National parks near Kingstown, Maryland
Shenandoah National Park is the closest national park to Kingstown, Maryland — 132 mi (213 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 35 min behind the wheel.
Shenandoah is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Kingstown gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kingstown has a population of about 1,733.
National parks near Kingstown
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah National Park | 132 mi (213 km) | 3 hr 35 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 282 mi (455 km) | 7 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 322 mi (519 km) | 8 hr 5 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 356 mi (572 km) | 8 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 365 mi (588 km) | 9 hr 6 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 389 mi (627 km) | 9 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 438 mi (705 km) | 10 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Congaree National Park | 458 mi (736 km) | 11 hr 17 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 480 mi (773 km) | 11 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 504 mi (811 km) | 12 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kingstown
| 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 Kingstown
Within reach of Kingstown, 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 Kingstown 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah → New River Gorge | 151 mi (244 km) | 4 hr 2 min |
| Thousand Islands → Rouge | 165 mi (266 km) | 4 hr 22 min |
| Cuyahoga Valley → Rouge | 220 mi (354 km) | 5 hr 40 min |
| New River Gorge → Cuyahoga Valley | 220 mi (355 km) | 5 hr 40 min |
Planning a trip from Kingstown
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 Queen Anne's County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kingstown?
Shenandoah National Park. It is about 132 mi (213 km) from Kingstown, roughly 3 hr 35 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kingstown?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Kingstown?
10 parks are within reach of Kingstown, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kingstown?
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 Kingstown?
Recreation.gov lists 43 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kingstown. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kingstown?
For Shenandoah National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.