National parks near Gloucester, Massachusetts
Acadia National Park is the closest national park to Gloucester, Massachusetts — 172 mi (276 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 31 min behind the wheel.
Acadia is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Gloucester gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Gloucester has a population of about 29,781.
National parks near Gloucester
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | 172 mi (276 km) | 4 hr 31 min | Best as a weekend |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 291 mi (468 km) | 7 hr 20 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 299 mi (482 km) | 7 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 311 mi (500 km) | 7 hr 48 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 350 mi (564 km) | 8 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 404 mi (651 km) | 10 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 436 mi (702 km) | 10 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 440 mi (709 km) | 10 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 457 mi (735 km) | 11 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 485 mi (781 km) | 11 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Gloucester
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Gloucester
Within reach of Gloucester, 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 Gloucester 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 Gloucester
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 Essex County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Gloucester?
Acadia National Park. It is about 172 mi (276 km) from Gloucester, roughly 4 hr 31 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Gloucester?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Gloucester?
10 parks are within reach of Gloucester, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Gloucester?
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 Gloucester?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Gloucester. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Gloucester?
For Acadia National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.