National parks near Maria, Quebec
Maria sits inside the Carleton-sur-Mer area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Carleton-sur-Mer for the full write-up.
Forillon National Park is the closest national park to Maria, Quebec — 145 km (90.1 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 35 min behind the wheel.
Forillon and Kouchibouguac make a full day trip — leave early. Pituamkek, Prince Edward Island, Fundy, and Mingan Archipelago are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Maria gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Maria has a population of about 1,124.
National parks near Maria
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forillon National Park | 145 km (90.1 mi) | 2 hr 35 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 166 km (103 mi) | 2 hr 53 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 240 km (149 mi) | 3 hr 59 min | Best as a weekend |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 293 km (182 mi) | 4 hr 46 min | Best as a weekend |
| Fundy National Park | 297 km (185 mi) | 4 hr 49 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mingan Archipelago National Park | 306 km (190 mi) | 4 hr 57 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 424 km (263 mi) | 6 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 431 km (268 mi) | 6 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Acadia National Park | 458 km (285 mi) | 7 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 546 km (340 mi) | 8 hr 29 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Maria
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Maria
Within reach of Maria, 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 Maria 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pituamkek → Prince Edward Island | 58 km (36 mi) | 1 hr 14 min |
| 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 |
Planning a trip from Maria
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 Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Maria?
Forillon National Park. It is about 145 km (90.1 mi) from Maria, roughly 2 hr 35 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Maria?
Yes — Forillon National Park and Kouchibouguac National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Maria?
10 parks are within reach of Maria, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Maria?
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 Maria?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Maria. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Maria?
For Forillon National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.