Where To Stay In Yellowstone: The Best Hotels Cabins And Glamping Sites To Book
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A visit to Americas first national park should be on every outdoor lovers bucket list, but with the park seeing record attendance last year, deciding where to stay in Yellowstone after a day of geysers and grizzlies can feel daunting. Campgrounds and in-park lodging tend to book-up six months to one year in advance, and they often lack the sumptuous spa treatments and cozy amenities your family or friend group might want. Weve pulled together a list of our 17 favorite places to stay near Yellowstone, from gorgeous glamping hubs to posh cabins and mountain-view condos.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Hotels In Gardiner Montana
Gardiner is located just outside the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. If youre spending several days in Yellowstone, you could spend a few nights in West Yellowstone and a few nights in Gardiner.
This town is closest to Mammoth Hot Springs and about an hour to Lamar Valley. Gardiner is also an excellent option for a one-night layover if youre going or coming from Glacier National Park or other adventures in Big Sky Country.
Drive Time to Popular Attractions:
- Old Faithful: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Grand Prismatic Spring: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Hayden Valley: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Mammoth Hot Springs: 15 minutes
- Lamar Valley: 1 hour 10 minutes
The best hotels in Gardiner, Montana include:
- Yellowstone Basin Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast with 14 guest rooms and a complimentary buffet breakfast a few miles north of downtown Gardiner
- Park Hotel Yellowstone, a historic hotel with nine guest rooms and fire pits in downtown Gardiner, walking distance to Roosevelt Arch and the North Entrance
- The Roosevelt Hotel, a property with 29 standard hotel rooms and several two-bedroom cabins located along the Yellowstone River just outside downtown Gardiner
- Yellowstone Big Rock Inn, a no-frills, budget-friendly hotel with 51 guest rooms, some featuring kitchenettes, located near the North Entrance to Yellowstone
Should I Stay In One Hotel To See Both Yellowstone And Grand Teton
I dont recommend staying in one hotel to visit both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. If you want to take advantage of your time in Yellowstone, I suggest staying closer to Yellowstone.
Some people day trip from Grand Teton up to Yellowstone, or vice versa, and thats fine if its the only way you can make time to see the parks. But its about a 1.5-hour drive from the town of Jackson to Yellowstones South Entrance, and driving that route each day will significantly cut into your sightseeing time in Yellowstone.
If you have the time, it makes more sense to book separate hotels for each park.
I hope you find a fabulous place to stay while visiting Yellowstone National Park happy trails!
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Meet The Grizzly And Wolf Discovery Centers Residents
West Yellowstones Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a must-see wildlife attraction. There are several bears and two to three wolf packs at this non-profit facility.
The animals kept here arent for captivity display but are those that would struggle to survive in the wild. Both animals are kept apart yet in a climate-controlled, open environment, helping them live in surroundings similar to the wild.
The facility remains open every day from 9 am to 4 pm. Enthusiasts can either stop and watch wolves and grizzly bears from the outside or, to get a more intimate experience, they can visit the river otter display, Birds of Prey show, and Naturalist Cabin on site.
The facility also provides a 30-minute Kids Keeper demonstration where young children can learn about bears and set out food for them. All in all, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is the best option for a fun-filled family day in West Yellowstone.
Overall Best Places To Stay In Yellowstone National Park
There are a lot of accommodation options for places to stay inside Yellowstone National Park. Before diving into all the details in the next section, I wanted to share some highlights.
The best place to stay in Yellowstone will depend on your interest. Here are my choices for the best places to stay depending on your priorities:
- One Day in the Park: Old Faithful Inn
- Two to Three Days in the Park: Canyon Lodge & Cabins
- Four or More Days in the Park: Move around to multiple hotels
Dont miss this Yellowstone itinerary post for more recommendations on popular places to stay for every night of your trip.
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Where To Eat In Yellowstone
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room is where we ate dinner and breakfast of pancakes with huckleberry sauce. It is classy with a creative menu that is creative and upscale. It had a decent wine list. Breakfast and lunch are on a first-come but you need reservations for dinner.
We stopped at Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli at the Old Faithful Inn to pick up sandwiches for lunch one day had enjoyed it by the river. You can eat inside the restaurant but it is pretty crowded and when you have so much open space and picnic spots outside in nature at Yellowstone why not make use of it?!
We found Canyon Lodge Eatery to have better vegetarian food inside Yellowstone. Customize a wok with a base of greens, rice, or noodles, add veggies, tofu, or meat, and some flavorful sauces and toppers for a hot meal. There were some pasta, Rotisserie chicken and sandwich options as well, and nice vegetarian chili. You can also buy supplies and snacks at the Yellowstone General stores.
If you are staying near Roosevelt, you can ride out to Yancys Hole on a horse or in a covered wagon for some real cowboy grub in a Western-style Dinner Cookout. The Ride takes 30 to 45 minutes and takes you through sagebrush flats, following the same road used for the stagecoach rides to the cookout site.
The wagons are canvas-covered with padded bench seats. Each wagon is drawn by two horses. Vegetarian meals can be accommodated with advance notice and it would be something fun for the kids to do!
Where To Stay Outside Of Yellowstone
Just outside of the park entrances sit several towns that make a great home base for exploring Yellowstone.
Ideally, it is best to stay inside the park, to minimize driving time, but there are several advantages to staying outside of the park.Accommodations are typically cheaper, in some towns you will have a wide range of restaurant options and a grocery store, and it is generally easier to make a reservation, even if you are planning things at the last minute.
Here are lodging options outside of Yellowstone, located near each park entrance.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: The entrances to Yellowstone National Park are open 24 hours a day. If you stay outside of the park, you can enter before sunrise or exit after sunset.
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Know Yellowstones Camping Rules And Regulations
Camping in Yellowstone is limited to 14 days from July 1st to the first weekend in September, so dont get too crazy in your itinerary length. .
Camping or overnight vehicle parking is also prohibited in pullouts, parking areas, picnic grounds, or any place other than a designated campground. If you dont have a campsite reservation and you cant get a first-come, first-served site, the nearest campsite or hotel room may be hours away.
Where Should I Stay While Visiting Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is a breathtaking place, complete with bubbling mud, spewing geysers, and some of the most fabulous wildlife viewing in any park its the perfect place to take a vacation!
Where should you stay while visiting Yellowstone? If you want to be in the park to cut down on driving, stay in Madison, Norris, or Canyon Village. If youre looking for something outside of the park, West Yellowstone is a fabulous option.
My name is Ash, and I worked as a park ranger in Wyoming Ive spent a lot of time in the park! Im excited to help you decide where to stay while visiting Yellowstone, so lets talk about your options.
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Jackson Hole One Of The Most Popular Places Where To Stay In Yellowstone
This is one of the most famous cities in the Yellowstone region. Situated to the south of Yellowstone National Park, many people like to stay in Jackson Hole because it also is really close to Grand Teton National Park, offering plenty of bang for their buck.
Jackson Hole is a year-round destination. It boasts three famous ski areas and the National Museum of Wildlife Art featuring works by Georgia O-Keeffe and Andy Warhol.
The city even has a thriving arts scene, so if youre interested in seeing a play or a concert, this is the place to stay in Yellowstone.
Jackson Hole grants access to many of the same outdoor recreation that is available in other communities surrounding Yellowstone. These include whitewater rafting, ziplining, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, fishing and more.
Be certain to set aside some time to visit the Town Square where you can take pictures of the four arches made of elk antlers. This is also the place to be to find all sorts of shopping and dining options.
At Granite Hot Springs, which also features a campground, you can soak away your cares in the warm waters. You also can visit the National Elk Refuge to observe the worlds largest herd of wild elk.
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the main attraction outside of the two national parks. This is a great place to hike in the summer or ski in the winter. Additionally, youll find multiple choices as far as dining or lodging right in the resort.
West Yellowstone Mt: Yellowstone Park Hotel
At Yellowstone Park Hotel, youre three blocks from the parks west entrance â that puts you at less than an hours drive to Old Faithful . The center of town is right here, making this a convenient home base for tours and trips out of West Yellowstone.
When you tire of the park, youll come back to 49 TVs and a warm soak in the hot tub, the heated indoor pool, or up in your room. Even standard rooms come with king beds and plenty of space â if you need more, head to the outdoor fire pits to roast some smores. Theyre complimentary! Otherwise, hit up the new game room â âLevel Zero â or take advantage of the free bike rentals and get back to exploring the great outdoors on the Riverside Bike Trail, just inside the West Entrance.
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Where To Stay Near Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is our planet at its most communicative. At the Brink of the Lower Falls â in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone â you can listen to the rage of the water, a chorus of 635,000 gallons spilling over the falls edge every second. On the maze of boardwalks surrounding the Midway Geyser Basin, tune your ears to the bubbling and boiling beneath and above the surface. Move your attention to somewhere far away in the distance, where a coyote howls from the calderas ridge and the wind rushes through the lodgepole pine.
Here, the Earth is alive. Youre standing on an active supervolcano, a hot spot thats formed one of the largest calderas on the planet. Look at the rim above you â a remnant of a massive explosion 640,000 years ago â as you scan for bison and gray wolves in the grasses of the Lamar Valley. Under foot, the planet is churning, blowing off steam at Old Faithful, forming hot, bubbly mud pots and multi-colored travertine terraces at Mammoth Springs, and creating rainbows at Grand Prismatic Spring. Its alive with people, too. Traffic builds up in âbison jams, hundreds gather every hour or so to witness Old Faithful, and crowds flock to magnificent overlooks like Artists Point â especially in the warmer months. But with an area bigger than both Rhode Island and Delaware combined, you should be able to carve out your own Yellowstone adventure.
Where To Stay In Yellowstone On A Budget
Heres an example of how you could stay in Yellowstone if youre traveling on a low to mid range budget but dont want to sleep in a tent :
- Fly to Salt Lake City or Bozeman and drive to Gardiner.
- Choose a budget hotel like Yellowstone Basin Inn for night 1.
- Explore the entire park spending nights 2, 3 and 4 in a West Yellowstone budget hotel such as Kelly Inn.
- Check out of the hotel, drive to Jackson to stay in a budget hotel like Elk Country Inn and explore Grand Teton.
- Fly out of Jackson, Salt Lake City or Denver. Alternatively, continue South on an epic Utah Road Trip!
In summary, use the guide above as an example of the places to book your hotels in or near Yellowstone based on a low-mid range and mid range-high budget.
Finally, no matter where you end up sleeping, we hope you have the most amazing vacation to Yellowstone National Park.
Read More About Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Jim and Susan McCormick
Friday 26th of February 2021
I love your blog for Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. I would love your opinion on the closed roads and what is not accessible this summer. I would also love your thougths on accessing the Lamar Valley from the Canyon area and the best time to see it. Thanks!
Friday 26th of February 2021
Please let us know if you have any more questions about either park or planning your trip, we’d be happy to help!
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South Yellowstone Old Faithful
Old Faithful is quintessential Yellowstone and you have 3 choices for accommodation within the same village area. Those 3 choices are Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins and Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
Old Faithful Inn
Old Faithful Inn is listed as a national historic landmark and as a result is the most requested lodging option in all of Yellowstone. Which means you need to get in even earlier for this one!
The Inn was built in 1903-1904 from materials sourced around the park and is labelled the largest log structure in the world. You will find a lounge, restaurant and spectacular lobby area with stone fireplace.
Opening dates are from early May to mid October.
Booking Options:
- Check availability at Old Faithful Inn for your dates.
- See if you can beat the price on Tripadvisor.
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins is your budget option within the Old Faithful village. You can pick up a frontier cabin or cabin without bathroom if you prefer to save money on accommodation.
Views of Old Faithful are prime time from the lobby and you have access to a cafeteria style food court.
Opening dates are from mid May to early October.
Booking Options:
- See if you can beat the price on Tripadvisor.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge
Quite confusingly, Old Faithful Snow Lodge is not open for Winter, it just has slightly longer opening dates than the other accommodation options around Old Faithful village.
Opening dates are from end April to end October.
Booking Options:
Unique Tiny House In Gardiner: Roosevelts Roost
Tiny houses are a popular trend across the United States, and its easy to see why! For couples and solo travellers on a tight budget, they offer all the home comforts of a cabin without the sky-high costs. This tiny house can only fit a bedroom, but guests have access to the kitchen and bathroom facilities in the main property.
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The Best Areas To Stay In Yellowstone Tips And Advice
- The best base to explore Yellowstone National Park: Is obviously within the park itself! Canyon Village is the most central of all, but trying to book accommodation within the park is extremely competitive. If you are planning a year ahead and not on too strict a budget the lodges are perfect.
- The best town outside of Yellowstone: West Yellowstone has great facilities, and isnt hours away from the main attractions in the park its only 45 minutes to the Grand Prismatic Spring from West Yellowstone.
- Staying near Yellowstone on a budget: Yellowstone can get pretty expensive, especially during the high season. The limited accommodation in the park drives prices up, but Cody and Gardiner just outside Yellowstone have some cheaper options.
- The best base to see the Mammoth Hot Springs: The small town of Gardiner sits to the north of the park, a few minutes from the Northern Entrance. Its the closest entrance to the Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, and the Norris Geyser Basin.
Yellowstone is one of the most popular National Parks in America and the largest outside Alaska. The geological marvel showcases millennia of the Earths history in its formation, and has a unique beauty its easy to see why the area was made the first national park in the world.
As the Yellowstone National Park is so huge, it can be difficult to know where to stay. This of course depends on what you would most like to see, your budget, and how far ahead you are booking your trip!