National parks near Burlington, Vermont
Thousand Islands National Park is the closest national park to Burlington, Vermont — 135 mi (218 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 39 min behind the wheel.
Scattered St. Lawrence islands and mainland parcels east of Kingston. Oldest park east of the Prairies.
Thousand Islands National Park and La Mauricie National Park are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Burlington gates the entrance itself, but Acadia National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Burlington has a population of about 42,452.
Thousand Islands National Park
La Mauricie National Park
Acadia National Park
Rouge National Park
Georgian Bay Islands National Park
Kejimkujik National Park
Best time to visit Thousand Islands National Park. Getting to Thousand Islands National Park.
National parks near Burlington
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands National Park | 135 mi (218 km) | 3 hr 39 min | Best as a weekend |
| La Mauricie National Park | 161 mi (259 km) | 4 hr 16 min | Best as a weekend |
| Acadia National Park | 247 mi (397 km) | 6 hr 18 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 300 mi (483 km) | 7 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 328 mi (528 km) | 8 hr 13 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kejimkujik National Park | 394 mi (634 km) | 9 hr 47 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Fundy National Park | 411 mi (661 km) | 10 hr 10 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 415 mi (668 km) | 10 hr 16 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kouchibouguac National Park | 430 mi (692 km) | 10 hr 38 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 478 mi (768 km) | 11 hr 45 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Burlington
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia National Park | Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
Camping near Burlington
Within reach of Burlington, 5 campgrounds across 2 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 4 at Acadia National Park and 1 at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
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
Thousand Islands 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 Burlington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Thousand Islands → La Mauricie | 222 mi (358 km) | 5 hr 43 min |
Planning a trip from Burlington
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 Chittenden County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Burlington?
Thousand Islands National Park. It is about 135 mi (218 km) from Burlington, roughly 3 hr 39 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Burlington?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Burlington?
10 parks are within reach of Burlington, and none of them are close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Burlington?
None of them gate the entrance itself. Acadia National Park puts a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Cadillac Summit Road Vehicle Reservations at Acadia National Park. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Burlington?
Recreation.gov lists 5 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Burlington. They are spread across 2 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Burlington?
For Thousand Islands National Park, the closest one, generally May through October. Either side of that, April and early November stays quieter.