1 hr 57 minDoable as a day trip
Kouchibouguac National Park106 km (66 mi)2 hr 1 minDoable as a day trip
Prince Edward Island National Park133 km (82.9 mi)2 hr 25 minDoable as a day trip
Kejimkujik National Park175 km (109 mi)3 hr 1 minBest as a weekend
Cape Breton Highlands National Park319 km (198 mi)5 hr 8 minBest as a weekend
Acadia National Park329 km (204 mi)5 hr 17 minBest as a weekend
Forillon National Park332 km (206 mi)5 hr 20 minBest as a weekend
Sable Island National Park432 km (269 mi)6 hr 48 minWorth a longer road trip
Mingan Archipelago National Park491 km (305 mi)7 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave Hillsborough

Reservations needed at parks near Hillsborough
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
AcadiaCadillac Summit Road Vehicle ReservationsOne road or areaTimed reservation

Camping near Hillsborough

Within reach of Hillsborough, 4 campgrounds across 1 park appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia.

Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.

Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.

When to make this trip

Fundy National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.

Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.

Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.

Month-by-month detail for Fundy National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Hillsborough are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Hillsborough
PairApartEstimated drive
Pituamkek → Prince Edward Island58 km (36 mi)1 hr 14 min
Pituamkek → Kouchibouguac94.1 km (58.5 mi)1 hr 50 min
Fundy → Kejimkujik135 km (84 mi)2 hr 26 min
Fundy → Kouchibouguac139 km (86.4 mi)2 hr 30 min

Planning a trip from Hillsborough

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Fundy National Park guide

Other towns in Albert County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Hillsborough?

Fundy National Park. It is about 42.3 km (26.3 mi) from Hillsborough, roughly 57 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Hillsborough?

Yes — Fundy National Park, Pituamkek National Park, Kouchibouguac National Park, and Prince Edward Island National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Hillsborough?

10 parks are within reach of Hillsborough, 4 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Hillsborough?

None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.

Where can you camp near Hillsborough?

Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Hillsborough. All of them are at Acadia National Park.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Hillsborough?

For Fundy National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.