Booking a hotel room near a state or national park gives you the best of both worlds: You get to experience the great outdoors without having to pitch a tent or make other sacrifices in comfort that usually go along with camping. These hotels and lodges offer gourmet meals, luxury amenities, and other services that will help you enjoy visiting the parks in a way that you wouldn’t be able to on your own.
Photo courtesy of El Tovar
El Tovar: Grand Canyon
Built in 1905, this hotel is set on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and features architecture that evokes a Swiss chalet and Norwegian villa. When it first opened, it was widely considered to be the most elegant hotel west of the Mississippi River. Today, guests can start their day with a cup of coffee on the historic hotel’s front porch, which overlooks the canyon, and then retreat back after a day of exploring to enjoy dinner in El Tovar’s upscale El Tovar Dining Room.
Photo courtesy of The Inn at Furnace Creek
The Inn at Furnace Creek: Death Valley National Park
This 4-Diamond resort was built in 1927 and was inspired by Spanish missions. The 66-room hotel is situated within California’s Death Valley National Park and is open from mid-October to mid-May each year. Guests flock to this relaxing getaway to stroll through the peaceful palm gardens and hang out at the spring-fed pools. The hotel is also steps away from a nearby golf course, which is notable for being the world’s lowest golf course (it’s 214-feet below sea level).
Photo courtesy of the Many Glacier Hotel
Many Glacier Hotel: Glacier National Park
Situated on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake on the northeastern part of Montana’s Glacier National Park, this 215-room hotel offers sweeping views of the lake and three glaciers. You won’t find any TVs or Internet access in the Swiss chalet-themed rooms, but with easy access to evening glacier tours, hikes, fly-fishing, and more, you won’t miss the technology.
Photo courtesy of Island House Hotel
Island House Hotel: Mackinac Island State Park
Visiting this car-free Michigan island is like stepping back in time, and this Victorian-style hotel further embodies the destination’s 19th-century vibe. Guests enjoy the picturesque waterfront views from the hotel’s veranda and terrace. Other amenities include the soothing hot tub andsauna. The hotel is just a short walk from Mackinac Island State Park, but you should rent bikes at Island House’s onsite shop and explore the park and island via two wheels.
The lobby at Jackson Lake Lodge | Photo courtesy of Jackson Lake Lodge
Jackson Lake Lodge: Grand Teton National Park
The rooms are impressive at this sprawling Wyoming hotel resort, but the lobby is where it’s really at. That’s where you’ll find 60-foot windows offering breathtaking panoramic views of Jackson Lake and Teton Range. It’s the perfect spot to zone out and really take in your surroundings. The 385-room property also features a heated outdoor pool, four restaurants and an exhibit of American Indian artifacts and Western art.
Swimming near the lodge | Photo courtesy of the Lodge at Wakulla Springs
The Lodge at Wakulla Springs: Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
This 27-room hotel is an ideal destination for nature lovers. Surrounded by 6,000 acres of a pristine Florida forests, each room overlooks the largest springs in the US. Guests can get up close and personal with the great outdoors via hiking trails, boat tours and swimming. And once you get back to the hotel, you can hang out in the elegant marble-clad lobby which features an impressive decorative ceiling painting depicting local wildlife scenes. The Lodge is also home to the only known surviving Art Deco elevator that’s still in use.
