Pick Taehwagang National Garden for an open-ended riverside walk with bamboo and level paths; choose Daewangam Park for pine forest, sea air and rocky coastal views. Both can fit into an Ulsan visit, but crossing between the two is a real city transfer. Decide which landscape deserves the longest block before you add the second.
Choose by the walk, not by the map
Taehwagang spreads across the river corridor, so visitors can enter from several points and shorten the outing without needing to complete a loop. The official garden FAQ says the grounds are free and open 24 hours. Its Garden Information Centre is at 154 Taehwaganggukgajeongwon-gil; the bamboo grove’s Milky Way Path is lit from sunset until 23:00. Some riverside paths are unpaved and may be restricted after rain, so pick the entrance and parking area that match the section you want.
Daewangam is a more defined coast outing: walk through the pine area towards the lighthouse and rock formations, then turn back when the group has had enough. The Korea Tourism Organization describes the coastal park and its main features on its Daewangam Park guide. Wind, wet steps and sea spray change the effort more than the distance suggests.
Know which facility has a closing time
The park grounds and the Taehwagang garden are not the same as their timed facilities. Daewangam’s suspension bridge operates 09:00–18:00, with last entry at 17:40; the official park FAQ says it closes on the second Tuesday of each month and during unsafe weather or maintenance. Taehwagang’s garden is open around the clock, while the Garden Information Centre closes at 18:00. These windows matter if the bridge or visitor services are the main reason for the stop.
When both belong on one day
Combine them only if you are comfortable with a short visit at one park and have checked the transfer and return. A river-first day works when the group wants shade, bamboo and space to pause; add a limited Daewangam walk only if the coast remains comfortable. If the coastline is the priority, visit it while daylight and wind are favourable, then make Taehwagang a shorter riverside stop.
For a slower visit, split the parks across two days. That gives Taehwagang room for a longer garden section and Daewangam time for the lighthouse-side coast without rushing meals or the ride back. The Taehwagang FAQ gives recommended garden entrances and parking locations, while Daewangam’s park page lists bridge restrictions.