The U.S. National Parks are for all to enjoy. From a quick hike during a day trip to a weeklong excursion, travelers will find varied and unique landscapes to experience. Some of the largest and oldest national parks offer in-park lodging. From the Old Faithful Inn, a log cabin hotel, to the Volcano House, perched on the side of a volcano crater, overnight guests can immerse themselves in one of the National Park Lodges, many of which are National Historic Landmarks. Here are the top National Park Lodges in the U.S.
21 Top National Park Lodges in the U.S
Old Faithful Inn
Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
Roosevelt Lodge
El Tovar
Bright Angel Lodge
Phantom Ranch
Many Glacier Hotel
Lake McDonald Lodge
Jackson Lake Lodge
Jenny Lake Lodge
The Ranch at Death Valley
The Inn at Death Valley
Ahwahawnee Hotel
Crater Lake Lodge
Lake Quinault Lodge
Lake Crescent Lodge
Paradise Inn
National Park Inn
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Volcano House
History of National Park Lodges
When the first national parks were created, traveling by car wasn’t the norm. In the late 1800s, people traveled by train and stayed much longer in a destination.
Often, the railroads promoted tourism to national parks. To do that, the railroads also developed park lodging to accommodate visitors.
From Glacier to Yellowstone National Parks, the railroads worked with architects to build lodges that blended into the landscape. This architectural style became known as National Park Rustic, or Parkitecture. Leaders of the movement included Mary Colter, Robert Reamer and Gilbert Stanley Underwood.
Each structure lives in a delicate balance, usually created over 100 years ago, and built in a vulnerable location. Even with constant maintenance, these structures can be destroyed, like the Grand Canyon Lodge, lost to a wildfire in 2025.
Yellowstone National Park
Located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park attracts visitors from around the world, and it is one of the top national parks in the U.S. It’s a world-class outdoor destination with amazing scenery, top wildlife viewing, and lots of geothermal activity.
If staying in the park, visitors will find a range of lodging, even newer accommodations. However, staying in a historic lodge is hard to beat for ambience.
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Old Faithful Inn
Old Faithful Inn flung open its doors on June 1, 1904. Built of local forest products, a young architect, Robert Reamer, dreamed up the idea of bringing the forest indoors. In the process, Reamer developed a new architectural style–Park Architecture and Old Faithful Inn is now a symbol of Yellowstone.
Personally, it’s one of my favorite hotel stays of my career. It’s a whimsical space, and I enjoyed spending the evening listening to the live music that fills the seven-story-tall cavernous lobby.
If you are not staying in the Old Faithful Inn, walk through it or, better yet, take a free tour. The second floor offers a coffee and cocktail bar. Grab a drink and head to the outside balcony to watch Old Faithful Geyser erupt.
The Old Faithful Inn is open seasonally from May until early October.
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Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Opening in 1891 Lake Yellowstone Hotel remains the oldest hotel in the National Park Service. A departure from the rustic style of the NPS parkitecture, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel wanted to attract Victorian tourists from the East Coast with a more refined hotel.
You can find lots of lodging options at Lake Yellowstone, including the most luxurious rooms in Yellowstone National Park and cabins that scream family fun. Lake Yellowstone is an ideal location for multi-generational travel.
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel is open seasonally from May until early October.
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Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
Part of the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District, this area is a 158-acre parcel near the Northwest entrance of Yellowstone. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel sits on the spot of the National Hotel, a Queen Anne building torn down due to poor construction.
Part of the hotel dates to 1919, when Robert Reamer, the architect at Old Faithful, renovated the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. He came back in the 1930s and added its Arte Moderne style that visitors see today.
The Mammoth Hotel Springs Hotel is a year-round property with a variety of accommodations. Guests will find historic rooms with original clawfoot tubs and Western Cabins behind the main hotel. In the main hotel, rooms feature a king bed or double queen beds.
The rooms are well-appointed and feature a mini-fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, along with a chair and reading lamp. None of the rooms at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel features air-conditioning, a TV or a radio.
The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is open year-round. Reservations are a must.
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Roosevelt Lodge Cabins
Named after Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the U.S., who spent time camping in this area. This lodge evokes the spirit of the West–wild and free. It was built in 1920 out of logs sourced nearby.
The Roosevelt Lodge is a log building with a restaurant, two fireplaces and a lounge area with a bar. It also offers a reception desk for checking into the nearby cabins.
Along its deep front porch, visitors will find a line of rocking chairs. The lodge offers two types of cabins, and they are clumped together. The Roosevelt Lodge is open from early June to Labor Day weekend.
There are two types of cabins at The Roosevelt Lodge: Frontier Cabins and Rough Rider Cabins. The Frontier feature en-suite showers in each. The Rough Rider Cabins are furnished with beds and a pot-belly stove.
Not for everyone, I enjoyed my stay at The Roosevelt Lodge’s Rough Rider Cabin. It’s a quiet corner of the park, and open from May until September.
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Grand Canyon National Park
In 1876, Fred Harvey opened restaurants and hotels catering to train passengers in Kansas for the Atkinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The Fred Harvey Company became a standard in hospitality while traveling on the train in the Southwest.
The Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad built several buildings along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon since it was a major destination for the train. Mary Colter, an architect for Fred Harvey from 1904 to 1949, designed many of the notable buildings.
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El Tovar
Opened in 1905, the El Tovar Hotel was designed by Charles Whittlesey for the Atkinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Built of local limestone and Oregon pine, find log walls, limestone arches and Arts and Crafts furniture. It’s a National Historic Landmark.
As the premier property on the South Rim, it features a dining room along with a lounge and in-room dining. Find standard rooms to suites and reservations required.
Bright Angel Lodge
Opened in 1935, the Bright Angel Lodge was designed by Mary Colter. It features log construction, abode and local limestone. Inside, find the geological fireplace that mimics the canyon itself, along with hand-carved and brightly painted doors.
Surrounding the main lodge, there are log cabins painted in a palette of NPS Brown with Kelly Green accents. Some cabins even offer rim views.
The lodge is near the Bright Angel Trail and part of the Grand Canyon Village National Historic Landmark District. The entire area is walkable, from the lodging to the log cabin trail station, with daily service from Williams, AZ.
Phantom Ranch at the Bottom of the Canyon
This fabled ranch is located at the bottom of the canyon. The only way down is hiking or securing a spot on the wildly popular mule train.
Designed by Mary Colter and built in 1922, the lodging at the bottom of the canyon used river rock found on site, along with Oregon pine. In the National Park Rustic style, the cabins are painted in NPS brown and sage green, each outfitted with a picnic table and a bench out front.
It takes about five hours to reach on the mule train or by hiking a canyon trail. Lodging and meals are provided, and rooms are awarded on a lottery system 14 months in advance. Meals can be arranged in advance for those camping with a few days’ notice.
Glacier National Park
The Jewel of the Continent, this Northern Montana national park is covered in snow most of the year. However, once it melts, it is glorious.
From granite peaks to wildflower meadows to chalet-inspired lodges, Glacier National Park is one of the most stunning landscapes. Since its seasonal is short, the Going-to-the-Sun road bisecting the park is open late June or early July until October, and reservations are essential.
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Lake McDonald Lodge
A classic Swiss chalet along the shore of Lake McDonald, it was built in 1913 and features a three-story lodge building with lodge rooms. The interiors feature historic furnishings and log-style design elements.
Also, find cabins, a hostel-style dormitory and Cobb House, a collection of suites. This property underwent a renovation in 2015.
Open seasonal from early May until late September. Reservations required.
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Many Glacier Hotel
Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1914 and 1915 in the Swiss Chalet Style, it’s the largest property in Glacier National Park. Inside its central lobby, find National Park Service Parkitecture elements throughout, like rough-hewn logs used for columns.
The Many Glacier Hotel features 205 guest rooms, two suites and seven guest rooms. All rooms have private bathrooms. Open seasonal from early May until late September. Reservations required.
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Grand Teton National Park
Part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Grand Teton National Park is home to the stunning Teton Mountains. It boasts pristine lakes at the base of the mountains that reflect its stunning scenery.
Since Grand Teton is south of Yellowstone, many visitors to the area tour Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park on the same trip. It offers many recreation opportunities, including several lakes.
Jenny Lake Lodge
As Grand Teton National Park’s only AAA four-diamond option, Jenny Lake Lodge offers rustic refinement paired with activities and locally inspired fine dining.
Each cabin is unique, but it features quilts, a wood-burning stove, WiFi, and a mini refrigerator. Outside, enjoy looking for wildlife from your rocking chair.
It is open seasonally from late May until early October. Reservations are essential.
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Jackson Lake Lodge
Built in 1955, the Jackson Lake Lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the International Style, popular at the time. It’s more modern in appear than the lodge at Jenny Lake.
For traditional lodge rooms, Jackson Lake Lodge offers forest-view and mountain-view options. Located upstairs in the main lodge building, guests are steps away from several dining options.
Jackson Lake Lodge is more contemporary than Jenny Lake. It is open seasonally from Mid-may until October.
Death Valley National Park
In Southern California, Death Valley National Park is a warm-winter escape offering plenty of hiking, scenic drives, and even a golf course. It also holds a lot of records.
Most visitors know it as the hottest place in the U.S.; however, it is also home to the lowest elevation in the U.S. With a unique landscape to explore and an unforgettable name, it became famous in movies, and there is even year-round swimming in a palm-treed Oasis.
The Ranch at Death Valley
Death Valley was used to mine Borax, a popular laundry detergent. The Pacific Coast Borax Company built the Furnace Creek area in 1933 to support the railroad after the mining stopped.
The Ranch at Death Valley is a family-friendly environment with 244 rooms, including several restaurants and a spring-fed pool. It is conveniently located next to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and open year-round; however, high season is October to May.
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The Inn at Death Valley
As the most luxurious property in Death Valley, the Inn at Furnace Creek is a four-diamond desert resort built in 1927. Long considered a hideout for Hollywood stars and Parisian socialites, the property underwent an extensive renovation.
Its Spanish Mission architecture stands in contrast to the mountain behind it. The iconic swimming pool overlooks the valley below and maintains a year-round temperature of 87°F. Loungers can enjoy a shaded cabana for all-day lounging with refreshments steps away from the poolside.
The Inn at Furnace Creek is open year-round; however, most activities are shuttered in the summer, from June until September.
Yosemite National Park
Set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks in the U.S. Naturalist John Muir captivated the public with his efforts to save this landscape that includes Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, redwoods, waterfalls and more.
For first-time visitors, Yosemite Valley is the place to start, with Yosemite’s most famous waterfalls, like Vernal Fall, Nevada Fall, Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls. Travelers will also find the majority of the lodging, camping and dining in the valley.
The Ahwahawnee Hotel
In the Yosemite Valley, The Ahwahawnee hotel opened in 1927. A National Historic Landmark, it was designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood and features Native American, Middle Eastern and Arts & Crafts design elements.
Its construction included 5,000 tons of granite, 1,000 tons of steel from San Francisco and 30,000 feet of lumber harvested nearby. From its locations, guests can see Half Dome, Glacier Point and Yosemite Falls.
As the grandest of the Yosemite lodges, The Ahwahawnee hotel offers many gathering spaces, from the Tudor Lounge to the Great Lounge to the Mural Room. It features standalone cottages, hotel parlour rooms and rooms within the lodge.
The Ahwahawnee is open year-round. Reservations are essential.
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Crater Lake National Park
From volcanic destruction, one of the most beautiful lakes in North America was born. Known for its surreal blue water and clarity, Crater Lake is best visited from late June through the end of summer when the roads are cleared of snow.
Located in the southwest corner of Oregon, the top sites at Crater Lake are its Rim Drive and the Crater Lake Lodge. Hiking and taking the scenic cruise are a must for a summertime visit.
Crater Lake Lodge
Overlooking Crater Lake and surrounded by mountains, Crater Lake Lodge dates back to 1915. It has been restored and upgraded with refined dining and lodging. Visitors will find a grand fireplace in the lobby, and the dining room serves regional cuisine.
If you are not staying the night, order a drink at the coffee bar and head to the rocking chairs overlooking the lake on the lodge’s back patio. It is centrally located and not far from the Sinnott Memorial Observation Station.
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Olympic National Park and Forest
Across Puget Sound on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park is home to several different ecosystems. From beaches with tide pools to hot spring soaking pools to snow-capped mountains to the temperate rainforests, visitors can explore the outdoors for a few days.
Mountaintop hikes through the wildflowers can be followed by a kayak trip across a blue lake surrounded by evergreens. Best of all, there are historic lodges to enjoy in the evening.
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Lake Quinault Lodge
Constructed in 1926 by Robert Reamer, the main lodge at Lake Quinault Lodge features cedar shakes and original divided light windows. The evergreen shutters match the towering centuries-old spruce trees that surround the Lodge, adding charm to this hidden gem.
Inside, the lobby’s fireplace begs for a book and a glass of wine. Lake Quinault Lodge offers a range of rooms, from historic rooms to suites.
Overlooking Lake Quinault, guests will find complimentary water sports, like kayaking. Evenings are celebrated with s’mores by the campfire.
The Lake Quinault Lodge is open year-round. It is located just outside of Olympic National Park in Olympic National Forest.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Built in 1915, The Lake Crescent Lodge features Arts and Crafts styling, with lakeside cabins and cottages. Inside, guests will find a stone fireplace overlooking the lake.
Guests can stay in lodge rooms, some of which feature fireplaces. The Lake Crescent Lodge offers cabins, too. Travelers can enjoy lake activities from swimming to kayaking to hiking.
Located at 416 Lake Crescent Rd. Open seasonally from early May until the end of January.
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Mount Rainier National Park
Rising 14,410 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Mount Rainier can be seen from Seattle on a clear day, only a couple of hours away. With its cone-shaped peak, it’s an active volcano and one of the most glaciated peaks in the contiguous U.S.
Mount Rainier spawns five rivers and a hub for high-pointers, climbing to its peak. From hiking to year-round snow, the park is an outdoor destination.
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Paradise Inn
Anchoring the Paradise Historic District, the inn opened in 1917. It is a National Historic Landmark and is considered one of the Great Inns of the West.
Using local materials, the Paradise Inn features cedar shingles, native rock and weathered timbers with a silver patina. Its steeply pitched green roof and bracing structure help Paradise Inn hold its snow load each winter.
Inside, exposed cedar beams draw guests’ eyes throughout the Great Hall. Dormer windows let in the sun, and bays feature cozy seating nooks. Two 4-by-6-foot fireplaces are located on either end of the room.
Many of the furnishings were crafted by artisan Hans Fraenke, including a 14-foot Grandfather clock and two tables weighing 1,500 pounds. President Harry Truman played on the inn’s piano in 1945. Other furniture came from Old Hickory Company.
There is a wrap-around mezzanine level. From here, guests can see the hand-painted lampshades featuring wildflowers. In the evening, a musician plays the piano.
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National Park Inn
Located in Longmire Historic District, the 1911 building houses 25 cozy, non-smoking guestrooms. It’s got a shingle exterior and features a front porch with seating and views of the mountains.
There is a restuarant on-site, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can also take an afternoon tea served in the library with a fireplace.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Utah’s Mighty Five is its collection of five stunning national parks. Part of the Grand Staircase, Bryce Canyon National Park is a must when road-tripping.
Standing on the canyon rim, it resembles the sun setting as it fades from pink to orange to vermilion. A quick drive from its neighbor, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon’s rocks are painted pink and red.
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The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
With its green shingle roofs and log-cabin construction, the 1925 historic Bryce Canyon Lodge is listed on the Register of Historic Places. As a smaller national park, guests can walk from the lodge to popular hiking trails.
The lodge offers a combination of well-appointed lodge rooms, with a mini-fridge, a microwave and a coffeemaker. Close to its rim, the lodge offers a restaurant too.
For guests desiring more space, reserve a western cabin, steps from the canyon’s edge. Each offers rustic elegance in a more private setting with two queen beds, a gas-log fireplace with a mini-fridge, a microwave and a coffeemaker. Western cabins also feature a covered porch.
The Lodge at Bryce Canyon is open from April to the end of October. Reservations are a must.
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
On the oldest and largest island, the Island of Hawaii, is dominated by a pair of volcanoes, considered gods. At the center of the island is an explosive core, surrounded by heavenly Polynesian flowers and beaches of every color with gentle sea breezes.
Both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa are the most active volcanoes in the world, and Kīlauea has been erupting lately. To learn more about the volcanic past and present, visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for a lesson in volcanology and how the land recovers after an eruption.
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Volcano House
The Volcano House is perched along the edge of the Kīlauea volcano. The first grass hut opened in the area in the 1840s.
A timber-framed building was erected in 1866, and guests included Mark Twain. It was enlarged in 1877, and this building still stands as the Arts Center.
After a fire, the present hotel opened in 1941 and has undergone renovations over the years. Find 33 rooms, along with a dining room overlooking the crater.
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