Best Timeshares Near National Parks

America is fortunate to be a land filled with National Parks across its landscape. Some of the most popular visitor attractions in the country are these parks, highlighted by such notable national treasures as the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. So, where are the best timeshares near national parks?

Much of the time, national parks are promoted to campers, since they often offer camping spots within the park boundaries, or vacationers with their own RV or trailer. But timeshare owners may not be aware that there are great resorts within easy distances of national parks, providing a comfortable respite from the exuberance of a day hiking, biking, rafting or swimming in these parks.

National parks are as popular as ever, with over 400 parks to choose from in the National Park System. During 2021, over 297 million recreation visits were logged by the National Park Service, which would obviously include multiple park visits from individual tourists. Still, this is an impressive number and shows the increasing popularity of the parks.

Trending Towards Nature

There is definite demand from timeshare owners to get back to nature, as underscored in the latest figures from the American Resort Development Association. Three of the top four categories of vacation experiences offered by timeshare resorts involve rural/coastal, country/lakes and mountain destinations, above more publicized activities as skiing, golfing and theme parks.

Such an emphasis shows that resorts are positioned to meet the demand of timeshare owners looking for more natural, outdoor activities - perhaps an outcome of our post-COVID world. Vacationers sought more nature-based vacations when resorts were shut down due to the pandemic, and this appears to be a lasting trend as society moves beyond the pandemic.

Timeshares Near National Parks

National parks promote themselves as protected wilderness areas, so it may be tough to align the idea of a timeshare vacation with parks. But timeshare resorts are near some of the most popular national parks in the country. Below are the top parks according to visitor data from the NPS along with popular timeshare resorts nearby according to our visitor inquiries:

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (14.1 million visitors)

This amazing range of mountains stretching across the border between eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina is a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. Gatlinburg is considered the gateway to the Smokies, with wonderful timeshare resorts in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville providing a home base for hiking, biking, fishing, swimming and viewing wildlife.

Timeshares Nearby: Wyndham Smoky Mountains (Sevierville), Bluegreen Resort's Mountain Loft Resort (Gatlinburg), Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Spa (Gatlinburg)

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (13.7 million)

Just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, this impressive park is home to the iconic redwood trees in Muir Woods. Covering 80,000 acres and more than 130 miles of trails, it also features beaches, over 2,000 plant and animal species, historic sites like Point Bonita Lighthouse and educational venues such as the Marine Mammal Center.

Timeshares Nearby: Wyndham Canterbury at San Francisco, WorldMark San Francisco, Shell Vacations Club at The Donatello

Gateway National Recreation Area (9.1 million)

Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point near Coney Island, this Park covers multiple locations and is accessible to millions of New York City visitors. Swimming from the beaches, kayaking, bird watching, bicycling, and fishing are just a few of the activities. Historic structures like Fort Wadsworth and cultural facilities such as the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge give you plenty of options for the entire family.

Timeshares Nearby: Wyndham Midtown 45 at New York City, Hilton Grand Vacations Club at West 57th Street, Hilton Grand Vacations Club at The Hilton Club

Lake Mead National Recreation Area (7.6 million)

Las Vegas always seems to come up on our lists whenever we discuss top timeshare areas, and this is the latest example. About 30 miles from The Strip, Lake Mead stretches 110 miles and spans part of the Nevada/Arizona border. The recreation area covers mountains, canyons, and valleys as well as Lake Mead and Lake Mohave – great for watersports along with hiking, biking and viewing the unique Joshua trees.

Timeshares Nearby: Wyndham Grand Desert, Marriott's Grand Chateau, Tahiti Village

Gulf Islands National Seashore (5.5 million)

The Park runs along the Gulf coast, stretching across 12 areas and offshore islands from Cat Island, Mississippi eastward 160 miles to the Okaloosa Area east of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The most accessible area to the west would be the Davis Bayou Area near Biloxi, while the Okaloosa and Santa Rosa areas near Destin offer incredible white sand beaches.

Timeshares Nearby: Ocean View Vacation Villas (Biloxi), Wyndham Majestic Sun (Destin), Wyndham Beach Street Cottages (Destin)

Zion National Park (5 million)