A mention of national park lodges most likely brings to mind an iconic structure similar to Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn. Classic lodges in America’s most popular national parks garner heavy media attention. While Old Faithful Inn is certainly special, Yellowstone is home to nine lodging facilities ranging from rustic cabins without a private bathroom to modern lodge buildings. If this comes as a surprise, it is likely there are a number of national park lodges you may not know about.

Lodging in America’s national parks is quite diverse, with about 85 lodges spanning a wide spectrum in terms of age, size, season, amenities and price. Like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Shenandoah and several other national parks each host multiple lodges. Other well-known national park units such as Mesa Verde, Mammoth Cave, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Big Bend have only a single lodging facility. Some smaller, lesser-visited parks also offer lodging.

During more than 50 years of travel we have stayed in most of America’s national park lodges and thought it might be worth mentioning a few facilities that escape the notice of many travelers. Being less well-known often means a more intimate facility, and a more relaxing and less-expensive stay.

1. Buffalo Point Concessions (Buffalo National River, Arkansas) – Located in Northwest Arkansas, 135-mile Buffalo National River is one of the most scenic free-flowing rivers remaining in the lower 48 states. The river is especially popular for canoeing and floating with numerous concessionaires offering rentals of tubes and canoes.

The park’s only lodging facility is Buffalo Point Concessions that sits on a high ridge about 1.5 miles from the river. The complex includes a restaurant, five rustic cabins, eight modern cabins and four motel-type lodge rooms. Each has air-conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower. The rustic cabins each have a wood-burning fireplace. Rates from $100 to $106.

2. Thunderbird Lodge (Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona) – Located in Northeast Arizona, Canyon de Chelly is home to ruins of ancient Indian villages constructed in steep-walled canyons. One monument ruin is accessible to the public via a 2.5-mile round-trip trail. Scenic rim drives offer excellent canyon views. Narrated canyon tours are offered by private guides.

Thunderbird Lodge, built in 1902 as a trading post on the Navajo Reservation, began offering rooms to accommodate an increasing number of tourists. The national monument’s only lodging facility is an attractive and well-maintained motor lodge with 70 guest rooms and a cafeteria located in the historic trading post. One of the least-expensive lodges in any national park, it is within walking distance of the monument visitor center. Rates range from $99 to $129.

3. The Inn at Brandywine Falls (Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio) — The rural river valley linking Cleveland with Akron includes a 19-mile trail allowing visitors to stroll, hike, or bike along the towpath beside the historic Ohio & Erie Canal. The park includes a restored 1800s farm and village, several visitor centers and remnants of a 1906 company town. A scenic railroad offers a fun way to view the countryside.

The Inn, a pre-Civil War renovated farmstead, is the only bed-and-breakfast we are aware of in a national park. It offers six overnight rooms, four in the main house and 2 suites in a carriage barn. Each suite has a Franklin stove, microwave, refrigerator, Jacuzzi, and a king bed in the loft. This is a restful place to meet other travelers. Rates from $179 to $350.

4. Kettle Falls Hotel (Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota) – Voyageurs National Park’s forested lake country in northern Minnesota stretches 55 miles along the U.S.-Canadian border. During the late-18th and early 19th century this land was home to French Canadian fur traders who transported animal pelts and other trade goods. This is canoe country with fishing a big draw, especially for prized walleye.

Historic Kettle Falls Hotel, constructed in 1910, has 12 second-floor guest rooms accompanied by three community bathrooms that include a shower. The lobby, dining room, and an unusual saloon consume the first floor. Ten newer villas in three buildings alongside Rainy Lake each enjoy a screened porch, air-conditioning, and a ceramic-tiled bathroom. While primarily geared to fishing, the hotel offers a relaxing atmosphere for reading, hiking and exploring. Rates from $90 to $260.

5. North Cascades Lodge at Stehekin (North Cascades National Park Complex, Washington) – The complex rests along the Canadian border as a combination of a large national park plus two national recreation areas in a region of alpine lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and glacier-carved canyons. Elevation and moisture variations result in a wide diversity of vegetation.

The lodge sits at the head of 55-mile long glacier-carved Lake Chelan. Access is vis commercial boats that depart from the town of Chelan. The facility offers 28 lodging units of various sizes and configurations. The isolated facility includes a dining room, convenience store and National Park Service visitor center. A variety of activities including river rafting and horseback rides are available. Rates from $179 to $292.