10 Top US Dream Mountain Destinations
Some are looking for those fancy ski resorts and some just want the incredible views. Either way, I’m about to show you some of the most incredible, dream mountain destinations in the US. You can dream away or make your dream come true by planning your next trip to see them.
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Living in a state full of mountains, I know what a dreamy mountain getaway looks like. I’ll show you my favorite dreamy mountain scenes from Colorado, plus a few others across the US for mountain vibes galore.
Some places are based on the incredible mountain itself, and the ones toward the end are based on the actual mountain destination.
Cheers to the dreamiest mountains in America.
Table of Contents
1. Mount Denali
Alaska
Mount Denali (previously known as Mount McKinley) is the highest mountain in North America, making it easy to rank at the top of this dreamy mountains list. It’s actually the 3rd highest peak in the world, coming in at 20,310 feet above sea level.
Denali is the shining gem at Denali National Park, located 130 miles northwest of Anchorage.
This is a dream getaway because who doesn’t want to visit the wide, open, fresh lands of Alaska?
Dream away, or make a visit by taking the Denali Star Train from Anchorage to the national park.
🏔 See Mount Denali and its peaks by plane
2. The Tetons
Wyoming
The Grand Tetons are one of the more obvious dream mountain destinations as over 3 million people a year travel to see them.
Located within Grand Teton National Park, these mountain peaks make luxurious backdrops to lakes and old cabins.
The Tetons were first named by French-British Trappers who came upon them and named them “trois-tetons,” translated to three beasts.
Their size is stunning, especially when you notice they don’t have a gradual increase to their height through hills and elevation. They go straight from the valley floor up to the peaks and make up the beautiful 40 miles range.
You can dream all day of The Tetons, or make it a reality by visiting Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The park is one of the most scenic places for mountain views and has plenty to do. Take a boat ride on Jenny Lake, check out Hidden Falls, take in views of the Snake River, and so much more. This destination is not lacking beauty.
🏔 Make it easy with a Half Day Tour of Grand Teton
3. Mount Rainier
Washington
Mount Rainier is full of beauty. From tall peaks go wildflowers and waterfalls, everything is dreamy about this destination in Washington.
Mount Rainier is known as the tallest volcanic peak (14,410 feet) in the lower 48 states. The scenery is filled with snow fields and glaciers galore while Rainier beams in the distance.
You can find Mount Rainier at Mount Rainier National Park, along with 50 species of mammals and over 100 species of birds.
Mount Rainier is great to visit anytime of year, though winter is tougher for obvious reasons. Our visit took place in October when the park was not crowded at all!
As a destination, the park has plenty to be explored if you have a few days to stay. And that view of Mount Rainier never gets old!
The great thing is that there are plenty of places to stay right outside the park’s entrance, making this dreamy mountain getaway not only magical, but convenient.
🏔 How to Spend 1 Day at Mount Rainier National Park
4. Maroon Bells
Colorado
Despite the many dream mountain destinations in the US, Maroon Bells is the most photographed on the continent, giving it a spot on this list.
Maroon Bells is the top spot to visit when in Aspen, Colorado. The peaks rise above 14,000 feet, seated between Aspen and Crested Butte as part of the Elk Mountains.
To visit this dreamy destination, the easiest way is to take the shuttle from Aspen into Maroon Bells. Then, you can hop out and make the short walk to Maroon Lake.
Catch the mountains in the right sunlight and you’ll come to understand how they got their name. Standing as sentinel over the land, these bells display a pristine reflection on the lake below.
Aspen is a posh getaway for many. You’ll still be among the mountains and surrounded by hiking and nature. If it’s a little too posh, consider staying in Snowmass just down the road.
🏔 Keep dreaming, or make a visit to Aspen, Colorado to see the Bells in real life.
5. Great Smoky Mountains
Tennessee/North Carolina
Calling both Tennessee and North Carolina home, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is THE top visited National Park in the US, welcoming over 13 million visitors in the past year.
One reason it’s so easy to visit is because entrance is free to the park, welcoming couples, singles, and families without financial commitment.
The Great Smoky Mountain extend for 54 miles of majestic beauty, creating incredible views no matter where you sit.
But one of the dreamiest parts of the park comes once a year with the synchronous firefly show. You have to get your number picked in order to see, but it lasts for a couple weeks at the beginning of each summer.
Thanks to the immense amount of vegetation, the mountains are covered in a thick fog (that resembles smoke) from the plants exhaling their organic compounds. All the more reason this place feels a little dreamy!
As a destination, Great Smokey Mountains National Park is located right outside of Pigeon Forge. Take a lift up and over the mountain, see some incredible shows, and play all week in this fun town.
🏔 Get the most out of your visit with a Jeep Tour of Roaring Fork in the Smoky Mountains
6. Rocky Mountains
Colorado
Stretching for 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico, the Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain range in the US. So it’s hard to pick one dream mountain destination among them.
Luckily, I’ve spent ample time in Colorado to share a little bias here.
Rocky Mountain National Park boasts some of the most stunning views of the Rocky Mountain range. With over 3 million visitors a year, the secret seems to be out.
What better spot to have that dream mountain destination than at Dream Lake within the park? This blue-hued lake sits nearly to the base of the mountain peaks with lush, green foliage on the trail. There are plenty of these lake/mountain combo views within the park.
There are also plenty of waterfalls, hikes, and viewpoints in the park. It’s easy to make a trip out of just this national park. We’ve been many times and still haven’t seen it all!
The whole park is full of dreamy spots and it’s easy to access if you stay in Estes Park nearby.
7. Adirondack Park
New York
These mountains, covering more ground than Yosemite National Park 6 time over, make up the largest protected area in the lower 48 states.
The Adirondack Mountains become dreamy as you realize how similar to space they can be. The mountains are made from Anorthosite. Heard of it? It’s the most common type of rock found on the moon!
The mountains encompass a large variety of landscapes. The southern area includes lakes, streams, hills, and wetlands. On the northern end the elevation escalates, giving you those high peaks.
Throughout the park they’ve found over 3,000 lakes and 30,000 miles of rivers and streams. This area is lush, beautiful, and majestic!
Where to stay: Lake Placid and Lake George are both among the most beautiful towns to stay in on your visit to the Adirondaks.
8. Mount Whitney
California
While Colorado is known for its array of fourteeners (a common term for peaks above 14,000 feet), the tallest mountain in the lower 48 is actually in California: Mount Whitney.
This made it last on the list because it’s not necessarily a destination, but with its superlative of tallest mountain and grandeur, it deserved a spot on the list.
Mount Whitney measures up at 14,505 feet, beating Colorado’s tallest mountain Mount Elbert at 14,438.
The best place to view Mount Whitney, short of actually climbing it, is from the Interagency Center in Lone Pine off of highway 395. While it appears to be near Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, it’s on the far east side, away from the parks’ main sites.
If you’re heading over for that majestic view, the most convenient place to stay is in Lone Pine. But it’s easy to combine this view with other parks in the area if you have time to make a trip of it!
9. Park City, Utah
While less of a specific mountain itself, this is more about the dream mountain destination.
Park City is a highly coveted place for skiers to train, learn, or just enjoy a day on the slopes. Choose from both Park City ski resort or its neighbor Deer Valley (both excellent skiing, by the way).
What makes it so dreamy? It’s a hotspot year round for festivals and wellness.
Catch the famous Sundance Film Festival, Summer Music Festival, art galleries, high end restaurants, throwbacks to the 2002 Olympics, snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, or paddle boarding in a nearby hot spring crater. There is so much for couples or families to do in this posh but welcoming mountain town.
10. Telluride, Colorado
Another place that is more about the destination than the actual mountain is Telluride, Colorado. This place is top notch and easily one of the dreamiest mountain destinations in the US.
Telluride is known for its world class skiing. Bonus: it’s quite a drive from the main ski areas in Colorado, so you won’t get the overwhelming crowds.
Telluride is a nice, welcoming, fun mountain town in Colorado’s southwestern quadrant. The town runs along a main street full of shops, bakeries, and tour companies.
What makes it so dreamy? Well, the town’s main street appears to run straight into a giant mountain at one end. It’s like a postcard setting.
In addition, you can take the gondola for FREE up to the town of Mountain Village.
Spend a week in winter skiing, snowshoeing, or cozying up in one of the spas. You can also drive over to Ouray for hot spring options.
In summer you can catch the Hot Air Balloon festival and watch tons of vibrant balloons go into the sky.
Telluride use to be a wild west town (after all, Butch Cassidy made off with over $24,000 in a bank robbery back in the day). But today it’s known as a prime destination for those seeking mountain reprieves, cultural enrichment, and nature at its finest.
Dream Mountain Destination Wrap Up
If these mountains aren’t dreamy, I don’t know what is. Luckily, you can make a trip out of visiting them with plenty of other dreamy scenery all around.
While Alaska might be harder to get to, the National Parks in the lower 48 are relatively easy. You can stay within minutes of Rocky Mountain or Great Smoky Mountain National Parks, giving you a vacation that includes your dream mountain trip.
Which majestic, dream mountain destination will you choose?
