Parks Manager

National parks near Jackson County, Illinois

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

The closest national park to Jackson County, Illinois is Gateway Arch National Park — about 79.3 mi (128 km) away, or roughly 2 hr 20 min of driving.

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

National parks near Jackson County

Parks ranked by distance from Jackson County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park79.3 mi (128 km)2 hr 20 minDoable as a day trip
Mammoth Cave National Park176 mi (284 km)4 hr 38 minBest as a weekend
Indiana Dunes National Park293 mi (471 km)7 hr 23 minWorth a longer road trip
Hot Springs National Park308 mi (495 km)7 hr 44 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park348 mi (560 km)8 hr 41 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park445 mi (717 km)11 hrWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park461 mi (742 km)11 hr 21 minWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park476 mi (766 km)11 hr 43 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park547 mi (881 km)13 hr 24 minWorth a longer road trip
Shenandoah National Park594 mi (956 km)14 hr 31 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Jackson County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Jackson County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 79.3 mi (128 km) away and roughly 2 hr 20 min of driving.

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

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