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Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
By Mia Russell ·

Yellowstone National Park is a world-renowned wilderness and recreation area that features spectacular natural scenery made up of hot springs and gushing geysers, alpine rivers and dense forests, majestic mountains, and dramatic canyons. Spanning more than 3,500-square miles across three states, the park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the famous gushing geysers known as Old Faithful, as well as a wealth of fauna and flora.

Deciding where to stay in such a vast park can be daunting so it’s a good idea to determine how many days you plan on exploring the park for, where you plan to go, and how far in advance you are making your reservations. This can make booking the perfect place to stay in Yellowstone much easier.

Keep in mind that accommodation inside the park sells out extremely far in advance, so make sure you book early. If you can’t manage to book lodging in Yellowstone, there are plenty of excellent accommodation options just outside of Yellowstone with easy access to the park.

Hotels.com asked me for my choice of the best places to stay in and around Yellowstone National Park so I put together a list of the best hotels, lodge cabins, resorts, and campsites in and around the park.

So, start planning your trip, book your lodge in or near Yellowstone, and get ready to experience one of America’s most beautiful parks.

Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has nine lodges within its borders. Scattered throughout the park, each of these lodges and hotels offers their own character and style and promises incredible experiences.

  • Canyon Lodge and Cabins
    Photo: Hotels.com

    Canyon Lodge and Cabins in Canyon Village is one of the best lodgings in Yellowstone National Park. It is centrally located and within a short drive from Hayden Valley, Tower Falls, Norris Geyser Basin, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The family-friendly retreat is the largest lodging facility within Yellowstone with over 500 rooms and cabins ranging from standard and superior lodge rooms to luxury suites and comfortable furnished western-style cabins.

    Canyon Lodge and Cabins is a fantastic place to stay with the family as you are close to all the amenities that Canyon Village has to offer. The village has a couple of restaurants, a few stores and gift shops, and a visitor center with plenty of information about the park and educational exhibits. You can also explore several hiking trails and visit scenic viewpoints for spectacular vistas of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its breathtaking waterfalls.

  • Old Faithful Inn
    Photo: Hotels.com

    The Old Faithful Inn is a beautiful rustic log cabin inn dating back to 1903 and one of the most sought-after hotels within Yellowstone National Park. The charming lodge is the largest log structure in the world and a national historic landmark, so if you are planning to stay here, make sure to book early as its very popular!

    Constructed out of log and stone, the enchanting property has well-appointed rooms and suites with comfy furnishings. Some rooms have fantastic views of the Old Faithful Geyser, so be sure to book one of these to watch nature at her best from the comfort of your room. An enormous stone fireplace in the lobby welcomes visitors and creates a cozy log cabin vibe that is synonymous with the inn.

  • Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
    Photo: Hotels.com

    Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins is another great option for lodging at Yellowstone National Park. Constructed from timber, logs, and cedarwood, the rustic lodge is one of only two lodging options that remain open during the winter months, so if you want to experience Yellowstone in all its winter glory, this is a good place to stay.

    The lodge offers well-furnished guest rooms and stylish cabins and a host of amenities that match those of a full-service resort such as two restaurants, a bar and lounge area, and a picnic area with a fire pit for cozy evenings beneath the stars. The Old Faithful Geyser is a short walk from the lodge, as well as other geysers like the Castle, Daisy, and Grand geysers.

  • Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins
    Photo: Hotels.com

    The third lodging option near Old Faithful geyser is the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, a wonderful, one-story log cabin-style lodge dating back to the 1920s. Located near Old Faithful Inn, this rustic retreat is built from stone pillar and logs and boasts breathtaking views of the Old Faithful Geyser. This is a great option if you are a budget traveler looking for a comfortable, laid-back place to stay.

    Accommodation options range from standard Historic Cabins with shared bathrooms and communal showers to Frontier Cabins with private bathrooms. A cafeteria-style food court serves casual cuisine and there is no air-conditioning television so take a good book.

  • Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
    Photo: Hotels.com

    Set on the grounds of former Fort Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins is the second accommodation option within the park that is open throughout the year. The family-friendly hotel offers a variety of comfortable lodgings from budget guestrooms and one-room suites to cozy log cabins with private bathrooms, and romantic hot tubs.

    If you want to explore the northern end of Yellowstone National Park, this rustic wintertime inn is a great place to stay. It’s within a short walk from Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Boiling River and Undine Falls are a lovely spot for a picnic.

  • Lake Hotel & Cottages
    Photo: Hotels.com

    Perched on the shores of Lake Yellowstone with spectacular views, Lake Hotel & Cottages is a glorious Colonial Revival style retreat with elegant white columns and enchanting rooms overlooking the lake. Open only between May and October, the hotel is a designated National Historic Landmark and features beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, an acclaimed restaurant, bar and deli, and complimentary valet service.

    This is a great place to stay if you like getting out and about and enjoying a range of adventures. There is a plethora of fun activities on offer from horseback rides and bike rentals to charter fishing trips and boat cruises on the lake. If you want to escape into the backcountry of Yellowstone, a unique backcountry shuttle service will drop you off.

  • Grant Village
    Photo: Hotels.com

    Named after President Ulysses S. Grant, Grant Village is a no-frills lodge on the southwest shore of Yellowstone Lake that is ideally located for exploring Yellowstone. Spread across two structures, the lodge offers standard and premium lodge rooms with private bathrooms and in-room amenities, as well as a full-service restaurant and a casual diner with captivating views of the lake.

    Situated near the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, Grant Village is a great base if you want to explore the area. The Grant Village Visitor Center is close by and offers a wealth of information about the park and nearby attractions within hiking distance include the Abyss Pool and the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Canyon Village and the Fossil Forest are a short drive away.

Best Places to Stay Near Yellowstone National Park

If you can’t get a reservation at one of the lodges inside the park, there are plenty of hotels just outside of Yellowstone that offer comfortable places to stay. From the picturesque towns of Jackson and Cody in Wyoming to the postcard-perfect towns of Bozeman and Big Sky in Montana, you’ll have no problem finding a great place to stay near Yellowstone that meets all your needs

  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson
    Photo: Booking.com

    Situated in the heart of Jackson Hole Valley, Homewood Suites by Hilton Jackson is a comfortable, family-friendly hotel a few blocks from the center of Jackson that is an ideal base for exploring Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Park. This downtown retreat has well-appointed guest suites with fully equipped kitchens and dining tables for self-catering, and a complimentary hot breakfast, light dinner, and drinks are included.

    When you aren’t exploring the nearby national parks, you can enjoy modern facilities like an indoor swimming pool and fitness center or rent bikes and ride around Jackson. In the winter, a free ski shuttle to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is available where you can ski and snowboard to your heart’s content. Grand Teton and the Grand Teton National Park lie between Yellowstone and Jackson Hole and are well worth exploring if you have time.

  • Cody Hotel
    Photo: Booking.com

    The Cody Hotel is tucked away in the town of Cody on the east side of Yellowstone National Park in Northwest Wyoming. Named after Colonel William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the town has a distinct cowboy-like feel and hosts night rodeos every evening in the summer. It is one of the jumping points for Yellowstone, so the Cody Hotel is a good choice if you want to enjoy a bit of the wild west before exploring the park.

    Comfortably furnished, spacious rooms have private bathrooms and modern amenities, and facilities include an indoor swimming pool and a well-equipped gym. There is plenty to do in Cody when you are done exploring Yellowstone from horseback riding and hiking to authentic ranching experiences at one of the many ranches around town.

  • Days Inn Hotel
    Photo: Booking.com

    Situated just one mile from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Days Inn West Yellowstone is one of the best hotels for a hassle-free stay with comfortable guest rooms, an on-site restaurant, and modern amenities that is perfectly placed for easy access into Yellowstone.

    Basic rooms have comfortable decor, en-suite bathrooms with showers and tubs, and in-room conveniences such as microwaves, minifridges, and coffeemakers. Book a suite if you want your own hot tub to soak in at the end of the day. An indoor swimming pool with waterslides will keep the kids occupied, and there is a free airport shuttle service to Yellowstone Regional Airport, which is 2.5 miles away.

    The mountain town is one of the more popular places to stay near Yellowstone due to the close proximity of the airport and the park’s west entrance and offers plenty of things to see and do. Visit the Yellowstone Museum to learn more about the history of the National Park with some fascinating displays.

  • SpringHill Suites
    Photo: Booking.com

    Boasting stylish guest lodgings and deluxe facilities like a spa and wellness center, an indoor swimming pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness center, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Bozeman is top-notch when it comes to five-star hotels near Yellowstone.

    Situated in the heart of Bozeman, a picture-perfect town in the heart of Rocky Mountains, the hotel ticks every box from comfortable suites to highly acclaimed cuisine and high-end facilities. Tuck into a complimentary buffet breakfast every morning before setting off to explore Yellowstone or enjoy world-class hiking in one of the two National Forests that surround Bozeman.

  • The Lodge at Big Sky
    Photo: Booking.com

    Big Sky in Montana offers the best of both Yellowstone National Park and world-class skiing at the Big Sky Resort. The Lodge at Big Sky is a fantastic place to stay in the winter if you want to visit Yellowstone and hit the slopes. The lodge features elegant guest rooms with plush decor, en-suite bathrooms, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains or valleys.

    A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily and facilities at the lodge range from an indoor swimming pool and fitness center to a cozy lounge with a huge fireplace and casual restaurant and bar serving American cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. The Lodge at Big Sky offers free shuttles to Big Sky Resort Ski Lifts, which is one of the most popular ski resorts in the country. The entrance to Yellowstone National Park is about an hour’s drive from Big Sky.

When to Book Yellowstone Accommodation

Every season offers something different for visitors to Yellowstone National Park, so deciding when to go will depend on what you want to see and experience. The park is simply beautiful during summer months between Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend when the wildflowers are in bloom, however, this is also the busiest time for visitors and hotels are usually full to capacity. If you want to visit Yellowstone in the summer, it is recommended that you book your accommodation as early as possible – even up to a year in advance – as the lodges in the park sell out quickly.

The park is much quieter in winter with all but two of the lodges remaining open. If you can’t manage to get a reservation for one of these lodges (Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hotel), try one of the several towns near Yellowstone, which have excellent accommodation options and provide easy access to the National Park.

As travel today remains uncertain, please keep your safety and the safety of others in mind at all times. If you are comfortable with traveling, please travel responsibly and within regulation as any travel is at your own risk.

If you do decide to travel at this time, here are our recommendations:

  • Wear a face mask.
  • Bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands on a regular basis.
  • Check official websites before your trip for the latest updates on policies, closures and status of local businesses.
  • Book a hotel with free cancellation in case you need to change your plans at the last minute.

Where to Stay in Yellowstone FAQs

  • What is the best part of Yellowstone to stay in?

    Canyon Village is the best location to stay in Yellowstone. It is central to everything in the park.

  • Is it better to stay inside Yellowstone or outside?

    Staying inside Yellowstone gives you the best access to the park and the most immersive experience, but staying outside will usually be cheaper.

  • Which entrance of Yellowstone is best to stay at?

    If you plan to stay outside the park, West Yellowstone is the ideal location.

  • What is the best base city for Yellowstone?

    West Yellowstone is the best base city for exploring Yellowstone National Park.

  • How many days in Yellowstone is enough?

    2-3 days is enough time to see most of the sites in Yellowstone National Park.

About the Author

Mia Russell

Mia is a freelance travel writer with a passion for adventure, wildlife, and water (not necessarily in that order.) She has traveled the globe to follow her dreams, fight for the environment, and swim in some of the world’s most beautiful places.
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