National parks near Watauga County, North Carolina
Watauga County is one town for park planning. See national parks near Boone — it reaches the same parks.
The closest national park to Watauga County, North Carolina is Great Smoky Mountains National Park — about 112 mi (181 km) away, or roughly 3 hr 7 min of driving.
Nothing here is a comfortable day trip — the nearest parks are better as an overnight or a weekend.
National parks near Watauga County
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 112 mi (181 km) | 3 hr 7 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 133 mi (214 km) | 3 hr 36 min | Best as a weekend |
| Congaree National Park | 175 mi (282 km) | 4 hr 36 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 243 mi (391 km) | 6 hr 12 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 254 mi (409 km) | 6 hr 28 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 348 mi (560 km) | 8 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 401 mi (645 km) | 9 hr 56 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 475 mi (764 km) | 11 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gateway Arch National Park | 495 mi (797 km) | 12 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 549 mi (883 km) | 13 hr 27 min | Worth a longer road trip |
Towns and cities in Watauga County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Watauga County?
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 112 mi (181 km) away and roughly 3 hr 7 min of driving.
Which national parks can I visit from Watauga County in a day?
None comfortably. Plan at least one night away.