National parks near Sainte-Marie, Quebec
La Mauricie National Park is the closest national park to Sainte-Marie, Quebec — 155 km (96.3 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 44 min behind the wheel.
La Mauricie makes a full day trip — leave early. Acadia is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Sainte-Marie gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Sainte-Marie has a population of about 13,565.
National parks near Sainte-Marie
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mauricie National Park | 155 km (96.3 mi) | 2 hr 44 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Acadia National Park | 319 km (198 mi) | 5 hr 8 min | Best as a weekend |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 450 km (279 mi) | 7 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 463 km (288 mi) | 7 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 477 km (296 mi) | 7 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 505 km (314 mi) | 7 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 553 km (344 mi) | 8 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Forillon National Park | 569 km (354 mi) | 8 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 608 km (378 mi) | 9 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 701 km (436 mi) | 10 hr 46 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Sainte-Marie
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Sainte-Marie
Within reach of Sainte-Marie, 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 Sainte-Marie 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 Sainte-Marie
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 Chaudière-Appalaches
- Saint-Georges
- Thetford-Mines
- Montmagny
- Saint-Apollinaire
- Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce
- St-Jean-Port-Joli
- Saint-Raphaël
- Saint-Pamphile
- Sainte-Perpétue
- Lévis
- Saint Romuald
- Beauceville
- Saint-Henri
- Breakeyville
- Saint-Agapit
- L'Islet-sur-Mer
- Sainte-Claire
- Adstock
- Saint-Anselme
- Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon
- Disraeli
- Saint-Côme--Linière
- Vallée-Jonction
- East Broughton
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Sainte-Marie?
La Mauricie National Park. It is about 155 km (96.3 mi) from Sainte-Marie, roughly 2 hr 44 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Sainte-Marie?
Yes — La Mauricie National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Sainte-Marie?
10 parks are within reach of Sainte-Marie, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Sainte-Marie?
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 Sainte-Marie?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Sainte-Marie. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Sainte-Marie?
For La Mauricie National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.