There’s no wrong way to visit a national park, but spending the night (or three) in or near the park itself just hits different. National Park hotels offer more than just a place to rest—they unlock the front door to adventure. Wake to mountain views, step onto trailheads just beyond your balcony, or kayak a glassy lake before breakfast. And while cabins and campsites will always be classics, many of the US’s 63 national parks have upscale alternatives that offer the best of both worlds: You can still wake up to views of red rocks and mountain peaks, but you’ll be tucked in a king-size bed with a luxe bathroom just steps away.
Here, I’ve rounded up some of the most beautiful national park hotels in the country, both in terms of their surrounding nature and the accommodations themselves. You’ll find five-star lodges in Grand Teton, inns with heated pools in Acadia, and luxurious treehouses in the Great Smoky Mountains—and even some glamping sites, in case you don’t want to stray too far from the outdoors.
Whether it’s a weeklong retreat or a one-night stop on a cross-country road trip, these stunning stays—from Big Bend to Yellowstone—bring the wild wonderfully close.