7 Great Places to Bunk at America's National Parks

Besides being one the most beautiful spots on the planet, the nearly 3,500 square miles of wilderness at Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana and Idaho) are home to grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of free-ranging bison and elk. Don’t miss seeing Old Faithful, a spectacular thermal geyser that erupts once every 45 to 90 minutes. For more information on Yellowstone, click here. 

Yosemite National Park encompasses 1,200 square miles of wilderness right in the middle of California! There’s Half Dome, a towering granite peak that sits 8,800 feet above sea level; the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias (the Grizzly Giant is 2,700 years old); and the stunning Yosemite Valley. For more information on the park, click here. 

While visiting Yosemite, consider an overnight at the laid-back Big Trees Lodge (formerly Wawona). The old-fashioned family-style hotel is nestled under the pines and aspens four miles from the park’s south entrance and offers rooms starting at $114. For more on Big Trees Lodge, click here. 

At Acadia National Park you can explore the rugged coast of Maine, climb Cadillac Mountain (the highest peak on the Atlantic Coast), and hike the park’s historic stone carriage roads. For more information on Acadia National Park, click here.

Consider an overnight at one of two campgrounds at Acadia National Park, including Seawall, rated one of the coolest spots to camp in America (from $22 to $60 per night). For more information on Seawall, click here. 

Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee) for the sunsets on Clingmans Dome Road, the wildflowers, the 19th-century Mountain Farm Museum and Mingus Mill, and the chance to cruise along what some consider America’s most scenic byways. For more on Great Smoky Mountains National Park, click here.

While visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, consider an overnight at LeConte Lodge. It's located at 6,360 feet, near the summit of Mt. LeConte. Depending on the trail, you'll need to hike five to eight miles to get there! A rustic, hand-hewn lodge room or cabin (plus dinner and breakfast) costs $148 per adult per night and $85 for kids. For more information on LeConte Lodge, click here. 

Even if you've got your heart set on hardwood flooring, it's worth considering the alternatives. Sometimes, materials that only look like wood can be just as good as—or even better than—the real thing. Explore your options now!