Best U.S. National Parks for Soft-Adventure Travel

July 14, 2026 - Vacations - by Kristi Williams

Few travel experiences are as closely associated with the American outdoors as a visit to a national park. From the geysers of Yellowstone to the granite cliffs of Yosemite and the subtropical wetlands of the Everglades, the nation's 63 national parks preserve some of the country's most recognizable landscapes while giving millions of visitors the opportunity to experience nature firsthand. Managed by the National Park Service, these parks balance recreation with the long-term protection of natural ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural resources.

While some visitors seek rugged backcountry experiences, others are drawn to what the travel industry often describes as "soft adventure"—outdoor experiences that emphasize nature and exploration without requiring extensive physical exertion or sacrificing modern comforts. Instead of pitching a tent in a remote campsite, these travelers may choose alternatives ranging from glamping experiences to historic lodges, cabins or park-operated RV (recreational vehicle) campgrounds, where amenities such as comfortable beds, electricity and nearby services make spending the night outdoors more approachable. These accommodations also help broaden access to national parks, allowing families with young children, older adults, travelers with mobility limitations and first-time outdoor enthusiasts to experience some of the country's most celebrated landscapes without the demands of traditional wilderness camping.

GlampingPhoto Credit: Melinda Nagy / Shutterstock

Researchers at Dunhill Travel Deals—a leading source for travel deal discovery—analyzed overnight stay data from the National Park Service's 63 national parks across 32 states and U.S. territories to identify the destinations where visitors are most likely to choose accommodations associated with soft adventure travel, specifically in-park lodging and park-run RV camps. The analysis also examines how overnight visitation has changed since before the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the accommodation preferences shaping overnight stays across America's national parks.

Key Takeaways

  • National park stays have yet to fully rebound from the pandemic. Visitors logged about 9.7 million overnight stays across the nation's 63 national parks in 2025, down 1.8% from 2019 and 10.6% below the recent peak of 10.8 million in 2016.
  • Comfort doesn't mean skipping the outdoors. In-park lodging was the single most popular accommodation type in 2025 with nearly 2.9 million overnight stays, while in-park lodging and park-run RV campgrounds together accounted for roughly 4.5 million stays—nearly half of all overnight accommodations.
  • The West leads the way for soft-adventure travel. After Arkansas, which ranked first with 93.3% of overnight stays occurring at in-park lodging or park-run RV campgrounds, Arizona, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming all reported more than half of overnight stays in these accommodation types.
  • Not all national parks offer the same overnight experience. Parks such as Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Glacier pair historic lodges with developed campgrounds, while others, including Theodore Roosevelt National Park, rely almost entirely on RV and tent camping—giving travelers a range of ways to experience the outdoors without backcountry camping.

Trends in National Park Overnight Stays

National park overnight stay totals have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic highs

Sources: Dunhill Travel Deals analysis of National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics data

 

Overnight stays at U.S. national parks have not yet returned to their pre-pandemic high. Across the nation's 63 national parks, visitors logged about 9.7 million overnight stays in 2025, down 1.8% from 9.9 million in 2019 and 10.6% below the recent peak of 10.8 million in 2016. The sharpest disruption came in 2020, when overnight stays fell to less than 5.3 million as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread travel restrictions, temporary park closures and reduced lodging capacity. Since then, overnight visitation has steadily recovered, climbing to 8.8 million stays in 2021 and reaching 9.7 million in 2025. With overnight demand remaining below pre-pandemic levels, travelers may find it easier to secure accommodations at some parks than during the record-setting visitation years of the late 2010s.

Not all overnight accommodations followed the same trajectory. While overall visitation declined sharply during the pandemic, park-run RV camping remained a relatively resilient option, maintaining a consistent share of overnight stays throughout the period. That stability mirrors broader travel trends during the pandemic, when many travelers turned to RVs as a way to vacation while limiting close contact with others and avoiding traditional hotels or air travel. Self-contained RVs allowed visitors to maintain physical distance and enjoy relative comfort while still accessing public lands, helping sustain demand for RV camping even as other forms of travel faced greater disruption.

How Visitors Stay in National Parks

While camping across all forms makes up the majority of stays, in-park lodging remains the top choice for national park visitors

Sources: Dunhill Travel Deals analysis of National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics data

 

Accommodation choices play an important role in shaping the national park experience. Whether visitors opt for a lodge, an RV campground or a backcountry campsite often reflects how they balance comfort, accessibility and immersion in nature. For travelers seeking a "soft adventure," in-park lodging and developed campgrounds that accommodate RVs offer a way to experience the outdoors while maintaining access to amenities that can make national parks more accessible and enjoyable.

Camping in its many forms accounts for most overnight stays at U.S. national parks, but no single accommodation type is more popular than staying at an in-park lodge, hotel or cabin. In 2025, visitors recorded nearly 2.9 million overnight stays at in-park lodging facilities, representing almost 30% of all overnight stays across the nation's 63 national parks. By comparison, park-run tent campgrounds accounted for about 2.3 million stays (23.9%), followed by park-run RV campgrounds with 1.6 million (16.6%), backcountry camping with 1.2 million (12.3%) and privately operated campgrounds with another 1.2 million (12.0%). Together, in-park lodging and park-run RV campgrounds accounted for roughly 4.5 million overnight stays—nearly half of all overnight accommodations in national parks—signaling a strong demand for soft-adventure options.

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Where Are National Park Visitors Opting for Soft Adventure?

Visitors of national parks in Arkansas and western states most often stay at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps

Sources: Dunhill Travel Deals analysis of National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics data

 

The preference for soft-adventure accommodations is strongest across the western United States, where many of the country's largest and most visited national parks feature historic lodges and extensive developed campgrounds. Arkansas stands out as the lone exception outside the West, while much of the Midwest and Southeast recorded lower shares of overnight stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV campgrounds.

 Arkansas ranked first, with 93.3% of overnight stays at Hot Springs National Park occurring in either in-park lodging or park-run RV campgrounds. Arizona followed at 65.1%, driven largely by overnight stays at the South Rim lodges and developed campgrounds in Grand Canyon National Park. Further north, states connected by Yellowstone National Park—North Dakota (64.4%), Montana (59.0%), and Wyoming (50.6%)—also ranked highly, although the park's overnight stays are fully attributed to all three states. Idaho (58.9%), Nevada (54.5%), and Utah (52.5%) round out the states where more than half of overnight stays fell into these soft-adventure accommodation categories.

While state rankings highlight regional trends, the individual national parks behind those figures offer a closer look at where travelers are most likely to find soft-adventure accommodations. Not all national parks offer the same overnight experience. While some feature historic lodges, cabins and park-operated RV campgrounds, others provide only tent camping or backcountry sites, and several offer no overnight accommodations at all. For travelers planning a soft-adventure getaway, choosing a national park with the right mix of lodging and camping options can be just as important as selecting the destination itself. The parks below stand out for offering comfortable overnight accommodations that make it easier for visitors of all ages and abilities to experience some of the nation's most remarkable landscapes.

The Best U.S. National Parks for Soft-Adventure Travelers

Death Valley National ParkPhoto Credit: Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock

10. Death Valley National Park (CA, NV)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 57.5%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 40,165
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 69,231
  • Total national park stays (2025): 190,301
  • Total national park stays (2019): 206,573
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -7.9%

Death Valley National Park, which spans eastern California and western Nevada, is home to the hottest place on Earth, vast salt flats, colorful badlands and sand dunes that attract visitors from around the world. Despite its harsh desert environment, the park offers a surprisingly accessible experience through historic inns at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells, as well as several developed campgrounds that accommodate RV travelers.

Zion National ParkPhoto Credit: Evenfh / Shutterstock

9. Zion National Park (UT)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 57.8%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 81,055
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 84,450
  • Total national park stays (2025): 286,122
  • Total national park stays (2019): 319,573
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -10.5%

Zion National Park in southwestern Utah is renowned for its towering sandstone cliffs, narrow slot canyons and the Virgin River, making it one of the most visited national parks in the United States. While many visitors come for iconic hikes such as Angels Landing and The Narrows, the park also offers a more accessible experience through Zion Lodge—the only in-park lodging—as well as developed campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers. These accommodations allow visitors to stay within the park while enjoying easy access to Zion Canyon's scenic drives, shuttle system and trailheads.

Yellowstone National ParkPhoto Credit: Rafsan Rohan / Shutterstock

8. Yellowstone National Park (WY, MT, ID)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 58.9%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 692,725
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 37,261
  • Total national park stays (2025): 1,238,983
  • Total national park stays (2019): 1,337,747
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -7.4%

 As the world's first national park, Yellowstone has welcomed travelers for more than 150 years with its iconic geysers, colorful hot springs and abundant wildlife. Stretching across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, the park offers one of the widest ranges of overnight accommodations in the National Park System, from historic lodges and cabins to numerous developed campgrounds for both tent and RV campers. Whether watching Old Faithful erupt or exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visitors can stay within the park while remaining close to many of its best-known attractions.

Glacier National ParkPhoto Credit: Galyna Andrushko / Shutterstock

7. Glacier National Park (MT)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 59.1%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 107,227
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 123,525
  • Total national park stays (2025): 390,524
  • Total national park stays (2019): 399,925
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -2.4%

Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana is celebrated for its glacier-carved peaks, alpine lakes and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of the country's most scenic drives. While the park is known for its extensive hiking trails, visitors can also experience many of its signature landscapes through historic lodges such as Lake McDonald Lodge, Many Glacier Hotel and Glacier Park Lodge, along with several developed campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers. These overnight options make Glacier one of the country's premier destinations for travelers seeking a more comfortable way to experience the rugged beauty of the northern Rockies.

Yosemite National ParkPhoto Credit: Miniltudoiroas / Shutterstock

6. Yosemite National Park (CA)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 60.9%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 666,379
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 264,908
  • Total national park stays (2025): 1,528,346
  • Total national park stays (2019): 1,549,795
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -1.4%

Yosemite National Park in California is renowned for its towering granite cliffs, giant sequoia groves and spectacular waterfalls, making it one of the country's most iconic outdoor destinations. In addition to world-famous landmarks such as El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, the park offers a range of overnight accommodations, including the historic Ahwahnee hotel, Curry Village cabins and several developed campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers. These lodging options make it possible for visitors to experience Yosemite Valley and many of the park's scenic highlights without venturing into the backcountry.

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Theodore Roosevelt National ParkPhoto Credit: Randy Runtsch / Shutterstock

5. Theodore Roosevelt National Park (ND)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 64.4%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 0
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 23,996
  • Total national park stays (2025): 37,237
  • Total national park stays (2019): 40,422
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -7.9%

Theodore Roosevelt credited his time ranching in the North Dakota Badlands with shaping his conservation philosophy, making the park that bears his name one of the most historically significant in the National Park System. Today, visitors come to see its colorful badlands, roaming bison and wild horses while exploring scenic drives and hiking trails. Unlike many of the other parks in this ranking, Theodore Roosevelt National Park does not offer in-park lodging, relying instead on developed campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers.

Grand Canyon National ParkPhoto Credit: Dr Flash / Shutterstock

4. Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 65.3%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 571,786
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 56,121
  • Total national park stays (2025): 961,440
  • Total national park stays (2019): 1,152,329
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -16.6%

Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona is home to one of the world's most recognizable natural wonders, where nearly 2 billion years of geologic history are exposed along the canyon's steep walls. Visitors seeking a soft-adventure experience can stay at several historic lodges along the South Rim—including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge and Yavapai Lodge—or at developed campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV campers. These accommodations place visitors within walking distance of many of the park's most iconic overlooks, making it possible to experience sunrise, sunset and panoramic canyon views without leaving the park.

Bryce Canyon National ParkPhoto Credit: Rob Maille / Shutterstock

3. Bryce Canyon National Park (UT)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 68.7%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 51,596
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 54,052
  • Total national park stays (2025): 153,740
  • Total national park stays (2019): 108,202
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): +42.1%

Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is famous for its thousands of colorful hoodoos—towering rock spires sculpted by millions of years of erosion—that line a series of natural amphitheaters. Visitors can stay at the historic Bryce Canyon Lodge or at one of the park's developed campgrounds, which accommodate both tent and RV campers, making it easy to enjoy sunrise viewpoints, scenic drives and hiking trails without leaving the park. Its compact layout and convenient accommodations make Bryce Canyon one of the most accessible parks for travelers seeking a comfortable outdoor getaway.

Mesa Verde National ParkPhoto Credit: Steven Phraner / Shutterstock

2. Mesa Verde National Park (CO)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 71.0%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 15,610
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 31,800
  • Total national park stays (2025): 66,808
  • Total national park stays (2019): 81,478
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): -18.0%

Unlike most national parks, Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado is celebrated less for dramatic scenery than for its extraordinary archaeological treasures. The park protects more than 600 cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Pueblo people, including the iconic Cliff Palace, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore centuries of Indigenous history. Guests can extend their stay at the park's Far View Lodge or nearby Morefield Campground, making it easy to experience both the archaeological sites and the surrounding high-desert landscape over multiple days.

Hot Springs National ParkPhoto Credit: Zack Frank / Shutterstock

1. Hot Springs National Park (AR)

  • Share of all national park stays at in-park lodging or park-run RV camps (2025): 93.3%
  • Total national park stays at in-park lodging (2025): 0
  • Total national park stays at park-run RV camps (2025): 31,944
  • Total national park stays (2025): 34,240
  • Total national park stays (2019): 25,706
  • Percentage change in total national park stays (2019–2025): +33.2%

Hot Springs National Park in central Arkansas offers a different kind of national park experience, centered on the thermal springs that have drawn visitors for centuries rather than towering mountains or dramatic canyons. The park's historic Bathhouse Row preserves the legacy of the area's famed spa culture, while nearby park-operated campgrounds accommodate RV travelers looking to explore the Ouachita Mountains. Its blend of historic architecture, accessible hiking trails and developed overnight accommodations makes Hot Springs one of the country's most approachable destinations for travelers seeking a soft-adventure getaway.

Full Results

Methodology

Researchers at Dunhill Travel Deals analyzed data from the National Park Service's 2025 National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics dataset to identify the U.S. national parks best suited for travelers seeking a "soft adventure" experience.

The analysis examined overnight stays across the National Park Service's 63 national parks and calculated the share of all overnight stays occurring at in-park lodging (concessioner lodging) and park-run RV campgrounds (RV campers). These two accommodation types were selected because they offer visitors the opportunity to experience national parks while maintaining access to amenities and greater comfort than traditional backcountry camping.

The concessioner campers category was excluded from the analysis because it combines both RV and tent campers, making it impossible to isolate RV stays. State-level rankings include overnight stays from national parks that span multiple states, with each park's overnight stays attributed to every state in which the park is located.

For additional context, researchers also calculated the total national park stays at in-park lodging, total national park stays at park-run RV camps, total national park stays in any accommodations for both 2019 and 2025, and the percentage change in total national park stays from 2019 to 2025.

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