National parks near Sherwood, Arkansas
Sherwood sits inside the Little Rock area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Little Rock for the full write-up.
Hot Springs National Park is the closest national park to Sherwood, Arkansas — 51.2 mi (82.3 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 40 min behind the wheel.
Hot Springs makes a full day trip — leave early.
Sherwood has a population of about 30,517.
National parks near Sherwood
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs National Park | 51.2 mi (82.3 km) | 1 hr 40 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Gateway Arch National Park | 286 mi (461 km) | 7 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 380 mi (611 km) | 9 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 493 mi (793 km) | 12 hr 6 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 547 mi (881 km) | 13 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Los Novillos National Park | 636 mi (1023 km) | 15 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Congaree National Park | 657 mi (1057 km) | 16 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 658 mi (1060 km) | 16 hr 2 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 721 mi (1160 km) | 17 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Carlsbad Caverns National Park | 727 mi (1169 km) | 17 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Sherwood
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains | Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag | Parking, not an entrance fee | Timed reservation |
Camping near Sherwood
Within reach of Sherwood, 49 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at Mammoth Cave, 5 at Indiana Dunes, and 5 at New River Gorge, plus 2 more parks with fewer sites.
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
Hot Springs National Park is generally best March through May, then September through November, with February and December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Midsummer is hot, humid, and buggy; winter is mild and one of the better times to visit.
Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Sherwood 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Cave → Great Smoky Mountains | 179 mi (288 km) | 4 hr 41 min |
Planning a trip from Sherwood
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 Pulaski County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Sherwood?
Hot Springs National Park. It is about 51.2 mi (82.3 km) from Sherwood, roughly 1 hr 40 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Sherwood?
Yes — Hot Springs National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Sherwood?
10 parks are within reach of Sherwood, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Sherwood?
None of them gate the entrance itself. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Sherwood?
Recreation.gov lists 49 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Sherwood. They are spread across 6 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Sherwood?
For Hot Springs National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.