While there are SO many amazing wedding venues out there, it’s hard to beat the beauty that mother nature offers. That is why we get goosebumps every single time we see a real wedding in a national park. Getting married in a national park not only means a stunning location, but national parks are also an extremely cost-effective alternative to a traditional outdoor wedding venue (and often way better views). Many national parks will make you feel like you’ve left the country when you’re actually pretty close to your own backyard. To understand this pricing and everything else you need to know, we created a guide featuring 14 of the best parks national parks to say “I Do” in. Read on, below!
Editor’s Note: With everything going on, hours and openings may vary so be sure to check with the park first!
Shenandoah National Park – Virginia
About the Park: Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah National Park is located in Central Virginia, 75 miles south of Washington DC. The park is known for its scenic waterfalls, hiking trails, beautiful fall foliage and blooming azaleas in late summer. Visitors can transit through Skyline Drive, a scenic route that curves along mountain ridges and runs the entire length of the park.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $150 special use permit ($175 if using an amphitheater).
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Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. There are several spaces which can be used for both ceremonies and receptions. Big Meadows Lodge and Skyland Resort are options within the park which can be used as a venue and for lodging, although they are not affiliated with the National Park Service.
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Yosemite National Park – California
About the Park: Yosemite is located in Central California’s Sierra Nevada and is famous for its varied terrain, which includes granite cliffs, ancient forests, river canyons and vast meadows. It is also a rock-climbing destination, boasting granite domes soaring up to 4,800 feet. The park attracts close to 4 million visitors each year.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $150 special use permit. On some sites event monitoring is required and costs $50 per hour.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes, however there is a 2-hour limit for each location. There are several designated wedding sites in Wawona, Toulumne Meadows and Big Oak Flat.
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Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona
About the Park: One of the most popular national parks, the Grand Canyon is known for its immense size and layered bands of red rock. It’s also home to the often-visited gorge of the Colorado River. There’s plenty to do at this park, from hiking to mule rides to whitewater rafting.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $125 for a wedding permit.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. There are several outdoor locations and two indoor locations permitting both ceremonies and receptions. More information is available here.
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Olympic National Park – Washington
About the Park: Located across the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, Olympic National Park encompasses nearly a million acres. From glacier-capped mountains to rainforests, the park boasts a variety of ecosystems, regions, and elevations. Popular activities include whale watching, boating, beachcombing, and more.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Submit a request here or contact the park at 888-896-3818.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. Both can be held at either Lake Quinault Lodge or Lake Crescent Lodge.
Acadia National Park – Maine
About the Park: The first national park east of the Mississippi River comprises 47,000 acres of land on Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut and the Schoodic Penninsula. Acadia welcomes more than three million travelers every year, and is known for its rocky beaches and granite peaks like Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact 207-288-3338.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Receptions aren’t permitted in the park unless they’re held at a park concession facility.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park – California
About the Park: These two parks are located rich next to each other in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley, creating a unique national park experience. Both are home to big mountains, deep canyons, and of course, the world’s largest trees.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $125 cost recovery/permit fee. Depending on the “complexity,” event monitoring may be required and costs $50 per hour.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes, but receptions can only be held in concessioner facilities or on private property. This includes Delaware North Parks & Resorts at Sequoia, which provides food service, lodging, groceries, gift shops, and catering services at their facilities in Wuksachi, Grant Grove and Cedar Grove. More information is available here.
Virgin Islands National Park – Saint John, US Virgin Islands
About the Park: Virgin Islands National Park occupies the majority of the island of St. John, and boasts white sand beaches, coral reefs, turquoise water, palm trees, and more. In addition to beach-oriented activities like snorkeling, the park also includes hiking, and an 18th-century sugar plantation, among other things.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $25 for a wedding permit; $100 for a recovery deposit if there are 50 people or less or $150 for 51 or more people.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. There are three available locations — Hawksnest Bay, Trunk Bay, and Francis Bay (the latter of which includes the beach, but only allows for 50 people max).
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii
About the Park: Located 45 miles southwest of Hilo on Hawaii Island (the Big Island), Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to both the Kiluea and Mauna Loa active volcanoes. Visitors can also explore the 150 miles of hiking trails through volcanic craters, deserts, and rainforests.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact 808-985-6000.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Ceremonies can be held anywhere that’s easily accessible, with the exception of Halema’uma’u Crater and the hula platform near the Kīlauea Visitor Center. For receptions, there are nearby hotels like the Hawaii Volcano House.
Glacier National Park – Montana
About the Park: Montana’s Glacier National Park is in the Rocky Mountains, with some peaks and valleys running into the Canadian border. It’s known for its 700 miles of trails, abundant wildlife, and lakes ranging in size and elevation. There’s also the famous “Going-to-the-Sun Road,” a scenic mountain highway that bisects the park east and west.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Submit a request here or contact 844-868-7474.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. Both can be held at Grouse Mountain Lodge or Glacier Park Lodge.
Everglades National Park – Florida
About the Park: A one-hour drive from Miami, Everglades is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and the third largest park in the lower 48 states. The landscape is made up of forests, prairies and wetlands, which all provide important habitat for a variety of endangered species.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact the Permit Coordinator at 305-242-7042 or ever_sup_office@nps.gov.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. There are a number of restaurants and banquet halls nearby.
El Yunque National Forest – Puerto Rico
About the Park: Located in northeastern Puerto Rico, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. system. 600,000 people visit the park each year, which is filled with rare trees and birds. There are also numerous waterfall trails throughout the forest.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact Myrna Tirado at 787-888-5617 or mtirado@fs.fed.us.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Inquire within.
Denali National Park – Alaska
About the Park: Denali encompasses 6 million acres of wild land, and is home to North America’s tallest peak, Mount McKinley. The park only has one road — Denali Park Road, or “the park road” — and one road entrance, which is at the eastern end of the park. Biking, backpacking, hiking, and mountaineering are among Denali’s popular activities.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact the Alaska Collection Reservations Office at 907-777-2800.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Yes. There are three available locations. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and Seward Windsong Lodge each have three reception venues, and Kenai Fjord Tours allows you to have a private boat ceremony.
Dry Tortugas National Park – Key West
About the Park: Comprised of seven islands, plus protected coral reefs, Dry Tortugas National Park is located west of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. Its remoteness makes it one of the least visited national parks, but those who do travel to the park are typically drawn to the beaches since less than 1 percent of Dry Tortugas is dry ground.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): Contact the Permit Coordinator here or call 305-242-7744.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Inquire within.
Hot Springs National Park – Arkansas
About the Park: Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park boasts more than 40 thermal springs where visitors can use the soothing waters, which flow from a slope a part of the Ouachita Mountain range, to heal and relax. Located adjacent to Hot Springs, the park combines urban and natural landscapes.
Any applicable fees (if listed on the site): $200 application fee for 75 people or less, or $300 for 76-100 people, or $400 for 100 or more people. All three tiers require a one hour minimum monitoring fee.
Can you have both ceremony and reception there? Informal ceremonies are permitted but receptions are not.
Are you planning a national park wedding? Let us know where in the comments section, below!
Additional reporting by Stella Braudy
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