National parks near Mason County, Illinois
The closest national park to Mason County, Illinois is Gateway Arch National Park — about 117 mi (188 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 13 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
Gateway Arch National Park
Indiana Dunes National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Point Pelee National Park
Hot Springs National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Best time to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Getting to Gateway Arch National Park.
National parks near Mason County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Arch National Park | 117 mi (188 km) | 3 hr 13 min | Best as a weekend |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 173 mi (278 km) | 4 hr 32 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 296 mi (476 km) | 7 hr 27 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 400 mi (644 km) | 9 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Hot Springs National Park | 435 mi (701 km) | 10 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 441 mi (709 km) | 10 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 473 mi (761 km) | 11 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 496 mi (798 km) | 12 hr 11 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 540 mi (869 km) | 13 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Isle Royale National Park | 543 mi (874 km) | 13 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Mason County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Mason County?
Gateway Arch National Park, about 117 mi (188 km) away and roughly 3 hr 13 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Mason County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.