These 12 unique lodges let you stay within US national parks

23.04.2024 - 08:28 / lonelyplanet.com

Get up close to the splendor of the USA’s majestic national parks.

Little more than a century ago, riding the rails to one of a grand lodge within a US national parks ranked among the most luxurious vacations you could take.

And while plenty of park accommodations remain exclusive – so much so that year-long wait-lists aren’t unheard of – the options have expanded considerably, from historic log-and-stone icons to new safari-inspired tented camps.

Still, for all the lodges’ variety, the very best have at least one thing in common. They offer unrivaled views of – and unparalleled access to – some of the greatest shows on Earth: spouting geysers, teeming wildlife, smoking calderas and countless other marvels.

Here are 12 of our favorite in-park lodges that provide an experience of these wonders like no other.

10 of the least-visited national parks in the US

Occupying another prime swath of Wyoming wilderness barely 30 miles from Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park packs in all manner of magic, from glittering rock spires to mirror-like glacial lakes. And the most famous one, Jenny Lake, is home to a beloved, eponymous lodge that’s tucked into a stand of spruce at the foot of the Tetons.

Having evolved from a 1920s dude ranch to a AAA Four Diamond eco-resort, Jenny Lake Lodge kits out its 37 old-timey cabins with everything from down comforters to heated floors. Check out the individual room categories for details, then book the Signature Stay for nightly five-course dinners (the kitchen here is famous for locally sourced specialties, award-winning wine selections and stunning Teton views); daily gourmet breakfasts; guided horseback rides (these fill up fast, so sign up ASAP); cruiser-style bikes; and other amusements and activities. And because of the lodge’s small scale, outsized reputation and limited season (June to early October), this is another one of those places with the possibility of year-long wait-lists – so get planning early.

Pack up and set out on these wild Wyoming road trips

About an hour from Zion sits another of Utah’s crown jewels: Bryce Canyon National Park, the sunset-hued hoodoo hotspot. And on a nearby plain – with views for days of red rocks and mountains – sits a recently opened outpost of glamping favorite Under Canvas. A solar-powered, safari-style camp with 50 tents, the resort offers plenty to do onsite, from yoga in the morning to campfires, s’mores and live music at night. But since any guest here is surrounded by amazing excursion possibilities, a resident “experience coordinator” will also help you plot your off-campus activities.

For starters, you’re on Bryce Canyon’s doorstep; whether you go out with a guide or on your own, you can hike, e-bike or drive through the