Under Canvas Yellowstone. There are nine lodges / inns / hotels inside the park. A day trip to Bainbridge Island, which includes a short ferry ride across the Puget Sound, is undoubtedly, Read More How to Plan a Day Trip to Bainbridge Island From SeattleContinue, Wondering what to wear in Seattle? Recommendations on Where to Stay in Yellowstone. For example, if youre entering the park from the north with three nights to spend in the park, spend the first at Mammoth, the second at Canyon, and the third at Old Faithful (or something like that). These floods altered the landscapes of Yellowstone and some roads are expected to be closed for an extended period of time. This site is awesome!! Plus, a washer and dryer! Where to Stay in Yellowstone: The Best Places to Stay, The Best Places to Stay to Explore Each Region, Staying Inside the Park: Expensive + Convenient, The Best Places to Stay Near Yellowstone National Park: Gardiner & West Yellowstone, A Perfect San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip Itinerary, Gluten Free Portland: A Complete Guide for Celiacs, How to Plan a Day Trip to Bainbridge Island From Seattle, What to Pack for Seattle: A Complete Seattle Packing List from a Seattleite, Gluten Free Seattle: A Complete Guide for Celiacs, Portland to Hood River Day Trip: A Complete Self-Drive Guide. Old Faithful Inn ($$ $$$): On the other hand, the Old Faithful Inn IS rustic and sexy. Outside of Yellowstone, I recommend stayingin West Yellowstone. What about adding GNP to the YNP and GTNP itinerary? But the entire road trip should be a lot of fun and very memorable. For part of your stay, base yourself in West Yellowstone, in Old Faithful Village, or near Yellowstone Lake. With that out of the way, lets quickly talk about Yellowstones geography. Even rooms with shared bathrooms some of the Old House rooms are over $200 a night, and it only goes up from there. This is the closest property to the park entrance. Canyon Lodge and Cabins. If you are looking for a bit of luxury, this is a highly-rated historic hotel in Cody. If you stay in Cooke City or Silver Gate, dont miss the spectacular Beartooth Highway. Its the best way to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty of the park youre visiting, which gets lost when you have to drive 60-90 minutes just to get into the park. Click here to visit the Yellowstone Lodging website. From here, it is a short drive Hayden Valley, Tower Falls, and Norris Geyser Basin. Check out our Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary to see how to combine the two. Both times we visited Yellowstone we stayed outside of the park and still had an amazing experience. Which is exactly what we have you do in our 4 day Yellowstone itinerary. Cheers, Julie, I am wanting to visit Yellowstone this summer. When we travel, we always opt for experiences over just having a list of places to check off. Its right on Yellowstone Avenue in downtown West Yellowstone, so youll be within walking distance of everything you might need. Hotels and lodges in national parks are usually relatively outdated because theyre constantly at full capacity, so theres no time to do a big remodel. 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. I think we will have 2 to 3 days there. This is a cool town that is located near Mammoth Hot Springs and the north entrance into Yellowstone. If you are traveling as a couple and looking for an upscale hotel, look no farther. This so so much information to process and we are just trying to plan the best trip. Not to worry. If you want the best of the best, Old Faithful Inn is the way to go. So, if you are planning a trip for 2023, you should make your reservations in May 2022. Plus, if you add on 3 days in Grand Teton National Park, it makes for a nice weeklong Wyoming adventure. This is exactly what we did we spent two nights at Canyon Village, and two nights at the West Thumb. But from the east entrance, it can easily take another hour to drive to Yellowstones main attractions (from Cody to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, it is a 2 hour drive). Yellowstone Riverside Cottages: Located right on the Yellowstone River, this property is one of the best values in Gardiner. So, what happens if you cant reserve a lodge within the park? It was both of our first times in Yellowstone National Park, and while it wasnt our favorite (that honor goes to the Utah National Parks), theres no doubt that Yellowstone is spectacular. This bed and breakfast ticks all of the boxes. First, youre going to be driving a lot. Driving Distances and Times to the Top Sights (these times are before the flood, for 2022, add on 2.5 hours additional travel time): Grand Prismatic Spring: 50 miles, 1 hour 20 minutes Old Faithful: 57 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes Hayden Valley: 46 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: 40 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes Lamar Valley: 38 miles, 1 hour. If you have any other questions, let me know. If you have more questions or need more details, feel free to write in again. There is an indoor pool onsite. It was built over a century ago using local logs and stone, and is the most popular lodge in the park today. We stayed here in 2019 and we highly recommend it. Then West Yellowstone, and then make our way to Cody and Sheridian? With the notable exception of the park entrance, which is a quick drive away. I recently published a post about how to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Read More Gluten Free Portland: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue, If youre looking for an incredible day trip from Seattle that is accessible you dont necessarily need a car and full of interesting things to do, see, eat, and drink, youre in the right place. Wed like to trade that, please. From Cody, it takes an hour to drive to the east entrance. It was the nicest hotel that we stayed in during our South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming road trip. Note: The flood washed out the road that connects Gardiner to the north entrance, so currently you cannot drive directly from Gardiner to Mammoth (it took 30 minutes to do this drive before the floodnow it takes 4 and a half hours). Elk on the property at Yellowstone Gateway Inn. If you want to stay in a historic property and have the chance to watch an eruption of Old Faithful from your room, this is a great place to stay. If youre up for sharing a bathroom, this is the best option. When planning a trip to Yellowstone, one of the biggest questions you might have is where should I stay? Yellowstone National Park is massive, with multiple park entrances and thousands of acres of land to explore. Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. Click here to see all of your hotel options in Gardiner. If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park for at least three days, consider staying in two different locations. If using a shared bathroom isnt for you, then your best option for visiting Yellowstone on a budget is to stay outside the park in Gardiner and West Yellowstone. Located in Cody, this property gets some of the best reviews in town. This beautiful, recently renovated property, 3 Days in Porto: How to Plan a Perfect Porto Itinerary, A Perfect Weekend in Philadelphia: Complete 2 Day Itinerary, Gluten Free Philadelphia: A Complete Guide for Celiacs, Where to Stay in Philadelphia: 3 Best Areas + Coolest Hotels, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (central). I will be coming in from South Dakota. Inside of Yellowstone, the Old Faithful Inn is another great option, since it is a unique and memorable place to stay (but you will have a long drive to north Yellowstone). If you have more time, great! Seattle holds a special place in my heart because I, Read More Gluten Free Seattle: A Complete Guide for CeliacsContinue, Every Portland itinerary that you read probably has a trip to Multnomah Falls in it somewhere, including my own. Thanks Terri! ), the plentiful wildlife, and the out-of-this-world geysers combine to create an immersive, unique experience that should probably be on everyones list of national parks to visit. Theres a solid range of hotels from budget to luxury along with cozy cabins and more rustic accommodation options. The Old Faithful Lodge Cabins and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge are also located near Old Faithful. On Booking.com it gets decent reviews. Click here to see lodging options in Gardiner. If so, your first day will be spent arriving at one of these 2 airports and getting to Jackson. Roosevelt Lodge ($ $$): These cabins were built in 1920 near dear old Teddy Roosevelts favorite place to camp in the park. There is an airport near Cody but flights from here are probably very limited. We love staying inside the park, and we usually are camping, which makes it relatively affordable.However, if youre not up for camping or its all booked up, we should talk about the pros and cons of staying inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park. If you will be road tripping through Wyoming (for example, combining Yellowstone with a trip to Devils Tower or South Dakota), its worth it to spend one night in Cody. The breakfast gets rave reviews. If you look at Yellowstone on a map, there are two main loops in the park. Photos and text may not be copied without permission. There are other towns, like Cody, WY and Bozeman, MT, but theyre more than two hours away from the park and are generally not a great place to stay to explore Yellowstone. Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone. Explorer Lodge & Cabins: This lodge + cabins combination is a nice option for people looking for a little more space. I make national park trip planning easy. Then drive to Yellowstone and visit YNP on Friday. At the time that I am updating this, the north and south loops of Yellowstone are open. If budget isnt an issue, stay here for at least one night. If youre on a tight budget, youre immediately going to be able to cross off certain places like the Old Faithful Inn. They serve an Old West Dinner Cookout and there is a nearby corral where you can go on horseback rides. There are several campgrounds in Yellowstone, with locations at Canyon Village, near Yellowstone Lake, near Old Faithful (Madison Campground), and at Grant Village. For itinerary ideas and recommendations on where to stay for each itinerary, read our Yellowstone Itinerary. You can read her full message in the comment section below. Julie Last updated: July 2, 2022 United States 31 Comments. Rooms are well thought out, with nice touches like high-end bath products and fluffy robes that will take your stay up a level. I do not recommend staying in Cooke City-Silver Gate until the roads reopen. Take your pick from a wide range of cottages, bungalows, and houses that can accommodate from two to ten people. The Columbia River Gorge is a breathtaking place. These houses come with multiple bedrooms. Choosing where to stay in Yellowstone depends on several factors: how many days you plan to visit Yellowstone, how far in advance you are making your reservations, and where you plan to go, both before and after your visit. Cheers, Julie. Youll want to choose one in the northern half of the park (probably either Canyon or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel) for part of your trip, and one in the southern half (Old Faithful Inn or Lake Yellowstone Hotel) for the other part. If your trip to Yellowstone is part of a bigger road trip, we recommend these articles: If you have any questions about where to stay in Yellowstone or how to plan your time, let us know in the comment section below. So, if price is a factor, consider camping or staying in West Yellowstone or Gardiner. Canyon Lodge and Cabins ($$): I was reading reviews about this place and came across one that basically said like a Holiday Inn in a national park, but not as nice. Its not rustic. Its on the south end of town, but still plenty close to the park entrance. How Far in Advance Should You Make Your Reservations for Yellowstone? And its at a price point in between the other two options at Old Faithful. So, what happens if you cant reserve a lodge within the park? If you stay outside of the park, you can enter before sunrise or exit after sunset. Here are our recommended hotels, based on your itinerary. Many lodges will be closed during this time and you will get around by snowmobile or snow coach. More Yellowstone Trip Planning Information. You should also take into account your route through the park. The rooms are clean and quiet. If you arriving from the north or planning to drive to Glacier National Park next, this is a great place to stay, for at least one night. Again, we strongly recommend splitting your time between the northern part of the park and the southern end of the park to cut down on driving time during your adventure. Below, youll find our picks, where weve tried to avoid recommending the chain hotels, though those are a good, solid choice too. Its not the cheapest option in town, but we think youre going to get what you pay for here. Yellowstone sits in three states: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, with most of its land located in Wyoming. Grant Village. While they are a little outdated, they probably fit in your budget. Lots of space to spread out and relax, which is nice after a long day out exploring the park. If budget isnt much of a concern and you want to minimize driving as much as possible, jump around to multiple different lodges over your visit. However, the thing about Yellowstone that we didnt quite realize is that is is MASSIVE. Some have shared bathroom facilities, some have ensuite private bathrooms. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Pssst! Thanks in advance! How Many Days Do You Need in Glacier National Park? With 1 to 2 days in Yellowstone, the Canyon Lodge and Cabins in Canyon Village is our top pick, because of its convenient location. West Yellowstone is a decent home base for the southern half of the park, but its a little further out than Gardiner. Im not sure if thats a good or bad thing, if were being honest. Learn about the top locations to stay in and around Yellowstone, with specific hotel and lodge recommendations depending on your itinerary and length of stay. Hello, we only have a day for Yellowstone and a day for GTNP, we arrive on a Wednesday and by Saturday one person in our group has a work event in Bozeman, from there our main interest is Glacier, but while were in the area wed like to visit Yellowstone and GTNP, do you have any recommendations as to where to fly into, where to start and where to stay? I plan to keep this article updated but the best place to go for current conditions is the official National Park Service website. Grand Teton National Park is located south of Yellowstone, but because of its distance, it does not make a good option for exploring Yellowstone. The Lake Yellowstone Hotel is a National Historic Landmark and it underwent a full renovation in 2014. On the cons side, its far less convenient, and drive times are something to think about. In general, in-park lodging will be more expensive than staying outside of the park. The lodges inside of Yellowstone National Park sell out ridiculously far in advance. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, organic silk linens, and fresh flowers. It can be a hassle packing and unpacking, but Yellowstone is so large that switching accommodations can minimize travel time in the park. We think the cabins are where its at, especially if youve got more than two people. And the floor to ceiling windows bring in plenty of light, along with great views of the mountains near Yellowstone National Park. Theyve got cabins and lodge rooms, like a lot of places on this list. r Flying into the local airports ($$$) and car rental availability are not options. Youll be driving a lot, but its doable. I have the perfect itinerary for you. First of all, its worth getting this out of the way early Yellowstone is MASSIVE. Get ready to ditch the crowds, have epic adventures, and get lots of dirt in your shoes! On the map below, I labeled the five park entrances, the lodge locations in Yellowstone National Park (in blue), and recommend places to stay outside of the park (in black). Best Things to do in Glacier National Park, The Complete Guide to the US National Parks, Complete List of All 63 National Parks (+ FREE Printable Checklist), Utahs Mighty 5: Travel Guide & Road Trip Itinerary, Mount Rushmore: 10 Things to Know Before You Go, Yosemite for First-Timers: Best Hikes, Best Views & the Best Things to Do, Best Distilleries to Visit on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary, Ultimate Yellowstone Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone, 18 Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: Best Routes, Maps, & Photos, We have a post about the different driving routes. From the lobby, you can see Old Faithful, which means youll be in a perfect position to check it out before the hordes show up later in the day. The Old Faithful Inn is a National Historic Landmark and one of the last remaining log hotels in the United States. And in a place like Yellowstone, where wildlife is such a big part of the draw, youll want to make it easy to be in the park at both dawn and dusk when animals are most active. We love having room to sit somewhere other than on the bed, which youll have here. Click here to see all of your vacation rental options in Gardiner. Faithful Street Inn. Plus, each room has a gas fireplace extra cozy! Youre in the right place I grew up in Seattle, and people in California still comment on how my wardrobe is very Seattle. Trust us. All bathrooms are shared. I think your itinerary will work best if you go GTNP -> YNP -> Bozeman/Glacier. There are plenty of options just outside of Yellowstone. If youre up for camping, choose a campground in the areas you want to stay and call it a day. That, combined with the premium price youre going to pay for the convenience, is a recipe for poor value. From November through mid-April, many roads and close in the park. Our first two visits were day trips through several national parks and we had a very similar itinerary both times. There are nine lodges inside of Yellowstone National Park, all scattered throughout the park. We will have an 11 year old and 10 year old, and an almost 2 year old (but thinking she might just have to stay home). Lake Yellowstone Hotel is another good option with their private cabins. We stayed here on our most recent visit and the drive on Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway was the highlight. Hello Jennifer. Plus, youll have a spacious kitchen and some nice deck space. What I want to know is can I just drive across Wyoming to get to West Yellowstone? On Booking.com, you can book many properties as refundable, meaning you can cancel up to a certain date and get your full payment back. Many of the best things to do in the park can be found along these two loops. Below, well cover the regions of the park as we see them, the best areas to stay to explore each region, and a strategy for choosing which areas to choose based on your travel style and budget. This is one of the top picks in West Yellowstone. Silver Gate Lodging. Amazing Yellowstone River Views (sleeps 4-6): This place is gorgeous. Keep checking the Yellowstone Lodging website for cancellations. Its a lot of driving, so maybe best to leave the 2 year old at home, if that works out. Tower Falls. Yellowstone Map, Entrances, and Nearby Towns, Staying Inside of Yellowstone National Park, Staying Outside of Yellowstone National Park. If you want to stay between Cody and the east entrance of Yellowstone, take a look at Blackwater Creek Ranch and the Bill Cody Ranch. Dont miss our 4 day Yellowstone itinerary where we dive deep into what to do and see, and how to organize your time in the park. They have nice hotel-style rooms in the newer part of the lodge too. We have visited Yellowstone four times. Youll wake up to the sights and sounds of the park, from elk lounging outside the lodge, to beautiful sunrises over Yellowstones diverse landscapes. All tents have their own, private bathrooms and some can accommodate up to four people. For example, your trip might start in Grand Teton and end in Glacier, with a visit to Yellowstone in the middle. Keep that in mind as youre considering which places to stay. Currently, there is no timed entry reservation system in effect, but I recommend getting updates on the official website, just in case this changes. While it is still possible to visit the park in the winter, it is a much different experience. The Fishing Bridge Recreational Vehicle Park is located near Yellowstone Lake. Learn how your comment data is processed. Youll notice an odd combination of styles when youre walking around, Read More What to Pack for Seattle: A Complete Seattle Packing List from a SeattleiteContinue, As Ive been writing more and more about Seattle, I have realized just how much I love it. Its extremely competitive, and youll need to plan accordingly. Rooms can accommodate up to four people and there is a gym and indoor pool onsite. Ideally, it is best to stay inside the park, to minimize driving time, but there are several advantages to staying outside of the park. All rooms have mini-fridges and coffee makers. No problem. Lake Lodge Cabins features a main lodge and 186 cabins, some with views of the lake. With 3 or more days, I recommend staying in two different locations (unless you are lucky enough to get a reservation at Canyon Village). In general, in-park lodging will be more expensive than staying outside of the park. You should also take into account your route through the park. Jackson is the most convenient airport for you, but you might find that it is expensive (or impossible) to rent a car here and drop it at Glacier. The best compromise would be to spend half of your time on the north side of the park either at Canyon Village or in Gardiner, ideally and the other half in the south end of the park either at Old Faithful or West Yellowstone. At a high-level, wed split the park into five regions. Grant Village ($$$): The offering here is pretty simple lodge rooms only in a solid, but not perfect, location on the south shore of the lake near the West Thumb. And from the deck upstairs, the view gets even better, if you can believe it. They are: Thats probably not a perfect split, but its good enough to use to talk about the best places to stay. High Country Motel and Cabins. As people cancel their plans, the rooms open up, and you can reserve them by directly calling the park. Kara and I frequently saw elk on the property and we could walk to the grocery store. Learn more here. Yellowstone was around the middle of our big national parks road trip in 2020, where we hit 13 amazing national parks over the course of 12 months. We believe that travel is about learning, discovery, and connection. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. If you are traveling as a large group, Faithful Street Inn might be perfect for you. And its also expensive, so know that going in. To learn more about each lodge and to make your reservations, visit the official website. With just one to two days in the park, I recommend picking one central location, ideally Canyon Village. We stayed outside of the park since we made our travel plans almost at the last minute (we planned this trip in early June of 2019 and visited Yellowstone in early August 2019). If so, your next best options are Bozeman or Salt Lake City. Just outside of the park entrances sit several towns that make a great home base for exploring Yellowstone. There are a couple of budget-friendly lodging options inside the park Old Faithful Lodge, Roosevelt Lodge, and Mammoth Hotel but they involve communal bathroom facilities. Spend a day here (Thursday), staying in Jackson, Teton Village, or in lodging in GTNP. There are proposed plans to reconnect Gardiner and Mammoth as quickly as possible, but it seems unlikely that this will be done for summer 2022. This is another great pick for families. Stay in a suite or a standard room, some of which can accommodate up to 7 people. Rooms are clean and tastefully decorated. It is relatively centrally located. One note before we get into it if youre visiting in the summer, book as early as humanly possible. Its that easy. Due to the longer distance and driving times, Cody does not make a good base to explore Yellowstone, but it is great for a one night stay. The drive from the east entrance to Cody, called the Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway, is a beautiful drive. From there maybe Jackson Hole? In this case, stay in a lodge in south or west Yellowstone first (Old Faithful or West Yellowstone) and north Yellowstone second (Mammoth or Gardiner). Needless to say, it was an incredible year. So, I recommend staying in West Yellowstone in 2022, rather than Gardiner. Lots of natural light. Thats all weve got we hope this guide has helped you narrow down the choices in Yellowstone so that you can make an informed decision about where to stay! Its about an hour to both Old Faithful and Canyon Village, which isnt the closest, but is totally doable. So, now that you know the locations and the best hotels in Yellowstone, how do you choose where to stay? Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Remember how we split the park up above? If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park for at least three days, consider staying in two different locations. You could find yourself driving for hours between destinations within the park, and thats not counting the driving you could do if you choose a place to stay thats relatively far out. Mammoth Hot Springs. Cody Cowboy Village. Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone, The Complete Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, One Perfect Day in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Prismatic Spring and the Hike to Fairy Falls, Guide to the Best Geyser Basins in Yellowstone, Yellowstones Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience, Beartooth Highway: Things to Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips, How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, Grand Teton, Yellowstone & Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary, The Perfect Yellowstone Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park, The Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park, Best Things to do in Grand Teton National Park.
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