Curry Village tent cabins in Yosemite National Park, California( NPS photo)
park’ s guest rooms. Economic theory tells us increasing demand for a scarce good tends to result in higher prices until supply catches up. In the case of America’ s national parks, an increase in the supply of guest rooms isn’ t likely to happen. Without additional lodging facilities popular park lodges such as Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim($ 415 nightly for a Western Cabin in June) and Many Glacier Hotel($ 353 per night for a Standard Lakeside room in June) in Glacier National Park could likely charge significantly higher prices and still remain at near full occupancy during most of the short seasons. Unfortunately, there seems little reason to expect increases in lodge room prices to change anytime soon.
* This is a condensed version of an article we authored for National Parks Traveler. The full article can be viewed at www. nationalparkstraveler. org / 2024 / 10 / national-park-lodging-becoming-unaffordable-average-americans
Singer Cottage at Lake Crescent Lodge in Olympic National Park, Washington
David and Kay Scott are authors of“ Complete Guide to the National Park Lodges”( Globe Pequot). Visit them at blog. valdosta. edu / dlscott
36 Valdosta Scene | June 2025