Parks Manager

National parks near Clay County, Illinois

Clay County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Flora — it reaches the same parks.

The closest national park to Clay County, Illinois is Gateway Arch National Park — about 91.4 mi (147 km) away, or roughly 2 hr 37 min of driving.

1 park is close enough to do as a day trip: Gateway Arch.

National parks near Clay County

Parks ranked by distance from Clay County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park91.4 mi (147 km)2 hr 37 minDoable as a day trip
Mammoth Cave National Park166 mi (268 km)4 hr 23 minBest as a weekend
Indiana Dunes National Park217 mi (349 km)5 hr 35 minBest as a weekend
Great Smoky Mountains National Park345 mi (555 km)8 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Hot Springs National Park383 mi (617 km)9 hr 31 minWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park387 mi (624 km)9 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park403 mi (649 km)10 hrWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park407 mi (656 km)10 hr 6 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park547 mi (880 km)13 hr 24 minWorth a longer road trip
Shenandoah National Park547 mi (881 km)13 hr 24 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Clay County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Clay County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 91.4 mi (147 km) away and roughly 2 hr 37 min of driving.

Which national parks can I visit from Clay County in a day?

Gateway Arch National Park — all within about three hours' drive.