National parks near Stuart, Virginia
New River Gorge National Park is the closest national park to Stuart, Virginia — 108 mi (174 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 1 min behind the wheel.
New River Gorge, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains, and Congaree are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Stuart gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Stuart has a population of about 1,442.
National parks near Stuart
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| New River Gorge National Park | 108 mi (174 km) | 3 hr 1 min | Best as a weekend |
| Shenandoah National Park | 167 mi (269 km) | 4 hr 25 min | Best as a weekend |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 197 mi (316 km) | 5 hr 6 min | Best as a weekend |
| Congaree National Park | 200 mi (322 km) | 5 hr 11 min | Best as a weekend |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 324 mi (522 km) | 8 hr 8 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 325 mi (523 km) | 8 hr 9 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Point Pelee National Park | 387 mi (623 km) | 9 hr 37 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Indiana Dunes National Park | 503 mi (809 km) | 12 hr 21 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Rouge National Park | 507 mi (815 km) | 12 hr 26 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Gateway Arch National Park | 559 mi (900 km) | 13 hr 41 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Stuart
| 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 Stuart
Within reach of Stuart, 53 campgrounds across 7 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 5 at Indiana Dunes, plus 3 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
New River Gorge 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 Stuart 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 |
| Great Smoky Mountains → Congaree | 202 mi (325 km) | 5 hr 14 min |
| New River Gorge → Great Smoky Mountains | 218 mi (351 km) | 5 hr 37 min |
Planning a trip from Stuart
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 Patrick County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Stuart?
New River Gorge National Park. It is about 108 mi (174 km) from Stuart, roughly 3 hr 1 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Stuart?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Stuart?
10 parks are within reach of Stuart, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Stuart?
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 Stuart?
Recreation.gov lists 53 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Stuart. They are spread across 7 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Stuart?
For New River Gorge National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.