The United States is home to some of the most beautiful and breathtaking national parks in the world. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.
That’s why we’ve put together a guide to the best gateway towns to the United States national parks. Whether you’re looking for stunning scenery, charming small towns, or easy access to the great outdoors, we’ve got you covered.
Get ready to listen to me wax poetic because this is one of my very favorite topics!
Moab, Utah: Gateway to Arches & Canyonlands National Parks
Moab is the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and offers breathtaking scenery, charming small-town charm, and easy access to the great outdoors. Most importantly, Moab has many fantastic restaurants and souvenir shops!
Our favorite restaurant in Moab is called “The Spoke.” You can get anything from pasta to burgers to plates and plates of well-prepared veggies! The bar menu is top notch, too. We suggest you go during “off” hours as it gets very busy.
Moab also has some wonderful, independent pizzarias. My husband and son swear by the burgers at the Moab Distillery, though, word of warning that it is not a place for high maintenance eaters or special requests. Enjoy what they give you and thank them kindly!
There is also a normal grocer and a health food store in Moab. The town also offers rentals and outfitters for any activities you can dream up.
There is great energy and fun for the whole family in this little town. Whether you’re looking to hike, bike, or climb, Moab is the perfect basecamp for your next national park adventure.
Jackson, Wyoming: Gateway to Grand Teton National Park
Jackson is the perfect base for exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. In spite of its reputation of being expensive, this gateway town is worth some serious time. The restaurants are top-notch. The shopping is elite. The antler arch is iconic. And the evening gun battle (staged) is entertaining.
I love a town that values food so much that you really can’t go wrong wandering into a restaurant, and Jackson hits the mark. They also have small, sweets shops for the kids to find some post-hike special treats.
Speaking of kids, Jackson offers another one of my favorite attractions for summer fun: a mountain park! Wander over to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the bungee trampoline, the rock wall, and the ropes course! It is a great break from the learning and the hiking in the Tetons!
Jackson is a must-visit for anyone visiting the jagged Teton Mountains!
Estes Park, Colorado: Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park and is known for its stunning scenery, charming small-town atmosphere, and easy access to the great outdoors. The town boasts frequent, lively festivals throughout the year.
If you’re visiting during the summer, you can catch the incredible fourth-of-July fireworks over the golf course. It is the best display we have ever seen!
The Rooftop Rodeo is another town festival and event for those lucky enough to be in Estes Park during mid-July.
There is also a fall Elk-Fest and a January Winter Festival. The calendar is full of celebrations in this gateway town.
The food scene has improved and is worth exploring. Our favorites include the Dunraven, Nickey’s, Ed’s Cantina, The Chophouse, and Bird and Jim.
The shopping, the parades, the art, and the town center are always a joy for visitors. For our top ten list of fun for kids in Estes Park, click HERE.
Whether you’re looking to hike, fish, or simply enjoy the stunning views, Estes Park is the perfect base for your next national park adventure.
Whitefish, Montana: Gateway to Glacier National Park
Although Whitefish is around forty minutes from Glacier National Park, it is a stunning town full of fantastic eateries, lively festivals, and all of the amenities you could want.
It seems as though the restaurant scene is constantly shifting in the area, but there is a great pizza place called Mackenzie River Pizza that we fervently recommend in downtown Whitefish.
The ski resort at the top of the mountain offers year round activities for the whole family.
Enjoy the mountain coaster or shred the slopes. You can do it all at the Whitefish Mountain Resort!
The town hosts a fun Huckleberry Festival every August, and you can find children’s activities, art sales, and food trucks.
Whitefish is a modern town with numerous grocery stores and most city conveniences. Fortuntely, they have retained charm and beauty that this tourist can’t get enough of!
Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Gateway to Great Smoky Mountains
Gatlinburg is the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is known for its stunning scenery, friendly atmosphere, and easy access to the great outdoors.
I would equate Gatlinburg as the Las Vegas of the south. With dinner shows, wax museums, arcades, and anything else a tourist might trade for a buck, this town is here to serve.
Drive a bit further north to its neighbor, Pigeon Forge, to experience Dollywood, another regional (if not national) treasure. This southern-themed theme park named after the famous coutry singer, Dolly Parton, is there to serve your adrenaline needs in the case that you don’t run across a bear on your park hikes. It offers fun for the family and a break from the forest.
In all seriousness, we must remember that Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in our park system. The commitment Gatlinburg shows to serving such a vast diversity of tastes is commendable.
There is no shortage of fun here, and this gateway town ensures that everyone in your travel party will have a great time when visiting the Smoky Mountains. So, whether you’re looking to hike, fish, or simply relax, Gatlinburg is the perfect base for your next national park adventure.
The United States has a wonderful array of fun at the feet of its national parks, so pack your bags, grab your family, and head out on your next adventure! With the help of our guide, you’re sure to discover the best gateway towns and make memories that will last a lifetime.
