Yellowstone Park, famous for its geyser, Old Faithful, is one of the most visited national parks in the country. An extended stay in Yellowstone does not have to mean pitching a tent, though there are plenty of backcountry and RV campgrounds to choose from. Lodges, cabins and even luxurious boutique hotels are located both inside the park and within walking distance of its entrances.
Ten Yellowstone Lodging Options
There are a number of great places to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park.
1. Old Faithful Inn
The Old Faithful inn is probably the most famous lodge in Yellowstone. It boasts plenty of rustic charm with log walls and classic design elements that hearken back to the early 1900s, when the lodge was originally built. Prices are not cheap, with a basic room costing about $130 and an amenity-filled suite just shy of $500. Its classic country vibe might be attractive, but the best aspect of the Old Faithful Inn is that it sits within eyeshot and walking distance of its namesake geyser. Considering the traffic that surrounds Old Faithful during its eruption times, being able to walk to the geyser is a huge advantage.
2. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
Mammoth Hot Spring Hotel and Cabins is one of the parks better lodgings for families. It features a main lodge and a collection of rustic cabins. Cabins with external shared bathrooms cost less than $100 per night, while rooms in the main hotel start at $125. A limestone terrace and the lodge's namesake spring are nearby. It is difficult to top the nature-viewing potential of this hotel. Yellowstone's resident elks often graze on the property, and the lack of televisions and radios help bolster the already rustic, natural atmosphere of the property.
3. Grant Village
Grant Village is a good choice for visitors who want basic amenities and a bit of convenience during their Yellowstone excursion. Grant features 50 similar rooms with in-room bathrooms, basic furnishings, and a $159 price tag. Two onsite restaurants provide food for guests and visitors. Both restaurants overlook Yellowstone Lake. This venue, in the southern regions of Yellowstone, is a good choice for people who also want to explore Yellowstone's neighbor, Grand Teton National Park, which sits just to the south of Yellowstone.
4. Yellowstone Park Hotel
Yellowstone Park Hotel is one of the best off-site choices for park visitors. This newly built boutique hotel just outside the park entrance in West Yellowstone boasts a pool, exercise room, flat screen TVs, and a complimentary continental breakfast. In short, the Park Hotel has all the amenities that people who stay in one of the in-park lodges might miss. Plus, it has a classiness and modern features that put it ahead of most local motels and inns in terms of overall comfort. A night at this hotel will set guests back about $225-$250.
5. Clubhouse Inn
The Clubhouse Inn is another comfortable option in West Yellowstone. Its log-accented exterior gives it a rustic feel, but the flat-screen TVs, pillow-top beds, and in-room microwaves really turn up to comfort quotient. The price for a night in the Clubhouse is about $170. Other amenities like a pool, free daily breakfast, and free wireless internet access make this a good choice for people who want to experience the nature of Yellowstone, but don't want to sacrifice any comfort when their day of trekking and adventure is done.
6. Canyon Lodge and Cabins
Canyon Lodge and Cabins is located next to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The lodge is a popular spot for trekkers who need a base for hikes and sightseeing trips to view some of Yellowstone's most picturesque panoramas. As with other accommodations inside Yellowstone, the Canyon has a rustic feel, but elevators and in-room bathrooms are modern features that make a stay in the lodge potion of this property more comfortable. Basic cabins with exterior bathrooms are available for about half of the $180 fee charged to people who stay in the lodge.
7. Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Lake Yellowstone Hotel is arguably the most atmospheric place to stay in the entire 3,000-plus square miles of Yellowstone. This hotel was recently renovated, but still carries the design elements and charms of its original incarnation. Built in the late 19th Century, this hotel has lake-view rooms for $223, standard rooms for $150-$210, and cabins for $125. The cabins have basic amenities and are scattered around the property. Like the hotel itself, they have a historic feel and carry much of the charm that they had when they were first built in the 1920s.
8. Roosevelt Lodge Cabins
The Roosevelt Lodge Cabins are ideal for visitors who want to fully experience the rustic charms of Yellowstone. Named for Teddy Roosevelt, a frequent visitor to Yellowstone during his life, these cabins host special events like trail riding tours and Old West cookouts. Basic cabins with bathrooms cost $115, while the so-called Roughrider Cabins (a nod to Mr. Roosevelt's old army unit) are the cheapest option in the park at $65 per night. The Roughriders have no in-cabin bathrooms, but facilities are located nearby.
9. Three Bear Lodge
Three Bear Lodge is a year round hotel in West Yellowstone. It sits a few paces from the park's front door and has earned an AAA three-diamond rating and an EcoStar award for its environmental-friendliness. Guests have a choice between the Bear's main lodge and motel annex. The lodge features a great stone fireplace in the public area, and mini bars, microwaves, flat-screen TVs, and wired and wireless internet access in all rooms. Rooms cost between $89 and $159 per night, though prices vary by season. The Motel section of the property also has amenity-filled rooms and an outdoor pool.
10. The Grizzly Lodge
Grizzly Lodge is a unique option located in Silver Gate, Montana near the park's northeastern entrance. The lodge is open all summer and features motel-style rooms. It sits about a quarter-mile from the northeast entrance and is a good choice for people who want to explore the more-remote corners of the park without having to deal with a lot of traffic that clogs the park's main roads during peak summer season. Basic rooms have bathrooms and TVs, while kitchenette rooms and suites are also available.
Make Reservations Early
Even though there are a number of great lodging choices in Yellowstone, accommodations are not always available. Tourists flock to the area during peak season, so be sure to make reservations at the lodging facility of your choice as soon as you make Yellowstone travel plans.
