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12 Best Towns and Cities Near Smoky Mountains National Park

These cities and towns near Smoky Mountains National Park range from buzzing tourist hot spots to quiet creekside communities. The national park on the Tennessee and North Carolina border is the most popular in the country, so picking the right place to stay in the Smokies can mean the difference between traffic and bright lights or the sounds of birds chirping and streams rushing. This list of towns and cities near Smoky Mountains National Park includes a wide variety of ideas for exactly where to stay.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

8 of the Best Places to Stay in Death Valley National Park

The best places to stay in Death Valley National Park include desert villages and campgrounds on the border of California and Nevada. At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest national park in the Lower 48, so it can be hard to figure out exactly which hotels are the closest. We’ll weigh the pros and cons of each location to help you figure out where to stay at Death Valley National Park.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 Best Towns and Cities Near Yellowstone National Park

These towns and cities near Yellowstone National Park are the best places to stay to access all the wilderness and wildlife in the famous park. We’ve broken down how to pick the best Yellowstone entrance, which towns near Yellowstone National Park have hotels and lodges, and what nearest cities to Yellowstone National Park you should fly into.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 of the Best Towns Near Bryce Canyon National Park

These towns near Bryce Canyon National Park get you close to the famous orange hoodoos and stunning sunsets at the popular Utah destination. If you’re looking for the closest town to Bryce Canyon for your next trip to the national park, this list has all the best retro motels, budget inns and cozy cabins.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

How to Plan the Best One Day in Death Valley Itinerary

Sand dunes, salt flats and colorful hills are all on the agenda for this one day in Death Valley itinerary. The national park on the border of Nevada and California covers over 3.4 million acres from the lowest and hottest point in North America to frosty mountain peaks. If you’re wondering what to see in Death Valley in one day, this itinerary will guide you to the best activities, hikes, scenic drives and more!

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 of the Best Outdoorsy Destinations in the USA This Spring

Snow melting into gushing waterfalls, wildlife awakening from winter slumber, hiking trails warmed by perfect temperatures — these are just a few of the reasons to get outdoors this spring with a vacation to some of the best parks, lakes and islands in the United States. Check out which nature-fueled escapes top our spring vacation bucket list!

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

The 5 Best National Parks in Utah You Need to Visit ASAP

The best national parks in Utah have breathtaking landscapes of rust colored arches, dramatic canyons, and pink sandstone cliffs. If you’re wondering which Utah national park to visit for your first trip, this list breaks down the high and low points of each so you can find your favorite. Plus, we’ve included tour and itinerary ideas to help you plan.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

How to Plan the Perfect One Day in Arches National Park Itinerary

This one day in Arches National Park itinerary highlights the best trails and views at the popular destination near Moab, Utah. More than 2,000 sandstone arches and one-of-a-kind rock features fill the orange-tinted landscape at Arches National Park. The massively popular destination is a favorite for road-trippers and hikers who come to see famous spans like Delicate Arch, Landscape Arch and the Windows.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

The 8 National Park Reservations You Will Need This Year

Planning a national park trip this summer? You’ll want to save these national park reservation details and deadlines. Several popular national parks in the U.S. have been experimenting with reservation systems to help with overcrowding and the deadlines are approaching fast.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

7 Totally Fun Things to Do in Utah and Arizona

Looking for fun things to do in Utah and Arizona? The region is packed with national parks, scenic landscapes, quirky small towns and beautiful drives. These seven bucket list experiences are a great starting point for your adventures.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 of the Best National Parks to Visit This Summer in the USA

Planning a national park summer vacation? We’ve rounded up some of the best national parks to visit in summer. From the forests of California to the canyons of Utah and the rivers of West Virginia, these uncrowded national parks have the perfect weather for outdoorsy activities like boating and hiking.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 of the Best Road Trips in the USA for This Summer

These bucket-list summer road trips in the United States stretch from the deserts of California and the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of the Florida Keys. Whether you’re looking to escape city life for national parks and the great outdoors, or just want to cruise down some of the most famous scenic routes in the country, these U.S. road trip vacations will not disappoint.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

15 of the Best Things to Do in Denali National Park Alaska

Home to North America’s tallest mountain and more than 6 million acres of wilderness, Denali National Park and Preserve serves up a full slate of outdoorsy pursuits and breathtaking vistas in Alaska. Use this guide to help plan out things to do in Denali, including adventurous hiking trails, nature walks, wildlife watching, and tours of epic Denali Park Road.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

10 of the Most Popular National Parks in the United States

Soaring mountains, vast canyons, gushing waterfalls and geysers — it’s no wonder these are the 10 most popular national parks in the United States. Use this list to pick where to go and where to avoid if you don’t want to deal with crowds. Stretching from the coast of Maine to the canyons of the West, these are some of the country’s greatest treasures.

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Michelle Joy Michelle Joy

15 of the Best Summer Escapes from Big Cities in the USA

Trade in the concrete jungle this summer for nature-filled escapes. These outdoorsy summer destinations feature waterfalls, lakes, mountains and forests. Plus, they’re just a short drive away from the most populated cities in the United States. Think of them as a step up from a staycation with much better views and plenty of space to avoid the crowds!

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