National parks near College Park, Maryland
Shenandoah National Park is the closest national park to College Park, Maryland — 82.3 mi (132 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 24 min behind the wheel.
Shenandoah makes a full day trip — leave early. New River Gorge is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near College Park gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
College Park has a population of about 32,301.
National parks near College Park
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah National Park | 82.3 mi (132 km) | 2 hr 24 min | Doable as a day trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 233 mi (374 km) | 5 hr 57 min | Best as a weekend |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 289 mi (466 km) | 7 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 359 mi (577 km) | 8 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 362 mi (583 km) | 9 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 374 mi (603 km) | 9 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Congaree National Park | 418 mi (673 km) | 10 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 432 mi (694 km) | 10 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 435 mi (699 km) | 10 hr 44 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 494 mi (795 km) | 12 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave College Park
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Great Smoky Mountains | Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag | Parking, not an entrance fee | Timed reservation |
Camping near College Park
Within reach of College Park, 43 campgrounds across 5 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 4 at Shenandoah, and 3 at Congaree, plus 1 more park with fewer sites.
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
Shenandoah National Park is generally best March through May, then September through November, with February and December as the quieter shoulder either side.
Midsummer is hot, humid, and buggy; winter is mild and one of the better times to visit.
Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near College Park 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Valley → Point Pelee | 71.1 mi (114 km) | 2 hr 8 min |
| Shenandoah → New River Gorge | 151 mi (244 km) | 4 hr 2 min |
| Point Pelee → Rouge | 214 mi (345 km) | 5 hr 32 min |
| Cuyahoga Valley → Rouge | 220 mi (354 km) | 5 hr 40 min |
Planning a trip from College Park
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 Prince George's County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to College Park?
Shenandoah National Park. It is about 82.3 mi (132 km) from College Park, roughly 2 hr 24 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from College Park?
Yes — Shenandoah National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near College Park?
10 parks are within reach of College Park, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near College Park?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near College Park?
Recreation.gov lists 43 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of College Park. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near College Park?
For Shenandoah National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.