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.
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.