15 Best Small Towns Near National Parks: Your Gateway Guide (2025)
Discover charming small towns serving as perfect base camps for America's national parks. Better lodging, dining, and prices than park lodges—with authentic local character.
Published: 11/6/2025
Towns Featured in This Guide
Marfa
Texas•1,700 residents
Remote desert art mecca with Donald Judd installations and mysterious glowing lights. Where contemporary art meets endless Chihuahuan Desert skies.
Port Townsend
Washington•9,700 residents
Victorian seaport frozen in time with over 70 historic buildings from the 1880s. Maritime heritage meets thriving arts community on Puget Sound.
Hudson
New York•6,000 residents
Revitalized river town where 200+ antique shops line historic Warren Street. Farm-to-table pioneer just two hours from NYC by train.