Best 5 Red Roof Hotels on Your National Park Road Trip Route | Red Roof

Best 5 Red Roof Hotels on Your National Park Road Trip Route

Misty mountain peaks lit by warm sunset light rising above a dense evergreen forest

A great national park road trip comes down to two things: the parks you choose and the places you sleep between them. When you are covering hundreds of miles with a dog in the back seat and big days on the trail ahead, you need a home base that is affordable, convenient, and genuinely welcoming to pets. That is exactly what we built Red Roof to be.

This guide walks through five of our best pet-friendly hotels for travelers hitting the road toward some of America's most iconic national parks. Each stop on this route puts you close to the action, keeps your budget in check, and means your dog never has to wait in the car.

Hotel guest room with a king bed, leaf-patterned bedspread in red and gray, nightstand with lamp, and wood flooring

Red Roof Inn Hot Springs, Arkansas – Gateway to Hot Springs National Park

Red Roof Inn Hot Springs sits at the base of Hot Springs National Park, which makes it one of our most convenient properties for travelers who want to step outside and be in the park almost immediately. The hotel is located on East Grand Avenue, with easy access to both the park and downtown Hot Springs, so you are well-positioned whether you are planning a full day on the trails or a slower morning exploring Bathhouse Row.

Hot Springs National Park is one of the more walkable national parks in the country, and dogs are welcome on 26 miles of pet-friendly trails throughout the park's forested mountains. The Hot Springs Mountain Trail and the Dead Chief Trail are two solid options for leashed dogs, with tree cover that makes them comfortable even in warmer months. The park is also free to enter, and the surrounding downtown area is easy to explore on foot after a day outside.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, complimentary continental breakfast, a seasonal outdoor pool, and in-room microwaves and refrigerators. It is a pet-friendly property, and its location makes it a natural anchor for anyone doing a southern leg on a national park road trip.

Book your stay at Red Roof Inn Hot Springs

Hotel exterior with white columns under a triangular pediment and a red roof line, two-story building under a blue sky

Red Roof Inn & Suites Cave City, Kentucky – Gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park

Red Roof Inn & Suites Cave City sits just off I-65 on Mammoth Cave Street, roughly five miles from the entrance to Mammoth Cave National Park. If you are planning a cave tour, this is the most straightforward base in the area. You can be at the visitor center in under 10 minutes, giving you more time in the park and less time on the road.

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave system, and while the cave tours themselves are not accessible to dogs, the park has several pet-friendly trails above ground where leashed dogs are welcome. The Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike and Hike Trail is a flat, easy option that runs along a historic railroad corridor through the forest. The park is open year-round and free to enter, with tours available at various price points through the National Park Service.

The hotel includes free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, in-room microwaves and mini-refrigerators, and a welcoming pet policy. It is a reliable, no-fuss stop on a national park road trip through the mid-South, and Cave City itself has enough nearby attractions to fill any extra time you have.

Book your stay at Red Roof Inn & Suites Cave City

Hotel bathroom vanity with granite countertop, white sink, large mirror, and folded white towels on a shelf below

Red Roof Inn Dandridge, Tennessee – Gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Red Roof Inn Dandridge is one of our best-positioned properties for anyone heading to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located just off I-40 near the Douglas Lake area, the hotel puts you within easy reach of the park's main entrances while keeping you away from the heavier tourist traffic in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It is a quieter, more relaxed base that still gives you fast access to everything the Smokies have to offer.

The Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the country, and it has a solid network of pet-friendly trails for leashed dogs. The Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail are both paved, relatively flat, and open to pets, making them good options for dogs of all ages and energy levels. The park is also free to enter, which is worth noting when you are managing a road trip budget across multiple stops.

The hotel is pet-friendly and offers free Wi-Fi, an expanded cable package, in-room microwaves and mini-refrigerators, and free truck parking. Weekly rates are available for travelers who want to use Dandridge as a longer home base while exploring the broader region.

Book your stay at Red Roof Inn Dandridge

Hotel breakfast and lounge area with white round tables and chairs next to floor-to-ceiling windows showing a downtown street view

Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown, Arizona – Gateway to Saguaro National Park

Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown sits less than a mile from downtown Tucson and about 11 miles from Saguaro National Park, one of the most visually distinctive parks in the American Southwest. The hotel is located near I-10, which makes it easy to navigate in and out of the city, and its central position puts you close to the University of Arizona, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and Tucson International Airport.

Saguaro National Park is divided into two districts on either side of the city, and dogs are welcome on pet-friendly trails and scenic drives throughout both. The park's open area makes it one of the more visually rewarding places to walk a dog in the country. The towering saguaro cacti that give the park its name are found nowhere else in the world outside the Sonoran Desert, and even a short walk among them feels like a genuinely different experience. Plan for early morning visits in warmer months since the desert heats up quickly, and paved surfaces can become uncomfortable for paws.

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, a seasonal outdoor pool, an expanded cable package, and in-room amenities including a microwave and refrigerator. It is one of our best pet-friendly hotels for travelers exploring the Southwest on a national park road trip.

Book your stay at Red Roof Inn Tucson Downtown

Red Roof Inn exterior with a oval-shaped outdoor pool in the foreground and the property sign on the left

Red Roof Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge, Tennessee – A Second Smokies Base

For travelers who want to be right in the middle of the Pigeon Forge action after a day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Red Roof Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge – Parkway puts you on the Parkway itself, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. It is a different experience from Dandridge and a better fit for families who want quick access to both the park and the surrounding attractions.

The hotel is about 10 miles from the park's main entrance at Sunacoochee, and the Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are both accessible to dogs, making the short drive into the park. Back in Pigeon Forge, the North Parkway Trolley stops in front of the hotel and makes it easy to get around without moving the car. A daily breakfast voucher for a hot pancake breakfast at Reagan's Pancake House nearby is included with each stay.

The property features a seasonal outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, free parking, in-room microwaves and mini-refrigerators, and flat-screen TVs. It is a pet-friendly stop that works well as the final stretch of a multi-state national park road trip through the South.

Book your stay at Red Roof Inn & Suites Pigeon Forge

Tri-color dog wearing a red Red Roof bandana sitting on a red Red Roof Woof Box that reads "Pets Stay Free!" on a hotel bed

Tips for Traveling with Pets on a National Park Road Trip

How to travel with pets across multiple parks takes a little planning, but it is straightforward once you know what to expect:

  • Always call ahead to confirm pet policies, since individual parks and trails can have specific rules.
  • Leashes are required in all national parks, typically no longer than six feet.
  • Pack enough water for your dog for each day on the trail, especially in warmer or drier climates.
  • Check trail conditions and temperatures before heading out. Desert parks in particular can be hard on paws in the afternoon heat.

One well-behaved pet is welcome at no additional charge at Red Roof properties. Additional pets may be allowed; please contact the property directly for details. Learn more about our pet policy before you go.

Golden retriever on a leash looking out toward a mountain landscape from a dirt trail with a wooden fence in the distance

Plan Your Road Trip with Red Roof

From the Ozark foothills of Arkansas to the Appalachian ridgelines of Tennessee and the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, these five properties give you a reliable and affordable home base at every stop. Each one is pet-friendly, conveniently located near its national park, and designed to make the in-between parts of your trip as easy as the adventure itself.

We make it simple to keep traveling with pets comfortable and budget-friendly across the whole route. Book your stops, load up the car, and see where the road takes you.

Planning a national park road trip? Book a room at one of our affordable, pet-friendly hotels.