National parks near Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne sits inside the Newark area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Newark for the full write-up.
Thousand Islands National Park is the closest national park to Hawthorne, New Jersey — 252 mi (406 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 6 hr 25 min behind the wheel.
Nothing near Hawthorne gates the entrance itself, but 2 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Hawthorne has a population of about 19,074.
National parks near Hawthorne
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands National Park | 252 mi (406 km) | 6 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 279 mi (448 km) | 7 hr 3 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 331 mi (532 km) | 8 hr 17 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Acadia National Park | 383 mi (616 km) | 9 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 386 mi (620 km) | 9 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 397 mi (638 km) | 9 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 409 mi (657 km) | 10 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 419 mi (675 km) | 10 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 439 mi (706 km) | 10 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 479 mi (770 km) | 11 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Hawthorne
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Hawthorne
Within reach of Hawthorne, 14 campgrounds across 4 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 5 at New River Gorge, 4 at Shenandoah, 4 at Acadia, and 1 at Cuyahoga Valley.
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
Thousand Islands 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 Hawthorne 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands → Rouge | 165 mi (266 km) | 4 hr 22 min |
| Rouge → Cuyahoga Valley | 220 mi (354 km) | 5 hr 40 min |
Planning a trip from Hawthorne
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 Passaic County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Hawthorne?
Thousand Islands National Park. It is about 252 mi (406 km) from Hawthorne, roughly 6 hr 25 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Hawthorne?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Hawthorne?
10 parks are within reach of Hawthorne, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Hawthorne?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 2 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah and 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 Hawthorne?
Recreation.gov lists 14 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Hawthorne. They are spread across 4 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Hawthorne?
For Thousand Islands National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.