National parks near Brookhaven, West Virginia
Brookhaven sits inside the Morgantown area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Morgantown for the full write-up.
Shenandoah National Park is the closest national park to Brookhaven, West Virginia — 112 mi (180 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 6 min behind the wheel.
Shenandoah, New River Gorge, Cuyahoga Valley, and Point Pelee are better with a night booked nearby.
Nothing near Brookhaven gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Brookhaven has a population of about 5,171.
National parks near Brookhaven
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shenandoah National Park | 112 mi (180 km) | 3 hr 6 min | Best as a weekend |
| New River Gorge National Park | 124 mi (199 km) | 3 hr 23 min | Best as a weekend |
| Cuyahoga Valley National Park | 142 mi (228 km) | 3 hr 49 min | Best as a weekend |
| Point Pelee National Park | 213 mi (342 km) | 5 hr 29 min | Best as a weekend |
| Rouge National Park | 300 mi (483 km) | 7 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 341 mi (549 km) | 8 hr 31 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Georgian Bay Islands National Park | 364 mi (586 km) | 9 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Mammoth Cave National Park | 375 mi (603 km) | 9 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Thousand Islands National Park | 385 mi (620 km) | 9 hr 34 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Bruce Peninsula National Park | 398 mi (640 km) | 9 hr 52 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Brookhaven
| 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 Brookhaven
Within reach of Brookhaven, 45 campgrounds across 5 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 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
Shenandoah 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 Brookhaven 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 |
| Shenandoah → New River Gorge | 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 Brookhaven
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 Monongalia County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Brookhaven?
Shenandoah National Park. It is about 112 mi (180 km) from Brookhaven, roughly 3 hr 6 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Brookhaven?
Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.
How many national parks are near Brookhaven?
10 parks are within reach of Brookhaven, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Brookhaven?
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 Brookhaven?
Recreation.gov lists 45 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Brookhaven. They are spread across 5 of those parks.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Brookhaven?
For Shenandoah National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.