Closest first
Straight-line miles from the city center; drive times are rough estimates. Open the app for parks near wherever you are right now.
- 1 Mammoth Cave · Kentucky · 85+ trails · Free81 mi · ~1.5 hr drive
- 2 Great Smoky Mountains · Tennessee · 800+ trails · Free186 mi · ~4 hr drive
- 3 Gateway Arch · Missouri · 3+ trails · Free253 mi · ~5.5 hr drive
- 4 New River Gorge · West Virginia · 112+ trails · Free336 mi · ~7 hr drive
- 5 Hot Springs · Arkansas · 26+ trails · $20 / vehicle371 mi · ~7.5 hr drive
- 6 Congaree · South Carolina · 25+ trails · Free377 mi · ~8 hr drive
- 7 Indiana Dunes · Indiana · 50+ trails · Free380 mi · ~8 hr drive
- 8 Cuyahoga Valley · Ohio · 125+ trails · Free450 mi · ~9.5 hr drive
- 9 Shenandoah · Virginia · 500+ trails · $30 / vehicle490 mi · ~10 hr drive
Planning a trip from Nashville
Mammoth Cave, Great Smoky Mountains, Gateway Arch are realistic for a long weekend. Leave early Friday, and reserve campsites or lodging ahead in peak season.
Each park page covers popular trails, camping, entrance fees, and the best time to visit. In ParkAtlas, the home screen shows unvisited parks within reach of your current location and lets you log the one you pick.
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Nashville?
Mammoth Cave National Park, about 81 miles away (~1.5 hr drive).
Which national parks near Nashville work for a weekend trip?
Within roughly a six-hour drive: Mammoth Cave, Great Smoky Mountains, Gateway Arch.
How many national parks are within 500 miles of Nashville?
9 of the 63 U.S. national parks are within 500 miles of Nashville.