National parks near Rimouski, Quebec
Forillon National Park is the closest national park to Rimouski, Quebec — 311 km (193 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 5 hr 1 min behind the wheel.
Forillon and Kouchibouguac are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Rimouski gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Rimouski has a population of about 42,240.
National parks near Rimouski
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forillon National Park | 311 km (193 mi) | 5 hr 1 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 320 km (199 mi) | 5 hr 9 min | Best as a weekend |
| La Mauricie National Park | 380 km (236 mi) | 6 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 410 km (255 mi) | 6 hr 29 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 417 km (259 mi) | 6 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mingan Archipelago National Park | 435 km (270 mi) | 6 hr 51 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Acadia National Park | 456 km (284 mi) | 7 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 467 km (290 mi) | 7 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 516 km (321 mi) | 8 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 619 km (385 mi) | 9 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Rimouski
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Rimouski
Within reach of Rimouski, 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.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Rimouski 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kouchibouguac → Pituamkek | 94.1 km (58.5 mi) | 1 hr 50 min |
| Kouchibouguac → Fundy | 139 km (86.4 mi) | 2 hr 30 min |
| Pituamkek → Fundy | 144 km (89.4 mi) | 2 hr 34 min |
| Forillon → Kouchibouguac | 233 km (145 mi) | 3 hr 52 min |
Planning a trip from Rimouski
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 Bas-Saint-Laurent
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Rimouski?
Forillon National Park. It is about 311 km (193 mi) from Rimouski, roughly 5 hr 1 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Rimouski?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Rimouski?
10 parks are within reach of Rimouski, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Rimouski?
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 Rimouski?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Rimouski. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Rimouski?
For Forillon National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.