National park vacations help you and your gal pals reconnect with nature and have a one-of-a-kind experience together. Annually, 300+ million people visit the best national parks in the United States, with the most popular choices being:
- Great Smoky Mountains
- Zion
- Glacier
Experiences with your girls will last a lifetime, and there are so many options to choose from locally and across the country.
Some of the top national parks to visit and places for you to stay are listed below.
1. Glacier – Montana
Glacier National Park is a breathtaking destination with views of alpine forests, melting glaciers, lakes and expansive landscapes that you can reach through the 700 miles of hiking trails. Visitors can explore 1 million acres of land that includes:
- 130+ lakes
- 1,000+ species of plants
- 100s of animals
Fun girl trip ideas for this national park include whitewater rafting, nature walks, visiting Grinnell Glacier with its picturesque lake and waterfalls or head to one of the nearby ski resorts.
Where to Stay
Glacier National Park is a tourist hub with lodging options that start at West Glacier and can be found all around the area. You can stay at:
- West Glacier, which is the western entrance of the park, has cafes and multiple vacation homes and hotels nearby.
- Apgar Campground allows you to rent tents or RV campers to enjoy the sunset at the nearby Lake McDonald.
- The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, Many Glacier Hotels and Glacier Mountaineer Lodge are all great options for your girls trip.
You and your girls will find more than hundreds of other places to stay that didn’t make the list from stunning hotels to hidden cabins in the woods on Airbnb.
2. Zion – Utah
Utah’s Zion National Park is one of the best girls trip destinations for any group that wants to experience enchanting animals, massive sandstone cliffs, blue skies and plant life that fill the 146,597-acre park.
Four million visitors go to Zion each year to traverse its mountains and rivers, view monoliths and reconnect with nature.
If you love breathtaking sunsets, it’s hard to beat Zion Canyon.
Where to Stay
You’ll need a place to stay during your girls hiking trip, and a few of the many places available include:
- Watchman Campground, which consists of 228 campsites, restrooms and even shuttle bus service.
- Zion Mountain Ranch, which offers the comfort of home but in the mountains of the national park. You might even get a chance to see a herd of buffalo roaming on the land.
- Zion National Park Lodge, which is an in-park lodge with restaurants, hiking trails and staggering views of sandstone cliffs.
3. Yellowstone – Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho
Yellowstone, known for its unique geologic and hydrothermal features, was the first national park. The park spans an incredible 2.2 million acres, where visitors can observe wildlife in their natural habitat and explore active geysers.
There are more than 1,100 miles of hiking trails to explore on foot or horseback.
Where to Stay
- The park has over 300 backcountry campsites
- The Yellowstone National Park Lodges operate nine different lodges (some cabin style) in the park.
4. Great Smoky Mountains – Tennessee and North Carolina
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is the most visited national park in the U.S. Spanning 522,427 acres, this park is divided almost evenly between Tennessee and North Carolina.
From dense forests to towering waterfalls and breathtaking scenic overlooks, GSMNP has something for everyone.
Make your way to Cataloochee to catch a glimpse of the park’s two main elk herds and plan a picnic for the nearby Balsam Mountain area. The entire park is teeming with wildlife, from wild turkeys to black bears, deer, and at least 200 species of birds.
Hike the Deep Creek Waterfalls Loop to see three impressive waterfalls: Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls and Tom Branch Falls.
GSMNP is home to more than 800 miles of hiking trails and beauty around every turn.
Where to Stay
There are many places to stay inside and near the park entrance:
- GSMNP has several different types of campsites, including backcountry, horse camps, group campgrounds and frontcountry.
- Sleep in a Pullman train car at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel.
- Book a cabin for a more relaxed girls hiking trip.
5. Arches – Utah
Known as the red-rock wonderland, Arches boasts more than 2,000 natural stone arches and hundreds of giant balanced rocks.
Start your visit at the Arches Visitor Center before heading out to the park’s many sights, like:
- Balanced rock
- Devils Garden
- Delicate Arch and Wolfe Ranch
- The Windows Section – Double Arch, Turret Arch and North and South Windows
There are so many opportunities for hiking and taking in all of the beauty this unique part of the country has to offer.
Where to Stay
Whether you prefer camping or a spa resort, there are lodgings for every preference in Moab.
- Arches has one campground (Devils Garden Campground) with 51 sites that can be reserved between March 1 and October 31.
- On the edge of the park, you’ll find one of the top glamping venues in Moab – Under Canvas Moab.
- The Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa sits on 240 acres to explore. Book a stay in the River Studio (up to 4 guests) and enjoy the sounds of the river.
6. Rocky Mountain – Colorado
Spanning over 415 square miles, the Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect destination for a girls trip. There’s so much to discover here, from stunning alpine lakes to sprawling meadows and towering mountain peaks.
Did we mention this park has 300+ miles of hiking trails?
Along the way, you’ll find plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing, including moose, bears, elk and bighorn sheep.
While hiking is an obvious activity, you can also plan a horseback riding adventure or spend the weekend camping.
Where to Stay
Estes Park is the closest city to Rocky Mountain National Park and is home to excellent hotels, including:
- The iconic Stanley Hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining
- The Silver Moon Inn, which boasts a scenic riverside location
- Murphy’s River Lodge, which is just two blocks from downtown
National Parks cover a staggering 84.6 million acres of land in the United States – that’s 3.4% of the country. Popular with tourists across the globe, these wild destinations offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. That’s what makes them such a fitting choice for planning an unforgettable girls trip. It’s a chance to get away from it all, spend quality time together and explore the natural beauty these parks have to offer.
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