National parks near McDowell County, North Carolina
McDowell County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Marion — it reaches the same parks.
The closest national park to McDowell County, North Carolina is Great Smoky Mountains National Park — about 86.5 mi (139 km) away, or roughly 2 hr 30 min of driving.
1 park is close enough to do as a day trip: Great Smoky Mountains.
National parks near McDowell County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 86.5 mi (139 km) | 2 hr 30 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Congaree National Park | 149 mi (239 km) | 3 hr 58 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 173 mi (278 km) | 4 hr 33 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 250 mi (402 km) | 6 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 282 mi (454 km) | 7 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 385 mi (620 km) | 9 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 435 mi (701 km) | 10 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gateway Arch National Park | 493 mi (794 km) | 12 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 494 mi (796 km) | 12 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 589 mi (947 km) | 14 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in McDowell County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to McDowell County?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 86.5 mi (139 km) away and roughly 2 hr 30 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from McDowell County in a day?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park — all within about three hours' drive.