Lake Quinault Lodge, Olympic National Park, Washington State — Colorful boats rest on the beach at Lake Quinault Lodge in Olympic National Park.

Photograph by Danita Delimont/Getty Images

ADVENTURE

Awesome Adventure Lodges That Won't Break the Bank

We found five impressive spots you can actually afford.

ByLauren Matison

February 8, 2018

9 min read

Camping might make you feel one with nature, but it far from guarantees a good night’s rest. At the same time, shelling out for quality accommodations in America’s most spectacular outdoor destinations can be a hard-to-justify luxury.

We scoured the country in search of high-octane fun on a dime and discovered subterranean treks in California’s Land of Giants, bike rides through the Grand Canyon of the South, and under-the-radar rain forest hikes on the Olympic Peninsula. The low-budget lodges on this list (from $39 a night!) make it all possible without touching that dream-trip fund.

Consider these wallet-friendly retreats offering stylish digs, adventure concierges, and up-close access to the wildest shows on earth.

Lake Quinault Lodge

Quinault, Washington

From $101/night.

The Bivvi

Breckenridge, Colorado

Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia National Park, California, USA — Wuksachi Lodge is surrounded by towering sequoias and a variety of hiking trails.

Photograph by Panoramic Images/Getty Images

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is most famous for its Giant Forest, where visitors can walk among the world’s largest trees on the two-mile Congress Trail, but it’s worth booking a room at Wuksachi Lodge to discover the many wild delights high above and below the Sierra Nevada range.

Built at 7,050 feet in the heart of the park, the modern stone-and-cedar chalet is neighbored by sequoias and majestic mountains. After a locally sourced buffet breakfast at Peaks Restaurant, follow hiking trails from the lodge to places like Cahoon Meadow and Mount Silliman, where you’ll pass blue-green lakes, a steep scramble of granite slabs, and sweeping views of the Central Valley. Farther afield, visitors can find General Sherman, the world’s largest living tree (and largest living organism on the planet), and trek 14,494-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental U.S. There are enough stunning sites near the lodge itself to consume a weekend though. Duck underground between the ornate marble pillars of Crystal Cave, have a picnic at 75-foot Grizzly Falls, and end the day with a 400-step climb to Moro Rock, overlooking the Giant Forest, 12,000-foot peaks, and a brilliant starry sky.

From $137/night.