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Where to Stay at America’s 25 Best National Parks

Book one of these charming lodges, hotels and Airbnbs for your next getaway.

By Patricia Kaowthumrong on October 27, 2022

Photo of a cabin in Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge after sunset.
iStock/Craig Zerbe

From the cacti-studded desert-scapes of Joshua Tree to the thundering waterfalls of Yellowstone, the natural splendors of America’s national parks are always worth planning a trip around. The destinations are havens for adorers of the great outdoors, offering access to awe-inspiring vistas and an endless roster of activities, including hiking, wildlife watching, fishing and rock climbing. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular and our picks for where to stay at each.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Available mid-May through late September 
Located next to the lake of the same name, the colonial-style, white-columned Lake Yellowstone Hotel is the oldest and most upscale lodging property in Yellowstone National Park. The hotel rooms, particularly those with views of the sapphire lake, are an elegant home base for taking in nearby sights like the Thumb Geyser and Abyss Pool, but it also has more budget-friendly lodge rooms and pet-friendly cabins. 

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Available year-round
Admire the sights of 14,259-foot Longs Peak and the surrounding Rocky Mountains from the deck of your very own two-bedroom cabin on 2.5 acres. The rental is just 4 miles from the Western-rooted enclave of Estes Park and 7 miles from the activities of Colorado’s most popular national park, where you can hike, horseback ride, fish and view moose and other wild creatures amid sweeping alpine landscapes. 

Zion National Park, Utah

Available year-round
Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort in Orderville has eight diverse lodging options on 4,000 acres that border the eastern edge of Zion National Park (it’s also a short drive to Bryce Canyon). The two- to eight-bedroom vacation homes can accommodate groups of all sizes. Also on site are cabins, glamping sites and even eclectic covered wagons are equipped with twin and king beds and Wi-Fi. 

Acadia National Park, Maine

Available year-round
What this tiny home in Trenton lacks in size, it makes up for in gorgeous, tree-lined seashore views. The retreat is about 20 minutes away from the national park’s granite peaks and Atlantic coastline and the bars and restaurants of Mount Desert Island. An ideal space for two to four (there is a queen and sofa bed), it offers private beach access and has a small kitchen, bathroom and air conditioning. 

Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Available year-round
The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club is a 12-suite, adults-only boutique property in Michigan City, about 17 minutes from Indiana Dunes National Park, which borders the shores of Lake Michigan and sports access to stellar hiking trails amid dudes, forests and prairies. Back at the lodge, guests have access to 40 acres of private woodlands, a beer and wine bar serving locally made libations and a renowned restaurant. 

Yosemite National Park, California

Available year-round
Perfect for large groups, this five-bedroom home in Oakhurst is 20 minutes from the national park’s south entrance and five minutes from Bass Lake. The airy, modern retreat, which can accommodate 10, has a waterfall-equipped swimming hole, hot tub, deck and beautiful kitchen stocked with all the wares you need to prepare feasts with loved ones. 

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Available year-round
The funky town of Joshua Tree — where you’ll find the western entrance to the eponymous national park — has been home to artists, musicians and other creatives for decades. Spin and Margie’s Desert Lounge epitomizes the area’s laid-back, artsy vibes with luxe accommodations inspired by the surrounding landscape. Stay in the Cactus Wren, a room with sunset views, a private garden and cool throwback CDs to listen to. 

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Available year-round
Nestled in Monticello on the closest private land to the park, this glamping dome has all the comforts you need to kick back before and after a long day touring the area’s rock pinnacles and remote canyons. It has a queen bed, kitchenette, Wi-Fi and private bathroom. Plus, a shower with hot water is available in a separate bathhouse just a short walk away.

Olympic National Park, Washington

Late March through late October
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Port Angeles offers access to a hot spring pool inside the national park, where you can explore old-growth forests, dramatic peaks and sparkling lakes and return to your home base for a relaxing soak. Book a cozy, pet-friendly cabin for smaller parties. Traveling with a group? The Riverside Suite is a roomy, three-bedroom building along the Sol Duc River that sleeps ten and has its own kitchen. 

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

June through early September (though dates vary from year to year)
Camp Denali is one of four privately owned lodging options inside the national park, known for its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife watching. The property’s 19 cabins are near the tree line and native tundra and boreal forest are right outside your doorstep. The huts are furnished with homey features, including handmade quilts and wood stoves (an outhouse is just a short walk away), and the lodge offers informational naturalist-led hikes. 

Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii

Available year-round
Tucked on a 5-acre organic fruit farm, this one-bedroom, farmhouse-style beauty in Hana is 16 miles from the national park’s Summit District entrance station. The lovely, white-walled cottage, is flanked by tropical flowers and fruit trees. Additionally, the space has a kitchen, private yard, air conditioning and ocean views so you’ll feel right at home. The owners also provide delicious fresh fruit, which receives rave reviews from guests. 

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Available mid-March through October
With locations within a 30-minute drive of five national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Wander Camp offers rustic-chic glamping accommodations. The 200-square-foot tents are tucked near the park’s south entrance. Each is equipped with comforts such as twin or king-size beds and shared bathroom facilities. However, there isn’t any electricity or Wi-Fi — so you can unplug and enjoy the open skies. 

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Available year-round
Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast in Brownsville is a bucolic home base for a visit to the world’s longest cavern system, Mammoth Cave (1 mile away). Guests slumber in country-style guestrooms and can relax on the front patio amid sights of hummingbirds and butterflies and the lush surrounding woodlands. Nearby, there are paths for biking, hiking, canoeing and kayaking on the Green River. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

Available year-round
The Bearskin Lodge, tucked at the entrance to the national park in the quaint enclave of Gatlinburg, has several amenities for families and groups, including an outdoor pool with a lazy river. While there isn’t a restaurant on-site, the property has grab-and-go breakfast options and rooms with refrigerators so you can bring your own grub — so you don’t have to worry about picking up food before hitting the park’s 850 miles of trails. 

Glacier National Park, Montana

Available year-round
These adjacent tiny homes in Columbia Falls are just 15 minutes from the park’s west entrance and are surrounded by northern Montana’s stunning alpine landscape. The lofted structures — built on 20 private acres and connected by a deck — have floor-to-ceiling windows, two beds (a queen in one and a king in the other), and shared living and dining spaces. 

Sequoia National Park, California

Available year-round
Flanked by some of the West’s tallest and most majestic trees, the Wuksachi Lodge is a stone-and-cedar mountain gem in the heart of Sequoia. While the hotel’s 102 rooms don’t have many frills, you’ll be near attractions such as the more than 2,200-year-old General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest single-stem tree, and Moro Rock, a popular place to watch the sunset. 

Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Available year-round
This secluded, wilderness-themed cabin in Ashford is nestled amid the towering trees outside the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park (about 6 miles away). It sleeps four (a king, sofa and bunk bed) and has many amenities for post-adventure fun, including a private hot tub, outdoor fire pit, yard games and a barbecue. 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Available year-round
Western charm is the draw at Smith Fork Ranch in Crawford, where you can reside in luxe log homes and cabins furnished with antiques and fine linens amid southwest Colorado’s rugged beauty. While the national park’s activities, such as stargazing, hiking and fishing amid the steep-walled gorge, are a 30-minute drive away, there’s also plenty to do on the all-inclusive ranch, from horseback riding to swimming in the spring-fed pond. 

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Available year-round
The whimsical glacial wonderlands of Kenai Fjords National Park are only 2 miles away from this two-bedroom A-frame cabin in Seward. In addition to four beds, the modern, light-filled home has a wet room, clawfoot tub, wood pellet stove, kitchenette and private deck. There’s also a shared sauna, firepit and sweeping views of Resurrection Bay.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

Available year-round
Prospect Inn in Prospect is the closest bed and breakfast to the park (about 28 miles away). The rooms are decorated with antiques and have an old-fashioned feel; each is named after the inn’s famous past guests and figures with connections to Crater Lake, such as Teddy Roosevelt and Jack London. Guests enjoy a hearty breakfast in the dining room each morning, and the property also has a motel on-site. 

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Available year-round
retro airstream trailer in the heart of Terlingua ghost town and mining ruins is your headquarters for basking in the limestone-canyon-dominated desert scapes of Big Bend National Park (a 15-minute drive). In the bohemian-style bungalow, guests slumber in a queen-size bed. They can take advantage of perks such as a small dining and seating area with a refrigerator and microwave and a perfect-for-stargazing shaded outdoor deck. 

Arches National Park, Utah

Available year-round
A stay at the Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab comes with an incredible history lesson at the Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage, a collection of memorabilia housed on-site documenting the area’s rich cinematic past. In addition, the lodge, which has rustic rooms decked out with frontier-style decor and knotty pine accents, offers tours of the national park’s iconic natural arches (the largest concentration in the world). The sunset option is excellent for groups of all ages. 

Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Available year-round
This picturesque two-bedroom house in Wall has a spacious living area, a TV with access to several streaming apps and a well-equipped kitchen — great features for unwinding after a day outdoors. The home is 8 miles from the national park, where visitors can admire multicolored geologic formations and fascinating fossil beds. 

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Late May through early September
A stay at the Glacier Bay Lodge in Gustavus, the only accommodations available within park boundaries, puts you at the center of the action. At the lodge, take in sunset views of the Fairweather Mountain range, relax by the giant fireplace and stroll on the networks of trails that wind through the surrounding rainforest. The property also offers mountain bike and fishing gear rentals, shuttle service and other convenient perks. 

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Available year-round
This photo-worthy cabin in Luray offers easy access to the best of the Shenandoah Mountains. That includes tubing, rafting and fishing in a nearby river (only a 10-minute walk away) and scenic drives, hikes and wildlife watching in the national park (a 15-minute drive away). The cabin’s interior, accented with eye-catching blue hues and wood paneling, has two beds, a gas fireplace, renovated kitchen, and a private deck with forest views.

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