Parks Manager

National parks near Nelson County, Kentucky

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

The closest national park to Nelson County, Kentucky is Mammoth Cave National Park — about 55.9 mi (89.9 km) away, or roughly 1 hr 46 min of driving.

1 park is close enough to do as a day trip: Mammoth Cave.

National parks near Nelson County

Parks ranked by distance from Nelson County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Mammoth Cave National Park55.9 mi (89.9 km)1 hr 46 minDoable as a day trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park185 mi (298 km)4 hr 50 minBest as a weekend
New River Gorge National Park239 mi (385 km)6 hr 6 minWorth a longer road trip
Gateway Arch National Park262 mi (422 km)6 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park278 mi (447 km)7 hr 2 minWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park315 mi (507 km)7 hr 54 minWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park326 mi (525 km)8 hr 11 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park383 mi (616 km)9 hr 30 minWorth a longer road trip
Shenandoah National Park389 mi (626 km)9 hr 39 minWorth a longer road trip
Hot Springs National Park481 mi (774 km)11 hr 50 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Nelson County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Nelson County?

Mammoth Cave National Park, about 55.9 mi (89.9 km) away and roughly 1 hr 46 min of driving.

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

Mammoth Cave National Park — all within about three hours' drive.