Stay Inside a National Park at These Stunning Hotels
Dream of sleeping on the rim of the Grand Canyon, along the beach in the Virgin Islands, or among the trees in Yosemite? You can. In honor of National Park Week, we've rounded up six hotels located inside some of the country's most picturesque parks.
Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel has seen a long list of bold face names including John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II check in since it opened in the 1927. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the hotel offers stunning views of Yosemite’s natural icons—Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Choose from traditional guest rooms in the main building, or opt for a cottage nestled among the dogwood and pine trees on the hotel’s grounds. The Ahwahnee offers access to a range of outdoor activities in the park, from biking to hiking, horseback riding to star gazing. Wind down the day with a cocktail curled around a fireplace in the hotel's stunning Great Lounge, followed by dinner in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. Wine enthusiasts take note: the restaurant hosts Vinter's Holidays in the fall, featuring five-course dinners with wine pairings.
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Set along a 170-acre peninsula in the heart of Virgin Islands National Park, Caneel Bay makes getting outdoors easy thanks to its own stretch of white sand beach and water sports including sailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Within the park, guests can hike the three-mile Reef Bay Trail past petroglyphs and ruins of sugar estates. More interested in the life aquatic? The hotel can also arrange for a guided snorkeling tour. End the day with an open air dinner at sunset at Turtle Bay Estate House overlooking the ocean.More »
Since opening its doors in 1905, this chalet-style sleep has hosted notables including Albert Einstein and President Bill Clinton who've come to admire the stunning views from the hotel's perch on the rim of the Grand Canyon. During the day, visitors can hike the more than 100 miles of trails in the park, take a ride along the canyon rim on muleback, or explore the park via raft. When night falls, head to El Tovar's dining room for a dinner of "Chicken El Tovar" (angel hair pasta with mushroom sherry cream sauce with fresh spinach and seasonal vegetables) followed by stunning star gazing from the hotel's lawn. More »
This secluded, five-story sleep is situated on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake inside Glacier National Park. Built in 1914-15 by the Great Northern Railway, the hotel proudly maintains an old-fashioned feel with mod cons like air conditioning and television absent from guest rooms. The focus instead is on the gorgeous natural scenery, enjoyed on guest room balconies and from the park's famous 1930s-era red buses, which shuttle visitors around both sides of the park on tours. More »
An oasis in the midst of Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek is comprised of two hotels — the Inn at Furnace Creek and the more family-focused Ranch at Furnace Creek. Both feature spring-fed swimming pools for beating the desert heat and a long list of activities including horseback riding, biking, and stargazing. More »
Zion National Park is best known for its massive sandstone cliffs, a favorite of hikers. After a day of exploring, visitors can return to one of Zion Lodge's 28 cabins, many of which feature gas fireplaces and private porches. When hunger strikes, the hotel's Red Rock Grill serves American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. More »
1. The Ahwahnee in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel has seen a long list of bold face names including John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II check in since it opened in the 1927. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the hotel offers stunning views of Yosemite’s natural icons—Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Choose from traditional guest rooms in the main building, or opt for a cottage nestled among the dogwood and pine trees on the hotel’s grounds. The Ahwahnee offers access to a range of outdoor activities in the park, from biking to hiking, horseback riding to star gazing. Wind down the day with a cocktail curled around a fireplace in the hotel's stunning Great Lounge, followed by dinner in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. Wine enthusiasts take note: the restaurant hosts Vinter's Holidays in the fall, featuring five-course dinners with wine pairings.
More »
2. Caneel Bay in Virgin Islands National Park
Set along a 170-acre peninsula in the heart of Virgin Islands National Park, Caneel Bay makes getting outdoors easy thanks to its own stretch of white sand beach and water sports including sailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. Within the park, guests can hike the three-mile Reef Bay Trail past petroglyphs and ruins of sugar estates. More interested in the life aquatic? The hotel can also arrange for a guided snorkeling tour. End the day with an open air dinner at sunset at Turtle Bay Estate House overlooking the ocean.More »
3. El Tovar in Grand Canyon National Park
Since opening its doors in 1905, this chalet-style sleep has hosted notables including Albert Einstein and President Bill Clinton who've come to admire the stunning views from the hotel's perch on the rim of the Grand Canyon. During the day, visitors can hike the more than 100 miles of trails in the park, take a ride along the canyon rim on muleback, or explore the park via raft. When night falls, head to El Tovar's dining room for a dinner of "Chicken El Tovar" (angel hair pasta with mushroom sherry cream sauce with fresh spinach and seasonal vegetables) followed by stunning star gazing from the hotel's lawn. More »
4. Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park
This secluded, five-story sleep is situated on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake inside Glacier National Park. Built in 1914-15 by the Great Northern Railway, the hotel proudly maintains an old-fashioned feel with mod cons like air conditioning and television absent from guest rooms. The focus instead is on the gorgeous natural scenery, enjoyed on guest room balconies and from the park's famous 1930s-era red buses, which shuttle visitors around both sides of the park on tours. More »
5. Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park
An oasis in the midst of Death Valley National Park, Furnace Creek is comprised of two hotels — the Inn at Furnace Creek and the more family-focused Ranch at Furnace Creek. Both feature spring-fed swimming pools for beating the desert heat and a long list of activities including horseback riding, biking, and stargazing. More »
6. Zion Lodge in Zion National Park
Zion National Park is best known for its massive sandstone cliffs, a favorite of hikers. After a day of exploring, visitors can return to one of Zion Lodge's 28 cabins, many of which feature gas fireplaces and private porches. When hunger strikes, the hotel's Red Rock Grill serves American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. More »
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