Parks Manager

National parks near Mont-Joli, Quebec

Forillon National Park is the closest national park to Mont-Joli, Quebec — 284 km (176 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 38 min behind the wheel.

Forillon and Kouchibouguac are better with a night booked nearby.

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

Mont-Joli has a population of about 6,568.

National parks near Mont-Joli

Parks ranked by distance from Mont-Joli
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Forillon National Park284 km (176 mi)4 hr 38 minBest as a weekend
Kouchibouguac National Park309 km (192 mi)4 hr 59 minBest as a weekend
Pituamkek National Park397 km (246 mi)6 hr 17 minWorth a longer road trip
Mingan Archipelago National Park406 km (252 mi)6 hr 26 minWorth a longer road trip
La Mauricie National Park409 km (254 mi)6 hr 28 minWorth a longer road trip
Fundy National Park413 km (256 mi)6 hr 31 minWorth a longer road trip
Prince Edward Island National Park453 km (281 mi)7 hr 7 minWorth a longer road trip
Acadia National Park471 km (293 mi)7 hr 22 minWorth a longer road trip
Kejimkujik National Park518 km (322 mi)8 hr 4 minWorth a longer road trip
Cape Breton Highlands National Park600 km (373 mi)9 hr 16 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave Mont-Joli

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

Camping near Mont-Joli

Within reach of Mont-Joli, 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

Forillon 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 Forillon National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Mont-Joli 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 Mont-Joli
PairApartEstimated drive
Kouchibouguac → Pituamkek94.1 km (58.5 mi)1 hr 50 min
Forillon → Mingan Archipelago170 km (105 mi)2 hr 57 min
Forillon → Kouchibouguac233 km (145 mi)3 hr 52 min
Forillon → Pituamkek258 km (160 mi)4 hr 15 min

Planning a trip from Mont-Joli

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 Forillon National Park guide

Other towns in Bas-Saint-Laurent

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Mont-Joli?

Forillon National Park. It is about 284 km (176 mi) from Mont-Joli, roughly 4 hr 38 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Mont-Joli?

Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.

How many national parks are near Mont-Joli?

10 parks are within reach of Mont-Joli, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Mont-Joli?

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 Mont-Joli?

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

When is the best time to visit the parks near Mont-Joli?

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