Originally Posted by
TimF1975
There are no major chains near many of the National Parks. My guess is that they don't think it's a profitable place to put a hotel. I visit NPs frequently and camp or stay in one of the lodges.
There is a Marriott property in Visalia, CA, which is 30 minutes from the entrance of Sequoia National Park (and a very pretty drive for those 30 minutes, especially as you get closer to Sequoia). There's also a Best Western in Three Rivers, which is close to the entrance of Sequoia. BTW - once you enter Sequoia, it's still 45 minutes 'up the hill' to get to a lot of the popular areas. On the other side of Sequoia which is King's Canyon, there are some chains in Fresno but still requires a drive to get into KC.
My sister was a park ranger at the Tetons, Sequoia, and 2 areas of the Cascades Nat'l Parks. The Tetons at least has Jackson Hole ski/golf resorts nearby to draw year-round traffic. But Sequoia & the Cascades don't draw as much in the winter (in some cases, the 'pass' is closed for the winter), and even the on-site lodges aren't open the entire time during the winter.
The 2 locations my sister lived in the Cascades, the former required a long drive to this small town where you would then catch a boat for 2 hours to a town of pop. 70 or take a "Macguver" plane, and in the latter she lived in a town of pop. 500, with the nearest large town being an hour away (which did have some Marriott properties).
There are 58 national parks in the US, with some being relatively close (within an hour) of some towns that might have national chains. But most nat'l parks are quite large/extensive in terms of geography & are seasonal, so it's not unexpected some of the larger chains can't justify a property close.
BTW - if you're near a national park & a gas station says last gas station for "xx" miles, believe them & fill 'er up!!!
National Parks:
Acadia/Maine, American Somoa/American Somoa, Arches/Utah, Badlands/South Dakota, Big Bend/Texas, Biscayne/Florida, Black Canyon of the Gunnison/Colorado, Bryce Canyon/Utah, Canyonlands/Utah, Capitol Reef/Utah, Carlsbad Caverns/New Mexico, Channel Islands/California, Congaree/South Carolina, Crater Lake/Oregon, Coyahoga Valley/Ohio, Death Valley/California-Nevada, Denali/Alaska, Dry Tortugas/Florida, Everglades/Florida, Gates of the Artic/Alaska, Glacier/Montana, Glacier Bay/Alaska, Grand Canyon/Arizona, Grand Teton/Wyoming, Great Basin/Nevada, Great Sand Dunes/Colorado, Great Smoky Mountains/North Carolina-Tennessee, Guadalupe Mountains/Texas, Haleakala/Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes/Hawaii, Hot Springs/Arkansas, Isle Royale/Michigan, Joshua Tree/California, Katmai/Alaska, Kenai Fjords/Alaska, Kings Canyon/California, Kobuk Valley/Alaska, Lake Clark/Alaska, Lassen Volcanic/California, Mammoth Cave/Kentucky, Mesa Verde/Colorado, Mount Rainier/Washington, North Cascades/Washington, Olympic/Washington, Petrified Forest/Arizona, Redwood/California, Rocky Mountain/Colorado, Saguaro/Arizona, Sequoia/California, Shenandoah/Virginia, Theodore Roosevelt/North Dakota, Virgin Islands/United States Virgin Islands, Voyagers/Minnesota, Wind Cave/South Dakota, Wrangall-St. Ellias/Alaska, Yellowstone/Wyoming-Montana-Idaho, Yosemite/California, Zion/Utah
Cheers.