a water fountain that has a bunch of bubbles in it

When taking a trip internationally, get protection from one of the top travel insurance carriers. You can get a 5% discounton Heymondo, the sole insurer that pays doctor bills up front for you,HERE!

Determining where to reside in Yellowstone can be uncertain because of the number of alternatives both inside and outside the most seasoned national stop in the US.

However, if you’re visiting Yellowstone during the summer, I recommend booking well in advance, as the best hotels in Yellowstone, Wyoming, fill up straight away.

I visited Yellowstone for 10 days and altered accommodation almost every night. Since Yellowstone is such an expansive national park, at 3,471 sq mi, this is the best option to ensure seeing all areas of the park. While it isn`t the most cost-effective way to obtain inexpensive lodging, I propose leasing a car and staying in different sections of Yellowstone instead of just staying in one place.

Another choice is spending the night in one of the camping areas in Yellowstone, which will allow you to get nearer to the exceptional wildlife that live there; the sheer variety of animals makes Yellowstone one of the finest national parks in the United States.

We felt disappointment because we couldn’t visit it during our initial 10-day trip along the West Coast of the USA, but it’s a locale that requires significant time to fully experience. Throughout our 10-day visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we invested most of our time at the former rather than the latter. Even so, we didn’t have a single uneventful moment, since there are many activities available in Yellowstone.

To assist you choose where to stay in Yellowstone, in our guide you will find:

Where to stay in Yellowstone National Park

There are only 9 hotels located within Yellowstone National Park, and they are rather costly compared to those in nearby areas. Nevertheless, they’re the best pick, since you’ll be near the natural wonders found in the park.

If lodging arrangements have not been made adequately in advance, or travel is occurring on a limited budget, below are also some of the best options for staying outside Yellowstone National Park near its boundaries.

Please note that nearly all accommodations in Yellowstone National Park are closed during the winter, so be sure to check your travel dates.

Old Faithful Inn, the best place to stay in Yellowstone

Old Faithful Inn is regarded as the most renowned hotel in Yellowstone. Constructed a short distance from Old Faithful Geyser, which gave it its name, in 1904. However, in addition to its distinguishing place by hot springs and fumaroles, what renders this the top hotel in Yellowstone is its architectural style. It was built using logs and stones native to the area and is considered the largest wooden building globally.

a large room filled with lots of wooden benches

Its grand lobby is definitely worth seeing, even if you’re not staying at this Yellowstone accommodation. You will be stunned by the incredible stone fireplace and a manually crafted clock made of copper, wood, and wrought iron. The hotel has 327 rooms and is exclusively open from May to October.

Old Faithful Lodge, cheap accommodation in Yellowstone

Old Faithful Lodge provides possibly the most cost-effective accommodations near the previous hotel for those searching for affordable lodging in Yellowstone. Guests may rent either a cabin including private bathroom access or a shared cabin to minimize expenses.

a red and white fire hydrant on the side of a road

Additionally, from the reception of this hotel, you get beautiful views of Old Faithful Geyser, making this location the best option if you’re looking for cheap lodging in Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge, one of the few hotels in Yellowstone that’s open in winter

If that time is too early, consider taking the transportation options provided by Parks Canada or Roam Transit Bus. Private vehicles are completely prohibited on the road to Moraine Lake.

a house that has some snow on the ground

During winter, the road to Old Faithful is closed, so the only means to get to the hotel is via one of the snow coaches that depart from Mammoth, which can be booked here.

Along the route, various stops will be made to view the incredible winter landscapes within this national park, contributing to it being highly suitable accommodation when remaining in Yellowstone during winter. Moreover, like the prior two hotels, it is placed next to Old Faithful Geyser, categorizing it as one of the best options to stay in Yellowstone during summer also.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, Yellowstone hotel open year-round

The Mammoth Hot Springs are near the northern entrance to the park, which is the sole entrance that remains accessible all year. The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, a hotel dating back to 1936 where lodging ranging from luxury suites to charming cottages can be reserved, is close to that entrance and truly presents a good option to reside in Yellowstone throughout the entire year.

a large stone building with a wooden roof

Within the hotel’s surroundings, besides the well-known travertine terraces found in Mammoth, there are various eating places, a gasoline station, and the park visitor middle.

Canyon Lodge and Cabins, one of the best hotels in Yellowstone

Located at the southern end of the Strip, the Four Seasons Hotel is another premier non-gaming hotel in Las Vegas. Not only does this resort feature luxurious facilities, but it offers the best of both worlds by providing secluded tranquility in a convenient location on the Boulevard.

a large building with a clock on the front of it

Best of all, it has an unmatched location, just a brief distance from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Here, in addition to imposing waterfalls, you can see smoky rhyolite mountains and landscapes that appear straight from a painting.

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, the best place to stay in Yellowstone for “spotters”

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins has a great area, near the Tower Falls vicinity, the Petrified Tree, and the start of the road leading to Lamar Valley. This valley is among the most popular places to spot wildlife in the park, and it’s where hundreds gather to see Yellowstone’s most elusive animals: bears and wolves, among others.

a wooden bench sitting in front of a wooden cabin

Without question, this cluster of cottages stands out as one of the lodging options most highly recommended in Yellowstone for genuinely experiencing the park’s remarkable wildlife.

Its outdoor areas and indoor fireplace make for relaxing and cozy experiences, a shared attribute among lodging available in Yellowstone. There is also an eatery where you can sample local cuisine and a guest lounge where travelers can chat, rest, and interact with others.

Lake Hotel and Cabins, a hotel overlooking Yellowstone Lake

The Yellowstone Lake area is scenic, although it is not the most visited. Unless spending over 7 days in Yellowstone, you likely won’t have time to explore this region of the park, although in its surroundings, there are such fascinating places as the Natural Bridge hike and the Mud Volcano, where there are pools of boiling mud.

a row of houses on the side of a road

If you visit, Lake Hotel and Cabins is an excellent option for accommodations in Yellowstone to have magnificent panoramas of this huge lake and potentially see bison grazing in their natural habitat.

The complex has both lakeside cabins and hotel rooms and suites.

Lake Lodge Cabins, the best place to stay in Yellowstone for families

Lake Lodge Cabins refers to accommodations adjoining a prior hotel. Specifically, all dwellings here are cabins, though sizes and classes vary. Regardless, it forms a highly special place to remain in Yellowstone.

a wooden bench in front of a barn

The main building housing check-in has a beautiful porch overlooking Yellowstone Lake, along with a charming living room featuring two fireplaces for socializing.

Grand Village, the last hotel within Yellowstone National Park

Grand Village is also near Yellowstone Lake, allowing for beautiful views from the hotel. However, it is located farther south, at the beginning of the road connecting Yellowstone National Park with Grand Teton National Park, making it a great choice if you’re going to visit this other national park. Here is my article on where to stay in Grand Tetonin the event you prefer to stay in this other park, which borders Yellowstone to the south.

a hotel room with two beds and two lamps

The hotel was constructed in 1984 and has 6 buildings with 2 floors each (no elevator) and a total of 50 rooms per building. Near the Grand Village, I recommend you visit the West Thumb Geothermal Region geothermal area, where the beautiful Abyss Pool is .

West Yellowstone, the best place to stay near Yellowstone

As I mentioned earlier, there exist merely 9 hotels within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park, so at the height of the tourist season, most visitors only find lodging situated outside the park limits.

Of all the towns nearby, the most visited is West Yellowstone. It lies next to the park’s western entrance and is closest to Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone`s primary attraction. You can arrive there in an hour and also be near other wonders of the park. Firehole River, Norris Geyser Basin and Lower Geyser Basin, the incredible Grand Prismatic Spring, and the scenic Firehole Lake Drive are notable sights.

a glass vase with water pouring out of it

If you are searching for places to stay in Yellowstone and you have not booked far in advance, West Yellowstone is the best option. There are numerous lodgings in West Yellowstone, so you can always find good deals. Also, the restaurants and shops are much more affordable here than inside the park, and there’s fuel too, so remember to refill before entering the national park.

Of all the hotels in West Yellowstone, these are the ones I recommend:

Gardiner, Yellowstone hotels all year-round (north entrance)

Gardiner, in Montana, is found next to the north entrance to Yellowstone, which remains the sole entry that stays open year-round. Additionally, it`s the most popular entrance to the park since, if you arrive at Bozeman Airport, the nearest international airport to Yellowstone, you will enter from the north.

Nearby are the famous Mammoth Hot Springs, where you can find Minerva Terrace and Canary Spring. Also, not far away is Boiling River Hot Springs, a thermal river where you can bathe for free. Another benefit of remaining in Gardiner is that some of the most reasonably priced hotels in Yellowstone are here.

a pile of snow on top of a mountain

These are the hotels in Yellowstone Gardiner that I would recommend considering:

Cooke City, cheap accommodation in Yellowstone

Cooke City is one of the best destinations to lodge in Yellowstone if you’re traveling to see wildlife. This town is found near the northeast entrance of the park, which is only accessible during the summer. You’ll pass Lamar Valley, the most scenic drive in Yellowstone, where you can see many of the park’s animals: grizzlies and black bears, bison, wolves, and all kinds of deer.

a herd of animals standing on top of a lush green field

Furthermore, some of the most affordable lodging options in Yellowstone National Park are situated here. Accommodations are limited, so advance reservations are highly recommended.

Cody and Wapiti, great options for where to stay in Yellowstone

Even though it’s unusual to access Yellowstone Park from the east side since Cody Airport is smaller than other airports closer to the park such as Bozeman Airport in Montana or Jackson Hole, if you enter through this entrance, staying in Cody or Wapiti could be a good choice. Additionally, both towns offer affordable lodging options near Yellowstone.

a pool of water surrounded by trees and shrubs

From there, you will be very close to attractions such as West Thumb Geyser Basin and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The best accommodations in this area of Yellowstone are as follows:

Grand Teton, another option for where to stay in Yellowstone

Grand Teton National Park is situated north of Yellowstone and is a national park that I exceptionally suggest exploring, since its landscapes, bordered by the Teton mountain range, appear similar to works of art.

a large body of water with a mountain range

During our 10 day visit to Yellowstone National Park, we spent one night at Grand Teton National Park, though we wished we could have allocated more time to explore this park in greater depth. While I have composed a specific article pertaining to where to lodge in Grand Teton, if you are searching for accommodation in Yellowstone and nothing interesting catches your eye, the following lodging options may be useful:

Best campgrounds in Yellowstone

There exists 12 grounds set up for camping in Yellowstone that are spread throughout the national park. We opted for this option most nights, and I can attest that spending nights camping in Yellowstone is an incredible experience. You will need to bring your own camping gear or RV, but it will be much cheaper, since the sites typically cost between 15 and 30 dollars per night.

Of these campgrounds, 5 necessitate advance reservations. At the remainder, spots are awarded on a first-arrived, first-served basis. In aggregate, there are 2,000 locations providing accommodations in Yellowstone. However, throughout peak touring seasons, unbooked pitches may be devoid if you don’t pre-arrange or get there soon enough to guarantee a campsite.

We didn’t book any campsites ahead of time, and even though we arrived early in the morning during May which is not the busiest tourist season, there were some nights where the locations where we wished to stay had completely filled up before our arrival.

a tent sitting in the middle of a field

To make reservations and check the opening dates (most sites are closed during winter), I suggest checking the park’s website. Additionally, you’ll be able to check what time each campsite was filled the day before to get an approximate idea of what time you should arrive at the campground to obtain a plot.

We set up our tents at several campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park, such as Mammoth, Tower Fall, Canyon, Bridge Bay, Madison, and Norris. It`s difficult to pick a favorite, but I believe Norris and Mammoth stood out the most to us. In any case, moving between different areas of the park rather than staying in one Yellowstone campground for the whole trip is likely the best approach.

That’s it. Now that you know the optimum locations to remain in Yellowstone, all you have to do is select the one you like best and book it. Check also our map of Yellowstone National Park to know which attractions you are going to have close to your accommodation.

If you still have questions about where to stay in Yellowstone, leave me a comment and I’ll be pleased to help you.