National parks near Clinton, Ohio
Clinton sits inside the Akron area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Akron for the full write-up.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is the closest national park to Clinton, Ohio — 22 mi (35.5 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 50 min behind the wheel.
Cuyahoga Valley and Point Pelee make a full day trip — leave early. New River Gorge is better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Clinton gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Clinton has a population of about 1,214.
National parks near Clinton
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 22 mi (35.5 km) | 50 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 85.5 mi (138 km) | 2 hr 29 min | Doable as a day trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 200 mi (321 km) | 5 hr 10 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 240 mi (387 km) | 6 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 241 mi (388 km) | 6 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 287 mi (462 km) | 7 hr 15 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 288 mi (463 km) | 7 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 297 mi (479 km) | 7 hr 29 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 352 mi (567 km) | 8 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 373 mi (600 km) | 9 hr 17 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Clinton
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Clinton
Within reach of Clinton, 20 campgrounds across 5 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Indiana Dunes, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 4 at Shenandoah, plus 1 more park 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 Clinton 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 Clinton
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 Summit County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Clinton?
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. It is about 22 mi (35.5 km) from Clinton, roughly 50 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Clinton?
Yes — Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Point Pelee National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Clinton?
10 parks are within reach of Clinton, 2 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Clinton?
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 Clinton?
Recreation.gov lists 20 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Clinton. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Clinton?
For Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.