National parks near Woodstock, New York
Woodstock sits inside the Kingston area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Kingston for the full write-up.
Thousand Islands National Park is the closest national park to Woodstock, New York — 184 mi (297 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 49 min behind the wheel.
Thousand Islands is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Woodstock gates the entrance itself, but 2 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Woodstock has a population of about 2,088.
National parks near Woodstock
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands National Park | 184 mi (297 km) | 4 hr 49 min | Best as a weekend |
| Rouge National Park | 289 mi (466 km) | 7 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 329 mi (530 km) | 8 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| La Mauricie National Park | 334 mi (537 km) | 8 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Acadia National Park | 338 mi (543 km) | 8 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 349 mi (561 km) | 8 hr 42 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 388 mi (624 km) | 9 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 431 mi (694 km) | 10 hr 39 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 435 mi (700 km) | 10 hr 44 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 459 mi (739 km) | 11 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Woodstock
| 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 Woodstock
Within reach of Woodstock, 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 Woodstock 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 |
| Thousand Islands → La Mauricie | 222 mi (358 km) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from Woodstock
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 Ulster County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Woodstock?
Thousand Islands National Park. It is about 184 mi (297 km) from Woodstock, roughly 4 hr 49 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Woodstock?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Woodstock?
10 parks are within reach of Woodstock, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Woodstock?
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 Woodstock?
Recreation.gov lists 14 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Woodstock. They are spread across 4 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Woodstock?
For Thousand Islands National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.