Parks Manager

National parks near Cole County, Missouri

Cole County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Jefferson City — it reaches the same parks.

The closest national park to Cole County, Missouri is Gateway Arch National Park — about 108 mi (173 km) away, or roughly 3 hr of driving.

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

National parks near Cole County

Parks ranked by distance from Cole County
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Gateway Arch National Park108 mi (173 km)3 hrBest as a weekend
Hot Springs National Park284 mi (457 km)7 hr 11 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park342 mi (551 km)8 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park345 mi (555 km)8 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park517 mi (832 km)12 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Point Pelee National Park560 mi (901 km)13 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Cuyahoga Valley National Park592 mi (953 km)14 hr 28 minWorth a longer road trip
New River Gorge National Park602 mi (969 km)14 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Badlands National Park645 mi (1037 km)15 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Wind Cave National Park682 mi (1097 km)16 hr 35 minWorth a longer road trip

Towns and cities in Cole County

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Cole County?

Gateway Arch National Park, about 108 mi (173 km) away and roughly 3 hr of driving.

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

None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.