Parks Manager

National parks near Logan, Ohio

New River Gorge National Park is the closest national park to Logan, Ohio — 124 mi (200 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 23 min behind the wheel.

New River Gorge, Cuyahoga Valley, Point Pelee, and Shenandoah are better with a night booked nearby.

Nothing near Logan gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.

Logan has a population of about 7,117.

National parks near Logan

Parks ranked by distance from Logan
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
New River Gorge National Park124 mi (200 km)3 hr 23 minBest as a weekend
Cuyahoga Valley National Park126 mi (202 km)3 hr 26 minBest as a weekend
Point Pelee National Park168 mi (270 km)4 hr 26 minBest as a weekend
Shenandoah National Park229 mi (368 km)5 hr 52 minBest as a weekend
Mammoth Cave National Park258 mi (415 km)6 hr 33 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park279 mi (448 km)7 hr 3 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park285 mi (459 km)7 hr 12 minWorth a longer road trip
Rouge National Park345 mi (555 km)8 hr 36 minWorth a longer road trip
Georgian Bay Islands National Park391 mi (629 km)9 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Bruce Peninsula National Park395 mi (636 km)9 hr 48 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave Logan

Reservations needed at parks near Logan
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
ShenandoahOld Rag Mountain TicketsOne road or areaTimed reservation
Great Smoky MountainsGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Parking TagParking, not an entrance feeTimed reservation

Camping near Logan

Within reach of Logan, 50 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 5 at Indiana Dunes, plus 2 more parks with fewer sites.

Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.

Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.

When to make this trip

New River Gorge National Park is generally best March through May, then September through November, with February and December as the quieter shoulder either side.

Midsummer is hot, humid, and buggy; winter is mild and one of the better times to visit.

Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.

Month-by-month detail for New River Gorge National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Logan are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Logan
PairApartEstimated drive
Cuyahoga Valley → Point Pelee71.1 mi (114 km)2 hr 8 min
New River Gorge → Shenandoah151 mi (244 km)4 hr 2 min
New River Gorge → Cuyahoga Valley220 mi (355 km)5 hr 40 min

Planning a trip from Logan

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the New River Gorge National Park guide

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Logan?

New River Gorge National Park. It is about 124 mi (200 km) from Logan, roughly 3 hr 23 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Logan?

Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.

How many national parks are near Logan?

10 parks are within reach of Logan, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Logan?

None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.

Where can you camp near Logan?

Recreation.gov lists 50 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Logan. They are spread across 6 of those parks.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Logan?

For New River Gorge National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.