National parks near Kittery, Maine
Acadia National Park is the closest national park to Kittery, Maine — 153 mi (247 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 5 min behind the wheel.
Acadia is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Kittery gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kittery has a population of about 4,562.
National parks near Kittery
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | 153 mi (247 km) | 4 hr 5 min | Best as a weekend |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 275 mi (442 km) | 6 hr 57 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 279 mi (449 km) | 7 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 290 mi (466 km) | 7 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 334 mi (538 km) | 8 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 383 mi (617 km) | 9 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 418 mi (673 km) | 10 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 429 mi (691 km) | 10 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 440 mi (709 km) | 10 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 470 mi (757 km) | 11 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kittery
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Kittery
Within reach of Kittery, 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 Kittery 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 |
| Acadia → Kejimkujik | 148 mi (238 km) | 3 hr 57 min |
| Acadia → Fundy | 181 mi (292 km) | 4 hr 44 min |
| Thousand Islands → La Mauricie | 222 mi (358 km) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from Kittery
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 York County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kittery?
Acadia National Park. It is about 153 mi (247 km) from Kittery, roughly 4 hr 5 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kittery?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Kittery?
10 parks are within reach of Kittery, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kittery?
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 Kittery?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kittery. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kittery?
For Acadia National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.