National parks near Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec
La Mauricie National Park is the closest national park to Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec — 282 km (176 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 36 min behind the wheel.
La Mauricie and Kouchibouguac are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Rivière-du-Loup gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Rivière-du-Loup has a population of about 18,586.
National parks near Rivière-du-Loup
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mauricie National Park | 282 km (176 mi) | 4 hr 36 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 361 km (224 mi) | 5 hr 46 min | Best as a weekend |
| Acadia National Park | 400 km (249 mi) | 6 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Forillon National Park | 402 km (250 mi) | 6 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 429 km (266 mi) | 6 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 455 km (283 mi) | 7 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 506 km (314 mi) | 7 hr 54 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 513 km (319 mi) | 8 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mingan Archipelago National Park | 535 km (333 mi) | 8 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 627 km (390 mi) | 9 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Rivière-du-Loup
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Rivière-du-Loup
Within reach of Rivière-du-Loup, 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
La Mauricie 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 Rivière-du-Loup 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 → Fundy | 139 km (86.4 mi) | 2 hr 30 min |
| Kouchibouguac → Forillon | 233 km (145 mi) | 3 hr 52 min |
| Acadia → Fundy | 292 km (181 mi) | 4 hr 44 min |
| Forillon → Fundy | 370 km (230 mi) | 5 hr 53 min |
Planning a trip from Rivière-du-Loup
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 Rivière-du-Loup?
La Mauricie National Park. It is about 282 km (176 mi) from Rivière-du-Loup, roughly 4 hr 36 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Rivière-du-Loup?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Rivière-du-Loup?
10 parks are within reach of Rivière-du-Loup, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Rivière-du-Loup?
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 Rivière-du-Loup?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Rivière-du-Loup. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Rivière-du-Loup?
For La Mauricie National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.