Parks Manager

National parks near McCracken County, Kentucky

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

The closest national park to McCracken County, Kentucky is Gateway Arch National Park — about 138 mi (222 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 43 min of driving.

Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.

National parks near McCracken County

Parks ranked by distance from McCracken County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park138 mi (222 km)3 hr 43 minBest as a weekend
Mammoth Cave National Park138 mi (222 km)3 hr 43 minBest as a weekend
Great Smoky Mountains National Park298 mi (480 km)7 hr 31 minWorth a longer road trip
Hot Springs National Park305 mi (491 km)7 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park326 mi (525 km)8 hr 11 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park418 mi (672 km)10 hr 20 minWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park469 mi (755 km)11 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park475 mi (765 km)11 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park495 mi (797 km)12 hr 10 minWorth a longer road trip
Shenandoah National Park569 mi (915 km)13 hr 54 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in McCracken County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to McCracken County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 138 mi (222 km) away and roughly 3 hr 43 min of driving.

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

None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.