Where to Stay at America’s 25 Best National Parks: Lodges, Hotels and Airbnbs
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.
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The Wild West: Rockies & Mountain Escapes
Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming): Lake Yellowstone Hotel
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): Modern Condo Retreat
Available year-round
Wake up to sweeping mountain views in this remodeled two-bedroom condo, located minutes from downtown Estes Park and the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. This retreat features two king-bed master suites, vaulted ceilings, a cozy gas fireplace and a private deck overlooking Mary’s Lake. In warmer months, spend your days hiking trails through woodlands and wildflower meadows. Year-round guests love spotting moose in Colorado’s most visited national park or exploring Estes Park’s charming shops and restaurants. Afterward, unwind in the seasonal heated pool or hot tub (Memorial Day–Labor Day) and sip wine beneath star-filled skies.
Glacier National Park (Montana): Alpine Tiny Homes
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.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Colorado): Smith Fork Ranch
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. At the park, visitors can stargaze, hike and fish amid the steep-walled gorge. While the national park’s activities are a 30-minute drive away, there’s also plenty to do closer to home. While visiting the all-inclusive ranch try your hand at horseback riding or swimming in the spring-fed pond.
Red Rocks & Canyons: The Southwest Desert
Zion National Park (Utah): Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort
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 equipped with twin and king beds and Wi-Fi.
Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona): Wander Camp Glamping
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.
Arches National Park (Utah): Red Cliffs Lodge
Available year-round
A stay at Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab includes a unique history lesson. Visit the on-site Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage. This collection documents the area’s rich cinematic past. In addition, the lodge offers tours of the national park’s iconic natural arches. Arches National Park is known for having the largest concentration of natural arches in the world. The lodge offers guests tours of the iconic arches. The sunset tour option is an excellent adventure for groups of all ages. After a long day of park exploration, come back to enjoy all Red Cliffs has to offer. The lodge features rustic rooms decked out with frontier-style decor and knotty pine accents.
Canyonlands National Park (Utah): Glamping Dome in Monticello
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, a kitchenette, Wi-Fi and a private bathroom. Plus, a shower with hot water is available in a separate bathhouse just a short walk away.
Joshua Tree National Park (California): Spin and Margie’s Desert Lounge
Available year-round
The funky town of Joshua Tree has been home to artists, musicians and other creatives for decades. It’s also where you’ll find the western entrance to the eponymous national park. 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.
Big Bend National Park (Texas): “Rosie” the Airstream Trailer
Available year-round
A 1970 Airstream trailer lovingly named “Rosie” 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 charming, yellow-accented space, guests slumber in two single beds and a sofa bed. They can take advantage of perks such as a full bathroom, small kitchen, seating area and a perfect-for-stargazing backyard.
Coastal & Island Getaways: The Pacific Coast & Cascades
Yosemite National Park (California): Modern Five-Bedroom Retreat
Available year-round
This five-bedroom home in Oakhurst is the perfect place for large groups. The home sits just 20 minutes from the national park’s south entrance and five minutes from Bass Lake. The airy, modern retreat can accommodate up to 10. Guests can enjoy ample amenities, including a waterfall-equipped swimming hole and hot tub. Back on dry land, enjoy the home’s deck and beautiful kitchen stocked with everything you need to prepare feasts.
Olympic National Park (Washington): Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort
Late March through late October
Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Port Angeles offers access to a hot spring pool inside the national park. During your visit, explore old-growth forests, dramatic peaks and sparkling lakes before you 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 a kitchen.
Sequoia National Park (California): Wuksachi Lodge
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 several attractions. Close by, visitors can see the more than 2,200-year-old General Sherman Tree, the world’s largest single-stem tree. Or, in the evening, visit Moro Rock, a popular place to watch the sunset.
Mount Rainier National Park (Washington): Secluded Wilderness Cabin
Available year-round
This secluded, wilderness-themed cabin in Ashford is nestled amid towering trees, just outside the Nisqually entrance to Mount Rainier National Park (about 6 miles away). It sleeps four (a king, a sofa and a bunk bed) and has many amenities. For some post-park adventure fun enjoy a private hot tub, an outdoor fire pit, yard games and a barbecue.
Crater Lake National Park (Oregon): Renovated Katydid Ranch Home
Available year-round
Stay less than 30 miles from Crater Lake’s south entrance at this beautifully renovated ranch home in Prospect. Located on a 100-acre Katydid Ranch in the Cascade Mountains, the retreat offers hardwood floors, a fireplace, three bedrooms and three bathrooms. After exploring Crater Lake, unwind on the wraparound deck, where you can enjoy views of the tranquil meadow and spy on deer, elk and other wildlife.
Eastern Gems: Atlantic Coast & The Appalachians
Acadia National Park (Maine): Seashore Tiny Home
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 less than 20 minutes away from the national park’s granite peaks and Atlantic coastline. And, just 20 minutes from the bars and restaurants of Mount Desert Island. An ideal space for two to four (with a queen and a sofa bed), it offers private beach access, a small kitchen, a bathroom and air conditioning.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee): The Bearskin Lodge
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.
Shenandoah National Park (Virginia): Photo-Worthy Luray Cabin
Available year-round
This stunning spot in Luray offers easy access to the Shenandoah Mountains. Just a 10-minute walk to a nearby river, there are plenty of water-centric activities. Try your hand at tubing, rafting and fishing. The national park is just a quick 15-minute drive away. Enjoy scenic drives, hikes and wildlife watching. Back at the cabin, kick back and relax in this calming environment. The cabin’s interior is accented with eye-catching blue hues and wood paneling. It also features two beds, a gas fireplace, a renovated kitchen and a private deck with forest views.
The Heartland: Caves, Dunes and Badlands
Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky): Serenity Hill Bed and Breakfast
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.
Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana): The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club
Available year-round
Looking for something to do without the kids? The Brewery Lodge & Supper Club is a 12-suite, adults-only boutique property. Located in Michigan City, the lodge is roughly 17 minutes from Indiana Dunes National Park. The park borders Lake Michigan, providing access to hiking trails amid dunes, forests and prairies. Later, when back at the lodge, enjoy a beer-and-wine bar serving locally made libations and a renowned restaurant. Plus, guests have access to 40 acres of on-site private woodlands.
Badlands National Park (South Dakota): Picturesque Wall House
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.
The Final Frontier: Alaska & The Pacific Islands
Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska): Camp Denali Cabins
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 the boreal forest is 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.
Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska): Modern A-Frame Cabin
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 features a wet room, claw-foot tub, wood-pellet stove, kitchenette and a private deck. There’s also a shared sauna, firepit and sweeping views of Resurrection Bay.
Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska): Glacier Bay Lodge
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.
Haleakalā National Park (Hawaii): Organic Fruit Farm Cottage
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. Tropical flowers and fruit trees flank the lovely, white-walled cottage. Additionally, the space features a kitchen, a 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.