National parks near Catawba County, North Carolina
Catawba County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Hickory — it reaches the same parks.
The closest national park to Catawba County, North Carolina is Great Smoky Mountains National Park — about 128 mi (206 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 29 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
National parks near Catawba County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 128 mi (206 km) | 3 hr 29 min | Best as a weekend |
| Congaree National Park | 136 mi (219 km) | 3 hr 40 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 164 mi (263 km) | 4 hr 19 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 253 mi (407 km) | 6 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 287 mi (462 km) | 7 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 383 mi (616 km) | 9 hr 30 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 438 mi (705 km) | 10 hr 49 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 516 mi (830 km) | 12 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gateway Arch National Park | 530 mi (852 km) | 12 hr 59 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 578 mi (931 km) | 14 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Catawba County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Catawba County?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 128 mi (206 km) away and roughly 3 hr 29 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Catawba County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.