There are currently 63 National Parks in the United States that attract millions of visitors every year. In order to provide lodging for the tourists, gateway towns have formed near national park entrances. A town like Gatlinburg welcomes travelers on their way to the Smoky Mountains and offers a place to rest, eat, and shop.
Read on to learn more about 21 of these National Park gateway cities from around the country.
21 national park gateway towns and communities
1. Gatlinburg, TN
The foothill town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a popular gateway stopping point for anyone visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There are hiking trails into the park you can access from Gatlinburg, including three nearby entrances. The town itself also features a vibrant folk art scene, a large aquarium, and the only ski resort in Tennessee.
2. Pigeon Forge, TN
Also considered a gateway city to the Great Smoky Mountains is the city of Pigeon Forge. The city is just 16 miles outside of Gatlinburg and also has a wide variety of lodging and entertainment for park visitors to the Great Smoky Mountains. Some people prefer staying closer to the mountains in Gatlinburg when visiting the park, while others like the newer attractions in Pigeon Forge.
3. Asheville, NC
Since the Great Smoky Mountains National Park sits on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, Asheville is another gateway town when visiting from North Carolina. Downtown Asheville is known for being a hub of music, arts, and craft beer brewing. The Blue Ridge Parkway also passes by this mountain town offering great viewpoints and hiking trails.
4. Bar Harbor, ME
Situated at the doorstep of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor is a quaint coastal town filled with delicious seafood restaurants, cute boutiques, and seaside cottages. Besides visiting New England’s only National Park, you can also explore the town’s rocky tide pools, forested islands, and sandbar.
5. Jackson, WY
The town of Jackson is located in Jackson Hole valley, Wyoming. It is only 15 minutes to Grand Teton National Park and less than 2 hours to Yellowstone National Park. This outdoor-orientated town is home to three major ski resorts: Snow King Mountain, Targhee, and Jackson Hole Mountain. You can also easily visit the Granite Hot Springs and National Elk Refuge.
6. Front Royal, VA
Front Royal is a bustling small town and northern gateway to Shenandoah National Park. Its downtown is filled with boutiques, eaters, outfitters, and museums, giving a glimpse into local Civil War history. The town is also a hub of outdoor activities, including canoeing trips, the Skyline Caverns, and various hiking trails.
7. Talkeetna, AK
Located near the southern border of Denali National Park and Preserve, the town of Talkeetna is a charmful and quirky town. Experience the Alaskan small-town life, stay in a lodge, grab a beer at the Denali Brewing Company, and take an airborne trip of the surrounding mountains. This town is also the hub for climbers heading to the Denali base camp to start their climb to North America’s highest peak.
8. Moab, UT
Moab in Utah is only a 10-minute drive to Arches National Park and a 30-minute drive to Canyonlands National Park. The small town is an outdoor-recreation hub welcoming travelers who have hiked, biked, or kayaked in the parks.
There are around 20 restaurants, including drinking spots, and various accommodation options from hotels and condos to campgrounds.
9. Kanab, UT
The small town of Kanab in Utah is a centralized location near national monuments, state parks, iconic hikes, and three national parks. A 30 to 90-minute drive takes you to Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, or Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim. This small town also has a great selection of restaurants and museums, such as the Little Hollywood Land and Kanab Heritage House.
10. Lee Vining, CA
The small town of Lee Vining is just outside the east entrance of Yosemite National Park. Despite the town’s size, it’s a worthwhile stop for outdoor activities, retro diners, coffee shops, gear shops, and history museums, such as the quirky Upside Down House.
From this former mining outpost, you can hike the Panum Crater volcano, camp at Gull Lake, explore tufa tower formations, and visit the best ice routes in California in Lee Vining Canyon.
11. Joshua Tree, CA
The town of Joshua Tree is one of three small towns in California just a few minutes from Joshua Tree National Park. The town features unique Airbnb spots, sculpture gardens, museums, eco markets, and popular nearby campgrounds. The closest airport is Palm Springs Airport, that’s a 40-minute drive away.
12. Visalia, CA
Visalia is one of the biggest and most robust gateway towns near Sequoia National Park. It’s about 45 minutes to the park’s entrance and has plenty of outdoor adventures you can enjoy from the town. It also features cultural and historical things to do, including art galleries, live music at the historic Fox Theater, and California mission buildings.
13. Flagstaff, AZ
While there are popular Arizona gateway cities to the Grand Canyon, such as Flagstaff and Williams, the closest town to the park’s south rim entrance is Tusayan. There are various lodgings and restaurants, a gift shop, and a general store.
A shuttle connects the town to the Grand Canyon visitor center during the summer. It is also home to the Grand Canyon Airport, where airplane and helicopter tours depart.
14. Whitefish, MT
Located at the doorstep of Glacier National Park, Whitefish in Montana is a popular destination in its own right for skiing or boating. Find other outdoor adventures besides the park by camping at the Hungry Horse Reserve, hiking Mount Aeneas, and floating down the Middle Fork Flathead River.
15. Estes Park, CO
Situated right outside the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, the town of Estes Park is closest to the Beaver Meadows Entrance. Visitors can find restaurants and lodgings at this basecamp, including taking a stroll along the popular Riverwalk and riverside cabins. You can also go rock climbing, on guided hikes, or enjoy mountain music in Estes Park.
16. Cortez, CO
Although Durango is a popular gateway city to Mesa Verde National Park, the often overlooked gateway town Cortez is closer and only around 15 minutes from the national park. The town has several independent and chain hotels, restaurants, 160 acres of parks, a recreation center, and the Cortez Cultural Center museums. During the summer, you can also watch Native American dances.
17. Marfa, TX
Around 1.5 hours outside Big Bend National Park, Marfa, Texas, is a journey to get to in itself. Even the town’s slogan is “tough to get here.” This gateway town has year-round art festivals, a popular fake Prada store installation, and accommodations ranging from hip retro motels to vacation rentals. It is also home to the strange phenomenon known as the Marfa Mystery Lights, which occurs dozens of times a year after sunset.
18. Paia, HI
The gateway town less than an hour from Haleakala National Park, Paia in Maui, Hawaii, is also known as the windsurfing capital of the world. The town is a great stop for a meal before and after a visit to the park. It features rustic storefronts, art galleries, beaches, and a glimpse into the sugar plantation history of the area.
19. Key West, FL
Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Most visitors take the Yankee Freedom ferry running from the gateway town of Key West. This town is the southernmost subtropical paradise known for its lively nightlife, water sports, beaches, and historic sites.
20. Medora, ND
Located in North Dakota’s Badlands, Medora is the gateway town to the south entrance of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The surrounding areas of this town are part of either the national park or Little Missouri National Grassland. Get a unique tourist experience here, including Western saloons, Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia, and local musicals.
21. Ashford, WA
Although Seattle is a popular city to stop at when visiting Washington’s national parks, Ashford is one of the closest gateway towns to Mount Rainier National Park’s Nisqually Entrance. It’s a popular base camp around 8 minutes away, filled with historic inns, cafes, and family-friendly grills. There are also local trails and outdoor shops with gear for any adventure.