The 8 Best Towns Near North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park is one of three beautiful national parks in Washington state. The 500,000-acre park offers some of the most beautiful hiking trails in Washington and is home to over 300 glaciers and 500 lakes and ponds.

Although it is not far from Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park, which are among the most visited national parks in the US, North Cascades National Park is one of the least visited. Despite being less visited than its neighboring national parks, it does not lack beauty! If you love hiking, North Cascades National Park is the perfect place to explore.

I recommend spending at least 2-3 days in North Cascades National Park when you visit. It will give you enough time to enjoy the beautiful scenic drive and hike some beautiful trails. If you plan to hike more, you could spend up to a week or more exploring everything it offers!

When you spend a night near the park, a few towns near North Cascades National Park make perfect base camps for your adventures. This guide has everything you need to know about the best towns near North Cascades National Park to stay in during your trip!

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The Best Towns Near North Cascades National Park

North Cascades National Park

One of the best places to stay when visiting is within the national park boundaries! Although North Cascades National Park does not have many places to stay, it has a few campgrounds and rustic accommodations that make perfect base camps for your adventures.

Each campground is near many must-see attractions and hikes and is the closest accommodation to the park. Most campgrounds do not have many amenities, so if you need anything, you can drive to a nearby town.

I highly recommend booking your campsite far in advance because the campgrounds in North Cascades National Park book quickly! If you are hoping to grab a site at a first-come-first-serve campground, I recommend arriving early to secure a spot and having a backup plan if they are all filled.

Best Places to Stay within North Cascades National Park:

Winthrop

Winthrop is one of the best towns near North Cascades National Park on the eastern side. Although it is a small town, it makes a perfect place to stay when you visit because it has everything you need for your trip, including accommodations, food, and gas stations.

And the best part? It is not a far drive from the national park (about an hour), and it goes by quickly because it is incredibly scenic.

Best Places to Stay in Winthrop:

Mazama

Mazama is just north of Windham, making it another great town to stay in near North Cascades National Park. Although it is a bit smaller in terms of accommodations and restaurants, it still has everything you need for your trip, and you can always head to a neighboring town to grab anything you cannot find.

Mazama is also one of the most scenic towns near North Cascades National Park, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. It is the perfect place to stay if you want to be in a quiet area and have easy access to the park.

Best Places to Stay in Mazama:

Twisp

Twisp is another town on the eastern section of North Cascades National Park just south of Winthrop. Similar to Mazama and Winthrop, Twisp has a few accommodations and restaurants, making it a perfect place to stay during your trip.

Because it is south of Winthrop, it is a little bit of a longer drive into the park, but it is scenic and goes by quickly. And if you need something before you get to the park you cannot find in Twisp, Winthrop or Mazama will most likely have what you need.

Best Places to Stay in Twisp:

Marblemount

Marblemount is a town near North Cascades National Park on the western side. It is one of the closest towns to the park and near many of the must-see attractions, making it a great place to stay during your trip. Although it is small, it has a few accommodations and restaurants to enjoy.

Since Marblemount is one of the closest towns near North Cascades National Park, the accommodations book up quickly, and I recommend booking your stays in advance.

Best Places to Stay in Marblemount:

Concrete

Concrete is another town near North Cascades National Park just west of Marblemount. Despite the town being small, it has a few accommodations and restaurants to enjoy.

If you want to camp near the national park, Concrete has quite a few in the small town. If you cannot secure a campsite within North Cascades National Park, Concrete is a great option since it is a quick drive into the park. And if you do not want to camp, the town has a couple of inns!

Best Places to Stay in Concrete:

Burlington

If you want to stay in a larger area, Burlington is one of the closest cities near North Cascades National Park. Burlington marks the halfway point between Seattle and Vancouver, making it a great place to stay if you plan to head to Canada after you explore North Cascades National Park.

Although it is not a big city, it has more accommodations and restaurants than the nearby towns. Burlington is just under 1.5 hours from North Cascades National Park, and the drive goes by quickly because it is incredibly scenic.

Best Places to Stay in Burlington:

Bellingham

Bellingham is the largest city near North Cascades National Park (not including Seattle) and is another great place to stay if you love being in a city. Although it is a 2-hour drive to the national park, the city has the most accommodations and restaurants in the area.

Bellingham is also one of the most beautiful cities near the national park because it is right on the water! It also has many other fun things to do if you want to spend time outside of the national park. If you plan on visiting the Mount Baker area or Canada, Bellingham is a great central point for your travels!

Best Places to Stay in Bellingham:

If you are starting to plan a trip to North Cascades National Park, this guide is the perfect place to find accommodations. It has everything you need to know about the best towns near North Cascades National Park!