National parks near Douglas County, Illinois
The closest national park to Douglas County, Illinois is Gateway Arch National Park — about 128 mi (206 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 28 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
National parks near Douglas County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch National Park | 128 mi (206 km) | 3 hr 28 min | Best as a weekend |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 144 mi (232 km) | 3 hr 52 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 215 mi (346 km) | 5 hr 32 min | Best as a weekend |
| Point Pelee National Park | 339 mi (545 km) | 8 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 369 mi (595 km) | 9 hr 12 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 388 mi (624 km) | 9 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 406 mi (654 km) | 10 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Hot Springs National Park | 447 mi (719 km) | 11 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 508 mi (818 km) | 12 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 540 mi (870 km) | 13 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Douglas County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Douglas County?
Gateway Arch National Park, about 128 mi (206 km) away and roughly 3 hr 28 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Douglas County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.