National parks near Rome, Maine
Rome sits inside the Waterville area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Waterville for the full write-up.
Acadia National Park is the closest national park to Rome, Maine — 83.4 mi (134 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 25 min behind the wheel.
Acadia makes a full day trip — leave early. La Mauricie and Kejimkujik are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Rome gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Rome has a population of about 1,019.
National parks near Rome
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | 83.4 mi (134 km) | 2 hr 25 min | Doable as a day trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 214 mi (344 km) | 5 hr 31 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 229 mi (369 km) | 5 hr 53 min | Best as a weekend |
| Fundy National Park | 250 mi (402 km) | 6 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 283 mi (456 km) | 7 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 300 mi (483 km) | 7 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 326 mi (524 km) | 8 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 352 mi (567 km) | 8 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Forillon National Park | 396 mi (638 km) | 9 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 465 mi (749 km) | 11 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Rome
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Rome
Within reach of Rome, 4 campgrounds across 1 park appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Acadia National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Rome are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Kejimkujik → Fundy | 84 mi (135 km) | 2 hr 26 min |
| Fundy → Kouchibouguac | 86.4 mi (139 km) | 2 hr 30 min |
| Acadia → Kejimkujik | 148 mi (238 km) | 3 hr 57 min |
| Kejimkujik → Kouchibouguac | 170 mi (273 km) | 4 hr 28 min |
Planning a trip from Rome
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Kennebec County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Rome?
Acadia National Park. It is about 83.4 mi (134 km) from Rome, roughly 2 hr 25 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Rome?
Yes — Acadia National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Rome?
10 parks are within reach of Rome, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Rome?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Rome?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Rome. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Rome?
For Acadia National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.