With summer's end surprisingly (disappointingly?) near, lodging rates are dropping at Yellowstone and Grand Canyon national parks, with some rooms available for as little as $59 a night.

At Yellowstone, a rate of $59 per night is being offered for budget cabins at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel during the week of October 2-9. Rates are normally $81 per night for single or double occupancy. The hotel closes for the season Oct. 10, and reopens Dec. 20 for the winter season.

The $59 rate is non-refundable; a rate of $69 following the hotel’s standard 48-hour cancellation policy is also available.

The number of cabins available for this promotion is limited, and they must be reserved by calling the reservations office at 1-307-344-7311 or toll-free 1-866-GEYSERLAND (1-866-439-7375).

The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is located five miles inside the park’s northern entrance and is popular among visitors, particularly in the fall when the elk gather near the hotel as the males compete for the females’ attention. The hotel is also convenient to the park’s Lamar Valley where bison and elk are abundant and wolves become easier to spot as the air cools down.

Complete details about accommodations, restaurants and activities in Yellowstone can be made by calling the reservations office or visiting www.YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com

At the Grand Canyon, the Xanterra Parks & Resorts will again offer its “End of Summer” package this year. The package features accommodations, breakfast, tour and retail discounts for less than the typical cost of just the room.

Available Aug. 26 – Sept. 2, the package features accommodations at Maswik Lodge or Yavapai Lodge, breakfast for two, one motorcoach tour for two and discounts in Xanterra gift shops of up to 20 percent.

The rate at Maswik Lodge is $169 per night plus tax and features accommodations in a “Maswik North” room,  breakfast coupons, choice of a Hermits Rest motorcoach tour in the morning or Sunset motorcoach tour in the afternoon and a one-time gift shop discount good for 10 percent off purchases of $50-149.99 and 20 percent off purchases $150 and above.

The rate at Yavapai Lodge is $154 plus tax and features accommodations in a “Yavapai East” room, breakfast coupons, choice of a Hermits Rest motorcoach tour in the morning or Sunset motorcoach tour in the afternoon and a one-time gift shop discount good for 10 percent off purchases of $50-149.99 and 20 percent off purchases $150 and above.

Rack rates for rooms are normally $173 per night at Maswik North and $163 at Yavapai East. Rates do not include taxes.

In addition to operating lodging, restaurants and gift shops at the South Rim, Xanterra offers activities such as mule trips and motorcoach tours. Travelers may also wish to leave the car behind and arrive at the Grand Canyon via train on the Grand Canyon Railway as it makes its daily round trip from Williams, Ariz. There are also a variety of tours and activities in Grand Canyon Village with a self-guided walking tour of the historic district of Grand Canyon Village.

When reserving this package, guests need to use the promo code SUMMER online at www.grandcanyonlodges.com or call toll-free 1-888-297-2757 or 1-303-297-2757 from outside the United States. More information about Grand Canyon National Park can be obtained at http://www.nps.gov/grca or 1-928-638-7888.