Restricted by topographic conditions and surrounding environment, the design spacing of double-hole tunnels in western China is often close. Therefore, the special structural form of multi-arch or small close tunnels is often used in the tunnel design. However, in the western region of China, high-intensity seismic zones are widely distributed, and the middle rock wall between the close tunnels is more susceptible under the strong earthquakes, especially the near-field ground motions, which results in large plastic deformation of local surrounding rock, and the safety operation of the tunnel was affected. Therefore, in order to study the distribution of plastic zone of surrounding rock of small close-distance tunnel under near-fault ground motion, reasonable near-fault ground motions were selected, and 3D finite element numerical models considering different tunnel close-distance and surrounding rock conditions were established. The dynamic response characteristics of small close-distance tunnel and the distribution law of plastic zone of surrounding rock were revealed. Thus, through the grouting reinforcement of the middle rock wall, the seismic effectiveness of the reinforcement measures on the plastic zone was verified. The results show that the acceleration response of the arch foot near the middle rock wall tunnel is more significant under the influence of near-field ground motion. Under transverse seismic excitation, the maximum principal stress value of the left spandrel and the right arch foot of the right line tunnel are more significant, while the minimum principal stress of the side walls and the inverted arch of the tunnel is larger. The plastic zone of surrounding rock of small-close-distance tunnel under strong earthquake is greatly affected by rock mass grade. When the tunnel spacing is 0.50 times of the tunnel span, the development of plastic zone in grade Ⅳ and grade Ⅴ surrounding rock is the most serious, and the phenomenon of plastic zone penetration of surrounding rock at the haunch of tunnel near the middle rock wall appears. Taking the plastic zone of surrounding rock as the discriminant index, the grouting reinforcement of middle rock wall is beneficial to the seismic performance of small close distance tunnel. The research results can provide a reference for the seismic safety of small close-distance tunnels in high-intensity earthquake areas.