National parks near Maxwell, California
Maxwell sits inside the Colusa area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Colusa for the full write-up.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is the closest national park to Maxwell, California — 92.2 mi (148 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 38 min behind the wheel.
Lassen Volcanic makes a full day trip — leave early. Redwood, Yosemite, and Pinnacles are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Maxwell gates the entrance itself, but 5 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Maxwell has a population of about 1,103.
National parks near Maxwell
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 92.2 mi (148 km) | 2 hr 38 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Redwood National Park | 169 mi (272 km) | 4 hr 27 min | Best as a weekend |
| Yosemite National Park | 173 mi (279 km) | 4 hr 33 min | Best as a weekend |
| Pinnacles National Park | 201 mi (324 km) | 5 hr 13 min | Best as a weekend |
| Crater Lake National Park | 253 mi (407 km) | 6 hr 27 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 257 mi (413 km) | 6 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sequoia National Park | 274 mi (441 km) | 6 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Death Valley National Park | 361 mi (580 km) | 8 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 395 mi (636 km) | 9 hr 48 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Basin National Park | 423 mi (681 km) | 10 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Maxwell
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Volcanic | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yosemite | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Kings Canyon | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Death Valley | Death Valley National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Maxwell
Within reach of Maxwell, 62 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite, 14 at Lassen Volcanic, 9 at Kings Canyon, and 7 at Sequoia, plus 5 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
Lassen Volcanic National Park is generally best July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow, with late June and late September as the quieter shoulder either side.
High passes and trails hold snow from October into June, and some roads close entirely for the winter.
Afternoon thunderstorms build fast above treeline in summer. Start early and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Maxwell 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yosemite → Pinnacles | 131 mi (211 km) | 3 hr 33 min |
| Lassen Volcanic → Redwood | 142 mi (228 km) | 3 hr 48 min |
| Redwood → Crater Lake | 149 mi (240 km) | 3 hr 59 min |
| Lassen Volcanic → Crater Lake | 171 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 30 min |
Planning a trip from Maxwell
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 Colusa County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Maxwell?
Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is about 92.2 mi (148 km) from Maxwell, roughly 2 hr 38 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Maxwell?
Yes — Lassen Volcanic National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Maxwell?
10 parks are within reach of Maxwell, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Maxwell?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 5 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits, Half Dome Permits at Yosemite, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Maxwell?
Recreation.gov lists 62 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Maxwell. They are spread across 9 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Maxwell?
For Lassen Volcanic National Park, the closest one, generally July through mid-September, once the high country is clear of snow. Either side of that, late June and late September stays quieter.