National parks near Newbury, New Hampshire
Acadia National Park is the closest national park to Newbury, New Hampshire — 203 mi (327 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 5 hr 16 min behind the wheel.
Acadia and Thousand Islands are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Newbury gates the entrance itself, but 2 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Newbury has a population of about 1,813.
National parks near Newbury
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | 203 mi (327 km) | 5 hr 16 min | Best as a weekend |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 208 mi (334 km) | 5 hr 22 min | Best as a weekend |
| La Mauricie National Park | 245 mi (394 km) | 6 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 348 mi (559 km) | 8 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 362 mi (583 km) | 9 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 383 mi (617 km) | 9 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 403 mi (649 km) | 10 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 422 mi (679 km) | 10 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 463 mi (745 km) | 11 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 467 mi (751 km) | 11 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Newbury
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Newbury
Within reach of Newbury, 8 campgrounds across 2 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia and 4 at Shenandoah.
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 Newbury 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Acadia → Kejimkujik | 148 mi (238 km) | 3 hr 57 min |
| Thousand Islands → Rouge | 165 mi (266 km) | 4 hr 22 min |
| Thousand Islands → La Mauricie | 222 mi (358 km) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from Newbury
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 Merrimack County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Newbury?
Acadia National Park. It is about 203 mi (327 km) from Newbury, roughly 5 hr 16 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Newbury?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Newbury?
10 parks are within reach of Newbury, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Newbury?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 2 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia and Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Newbury?
Recreation.gov lists 8 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Newbury. They are spread across 2 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Newbury?
For Acadia National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.