Some people go on vacation to lie on a beach. Others go to eat their way through a city. And then there are people like us — the ones who see a cliff and think "I should jump off that with a bungee cord attached to my ankles." If relaxation to you means pushing your body to its limits in a beautiful setting, congratulations: you're an adventure traveler, and these deals are for you.
The beautiful thing about adventure vacations is that the activities themselves are often reasonably priced — it's the lodging near these remote, stunning locations that gets you. That's where resort vacation packages come in. We've found 10 deals near the best adventure spots in North America. Explore our destination deals for more location-specific options.
1. New River Gorge, West Virginia — From $79/Night
New River Gorge became America's newest national park in 2020, and the adventure scene here is absolutely bonkers. Whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers ranges from family-friendly Class II-III rapids to the genuinely terrifying Class V rapids of the Gauley's "Upper" section, which has names like "Pillow Rock" and "Lost Paddle" that should give you an idea of the intensity.
Resort lodging near the gorge starts at $79/night, with properties in Fayetteville and Beckley offering vacation packages. Adventures on the Gorge is a full-service adventure resort with zip lines, rock climbing, mountain biking, and rafting excursions — all bookable as packages with their on-site lodging. A 3-day adventure package with rafting, zip-lining, and lodging runs about $400-500 per person total.
Bridge Day in October is the only day of the year when BASE jumping is legal from the New River Gorge Bridge — the third-longest single-span arch bridge in the world. Even if you're not jumping, watching people leap from 876 feet is a spectacle. About 400 BASE jumpers participate each year, and the festival draws 80,000 spectators. It's basically the Super Bowl for adrenaline junkies.
2. Moab, Utah — From $89/Night
Moab is the adventure capital of the American West, sitting between Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park in a landscape that looks like Mars decided to be beautiful. Mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering, off-roading, river rafting, and base jumping are all available within a 30-minute drive of town. It's an adventure buffet, and the portions are enormous.
Resort and lodge properties in Moab offer vacation packages starting at $89/night. The Aarchway Inn and Red Cliffs Lodge both provide comfortable bases for adventure excursions. The Slickrock Bike Trail is arguably the most famous mountain bike trail in the world — 10.5 miles of sandstone that looks impossible but rides like a dream (if your dream involves burning thighs and questionable decisions).
Canyoneering in the slot canyons near Moab is a bucket-list experience. You'll rappel into narrow sandstone canyons with walls that glow orange and red in the filtered sunlight. Half-day guided trips run $150-200 per person and are suitable for beginners. Just don't be claustrophobic — some passages require squeezing through gaps that are barely shoulder-width.
3. Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee — From $69/Night
The Smoky Mountains gateway towns have transformed into adventure destinations with zip line courses, alpine coasters, via ferrata routes, and enough outdoor activities to keep an adrenaline junkie busy for a week. The commercialization is heavy — there's a pancake restaurant every 12 feet — but the adventure options are genuinely world-class.
Resort deals at properties like Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort start at $69/night for spacious mountain-view suites. From there, you're within 15 minutes of dozens of adventure outfitters. The CLIMB Works zip line course sends you soaring over the Smoky Mountains on cables reaching speeds of 50+ MPH. Foxfire Mountain's waterfall zip line goes directly over a 100-foot waterfall.
For a free adventure, hike the Alum Cave Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's 5 miles round trip to the summit of Mt. LeConte, passing through an arch of rhododendron, along narrow cliff ledges, and up a boulder scramble that'll test your nerve. The views from the top are worth every drop of sweat. Visit our deals page for Gatlinburg packages.
4. Jackson Hole, Wyoming — From $119/Night
Jackson Hole in summer is adventure paradise at slightly less insane prices than the winter ski season. Whitewater rafting on the Snake River, paragliding over the Tetons, rock climbing in Grand Teton National Park, mountain biking, and wildlife safaris where you might see grizzly bears (from a safe distance, please) are all on the menu.
Resort vacation packages in Jackson start at $119/night during summer — a fraction of the $300+ winter rates. The Snow King Resort and Spring Creek Ranch both offer adventure-focused packages. The Snake River has sections ranging from gentle scenic floats (perfect for families) to Class III whitewater that'll make you question your life choices in the best possible way.
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's aerial tram operates in summer, taking you to 10,450 feet for hiking and mountain biking with views of the Tetons, Snake River Valley, and on clear days, the Yellowstone plateau. The corbet's couloir viewing platform lets you peer over the edge of one of skiing's most famous drops — 20 feet of vertical cliff before the slope begins. In summer, it's even more terrifying because you can see exactly how far you'd fall.
5. Costa Rica Adventure Packages — From $99/Night
Costa Rica basically invented the adventure vacation. Zip-lining through cloud forests, white water rafting on the Pacuare River, surfing on both coasts, volcano hiking, waterfall rappelling — this small Central American country packs more adventure per square mile than anywhere else on the planet.
Resort packages at properties in Guanacaste (Pacific coast) and Arenal (volcano region) start at $99/night. The RIU resorts in Guanacaste and the Tabacón Thermal Resort near Arenal both offer adventure excursion packages. A day of zip-lining through the Monteverde Cloud Forest runs about $50-70 per person — a fraction of what similar experiences cost in the U.S.
The Pacuare River rafting trip is consistantly ranked among the top 5 white water experiences in the world. The two-day expedition includes camping in the rainforest canyon and costs about $250-300 per person all-inclusive. You'll navigate Class III-IV rapids through pristine rainforest with waterfalls cascading from the canyon walls. It's the kind of experience that ruins all future vacations because nothing else compares.
6. Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada — From $109/Night
Lake Tahoe in summer is a completely different beast from the ski-season version, and it's arguebly even better for adventure seekers. Mountain biking the Flume Trail (with views of the impossibly blue lake 1,500 feet below), rock climbing at Donner Summit, kayaking Emerald Bay, and cliff jumping at various spots around the lake make it an adventure smorgasbord.
Resort packages at properties like the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe and the Marriott Grand Residence start at $109/night during summer. The south shore has more commercial adventure outfitters, while the north shore and west shore offer more rugged, backcountry-style adventures.
The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 165-mile loop around the entire lake, and you can tackle it in sections for day hikes with jaw-dropping views. The segment from Tahoe City to Ward Creek is an easy 5-mile round trip that gives you a taste of the trail without committing to a multi-day trek. For something more intense, the Emerald Bay to Eagle Lake hike climbs steeply to a granite-lined alpine lake that's worth every painful step.
7. Asheville, NC — From $89/Night
Asheville isn't just for beer nerds and Biltmore tourists. The Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding this quirky city offer world-class rock climbing at Looking Glass Rock, whitewater on the French Broad and Nantahala Rivers, mountain biking at DuPont State Forest, and zip line courses that let you soar over waterfalls.
Resort packages in the Asheville area start at $89/night, putting you within easy reach of all these adventures. The Nantahala Outdoor Center (about 90 minutes west) is one of the premier whitewater destinations in the Southeast, with rapids ranging from gentle Class II to challenging Class IV on the Nantahala, Ocoee, and Chattooga Rivers.
DuPont State Forest deserves special mention — it has six major waterfalls, including Triple Falls and Hooker Falls (both featured in The Hunger Games movies). The mountain biking here is excellent for all skill levels, and the waterfall swimming holes in summer are refreshing after a hot ride. Bring water shoes and a sense of adventure; the rocks are slippery and the water is cold enough to remind you that you're alive.
8. Bend, Oregon — From $99/Night
Bend is where Portland's adventure-loving residents go when they want to actually do things instead of just talking about doing things. The Deschutes River offers kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, Smith Rock State Park is world-famous for sport climbing, Mt. Bachelor provides summer mountain biking and winter skiing, and the surrounding Cascade Mountains have enough hiking trails to last a lifetime.
Resort and vacation rental packages in Bend start at $99/night. The Seventh Mountain Resort and Sunriver Resort both offer activity-inclusive packages that bundle lodging with bike rentals, river floats, and adventure excursions. The "Bend Ale Trail" — a self-guided tour of the city's 30+ craft breweries — is the perfect post-adventure recovery activity.
Smith Rock State Park is the birthplace of American sport climbing, and even if you've never climbed before, guided intro sessions start at $75 per person. The Misery Ridge Trail is a non-climbing hike that takes you to the top of the rock for panoramic views of the Cascade volcanoes — Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, Three Sisters, and Broken Top are all visible on clear days.
9. Whitefish, Montana — From $99/Night
Whitefish sits at the western entrance to Glacier National Park, which alone makes it an adventure destination worth visiting. But beyond the park, Whitefish offers mountain biking on Whitefish Trail, paddleboarding on Whitefish Lake, fly fishing on the Flathead River, and zip-lining through old-growth forest.
Resort packages at properties like Grouse Mountain Lodge and the Lodge at Whitefish Lake start at $99/night during summer. Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the most spectacular drives in North America, and the hiking trails along it — Highline Trail, Grinnell Glacier, and Avalanche Lake — are bucket-list caliber.
The Grinnell Glacier hike is 11 miles round trip and takes you to one of the last remaining glaciers in the park. Scientists estimate these glaciers will be gone by 2030-2040, making this hike both an adventure and a bittersweet reminder of climate change. See it while you can — and bring bear spray. This is grizzly country, and they don't care about your Instagram following.
10. Chattanooga, Tennessee — From $79/Night
Chattanooga has quietly become one of the best adventure cities in the Southeast. Rock climbing at Sunset Rock and Tennessee Wall, hang gliding off Lookout Mountain, mountain biking on Raccoon Mountain, kayaking the Tennessee River through the downtown gorge, and hiking to waterfalls at Cloudland Canyon State Park (just over the Georgia border) give you a week's worth of adventure activities.
Resort and hotel packages in Chattanooga start at $79/night, and the downtown location means you can walk to restaurants, breweries, and the Tennessee Aquarium between adventure days. The Lookout Mountain attractions (Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway) are tourist classics, but they're also genuinely impressive — Ruby Falls is a 145-foot underground waterfall inside a cave.
The Tennessee Bouldering Authority and the Crash Pad are Chattanooga institutions — a climbing gym and adventure hostel respectively that cater to the outdoor community. Even if you're staying at a resort, swinging by these spots connects you with local climbers and guides who can point you toward the best secret spots that don't show up in guidebooks. Check our resort brand pages for Chattanooga-area deals.
| Destination | Starting Price | Top Adventure | Difficulty Range | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New River Gorge, WV | $79/night | Whitewater rafting | Beginner-Expert | May-October |
| Moab, UT | $89/night | Canyoneering | Intermediate-Expert | March-May, Sept-Nov |
| Gatlinburg, TN | $69/night | Zip-lining | Beginner-Intermediate | April-October |
| Jackson Hole, WY | $119/night | Snake River rafting | Beginner-Advanced | June-September |
| Costa Rica | $99/night | Cloud forest zip lines | Beginner-Expert | Dec-April |
| Lake Tahoe, CA/NV | $109/night | Mountain biking | Intermediate-Expert | June-September |
| Asheville, NC | $89/night | Whitewater rafting | Beginner-Advanced | April-October |
| Bend, OR | $99/night | Rock climbing | Beginner-Expert | May-October |
| Whitefish, MT | $99/night | Glacier hiking | Intermediate-Expert | July-September |
| Chattanooga, TN | $79/night | Rock climbing | Beginner-Advanced | March-November |
Adventure vacations are proof that the best things in life aren't free — but they don't have to be expensive either. A $50 zip line ticket, an $80 rafting trip, or a free national park hike can deliver more memorable moments than any all-inclusive buffet ever could. Book one of these resort deals, pack your courage (and maybe some Advil for the day after), and go remind yourself what it feels like to be alive. Your couch will still be there when you get back. It's not going anywhere. You should be.