National parks near Wake County, North Carolina
The closest national park to Wake County, North Carolina is Congaree National Park — about 182 mi (293 km) away, or roughly 4 hr 46 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
Congaree National Park
Shenandoah National Park
New River Gorge National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Best time to visit Congaree National Park. Getting to Congaree National Park. Camping at Congaree National Park. Timed entry and tours at Congaree National Park.
National parks near Wake County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congaree National Park | 182 mi (293 km) | 4 hr 46 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 191 mi (308 km) | 4 hr 59 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 207 mi (333 km) | 5 hr 21 min | Best as a weekend |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 274 mi (440 km) | 6 hr 55 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 408 mi (657 km) | 10 hr 7 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 424 mi (682 km) | 10 hr 29 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 475 mi (765 km) | 11 hr 42 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 564 mi (908 km) | 13 hr 48 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 608 mi (978 km) | 14 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 610 mi (981 km) | 14 hr 53 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Wake County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Wake County?
Congaree National Park, about 182 mi (293 km) away and roughly 4 hr 46 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Wake County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.