Posted in Bucket List
January 10, 2023
11 Amazing Accommodations Inside America’s Most Scenic National Parks
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
When planning your bucket-list adventure at one of our country’s amazing national parks, it’s important to designate a “home base” that’s just as awe-inspiring as its setting. Whether that means enjoying morning coffee on the rim of the Grand Canyon or having a nightcap while shooting stars pass across the skies of Death Valley, where you stay is a crucial part of the equation. In the spirit of making your next adventure as amazing as possible, we’re offering 11 accommodations that will take your national parks experience to the next level.
Tucked away in one of the country's most beautiful and unspoiled natural areas, Lake Quinault Lodge is the perfect getaway for nature lovers. This grand lodge seems to be suspended in time, offering guests a serene space for unplugged, uninterrupted reflection. Surrounded by the lush, verdant forests of Olympic National Park and with trails just steps away from the lodge, there's no better place to fill your bucket than this Pacific Northwest paradise.
Lake Quinault Lodge, 345 S Shore Rd, Quinault, WA 98575, USA
Crater Lake is one of Oregon’s most treasured gems. It’s the deepest, purest lake in the country -- and certainly the most beautiful. A visit to this national park is a magical experience, and you can make it even better by staying overnight at the historic Crater Lake Lodge. Opened in 1915, you'll find this rustic retreat on the southwest rim, perched 1,000 feet above the lake. The rooms are updated yet retain many of their historic features, and the lodge's dining room provides the most unique dining experience you'll ever have: it overlooks Crater Lake and features chef-prepared meals made with locally-sourced ingredients.
Crater Lake Lodge, Crater Lake National Park, 570 Rim Village Dr, Oregon 97604, USA
The largest hotel in Glacier National Park, Many Glacier Hotel is located in the northeastern corner of the park, colloquially referred to as the "Switzerland of North America." Partially renovated in 2016, this secluded and stately five-story hotel has over 200 guest rooms ranging in size and offering unique amenities and swoon-worthy vistas. While a bit more rustic than other national park accommodations, Many Glacier Hotel's location on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake is absolutely perfect and provides some of the most epic, jaw-dropping views in the country.
Many Glacier Hotel, 1147 Rte 3, Browning, MT 59417, USA
One of the earliest examples of "parkitecture," Old Faithful Inn has been welcoming guests since 1904 and is considered the largest log cabin in the world. Local Wyoming logs and stone were used when this cabin was built, with architect Robert Reamer designing the light fixtures to look like candlesticks and equipping the inn with a steam generator to run both heat and electricity. Over the last century, it has become the park's most requested place to stay, and for good reason -- the attention to detail in the entire building is incredible. When you visit, you can't miss the enormous stone fireplace or the massive clock, the latter of which was handcrafted with copper, wood, and wrought iron. In addition to its cozy rooms and highly sought-after restaurant, this inn affords incredible views of the Old Faithful Geyser.
Old Faithful Inn, 3200 Old Faithful Inn Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
A glorious gem that's widely considered one of the most beautiful places on the planet, Grand Teton National Park is a place that needs no introduction. The park's centerpiece is the beguiling Jenny Lake, a gorgeous glacial lake that's one of the deepest lakes in the country, attracting millions of visitors each year. There are a lot of ways to enjoy this beautiful natural wonder, and Jenny Lake Lodge provides bucket-list accommodations befitting of such beauty. The property's cabins are dotted throughout the woods, with some being more secluded and surrounded by trees, and others having a clear view of the lake. Jenny Lake is a place to enjoy sublime solitude in the most scenic of settings, and the accommodations at Jenny Lake Lodge perfectly compliment such adventure.
Jenny Lake Lodge, Jenny Lake Rd, Moose, WY 83012, USA
Situated on the border of California and Nevada, Death Valley is a land of extremes: it's the hottest, driest, and lowest-elevation national park in the country. Unique geographical features such as the salt flats, which stretch for 200 square miles, seemingly endless sand dunes, and sedimentary badlands form the landscape of Death Valley, creating a landscape that's wholly unique and uncanny. And in the heart of it all, the Oasis at Death Valley is an extraordinary oasis, offering guests the opportunity to revel (in the lap of luxury, no less) in this unforgettable place. A former working ranch smack in the center of the park, this unique destination unabashedly embraces its rustic roots while adding plenty of modern-day elegance and pizazz.
The Oasis at Death Valley, 6312 Zabriskie Ln, Death Valley, CA 92328, USA
Of the Beehive State's five national parks, Zion National Park is arguably Utah’s finest gem. Its rugged, natural beauty draws more than 4.5 million visitors every year, many of whom wish to stay and explore awhile. While camping opportunities at Zion are abundant, for an especially magical trip to this national park, book a stay in its historic lodge. A visit to Zion National Park Lodge is like stepping back into the 1920s -- in all the best ways. It's the only lodging inside the park, and there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from including cabins, hotel rooms, and suites. With private decks, comfortable furnishings, and historic features, Zion National Park Lodge is the perfect "home base" for your adventures in this incredible national park.
Zion National Park Lodge, 1 Zion lodge, Springdale, UT 84767, USA
Located literally on the rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona's El Tovar Hotel first opened its doors in 1905. The hotel was designed by Charles Whittlesey, Chief Architect for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, who envisioned it as a cross between a Swiss chalet and a Norwegian Villa. The hotel was built from local limestone and Oregon pine, and upon opening in 1905, many considered the El Tovar the grandest hotel in the American West. Nearly 125 years later, El Tovar is as enchanting as ever, offering guests unparalleled views of the Grand Canyon -- without stepping foot outdoors.
El Tovar Hotel, 9 Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, USA
A glorious expanse in the heart of Texas, Big Bend National Park stretches across 800,000 acres along the U.S.-Mexico border. It is among the most remote, and least visited, national parks in the Lower 48; a place perfect for getting away from it all. At the threshold of Big Bend National Park, Lajitas Golf Resort offers rustic luxury amid the wilds of West Texas. Guests can choose from accommodations such as the Officer’s Quarters, Cavalry Post, and Badlands Hotel at this iconoclastic resort that's outfitted with Western art, bespoke decor, and handmade furniture. Those can get the "full Texas experience" will find it at this resort, which offers on-site activities such as clay pigeon shooting, horseback riding, and golf. As for the sunsets over the skies of Big Bend that you'll see from your room -- be prepared for an otherworldly, awe-inspiring, boldly "big" Texas experience.
Lajitas Golf Resort, 21701 FM170, Terlingua, TX 79852, USA
Nestled within the stunning landscape of Smoky Mountains National Park on a lush glade at an elevation of 6,400 feet, LeConte Lodge is a vision. The highest guest lodge in the eastern United States, this guest lodge is unapologetically rustic and extraordinarily unique. With no running water or electricity, what LeConte Lodge lacks in amenities it more than makes for in experience. The quiet and calm offered at this lodge -- which only books up to 60 guests at a time and often has a waitlist -- allows guests to slow down and enjoy the little things; or, as it were, some of the biggest, most marvelous, wondrous views and mountain scenery in the country.
LeConte Lodge, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
West Street Hotel is a boutique experience in one of the country's most ruggedly resplendent national parks. Open seasonally starting in May, West Street Hotel is home to Maine's only rooftop infinity edge pool, from which guests can gaze out at a panorama of postcard perfection: Acadia, Frenchman’s Bay, and the outer islands. Private balconies provide uninterrupted views of the Crown Jewel of the Atlantic Coast, while spa services pamper tired feet from trekking the park's 120 miles of trails. For those looking to experience peak Downeast Maine, this hotel puts guests right in the middle of the best Bar Harbor attractions, restaurants, and shops.
Acadia National Park, Maine, USA
When you start to feel the pull of your wanderlust, these amazing accommodations are truly befitting of their surroundings inside America’s most treasured national parks.
Instagram Inspiration
Smoky Mountains is one of our country’s most-visited national parks, and for good reason. The most biodiverse national park in America that’s home to numerous trails and endless adventures, over 14 million people visited Smoky Mountains National Park in 2021. Luckily, there are many amazing places to stay in this expansive national park, including numerous accommodations near Ober Gatlinburg.
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