Yellowstone is one of the most fascinating parks in the United States, and spending a couple of days exploring its beauty is the secret dream of many travelers who are eager to experience its extravagant natural beauty and surreal landscapes. However, given the vastness of Yellowstone and the scattered location of its major attractions, organizing a satisfying visit often requires a bit more attention than it should.
As you can read in our guide dedicated to what to see and how to visit Yellowstone, one day is just not enough for a proper tour: you need to invest at least a couple of full days (if not three) to fully enjoy the park, which is why you will have to organize your stay in the area efficiently. The question arises: where do I sleep in Yellowstone? Where are the most strategic towns near the park? Moreover… is it possible to have the unforgettable experience of sleeping in a lodge inside the park?
I will talk about all these things in this article, giving advice and suggestions on where to stay in Yellowstone National Park, or in the immediate surroundings of the five different entrances to the park (with hotels, lodges, or Bed & Breakfasts included): take note and get organized according to your needs!
Contents
Where to stay in Yellowstone: accommodations inside the park
There are 9 accommodation facilities in the vast area of Yellowstone, evenly distributed near all the main areas of interest of the park, summarized here:
- Mammoth Hot Springs (northwest area)
- Old Faithful (geyser area, southwest)
- Grant Village (south area of Yellowstone Lake)
- Lake Village (north area of Yellowstone Lake)
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (center of the park)
- Roosevelt (north area)
Each of these areas has one or more accommodation solutions, including lodges, hotels and cabins. Let’s start from the most popular area, which is Old Faithful / Upper Geyser Area, with all the colorful geysers of Yellowstone nearby, that the real top attraction.
Old Faithful
There are several accommodation possibilities in this area of the park, which are ideal for those who come from West Yellowstone and want to explore the section of the park where the geysers are located. Here are the various possibilities:
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- Old Faithful Inn: by far, the most desirable accommodation in this area of the park and perhaps the park itself. Built in the early 1900’s, this old stone and wood hotel with its beautiful interior is the largest in Yellowstone and has a truly exceptional view (you can watch the eruption of the world’s most famous geyser from the terrace). Check prices and availability
- Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins: an alternative solution in cabins (small wooden bungalows). Just as charming, but a bit more expensive. From the lodge’s lobby (which dates back to 1920) you can enjoy a splendid view of Old Faithful itself. Check prices and availability
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins: this is currently the only lodge in the entire park that is also open in winter. It is the newest and most modern lodge in Yellowstone. Check prices and availability
Mammoth Hot Springs
In the area at the northern end of the park, you will find the impressive Mammoth Hot Springs. Here is where you can stay:
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins: this hotel opened to the public in the summer of 2018, after a period of closure for construction. It still retains a wing that has remained unchanged since 1911, with all of its period charm. Also available here are some lovely cabins immersed in the varied nature of the place. Check prices and availability
Lake Yellowstone
Around the shores of Lake Yellowstone, there are three different solutions: two are located on the western side of the lake, while the third is located in the southern part, close to West Thumb, a geyser with waters flowing directly into the lake. The latter is located in Grant Village, and is ideal for those who want to find accommodation near the lake, without going too far away from the geysers, or for those coming from the south (Grand Teton).
- Grant Village Lodge: This property is named after President Ulysses S. Grant, who was in office in 1872 when Yellowstone was opened as the world’s first nature park. There are no less than 6 buildings nestled in the woods, each consisting of about 50 rooms. The look and feel of this hotel is a bit more rustic, and it’s one of the park’s more upscale options. Check prices and availability.
On the northern shores of the lake, in Lake Village, you will find Lake Lodge and Lake Hotel: these two accommodations will suit those who want to be in the heart of the park, equidistant from all the natural areas of major interest. Here is some general information to help you choose:
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Lake Lodge: The charming main structure of the Lake Lodge is an elegant and comfortable wooden building, with breathtaking views of the lake. Cabins are also available here, completely surrounded by nature. Check prices and availability
- Lake Hotel: in a particular colonial style, it is also called Lake Yellowstone Hotel; it is one of the oldest in the park and has undergone a process of modernization, which has returned it to its original splendor. An overnight stay in one of the cabins here, surrounded by nature, can reserve some nice surprises, maybe a bison intent on grazing the grass a few foot from the front door. Check prices and availability.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
What a sight, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone! Where can you sleep near this fascinating new spectacle of nature? The choice is not difficult, even here, as there is only one lodge for those who want to sleep on the doorstep of the roaring waterfalls of the Grand Canyon River. It is also a strategic position to reach other parts of the park.
- Canyon Lodge: a huge hotel structure, recently extended, with the addition of new buildings that mirror each other. The large availability of rooms (over 500) means that many people find themselves booking a room here, in the absence of other options within the park. To get a somewhat higher level of accommodations, you will need to spend a bit more. Check prices and availability
Roosevelt Lodge
Halfway between the two northern entrances (Gardiner and Cooke City), an ideal area to visit both Mammoth Hot Springs and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, is Roosevelt Lodge, perhaps the most spartan of the park’s accommodations. If you settle for one of the cabins – immersed in the park’s green surroundings – you will really experience a full immersion in nature. If you want some more comfort, you can choose to stay in the main building, which entertains a rustic-mountain style. Check prices and availability
Hotels inside Yellowstone National Park: useful tips
Yellowstone attracts a high number of visitors each year, and if you don’t want to run the risk of missing out on accommodations, you need to book well in advance: in the high season, rooms in the various lodges inside the park sell out several months before.
Many people are disappointed by the welcome these lodges offer, complaining that the high prices of the rooms do not reflect the services provided. One example of this is that in almost all cases, Wifi is not included in the room rate. Therefore, please bear in mind these two aspects:
- hotel rates in Yellowstone are very high in general, so if you want to experience sleeping inside Yellowstone you will have to spend a higher amount than the average lodge in other parks, booking well in advance to secure the best prices;
- you must carefully assess your own needs when booking: if you expect the same services in a lodge as you get in a room at a more refined and classy lodge, you could be very disappointed.
Where to stay near Yellowstone: hotels outside the park
Here are the places near the 5 entrances to the park, and where you can find accommodation a little cheaper than the solutions mentioned above. However, be careful! Due to the high rate of visitors to the park, do not wait around too much. Even the hotels in these resorts tend to fill up quickly, and if you don’t book in time you run the risk of having to make do with what comes along.
Coming from the south…
If you do not feel like sleeping in Yellowstone and you need accommodation coming from the south, you will have to look for accommodation in Jackson or in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, the beautiful national park that is the antechamber to Yellowstone. In the linked article, you will find some advice on where to sleep in Grand Teton, while below we provide some tips on Jackson, a very lively town but also an expensive one:
Best places to stay in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Antler Inn: a motel with an excellent quality-price ratio, near the lively center of Jackson. Traditional, all-wood structure. (1.15 h from the south entrance of Yellowstone). Check prices and availability
- Elk Refuge Inn: “Every room has a view,” is the slogan for this series of apartments with spectacular views of the National Elk Refuge nature preserve. The apartments are spacious, with a kitchenette, small terrace or front yard. Check prices and availability
- Spring Creek Ranch: A superior property (even for the prices!), located above the town of Jackson, in a beautiful nature reserve with mountain views. This is a luxury resort, for a truly out of the ordinary stay (1 hour 20 mins from the south entrance of Yellowstone). Take a look at the photos at the link here Check prices and availability
All accommodations available in Jackson
Coming from the west…
This section probably applies to most people wishing to include a visit to Yellowstone in their West Coast road trip. Coming from Utah, and traveling a long way into Idaho, we finally enter Montana, and here, very near the western entrance to the park, we find West Yellowstone. From here, we can start with a visit to the geysers or head north to Mammoth Hot Springs or, in the center of the park, towards the Grand Canyon. Where can you sleep in West Yellowstone? Here are a couple of recommendations.
Places to stay in West Yellowstone, Wyoming
- Moose Creek Inn: the stars of the decor in this charming, rustic mountain wood lodging are the American moose! But the highlight of the Moose Creek Inn is its close proximity to the park’s western entrance. Check prices and availability
- Arrowhead Lodge: Don’t let the exterior fool you; these apartments inside are really well maintained, spacious, clean and equipped with all amenities. If you want to have the possibility of cooking without having to go out for dinner, I highly recommend this lodge, which also has an outdoor barbecue, to be shared with the other condos. Check prices and availability
- Yellowstone Under Canvas: the most unique experience, sleeping in a fully equipped tent just a short distance from Yellowstone! Incredible view, restaurant with local specialties, and the possibility of excursions in the area (if there is any time left!). Check prices and availability
- Stage Coach Inn: you can enjoy a pleasant overnight stay in this beautiful building with a rustic hunting lodge-style lobby, with typical American chain hotel rooms, an indoor pool, and all necessary amenities. Check rates and availability
All available accommodations in West Yellowstone
Coming from the north…
If you’re coming from Montana, you will enter Yellowstone from Gardiner, a town that is strategic for visiting Mammoth Hot Springs; or from Cooke City, which is a little further east and is statistically a little less frequented access (only by those who travel the 212). Both locations have some hotels to stay in.
Where to stay in Gardiner, Montana
- Yellowstone Gateway Inn: large, tastefully decorated rooms as well as suites with kitchenettes. The view of the mountains is splendid, and the location is strategic for access to the park from the north entrance (20 min from Mammoth Hot Springs). Check prices and availability
All accommodations available in Gardiner
Best hotels in Cooke City, Montana
There is a little less availability in Cooke City, but I would recommend the following property:
- Soda Butte Lodge: A beautiful wooden lodge nestled in the woods. The rooms and common areas are rustic in style and give a very warm and welcoming feeling. The lodge is still ideal for a visit to the northern part of Yellowstone Park (50 min from Tower Junction). Check prices and availability
All accommodations available in Cooke City
Coming from the east…
If you are coming from the east, use Cody, the city of Buffalo Bill, as your reference point. It has a western atmosphere and is one of the main centers of interest in Wyoming due to the presence of numerous attractions in and around the city. The closest park attraction is Yellowstone Lake but from here you can also easily reach Lamar Valley. Here’s where to stay:
Places to stay in Cody, Wyoming
- Pahaska Tepee: before arriving in Cody, there are accommodations that may be ideal for those looking for an atmospheric stay, just a short distance from the original Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge (that can still be visited). The structure, despite being immersed in a beautiful natural setting, has many amenities, including a restaurant, bar and gift store, but its main advantage is definitely its proximity to the East entrance of Yellowstone, just 5 minutes by car (the city center of Cody is practically 1 hour). On the other hand, it must be said that some guests have complained about the neglected state of some rooms and how the prices are somewhat “affected” by the place’s prestigious history. Check prices and availability
- Irma Hotel: still in the mood for historic structures? This is the most famous hotel in Cody, conceived by Buffalo Bill himself (who named it after his daughter) and that, over the years, has hosted characters from the old and wild west such as Calamity Jane and company. You can sleep in period rooms and stay in a characteristic building full of charm, which also includes a restaurant and entertainment activities (do not miss the gunslinger shows in the late afternoon …). Check prices and availability
- Big Bear Motel: You’ll be greeted at your lodgings by a pair of…big bears. The motel is a traditional wooden structure, and the atmosphere is lively and engaging, partly due to its proximity to the famous Cody rodeo arena. Yellowstone Park is less than an hour’s drive away (50 min from the east entrance). Check prices and availability
- The Cody Hotel: another very famous and popular hotel in Cody: large and cozy rooms, hot tub, gym… the distance from the park and the attractions in Cody is more or less the same as the previous one, as the two hotels are practically opposite each other. Check prices and availability
- AmericInn Cody: the lobby, with its impressive number of stuffed animals (bears, deer, buffalo goats, etc….), gives a fair idea of the atmosphere in this hotel. Clean rooms, cookies offered to customers in the afternoon, great location and great price. Check prices and availability
All available accommodations in Cody
