National parks near New Concord, Ohio
New Concord sits inside the Zanesville area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Zanesville for the full write-up.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the closest national park to New Concord, Ohio — 86.7 mi (139 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 30 min behind the wheel.
Cuyahoga Valley makes a full day trip — leave early. New River Gorge, Point Pelee, and Shenandoah are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near New Concord gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
New Concord has a population of about 2,343.
National parks near New Concord
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 86.7 mi (139 km) | 2 hr 30 min | Doable as a day trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 137 mi (221 km) | 3 hr 42 min | Best as a weekend |
| Point Pelee National Park | 143 mi (229 km) | 3 hr 49 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 207 mi (334 km) | 5 hr 21 min | Best as a weekend |
| Rouge National Park | 301 mi (484 km) | 7 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 302 mi (486 km) | 7 hr 36 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 305 mi (491 km) | 7 hr 40 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 319 mi (513 km) | 8 hr | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 351 mi (564 km) | 8 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 362 mi (582 km) | 9 hr 1 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave New Concord
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Great Smoky Mountains | Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag | Parking, not an entrance fee | Timed reservation |
Camping near New Concord
Within reach of New Concord, 50 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Indiana Dunes, and 5 at Mammoth Cave, 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
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is generally best May through October, with April and early November as the quieter shoulder either side.
Winter brings cold, shorter days, and reduced services, though lower-elevation trails often stay walkable.
Peak summer weekends and autumn colour weekends fill parking lots early — arrive before mid-morning.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near New Concord are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Valley → Point Pelee | 71.1 mi (114 km) | 2 hr 8 min |
| New River Gorge → Shenandoah | 151 mi (244 km) | 4 hr 2 min |
| Point Pelee → Rouge | 214 mi (345 km) | 5 hr 32 min |
| Cuyahoga Valley → Rouge | 220 mi (354 km) | 5 hr 40 min |
Planning a trip from New Concord
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.
Other towns in Muskingum County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to New Concord?
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is about 86.7 mi (139 km) from New Concord, roughly 2 hr 30 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from New Concord?
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near New Concord?
10 parks are within reach of New Concord, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near New Concord?
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 New Concord?
Recreation.gov lists 50 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of New Concord. They are spread across 6 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near New Concord?
For Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.