Parks Manager

National parks near Collinsville, Mississippi

Collinsville sits inside the Meridian area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Meridian for the full write-up.

Hot Springs National Park is the closest national park to Collinsville, Mississippi — 280 mi (450 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 7 hr 4 min behind the wheel.

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

Collinsville has a population of about 1,948.

National parks near Collinsville

Parks ranked by distance from Collinsville
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Hot Springs National Park280 mi (450 km)7 hr 4 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park360 mi (579 km)8 hr 58 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park372 mi (598 km)9 hr 15 minWorth a longer road trip
Gateway Arch National Park430 mi (691 km)10 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park475 mi (764 km)11 hr 41 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park583 mi (938 km)14 hr 15 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park639 mi (1028 km)15 hr 34 minWorth a longer road trip
Dry Tortugas National Park653 mi (1051 km)15 hr 55 minWorth a longer road trip
Everglades National Park689 mi (1109 km)16 hr 45 minWorth a longer road trip
Arrecife Alacranes National Park701 mi (1128 km)17 hr 2 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave Collinsville

Reservations needed at parks near Collinsville
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
Great Smoky MountainsGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Parking TagParking, not an entrance feeTimed reservation
EvergladesEverglades National Park Wilderness PermitsOne hike or backcountry tripPermit or lottery

Camping near Collinsville

Within reach of Collinsville, 50 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at Mammoth Cave, 5 at New River Gorge, and 5 at Indiana Dunes, plus 3 more parks 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

Hot Springs 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.

Month-by-month detail for Hot Springs National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Collinsville 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 Collinsville
PairApartEstimated drive
Mammoth Cave → Great Smoky Mountains179 mi (288 km)4 hr 41 min
Great Smoky Mountains → Congaree202 mi (325 km)5 hr 14 min

Planning a trip from Collinsville

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 Hot Springs National Park guide

Other towns in Lauderdale County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Collinsville?

Hot Springs National Park. It is about 280 mi (450 km) from Collinsville, roughly 7 hr 4 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Collinsville?

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

How many national parks are near Collinsville?

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

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

None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Everglades National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.

Where can you camp near Collinsville?

Recreation.gov lists 50 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Collinsville. They are spread across 7 of those parks.

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

For Hot Springs National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.