Click here to see all of your vacation rental options in Gardiner. I make national park trip planning easy. If something opens up, make your reservation for the the Yellowstone lodge and cancel your reservation outside of the park. Rooms are basic but clean and can accommodate up to four people. This hotel recently underwent renovations. They also have options with private bathrooms, which are more expensive but still relatively affordable. ), 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. California is our home, and we wouldnt trade it for the world. Thanks Terri! Currently, there is no timed entry reservation system in effect, but I recommend getting updates on the official website, just in case this changes. On the cons side, its far less convenient, and drive times are something to think about. These houses come with multiple bedrooms. The frontier cabins are more expensive, but have heat and private bathrooms. Yellowstone sits in three states: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, with most of its land located in Wyoming. In general, in-park lodging will be more expensive than staying outside of the park. I will have three small kids with me, so trying to figure out the best way to get thru the whole thing in a short amount of time. PRO TRAVEL TIP: The entrances to Yellowstone National Park are open 24 hours a day. With just a few hotels to choose from and a somewhat inconvenient location near the northeast corner of Yellowstone, it is only worth staying here if you are struggling to find accommodation elsewhere or have plans to continue your road trip through central Montana.
Hi!! Yellowstone Park Riverfront Cabins. Grant Village is located near the West Thumb area of Yellowstone Lake and has two lodges with 50 rooms.
Terri recommends to avoid the online reservation system since it is difficult to use and often does not show the available rooms. 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. Tower Falls. 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. There is an indoor pool onsite. So, if you are planning a trip for 2023, you should make your reservations in May 2022. Explorer Lodge & Cabins: This lodge + cabins combination is a nice option for people looking for a little more space. Let's be friends! We think the cabins are where its at, especially if youve got more than two people. Its pretty far from everything other than the West Thumb and the Lake. With that out of the way, lets quickly talk about Yellowstones geography. Note: This post contains affiliate links. We have a 10 day itinerary that links all 3 parks. Reservations open May 1 the prior year for summer (Summer 2023 reservations open May 1, 2022) and March 15 the prior year for winter. 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. 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). Ideally, it is best to stay inside the park, to minimize driving time, but there are several advantages to staying outside of the park. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Yellowstone Map, Entrances, and Nearby Towns, Staying Inside of Yellowstone National Park, Staying Outside of Yellowstone National Park. Its objectively beautiful. The Roosevelt Hotel: This may be the nicest hotel option in Gardiner, but certainly less affordable. Most people visit Yellowstone on a road trip, which means you will be entering through one park entrance and exiting through another. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. And with the gardens and interior decor, this property is beautiful. Outside of Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone is the best place to stay, since the driving times to the main sights will be the shortest. 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. It can be a hassle packing and unpacking, but Yellowstone is so large that switching accommodations can minimize travel time in the park.
In the winter, you need to arrange over-snow transportation to reach the lodge. Weve been to 13 national parks in the past year or so, and Yellowstone felt the biggest to us (though Olympic National Park and Death Valley National Park feel like close seconds). You can also stay in a Lake Cottage. Yellowstones Treasure Cabins. Rooms are large, clean, and quiet and decorated with a western theme. In order to talk about the best places to stay to explore Yellowstone, we need to start by covering the park highlights and where theyre located.
Faithful Street Inn. Thanks in advance! We think four days is a good amount of time for exploring Yellowstone, which is why we wrote our 4 day itinerary. Trust us. 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. It would take a full day but you could also add on Devils Tower. Cody Cowboy Village. We got invited to a close friends wedding in Sheridian WY on July 2. Its a lot of driving, so maybe best to leave the 2 year old at home, if that works out. These small houses come with a kitchen and one to two bedrooms. And its also expensive, so know that going in. Our recent California road trip reminded us of just how incredible, Read More A Perfect San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip ItineraryContinue. Now, you could stay one night at every single one of those places, but lodging is so competitive in the park that its not quite realistic to expect to do that. Silver Gate Lodging. On the pro side, theres going to be a better selection of places to stay, slightly less competition, and much lower prices in both of the towns below. The Fishing Bridge Recreational Vehicle Park is located near Yellowstone Lake. If so, your first day will be spent arriving at one of these 2 airports and getting to Jackson. Rooms can accommodate up to four people and there is a gym and indoor pool onsite. Some have shared bathroom facilities, some have ensuite private bathrooms. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel ($-$$): Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel has a range of rooms, both in terms of size and price. If you have any other questions, let me know. Here are our recommended hotels, based on your itinerary. But its the most central location in the park, which is worth something, right? West Yellowstone sits just outside you guessed it the western edge of Yellowstone National Park.
The road between Gardiner and Mammoth is closed, as is the Northeast Entrance of the park. Click here to see all of your hotel options in Gardiner. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we dont stand behind 100%. In general, in-park lodging will be more expensive than staying outside of the park. 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? This is another great pick for families. Set in the hills surrounding, Read More Portland to Hood River Day Trip: A Complete Self-Drive GuideContinue, Your email address will not be published. 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.
From here, it is a short drive Hayden Valley, Tower Falls, and Norris Geyser Basin. It has a deck, but not much of a view if were being honest. Take your pick from a wide range of cottages, bungalows, and houses that can accommodate from two to ten people. 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. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Many of the best things to do in the park can be found along these two loops. They are: Thats probably not a perfect split, but its good enough to use to talk about the best places to stay. Here are some hotels in Gardiner that we think youll like. Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone. Cody, Wyoming is a western-themed town that is located east of Yellowstone National Park. Hotels are going to be your best bet in West Yellowstone. SLC -> Jackson/Grand Teton (1 full day here is great) -> West Yellowstone for 1 to 2 nights, maybe even 1 or 2 nights in Gardiner -> Cody/Sheridan. Also located in Cooke City, stay in a double room that can accommodate four people. This is where we stayed in 2019 and had a nice experience. If youre up for camping, choose a campground in the areas you want to stay and call it a day. 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. Lake Yellowstone Hotel ($$$): Recently renovated, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel is along the western shore of Lake Yellowstone. I really like Gardiner, but it is a long drive in and out of the park from here. Stay in Gardiner. 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. We stayed here on our most recent visit to Yellowstone and had a great experience. Julie Last updated: July 2, 2022 United States 31 Comments. West Yellowstone is a decent home base for the southern half of the park, but its a little further out than Gardiner. The lodges inside of Yellowstone National Park sell out ridiculously far in advance. 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. Or, take a look at the one-bedroom chalets that can accommodate up to five people. Located in Cody, rooms are rustic and can accommodate from two to six people. The incredibly diverse landscapes (did you know theres a Grand Canyon in Yellowstone? How Many Days Should I Spend in Yellowstone. Most people make it to Multnomah and call it a day, but Hood River, Oregon is another must-visit destination. There is an airport near Cody but flights from here are probably very limited. 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. Its on the south end of town, but still plenty close to the park entrance. Like we mentioned above, the two places outside the park that you should consider staying are Gardiner, Montana, and West Yellowstone. Grand Prismatic Spring: 122 miles, 3 hours Old Faithful: 118 miles, 2 hours 45 minutes Hayden Valley: 86 miles, 2 hours Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: 93 miles, 2 hours 10 minutes Lamar Valley:94 miles, 2 hours. The biggest factors are budget and your itinerary. There are also some quality vacation rental options in Gardiner. From November through mid-April, many roads and close in the park. Located on bank of the Yellowstone River, stay in a secluded cabin. 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. They also have bigger cabins with private bathrooms, which are a good mid-range option, and hotel-style rooms which are kind of boring, at least to us. Wed like to trade that, please. Driving Distances and Times to the Top Sights (before the 2022 flood): Grand Prismatic Spring: 87 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes Old Faithful: 93 miles, 2 hours, 30 minutes Hayden Valley: 60 miles, 1 hour 40 minutes Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: 54 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes Lamar Valley: 19 miles, 30 minutes. Then drive to Yellowstone and visit YNP on Friday. And its at a price point in between the other two options at Old Faithful. Click here to see all of your hotel options in West Yellowstone. Which also means its the most expensive. The best location to stay within the park is Canyon Village. Gorgeous Home One Mile to Yellowstone (sleeps 4-8): Perfect for bigger groups, this 2,700 square foot house is tucked away in the hills above Gardiner, which means views! She recommends calling the park 6 to 8 weeks before your trip to get a reservation. Theres a communal fire pit, where you can spend your evening roasting the marshmallows from your complimentary smores kit. 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. I know, its a lot to process, planning a trip to this part of the country. My name is Ash, and I'm a former park ranger. Youre in the right place I grew up in Seattle, and people in California still comment on how my wardrobe is very Seattle. Elk Horn Lodge. Yellowstone Gateway Inn.
If you want the best of the best, Old Faithful Inn is the way to go. Its not sexy. Not up for camping? The lodges inside of Yellowstone National Park sell out ridiculously far in advance. Staying Inside the Park vs. Outside the Park. Conditions are constantly changing in the park and will continue to do so throughout the summer. We love having room to sit somewhere other than on the bed, which youll have here. High Country Motel and Cabins. The trick is the best airport to rent a car. Theres a mix of budget-friendly, mid-range, and more upscale options.
The exception is Lamar Valley, which is located near the northeast corner of the park. Plus, if you add on 3 days in Grand Teton National Park, it makes for a nice weeklong Wyoming adventure. It is relatively centrally located. I plan to keep this article updated but the best place to go for current conditions is the official National Park Service website.
Terri from Traveling with Terri is a frequent traveler to Yellowstone. 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). The Cody. Then go to Bozeman/Glacier. l dont think staying in the park is an option budget wise, but wed like to maximize the little time we have. Youll wake up to the sights and sounds of the park, from elk lounging outside the lodge, to beautiful sunrises over Yellowstones diverse landscapes. Were Matt and Alysha, the two endlessly curious gluten free foodies behind Wheatless Wanderlust. This is exactly what we did we spent two nights at Canyon Village, and two nights at the West Thumb. All bathrooms are shared. But for three days or longer, staying in two different locations can save you some time (especially if you cant get lodging inside the park). Learn more here. Its extremely competitive, and youll need to plan accordingly.
With just one to two days in the park, I recommend picking one central location, ideally Canyon Village. What I want to know is can I just drive across Wyoming to get to West Yellowstone? 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. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Its that easy. Youll be driving a lot, but its doable. Its motel style with plenty of free parking, and gives you everything youll need for your stay, and nothing you dont. This is not your typical hotelits more of a luxury camping or glamping experience. Plus, each room has a gas fireplace extra cozy! Lodges get fully booked one year in advance but cancellations are common, so keep checking back if you cant reserve the lodge you want. We wrote this detailed guide to places to stay near Yellowstone to help you make an informed decision about where to stay in Yellowstone National Park. The recommendations in this post are for the summer season, May through October. The Old Faithful Lodge Cabins and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge are also located near Old Faithful. Theyve got cabins and lodge rooms, like a lot of places on this list. This guide works well with our Yellowstone itinerary post, which lists itinerary ideas from one to five days, with recommended hotel locations for each day(it will open in a new browser tab so you can easily refer back to this post). If youre looking for a nice boutique hotel in West Yellowstone, this is it. First, youre going to be driving a lot. The hotel also has a sauna and fitness center. Pssst! 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. In northern Yellowstone is the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins. Im not sure if thats a good or bad thing, if were being honest. There are very limited options south of Yellowstone National Park. Elk on the property at Yellowstone Gateway Inn.
For example, your trip might start in Grand Teton and end in Glacier, with a visit to Yellowstone in the middle. We had a one-bedroom suite with a full kitchen. Or will I have to go up and around thru Montana? There are plenty of options just outside of Yellowstone. Choose between lodge rooms and cabins, all with private bathrooms. These cottages have one or two bedrooms, a separate seating area, a kitchenette, and a fireplace. New to the Gardiner Market, 1 Block from Park Entrance (sleeps 2-5): Another good option in a great location, this two story house has enough space for up to five people thanks to the queen bed and two twin beds in the bedroom. It worked well, but 2 nights in West Yellowstone and 2 nights in Gardiner would have been better. 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. There is a garden, library, and on-site bar. In this guide, we hope to simplify things for you. Lots of space to spread out and relax, which is nice after a long day out exploring the park. First of all, its worth getting this out of the way early Yellowstone is MASSIVE. 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. Our third visit to Yellowstone was on a day trip from Grand Teton National Park. If you are traveling as a couple and looking for an upscale hotel, look no farther.
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