Photo: NPS Photo / Neal Lewis
Virginia
Shenandoah National Park
- Straight line
- 86 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 2 h
- Quiet month
- November
- Entrance
- $30 / vehicle
Richmond · Virginia
National parks near Richmond
Last verified Straight-line miles · drive times estimated
The closest national park to Richmond is Shenandoah National Park, about 86 miles away as the crow flies, or roughly 2 h by road on our estimate. 2 national parks are within 300 miles. Here are the nearest 8, a few road trips, and the Park Service sites even closer to home.
At a glance
Richmond to the parks
| Closest national park | Shenandoah National Park 86 mi straight-line |
|---|---|
| Within 150 / 300 / 500 miles | 1 / 2 / 6 national parks |
| Day trip (≤ 3 h, est.) | Shenandoah |
| Closest NPS site of any kind | Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, 2 mi |
| Metro population | 1,389,338 (Richmond, VA metro, Census 2025 est.) |
The closest three
Nearest to Richmond
Photo: NPS photo/Louise McLaughlin
West Virginia
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
- Straight line
- 194 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 4 h 40 min
- Quiet month
- September
- Entrance
- Free entry
Photo: NPS
South Carolina
Congaree National Park
- Straight line
- 317 mi
- Drive (est.)
- ≈ 7 h 30 min
- Quiet month
- February
- Entrance
- Free entry
The nearest 8
National parks by distance from Richmond
Straight-line miles from the city to each park's NPS reference point (often its center, not an entrance). Drive times are a rough estimate: miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route.
| # | Park | Straight line | Drive (est.) | 2025 visits | Quiet month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National ParkVA | 86 mi | ≈ 2 h | 1,682,152 | November |
| 2 | New River Gorge National Park & PreserveWV | 194 mi | ≈ 4 h 40 min | 1,958,440 | September |
| 3 | Congaree National ParkSC | 317 mi | ≈ 7 h 30 min | 287,833 | February |
| 4 | Cuyahoga Valley National ParkOH | 338 mi | ≈ 8 h | 3,025,325 | November |
| 5 | Great Smoky Mountains National ParkNC · TN | 360 mi | ≈ 8 h 30 min | 11,527,939 | November |
| 6 | Mammoth Cave National ParkKY | 476 mi | ≈ 11 h 10 min | 660,734 | May |
| 7 | Indiana Dunes National ParkIN | 585 mi | ≈ 13 h 50 min | 2,629,497 | September |
| 8 | Acadia National ParkME | 676 mi | ≈ 16 h | 4,079,318 | October |
Make it a road trip
Park pairs within reach of Richmond
Groups of parks where every pair is within about six hours of each other by our drive estimate.
3 parks · OH · VA · WV
Cuyahoga Valley, New River Gorge & Shenandoah
- Cuyahoga Valley
- New River Gorge+ ≈ 5 h 40 min
- Shenandoah+ ≈ 3 h 20 min
≈ 9 h of driving between parks · the nearest is 86 mi from Richmond
See the route →2 parks · KY · NC · TN
Great Smoky Mountains & Mammoth Cave
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Mammoth Cave+ ≈ 4 h 20 min
≈ 4 h 20 min of driving between parks · the nearest is 360 mi from Richmond
See the route →
Closer to home
National Park Service sites within 100 miles
Not national parks, but run by the same Park Service: monuments, historic sites, seashores and recreation areas. Links go to nps.gov.
- Maggie L Walker National Historic Site2 mi · VA
- Richmond National Battlefield Park11 mi · VA
- Petersburg National Battlefield24 mi · VA
- Historic Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park46 mi · VA
- Colonial National Historical Park52 mi · VA
- Green Springs52 mi · VA
- Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park53 mi · VA
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument55 mi · VA
- Yorktown Battlefield Part of Colonial National Historical Park58 mi · VA
- Prince William Forest Park73 mi · VA
Straight-line miles to each site’s NPS reference point. Long-distance trails are left out.
FAQ
National parks near Richmond, answered
- What is the closest national park to Richmond?
- Shenandoah National Park, about 86 miles from Richmond in a straight line. By road, figure roughly 2 h on our estimate (straight-line miles × 1.3 at 55 mph, not a route). Next closest: New River Gorge (194 mi) and Congaree (317 mi).
- Can you visit a national park on a day trip from Richmond?
- Yes: Shenandoah is within about 3 hours by our estimate. Check the park's nps.gov page for entrances and current road conditions.
- How many national parks are within a day's drive of Richmond?
- 4 by our rough estimate (up to 8 hours of driving): Shenandoah, New River Gorge, Congaree and Cuyahoga Valley. 2 national parks are within 300 straight-line miles.
- Are there National Park Service sites closer to Richmond?
- Yes. Within 100 miles there are at least 10 other NPS sites, the nearest being Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (2 mi), Richmond National Battlefield Park (11 mi) and Petersburg National Battlefield (24 mi).
Sources · 5
- 1.Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
- 2.City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 · U.S. Census Bureau
- 3.2025 Gazetteer Files: Places · U.S. Census Bureau
- 4.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- 5.NPS Visitor Use Statistics — monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (IRMA stats REST service) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) — Visitor Use Statistics Program
City location: the U.S. Census Bureau’s internal point for Richmond city, Virginia. Metro: Richmond, VA (2025 estimate).
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