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Bucking that trend is “ Sunny Sequim,” which sits in a rain shadow and only gets about 16 inches of precipitation a year, compared to 10 feet of rain in Forks, about 60 miles away as the crow flies on the western side of the peninsula. It also gets-much to the chagrin of campers and hikers-a lot of rainfall. Distance from the park: 17 miles from Olympic National ParkĪt just under 1 million acres, Olympic National Park encompasses a dizzyingly diverse array of landscapes, including temperate rain forests, Pacific coastline, glaciers, and towering mountains.

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How to get there: Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is about 115 miles away.

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After fueling up in the morning at Feellove Coffee or Deep Creek Coffee Company, in-the-know adventurers hop on the free shuttle to enjoy the seasonally car-free national park. Spend time here wandering around shops and galleries in search of gems, minerals, and fossils or Native American art and jewelry (at Tribal Arts Zion) and finish with a dinner at King’s Landing Bistro, where the seasonal menu might include fried quail with apple cider waffles or vegan chili and cornbread. It’s now home to dozens of inns, cabins, and hotels, including the Cliffrose, Curio Collection by Hilton, where you can book a much-needed posthike massage at the Five Petals Spa. Situated along the banks of the Virgin River in the shadow of dramatic red-rock cliffs, the town makes for a great home base for exploring the national park. Think about this former Mormon farming community as the welcome mat to Zion: Located right on the park’s door step, it began transforming into a gateway town in the 1910s, after President Taft established Mukuntuweap National Monument (later called Zion) and amenities began opening to meet tourist needs.

Distance from the park: 1 mile to Zion National Park.George, Utah, is about 45 miles away, but if you’re flying in from farther afield, you’ll likely be driving in from airports in Las Vegas (160 miles) or Salt Lake City (310 miles). How to get there: The regional airport in St.Dan Klepper, head out of town to stargaze at the Marathon Sky Park, which has a pair of Dobsonian Reflector telescopes and offers nightly star parties. When you’re done exploring the galleries of photographers James H. These days, the hotel still has its hand in many of the town’s businesses: It runs the 12 Gage Restaurant, where you can order dishes like braised quail and chicken-fried steak White Buffalo Bar, which slings killer margaritas Brick Vault Brewery & Barbecue, housed in a former gas station and V6 Coffee Bar, next to a gift shop of the same name where you can buy creosote bush CBD balm and leather coasters made by a local saddlery. The main hub is the Gage Hotel, which was opened in 1927 by cattle baron Alfred Gage.

With a population under 400, this funky town oozes Old West charm and feels a bit like Marfa before the art-school kids arrived. On the very long drive south, you’ll be refueling in Marathon, but plan to stick around longer.

West Texas is sprawling, and if you’re arriving by air, you’ll likely be flying into Midland, about 195 miles from the nearest entrance to Big Bend, Persimmon Gap. Distance from the park: 40 miles to Big Bend National Park.How to get there: The nearest major airport is about a 150-mile drive away in Midland.Here, nine small towns that are almost as cool as the national parks next door. And while they’re uniquely situated for maximum nature appreciation, outdoorsy pursuits are often only one piece of the puzzle: From the Hawaiian rain forest to the West Texas desert to the coast of Maine, these small towns are often brimming with historic architecture, creative cuisine, and unexpected finds. All across the USA, these active-minded communities are the lifeblood of the national park system, where rangers live and play when they’re off duty. National park gateway towns aren’t just pitstop points where you can stock up on trail mix or refuel the car.