National parks near Shannon, Quebec
Shannon sits inside the Québec area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Québec for the full write-up.
La Mauricie National Park is the closest national park to Shannon, Quebec — 111 km (69 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 5 min behind the wheel.
La Mauricie makes a full day trip — leave early.
Nothing near Shannon gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Shannon has a population of about 5,086.
National parks near Shannon
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mauricie National Park | 111 km (69 mi) | 2 hr 5 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Acadia National Park | 381 km (237 mi) | 6 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 445 km (277 mi) | 7 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 497 km (309 mi) | 7 hr 46 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 524 km (326 mi) | 8 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 561 km (349 mi) | 8 hr 42 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Forillon National Park | 579 km (360 mi) | 8 hr 58 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 589 km (366 mi) | 9 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 646 km (401 mi) | 9 hr 57 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 684 km (425 mi) | 10 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Shannon
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Shannon
Within reach of Shannon, 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 Shannon 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 |
| Acadia → Fundy | 292 km (181 mi) | 4 hr 44 min |
| La Mauricie → Thousand Islands | 358 km (222 mi) | 5 hr 43 min |
| Acadia → Kouchibouguac | 375 km (233 mi) | 5 hr 58 min |
Planning a trip from Shannon
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 Capitale-Nationale
- Québec
- Laurentides
- Saint-Raymond
- La Malbaie
- Pont-Rouge
- Donnacona
- Baie-Saint-Paul
- Beaupré
- Saint-Ubalde
- Saint-Siméon
- Neufchâtel-Est–Lebourgneuf
- Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
- L'Ancienne-Lorette
- Boischatel
- Sainte Catherine de la Jacques Cartier
- Neuville
- L'Ange-Gardien
- Château-Richer
- Portneuf
- Cap-Santé
- Saint-Marc-des-Carrières
- Wendake
- Fossambault-sur-le-Lac
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Shannon?
La Mauricie National Park. It is about 111 km (69 mi) from Shannon, roughly 2 hr 5 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Shannon?
Yes — La Mauricie National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Shannon?
10 parks are within reach of Shannon, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Shannon?
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 Shannon?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Shannon. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Shannon?
For La Mauricie National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.