Parks Manager

National parks near Arundel, Maine

Arundel sits inside the West Scarborough area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near West Scarborough for the full write-up.

Acadia National Park is the closest national park to Arundel, Maine — 131 mi (211 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 33 min behind the wheel.

Acadia is better with a night booked nearby.

Nothing near Arundel gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.

Arundel has a population of about 3,571.

National parks near Arundel

Parks ranked by distance from Arundel
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Acadia National Park131 mi (211 km)3 hr 33 minBest as a weekend
La Mauricie National Park266 mi (427 km)6 hr 44 minWorth a longer road trip
Kejimkujik National Park271 mi (436 km)6 hr 52 minWorth a longer road trip
Thousand Islands National Park281 mi (452 km)7 hr 5 minWorth a longer road trip
Fundy National Park312 mi (503 km)7 hr 51 minWorth a longer road trip
Kouchibouguac National Park360 mi (579 km)8 hr 58 minWorth a longer road trip
Pituamkek National Park396 mi (637 km)9 hr 49 minWorth a longer road trip
Prince Edward Island National Park418 mi (673 km)10 hr 21 minWorth a longer road trip
Rouge National Park439 mi (706 km)10 hr 50 minWorth a longer road trip
Georgian Bay Islands National Park477 mi (767 km)11 hr 44 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave Arundel

Reservations needed at parks near Arundel
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
AcadiaCadillac Summit Road Vehicle ReservationsOne road or areaTimed reservation

Camping near Arundel

Within reach of Arundel, 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.

Month-by-month detail for Acadia National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Arundel are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Arundel
PairApartEstimated drive
Kejimkujik → Fundy84 mi (135 km)2 hr 26 min
Acadia → Kejimkujik148 mi (238 km)3 hr 57 min
Acadia → Fundy181 mi (292 km)4 hr 44 min
La Mauricie → Thousand Islands222 mi (358 km)5 hr 43 min

Planning a trip from Arundel

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.

Read the Acadia National Park guide

Other towns in York County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Arundel?

Acadia National Park. It is about 131 mi (211 km) from Arundel, roughly 3 hr 33 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Arundel?

Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.

How many national parks are near Arundel?

10 parks are within reach of Arundel, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Arundel?

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 Arundel?

Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Arundel. All of them are at Acadia National Park.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Arundel?

For Acadia National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.