BEST Places to Stay IN & NEAR Yellowstone National Park (Complete Lodging Guide)

Planning a trip to Yellowstone and wondering where to stay in Yellowstone National Park? In this Yellowstone lodging guide, you can find all the information about the best places to stay in and near Yellowstone National Park and what you should know about Yellowstone accommodations before you plan your vacation. We also feature the best areas to stay inside the park and the best hotels near Yellowstone. Find out!

When we started planning our American road trip with Yellowstone as one of the main highlights of the trip, we knew just one thing – you have to book Yellowstone accommodation as early as possible. The best places to stay in Yellowstone National Park for the high season are usually fully booked a year in advance.

But what are the best places to stay in Yellowstone? And what are the best alternative places to stay near Yellowstone National Park if Yellowstone accommodation is either not available or way above your budget?

In order to help you to get the most out of your trip, we created this guide to the best places to stay in and near Yellowstone.

This post covers the best Yellowstone summer lodging options highlighting the best areas to stay inside the park. In addition, we also include the best alternatives just outside the park – hotels near Yellowstone National Park for all budgets.

Since we don’t camp, I am not going to cover camping options. Just remember that the same rule applies to camping in Yellowstone as well. If traveling in high season book as early as you can! Yellowstone campings for the summer months are usually fully booked, so don’t count on finding a spot upon arrival.

Good to know: Staying near Yellowstone (rather than inside the park) also has its advantages. There’s more lodging available, it’s cheaper, you have Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and other facilities like swimming pools, TV, a bigger choice of restaurants, etc.

So don’t worry if you can’t find a suitable place to stay inside Yellowstone. And because the park is so big, you’ll have quite some driving to do either way, no matter where you stay.

TIP: If you don’t have the time to read the entire article, here are the best places to stay in Yellowstone:

• Inside the park: Canyon Lodge – the most central location, but very limited availability.
• Just outside the park: West Yellowstone (for all areas), or Gardiner (ok for all areas, but especially if you start/end your trip in the north).

   

Important to Know When Booking Yellowstone Accommodation!

Accommodation inside Yellowstone is very popular and, despite high prices, it sells out very soon after it’s available for booking.

So if you are visiting Yellowstone in high season (June to mid-September) you really should try to book Yellowstone hotels well in advance. If you want to stay inside Yellowstone in the high season, you’ll usually have to book your accommodation more than a year in advance. Yes, the best Yellowstone hotels (inside the park) have to be booked about 12-15 months in advance!

Good to know! Yellowstone National Park accommodation not only gets sold out quickly, but it is also much more expensive than accommodation outside the park. Therefore, the best price/quality hotels near Yellowstone are quickly sold out as well.

No matter if you are planning to stay inside or near the park, I advise booking your Yellowstone hotels as soon as you know when you are planning to go. Or, as we did, look at what’s available and secure your Yellowstone accommodation first, before planning the rest of the trip.

How Long in Advance to Book Yellowstone Accommodation?

You really should book your Yellowstone lodging as soon as you know your travel dates. Or as soon as their booking system opens up – and then book the flights, and arrange the trip based on that.

You can book Yellowstone accommodation (inside the park) from the 1st of May of the year before you travel. So if you are traveling to Yellowstone in 2024, you can book your stay from May 2023. If you are planning a visit in the summer of 2025, you can book your accommodation from May 2024, etc.

Further below, at the bottom of this article, we have some tips on how to secure Yellowstone lodging if it’s fully booked and how to get the best deals.

But first – the best places to stay in Yellowstone National Park and also where to stay near the park. Read on!

Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone has the following lodging facilities inside the park:

• Canyon Lodge and Cabins
• Grant Village
• Lake Lodge Cabins
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
• Old Faithful Inn
• Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins

I am not going into all the details about each of these Yellowstone accommodation options. You can find all the information you need on the official website of Yellowstone National Park, where you can also book your Yellowstone accommodation. Or you can also book these hotels inside the park on Expedia – which might be easier for an overview of everything that’s available.

As a general rule, staying inside Yellowstone National Park is usually better location-wise than staying outside of the park, but some places are much better located than others.

So instead of comparing all the Yellowstone lodges, I am going to share our suggestions on which lodge to choose for sightseeing in Yellowstone and why.

This is, of course, our opinion, but it’s based on hours and hours of research that I did before booking Yellowstone accommodation for our family vacation to Yellowstone in summer. After our trip, I can say that it was an excellent choice and one that I can recommend 100%. See our experience-based tips below!

Best Location to Stay in Yellowstone for Sightseeing

Yellowstone National Park is huge and it might be overwhelming having to choose just one location for sightseeing. If you are looking for just one best-located area to stay in Yellowstone, you should know that Canyon Village has the absolute-best central location from which you can reach all parts of Yellowstone National Park without having to spend hours and hours in a car.

However, depending on the duration of your stay in Yellowstone, I would suggest booking two strategically located accommodations and avoid having to drive too much.

We chose the following areas for our 4-day stay in Yellowstone: 3 nights at Canyon Village (we stayed at the Canyon Lodge) and 1 night at Old Faithful (we stayed at the Old Faithful Inn, but there are also several other options here). You can read about these accommodations and their location further below.

TIP: If all the accommodation inside Yellowstone National Park is fully booked, West Yellowstone, just outside the park is the best place to stay near Yellowstone. Accommodations in West Yellowstone are cheaper and usually offer better facilities.

Using the map below, you can compare hotels and short-term rental accommodations in West Yellowstone. For more information about West Yellowstone hotels and also another alternative town nearby, read further below.

   

Canyon Village – Best Location for Sightseeing in Yellowstone

Canyon Lodge is a relatively new accommodation in Yellowstone compared to the others inside the park. It contains 5 beautiful lodges with a total of 400 guest rooms, including spacious suites for big families. Note that only the lodges are recent, not the cabins.

But modern facilities and relatively new lodges is not the only reason why we recommend Canyon Lodge as the main accommodation in Yellowstone.

Canyon Village lodges have the best location for sightseeing in Yellowstone! 

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is just a few minutes’ drive from here. Hayden Valley, Norris Basin, Mount Washburn, Tower – Roosevelt area, Yellowstone Lake, and even Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs – all these places are easily accessible from Canyon Village. 

So if you are looking for the best centrally located accommodation in Yellowstone, you cannot go wrong with staying at the Canyon Village. The only area that is a bit far for sightseeing is the Old Faithful and the surrounding geyser basins. But even the Old Faithful can be visited from your lodge in Canyon Village; just expect some delays due to busy traffic.

 

Staying at the Old Faithful Inn & Is It Worth It

One of the must-see landmarks of Yellowstone is undoubtedly the Old Faithful Inn. Famous for its remarkable log structure dating from 1904, the Old Faithful Inn is the most popular and most iconic lodging facility in Yellowstone National Park.

It is considered a must to stay in the OF Inn when visiting Yellowstone. It was, therefore, the first accommodation that we secured for our American road trip. Only after we got our reservation at the Old Faithful Inn, we ‘built’ the rest of the trip around it.

But is it worth all the hassle of booking a year in advance and adjusting all your travel plans just to be able to stay at the Old Faithful Inn? Yes and no.

First, the Old Faithful has a great location. Staying here for one night (in addition to 3 nights at the Canyon Lodge), made it easy for us to explore all the geyser basins in the area, including the Old Faithful Geyser itself, the Upper Geyser Basin, and the famous Grand Prismatic Spring.

But for that, you don’t have to stay at the OF Inn. If it’s the location that you are most interested in, then you can also choose the OF Lodge Cabins or the OF Snow Lodge and Cabins. Both are more affordable options and somewhat easier to secure a reservation for.

 

Second, the rooms at the OF Inn are quite ‘tired’ and in need of refurbishment. We had a superior room with a view of Old Faithful geyser through a (very small) window.

It was a nice clean room, but the contrast with the new and modern rooms at the Canyon Lodge could not have been bigger.

 

And last, the Old Faithful Inn itself is a very impressive building that is definitely worth visiting. But for that, you don’t have to stay at the lodge. Anyone is free to come and go as they wish.

You can sit on the terrace overlooking the Old Faithful geyser, you can dine at the OF Inn restaurant, and you can take an introductory tour of the Old Faithful Inn to appreciate this historic landmark even more.

So all in all, I would say it’s not a must to stay at the OF Inn. It’s nice if you can do it for one night, but don’t feel like you are missing out if you can’t find any available rooms for your stay.

 

Best Places to Stay Near Yellowstone NP

The best towns to stay near Yellowstone National Park are West Yellowstone and Gardiner. Below, you can find a bit more info about each of these areas.

READ ALSO: Best Towns & Hotels Near Yellowstone

West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone has the best location for staying outside the park and also the best facilities, with a nice choice of hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, and all kinds of activities. If Yellowstone accommodation inside the park isn’t available, West Yellowstone is really the best alternative, and everything is located within reasonable driving distance.

Driving distances and times from West Yellowstone to the main Yellowstone attractions:

• Grand Prismatic Spring: 25 miles, 40 minutes
• Old Faithful: 30 miles, 50 minutes
• Yellowstone Canyon: 40 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
• Mammoth Hot Springs: 47 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yellowstone Lake: 55 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes
• Lamar Valley: 80 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes

If you scroll further below, you can find our hand-picked selection of the best accommodation options in West Yellowstone. But first, some more info about the other towns near Yellowstone.

Gardiner

Gardiner, just outside the park at the North Entrance of Yellowstone, is another excellent place to stay for visiting Yellowstone. It’s especially well-located for the Mammoth Hot Springs, the area up to Norris Geyser Basin, North Yellowstone, and also East to Lamar Valley.

Gardiner might be a bit far for the rest of the park, but it’s still much better than any of the other towns further away. And because traffic here is not as busy as in the Western part of Yellowstone, it can actually be just as convenient as staying in West Yellowstone.

TIP: If you are planning to stay in this area, check if there’s availability at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel as well. It’s located inside the park and has its charms as well. On the other hand, in Gardiner, you’ll find a better price-quality ratio and it’s just a short drive further. There are a few nice hotels in Gardiner. And – if you are looking for a more private stay – you’ll be glad to know that there are quite a few private short-term rentals in Gardiner.

Driving distances and times from Gardiner to the main Yellowstone attractions:

• Mammoth Hot Springs: 6 miles, 15 minutes
• Lamar Valley: 40 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
• Grand Prismatic Spring: 50 miles, 1 hour 25 minutes
• Yellowstone Canyon: 40 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yellowstone Lake: 55 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes
• Old Faithful: 57 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes

 

What about staying Cody, Cooke City, or Grand Teton?

Some guides will tell you that the Grand Teton area, Cody, or Cooke City are good options for staying near Yellowstone. The reality is that they are really much too far for the daily commute to the park. All these places are ok to stay before or after visiting Yellowstone or for visiting specific areas inside the park, but not really for exploring the entire park.

I would also not advise staying in Grand Teton for visiting Yellowstone because you will be spending more time in the traffic than sightseeing. Traffic is really busy here. Once again, it’s ok for a day or when visiting Yellowstone for just a day, but you don’t want to drive up and down every day.

Commuting from any other place on a daily basis is really not doable because the distances in Yellowstone are big, bison jams unpredictable, and traffic at the entrance gates, especially at Grand Teton NP, and the main landmarks can be really busy.

TIP: If you are short on time and decide to stay in Jackson Hole, WY, then consider taking an organized day tour to Yellowstone in order to get the most out of your time there.

 

Best Hotels in West Yellowstone

This brings us back to West Yellowstone. Located just outside the West Entrance of Yellowstone National park, West Yellowstone offers the best price-quality accommodation at a good location for visiting Yellowstone National Park.

From simple cabins, motels, or Airbnb to a variety of upper price range hotels – it is your best bet for finding the best accommodation deals for your visit to Yellowstone.

This town has the best facilities, the biggest choice of accommodation and restaurants near Yellowstone. Furthermore, Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, one of the places you should visit in Yellowstone, is also located in West Yellowstone.

Here is an overview of some of the best-rated hotels in West Yellowstone:

TOP PICK: Kelly Inn West Yellowstone – great value, good location, indoor pool. One of the top picks in West Yellowstone in the upper mid-range budget.

LUXURY:

Our recommendation: Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone – beautiful cabins, also for big families, fabulous reviews.

• Yellowstone Park Hotel (beautiful rooms, great facilities, indoor pool).
• Holiday Inn West Yellowstone (one of the nicest accommodations with hotel-style rooms, also for very big families).
• Crosswinds Inn (good value, great breakfast).

MID-RANGE:

Our recommendation: Clubhouse Inn – good value, excellent location, indoor pool, and nice rooms for all group sizes. One of the best choices in the mid-range budget.

• Yellowstone Park Hotel (great location, very nice rooms, indoor pool, and bikes available).
• Yellowstone Lodge (excellent choice with an indoor pool, King- and Double Queen rooms).
• Yellowstone West Gate Hotel (one of the top picks).
• Hibernation Station (beautiful wooden cabins).
• Moose Creek Inn (a very nice motel-style building with easy parking).
• The Evergreen (simple motel-style building with beautiful rooms and fabulous reviews).

Somewhat LOWER BUDGET (this is relative in West Yellowstone, especially if you want certain quality). These are the best price-quality accommodations for a lower budget:

• City Center Motel (top picks).
• Al’s Westward Ho Motel (bestseller).

Private, self-catering accommodations: There are also quite a few short-term rental accommodations in West Yellowstone. These are perfect if you are looking for a longer stay or are visiting with a bigger family!

Where to Stay in Yellowstone with Kids: Accommodation for Big Families

Because we know how challenging it is to find accommodation for a big family, I want to share this. If you are traveling to Yellowstone with a big family (2 adults and 3 or more kids), there are only two places where you can book a big family suite inside the park: the above-mentioned Canyon Lodge or Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

If big family rooms are not available anymore, your only option is to book two separate rooms (or smuggle an extra child into a 4-p room ;)).

Alternatively, you can opt to stay outside the park, which is also much more affordable. For example, The Aspen Condos have nice accommodations for bigger families and groups of up to 8 people. Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone are great for families, with access to an indoor pool. And Holiday Inn West Yellowstone has suites and rooms for up to 10 people.

Also Kelly Inn West Yellowstone and Yellowstone West Gate Hotel are good choices for a big family. On a lower budget, City Center Motel has good value rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people as well.

Insider Tip for Securing the Best Accommodation in Yellowstone

The accommodation booking system of Yellowstone National Park lodging is such that it allows people to easily cancel their reservations for a minimal fee. So it might happen that a room becomes available a month or even a week before your planned trip.

They don’t work with waiting lists, so you just have to be lucky to see it on the website when it happens. Or you can call the reservation team once in a while to enquire if there had been any cancelations.

While you can’t count on this (especially if traveling from far), there is a slight chance that you can book a hotel inside the park on short notice. The same counts for hotels outside the park, because there are always last-minute cancelations.

So if you can’t secure a reservation at the place you want, book the best alternative option that offers free cancelation, and then keep on checking if there is some last-minute availability at the other place.

TIP: If you want to visit Yellowstone but for whatever reason have difficulties planning a good trip, you may want to consider joining this highly-rated Grand Teton and Yellowstone 4 days/ 3 nights wildlife tour and let the others take care of accommodations, transport, etc. This tour starts and ends in Jackson, WY. Here you can find more information on the best Yellowstone tours for various durations.

Where to Stay in Yellowstone – FAQ

What is the best place to stay in Yellowstone?

There is no one ‘best’ place to stay in Yellowstone – the park is too big for that. There are many nice lodges inside the park and also lots of accommodation options nearby. That being said, if your budget allows it and there is availability, Canyon Village (inside Yellowstone) is the best place to stay in Yellowstone for sightseeing. Its central location makes it easy to visit all parts of the park from here.

Which Yellowstone Lodge is best?

Canyon Lodge is one of the best of all Yellowstone lodges. It’s relatively new and modern, but the biggest advantage is its central location. Yellowstone Lake Lodge is also very nice, but not as well located for visiting all parts of the park. The Old Faithful Lodge is iconic and worth seeing, but the rooms here are dated and overpriced.

What is the best place to stay near Yellowstone?

West Yellowstone, just outside the park, is the best place to stay near Yellowstone. It’s relatively centrally located for exploring all parts of the park. Gardiner just near the North Entrance is another good place to stay for exploring Yellowstone, but it has fewer accommodation options and other facilities.

What are the advantages of staying inside Yellowstone National Park?

Staying inside Yellowstone National Park means that you are closer to the main landmarks and won’t have to drive as dar. That being said, Yellowstone is a huge park and so no matter where you stay, you can’t avoid driving.

What are the advantages of staying outside Yellowstone National Park?

The biggest advantage of staying outside Yellowstone and not in one of the park lodges is that there is more availability and it is much cheaper. Furthermore, you also have better facilities, including Wi-Fi, A/C, TV, or even a swimming pool – none of which are available in Yellowstone lodges inside the park.

How many days do you need in Yellowstone?

We recommend 3-4 days for Yellowstone. It will allow you to explore the entire Grand Loop and all the main landmarks without having to rush. 2 days is an absolute minimum if you want to drive both – the Upper and the Lower loops – and stop at the main attractions for a quick visit. Staying for 5 days or more will allow you to explore the park deeper.

LEARN MORE: Yellowstone Itinerary Suggestions

 

More info for your stay in Yellowstone:

• What to see: Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
• Essential read: Yellowstone Travel Tips
• Short visit: One Day in Yellowstone
• See all the musts: Two Days in Yellowstone
• When to go: Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
• For families: Best Things to Do in Yellowstone with Kids
• What to pack: Yellowstone Packing List for Summer
• For a longer trip: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary & What to See and Do in Jackson Hole

So these are our tips for finding the best place to stay in Yellowstone National Park. Have you been to Yellowstone? Feel free to share your experience by leaving a comment below this article.

TIP: Visit the nearby Grand Teton National Park, it’s a great addition to your Yellowstone itinerary. Here’s our suggestion for the best way to spend a day in Grand Teton NP.

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