Parks Manager

National parks near Carter County, Missouri

Carter County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Van Buren — it reaches the same parks.

The closest national park to Carter County, Missouri is Gateway Arch National Park — about 121 mi (195 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 19 min of driving.

Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.

National parks near Carter County

Parks ranked by distance from Carter County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park121 mi (195 km)3 hr 19 minBest as a weekend
Hot Springs National Park206 mi (331 km)5 hr 19 minBest as a weekend
Mammoth Cave National Park271 mi (436 km)6 hr 52 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park383 mi (617 km)9 hr 31 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park426 mi (686 km)10 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park549 mi (884 km)13 hr 27 minWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park568 mi (914 km)13 hr 54 minWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park586 mi (942 km)14 hr 18 minWorth a longer road trip
Congaree National Park617 mi (994 km)15 hr 4 minWorth a longer road trip
Shenandoah National Park699 mi (1125 km)17 hrWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Carter County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Carter County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 121 mi (195 km) away and roughly 3 hr 19 min of driving.

Which national parks can I visit from Carter County in a day?

None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.