National parks near Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Surfside Beach sits inside the Myrtle Beach area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Myrtle Beach for the full write-up.
Congaree National Park is the closest national park to Surfside Beach, South Carolina — 105 mi (168 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 2 hr 56 min behind the wheel.
Congaree makes a full day trip — leave early.
Nothing near Surfside Beach gates the entrance itself, but 2 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Surfside Beach has a population of about 4,280.
National parks near Surfside Beach
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Congaree National Park | 105 mi (168 km) | 2 hr 56 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 295 mi (474 km) | 7 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| New River Gorge National Park | 330 mi (531 km) | 8 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Shenandoah National Park | 342 mi (550 km) | 8 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 471 mi (759 km) | 11 hr 36 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 546 mi (879 km) | 13 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Biscayne National Park | 554 mi (891 km) | 13 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Everglades National Park | 584 mi (941 km) | 14 hr 17 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 609 mi (981 km) | 14 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Dry Tortugas National Park | 663 mi (1067 km) | 16 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Surfside Beach
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Smoky Mountains | Great Smoky Mountains National Park Parking Tag | Parking, not an entrance fee | Timed reservation |
| Shenandoah | Old Rag Mountain Tickets | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Everglades | Everglades National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Surfside Beach
Within reach of Surfside Beach, 51 campgrounds across 8 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 4 at Shenandoah, plus 4 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
Congaree 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.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Surfside Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New River Gorge → Shenandoah | 151 mi (244 km) | 4 hr 2 min |
| Great Smoky Mountains → Mammoth Cave | 179 mi (288 km) | 4 hr 41 min |
| Congaree → Great Smoky Mountains | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min |
| Great Smoky Mountains → New River Gorge | 218 mi (351 km) | 5 hr 37 min |
Planning a trip from Surfside Beach
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 Horry County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Surfside Beach?
Congaree National Park. It is about 105 mi (168 km) from Surfside Beach, roughly 2 hr 56 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Surfside Beach?
Yes — Congaree National Park is within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Surfside Beach?
10 parks are within reach of Surfside Beach, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Surfside Beach?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 2 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah and Everglades National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Surfside Beach?
Recreation.gov lists 51 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Surfside Beach. They are spread across 8 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Surfside Beach?
For Congaree National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.