For a Life of Style + Substance

From the simple to the sophisticated, these eight remarkable state and national park accommodations offer a respite from the hustle and grind of city life. It’s a real-life choose-your-own-adventure vacation!

For the adventurous among us, checking off another state park is a badge of honor. The sights, the hikes, and the awe-inspiring views are an experience that goes beyond a vacation. But if you’re new to this type of travel, where you’re surrounded by miles of nature and wilderness, you might be wondering, “So … do I just pitch a tent?”

You can. But you don’t have to. State and national parks across the South have accommodations ranging from rustic cabins to hotels you might find in any major metro area.

From the simple to the sophisticated, these eight remarkable state and national park accommodations offer a respite from the hustle and grind of the big city. You can find resort-style pools and on-site restaurants or discover lodging so isolated that you have to hike to find it. It’s a real-life choose-your-own-adventure vacation.

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2, Mile 51, Skyline Dr, Stanley, VA 22851 • (877) 847-1919

If you’re staying at Big Meadows Lodge, make sure you set aside an evening to set out your picnic blanket at Mile 51 on Skyline Drive. This is the spot to catch a crystal clear version of the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and all of their friends that are usually obscured by city lights. Shenandoah National Park offers hiking trails for all levels and incredible scenic outlooks where you can watch the sun, clouds, and stars roll over the mountains. The rooms are wood paneled and simple, and their main attraction is the breathtaking view over the Shenandoah.

Catch stunning views of the Shenandoah at Big Meadows Lodge. Image: Delaware North at Shenandoah National Park

418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd, Dawsonville, GA 30534 • (706) 344-1500

With soaring windows overlooking the Appalachian Mountains, Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge is iconic. It looks like a dream rising out of the woods, completely surrounded by the seasonal colors of the mountains. You can spend your days hiking endless trails, including one to Springer Mountain, then retreat to hotel accommodations and a restaurant to nourish yourself for another day of adventure. Plus, this incredibly popular state park leads you to the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast.

What a vista! Image: Zoe Yarborough

While Cheaha State Park offers accommodations for solo travelers and small groups, its focus on larger groups makes Bald Rock Group Lodge unique. The lodge hosts retreats, weddings, and family reunions, and its event spaces include a timber-framed banquet hall that can seat up to 100 guests. The hand-cut stone walls and striking fireplaces are a stunning background for a wedding amidst the highest mountains in Alabama.

The Bald Rock Group Lodge includes 12 rooms and accommodates up to 32 overnight guests. Image: Alabama Tourism

400 Lodge Rd, Buchanan, TN 38222 • (731) 924-4300

For all the convenience of a state park lodge but with modern amenities, the Lodge at Paris Landing is your spot. This brand-new 91-room lodge is located near Kentucky Lake, providing convenient access to four-season water sports, including boating, swimming, and fishing. The ambiance of the lodge is more hotel than rustic cabin. It also boasts a restaurant, bar, and lounge in addition to the expected perks of amazing views and expanses of natural beauty all around.

The Lodge at Paris Landing is a brand-new lodge in Buchanan, TN, offering 91 luxurious rooms. Image: Tennessee State Parks

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2536 Lakeside Rd, Spencer, TN 38585 • (800) 250-8611

With almost 30,000 acres across the Cumberland Plateau, Fall Creek Falls State Park offers more than just its namesake waterfall, one of the highest in the Eastern United States. This popular park has gorges, streams, forest, and, not surprisingly, many more waterfalls, all perfect for exploring, hiking, photographing, and finding a moment of solace in the peaceful outdoors. A brand new lodge in the park gives you front-row access to all of the outdoor adventures that Fall Creek Falls State Park has to offer. Plus, there’s a pool and golf for those days when hiking and lake excursions seem like too much effort. To book your reservation at the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls, visit tnstateparks.com.

Enjoy a natural escape at the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls. Image: Tennessee State Parks

250 Apple Valley Road, Sevierville, TN 37862 • (865) 429-5704

You’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time with the bare-bones cabins and family-style meals of LeConte Lodge. This is for those who are seeking true adventure on Mt. LeConte. The lodge offers some of the most incredible views of the Smoky Mountains, but you’re going to work for it. The only way to the lodge is to hike at least five miles on the shortest trail. Yes, that means there are no cars, and you’re hiking in with everything you need on your back. But the payoff is worth it if you’re seeking solitude and serenity.

Imagine waking up to these spectacular mountain views … Image: Tennessee State Parks

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1 Basin Rural Station, Big Bend National Park, TX 79834 • (432) 477-2291

From star gazers to bird watchers, Big Bend National Park is one of the most incredible parks in the country and the only one with an entire mountain range within its borders. The unspoiled Chihuahuan desert wilderness offers visitors a never-ending array of nature hikes — as long as you are prepared for the sweltering midday heat. Within the Chisos Basin, the rustic Chisos Mountain Lodge is a respite from the sun’s constant glare. Temperatures are significantly cooler at the lodge, making it the perfect place to get away and recharge after a long day exploring the vast desert.

Explore the desert at Big Bend National Park, then rest up at the Chisos Mountain Lodge. Image: Texas Tourism

115 Hotel Cir, Pembroke, VA 24136 • (540) 626-7121

It’s not in a state or national park, but it is in a conservancy, and that was reason enough for us to include this iconic lakeside lodge. Mountain Lake Lodge may look familiar, though you may find yourself thinking, I recognize this from a movie … but didn’t that movie take place in the Catskills, NY? You’re onto something. Dirty Dancing was filmed in Western Virginia at Mountain Lake Lodge, and it’s still a destination for those looking for outdoor adventure and relaxation. The inn was recently refreshed but maintains its original charm.

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