National parks near St Johnsbury, Vermont
La Mauricie National Park is the closest national park to St Johnsbury, Vermont — 170 mi (274 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 4 hr 29 min behind the wheel.
La Mauricie, Acadia, and Thousand Islands are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near St Johnsbury gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
St Johnsbury has a population of about 7,571.
National parks near St Johnsbury
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Mauricie National Park | 170 mi (274 km) | 4 hr 29 min | Best as a weekend |
| Acadia National Park | 188 mi (302 km) | 4 hr 54 min | Best as a weekend |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 194 mi (313 km) | 5 hr 3 min | Best as a weekend |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 335 mi (540 km) | 8 hr 23 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 354 mi (570 km) | 8 hr 50 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 359 mi (578 km) | 8 hr 57 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 379 mi (610 km) | 9 hr 25 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 387 mi (623 km) | 9 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pituamkek National Park | 426 mi (685 km) | 10 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Prince Edward Island National Park | 454 mi (731 km) | 11 hr 12 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave St Johnsbury
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near St Johnsbury
Within reach of St Johnsbury, 4 campgrounds across 1 park appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia.
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
La Mauricie 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 St Johnsbury 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kejimkujik → Fundy | 84 mi (135 km) | 2 hr 26 min |
| Acadia → Kejimkujik | 148 mi (238 km) | 3 hr 57 min |
| Acadia → Fundy | 181 mi (292 km) | 4 hr 44 min |
| La Mauricie → Thousand Islands | 222 mi (358 km) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from St Johnsbury
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 Caledonia County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to St Johnsbury?
La Mauricie National Park. It is about 170 mi (274 km) from St Johnsbury, roughly 4 hr 29 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from St Johnsbury?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near St Johnsbury?
10 parks are within reach of St Johnsbury, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near St Johnsbury?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near St Johnsbury?
Recreation.gov lists 4 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of St Johnsbury. All of them are at Acadia National Park.
When is the best time to visit the parks near St Johnsbury?
For La Mauricie National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.