National parks near Hawkesbury, Ontario
Thousand Islands National Park is the closest national park to Hawkesbury, Ontario — 174 km (108 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 1 min behind the wheel.
Scattered St. Lawrence islands and mainland parcels east of Kingston. Oldest park east of the Prairies.
Thousand Islands National Park and La Mauricie National Park are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Hawkesbury gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Hawkesbury has a population of about 10,263.
Thousand Islands National Park
La Mauricie National Park
Rouge National Park
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Acadia National Park
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Best time to visit Thousand Islands National Park. Getting to Thousand Islands National Park.
National parks near Hawkesbury
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands National Park | 174 km (108 mi) | 3 hr 1 min | Best as a weekend |
| La Mauricie National Park | 184 km (114 mi) | 3 hr 9 min | Best as a weekend |
| Rouge National Park | 409 km (254 mi) | 6 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 419 km (260 mi) | 6 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Acadia National Park | 523 km (325 mi) | 8 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 548 km (341 mi) | 8 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 740 km (460 mi) | 11 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 750 km (466 mi) | 11 hr 29 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 751 km (467 mi) | 11 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 752 km (467 mi) | 11 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Hawkesbury
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Hawkesbury
Within reach of Hawkesbury, 5 campgrounds across 2 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia National Park and 1 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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
Thousand Islands 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.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Hawkesbury are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands → La Mauricie | 358 km (222 mi) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from Hawkesbury
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.
Other towns in Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Hawkesbury?
Thousand Islands National Park. It is about 174 km (108 mi) from Hawkesbury, roughly 3 hr 1 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Hawkesbury?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Hawkesbury?
10 parks are within reach of Hawkesbury, and none of them are close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Hawkesbury?
None of them gate the entrance itself. Acadia National Park puts a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia National Park. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Hawkesbury?
Recreation.gov lists 5 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Hawkesbury. They are spread across 2 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Hawkesbury?
For Thousand Islands National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.