The Best Places To Stay in Yellowstone
Spanning across three states, Yellowstone National Park is one of the biggest national parks in the United States, stretching from Wyoming into Idaho and Montana. It’s also one of the most visited. Because of this, there’s no shortage of lodging options within the park’s boundaries.
In addition to nine summer lodges and two winter lodges, Yellowstone offers five campsites for visitors who really want to immerse themselves in nature.
No matter who you’re traveling with or what your goals are for your road trip, Yellowstone has the lodging to suit your needs and wants. Here are our favorite places to stay at Yellowstone National Park.
The Old Faithful Inn
Built in 1904 with local logs and stone, this renowned lodge is a national historic landmark and considered the largest log structure in the world. It also remains one of the only log hotels in the world. So, even if you don’t stay here, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Location is everything, and the Old Faithful Inn is right next to the action; it’s located adjacent to Old Faithful––Yellowstone’s most popular attraction. This geyser is named for its eruptions producing up to 8,400 gallons of boiling water per day and reaching heights of nearly 200 feet.
The Old Faithful Inn offers amenities like bike rentals, tours of the Firehole Basin, and guided photography safaris. After your day of exploring the park, you can retire to the inn’s lobby, which boasts a massive stone fireplace, a restaurant, and a bar.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
Named after the nearby hot springs, the upscale Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins is open during both winter and summer. While the hotel was built in 1936, including a wing originally built in 1911, it recently underwent massive renovations. Today, it boasts everything from two-bed hotel rooms to cabins with their own hot tubs.
From the hotel, you can embark on various guided adventures, such as Lamar Valley, Old Faithful, and Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. During the winter, you can participate in snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
During your time at the hotel, check out the Bear Den Ski Shop. In the winter, you can browse their variety of outdoor gear and sign up for lessons and tours of the area.
Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins
If you want to embrace the spirit of the Old West, look no further than the Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins. Built in 1920 near the Yellowstone Tower Falls, this rustic offering is named after a nearby campsite used by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Perfect for families, these pet-friendly cabins include up to three beds, with some having their own bathroom and shower.
There is also a smattering of activities in the immediate area. A local corral offers stagecoach adventures, horseback tours, and old west dinner cookouts. The Wild West experience this area provides makes it an enjoyable option for children and adults alike
Madison Campground
If you’re visiting Yellowstone to reconnect with nature, camping may be what you’re looking for. Lucky for you, Yellowstone offers plenty of campgrounds. Madison Campground is one of our favorites.
Named after its proximity to Madison River, one of the most popular rivers in the park for fishing, this campsite is situated on a lush mountain populated by diverse wildlife. With over 270 individual sites and three group sites, this campground accommodates tent, RV, and ADA campers. It is also conveniently located near such landmarks as Old Faithful and the Upper, Midway, and Lower Geyser Basins.
Among this campground’s many visitors are foxes, elks, moose, and badgers. If you’re lucky, you may see a bison or grizzly bear wander into camp. Just remember to keep your distance and store your food properly!
Lake Lodge Cabins
In need of a lake view? Lake Lodge Cabins are the way to go. Centered around a main log lodge with a spectacular view of Yellowstone Lake, this property comprises 186 cabins with private bathrooms. While the “Western Cabins'' feature two queen beds and a shared porch, the “Frontier Cabins” feature one or two double beds.
In the main lodge, you’ll find two fireplaces, a lounge, and a gift store, making it the perfect spot to relax after a day full of excursions. One of the most popular of this lodge’s amenities is its rocking chair-lined porch, providing a serene view of the lake.
From the lodge, you can rent boats, embark on guided fishing excursions, and take advantage of Yellowstone Lake’s backcountry shuttle service (for the most adventurous of park-goers).
Canyon Lodge and Cabins
With more than 500 rooms and cabins, this sprawling facility offers the most accommodations in Yellowstone. Located conveniently near Yellowstone's most popular sites, such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone River, this lodge is an excellent choice for park-goers of all interests.
If you’re looking for the most luxurious experience possible, Canyon Lodge is what you are looking for. Their suites include separate bedrooms, a shared living room, and an outdoor deck. They also have more accessible options, such as their standard lodge rooms and “Western” cabins.
From the lodge, you can embark on horseback tours of the surrounding area. You can also join Yellowstone’s signature tour, “Circle of Fire.” This is an excellent choice if you only have a day or two, as your driver-guide will take you to as many of Yellowstone’s sites as possible––Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, the Upper and Lower Falls, and, hopefully, much more.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins
This impressive lodge is the newest at Yellowstone and sports a log-cabin-style design with plenty of amenities to come with it.
While open in both summer and winter, this aptly named lodge truly shines during the snowy months. With multiple fireplaces through the lodge’s common area, there is a rustically cozy vibe throughout the coldest of months. On top of that, the lodge offers cross country skiing lessons and tours, snowshoeing of the surrounding area, and an outdoor skating rink with free skate rentals.
The lodge is just as great during the summer, though. On top of bicycle rentals, you can embark on adventures of the Firehole Basin and safaris led by professional photographers.
Grant Village Campground
Another spectacular camping option, this campground provides campsites for tent, RV, and ADA campers. With an elevation of 7,800 feet, Grant Village is situated in a lodgepole pine forest, just a few miles from the unparalleled West Thumb Geyser Basin. Located on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, this geyser basin is one of Yellowstone’s foremost displays of its geothermal activity.
Many campers flock to Grant Village due to its central location and easy access to the rest of the park. Additionally, Grant Village offers its campers a variety of amenities, such as two restaurants, a gas station, gift shop, post office, and grocery store.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
Without a doubt, the most regal of Yellowstone’s offerings is the Colonial Revival Hotel, which has been around since the 1890s and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2015. You will feel like you took a time machine to the Roaring Twenties when you pull up to this yellow-painted, white-column estate.
In addition to its stately vibe, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel has ample access to the titular Lake Yellowstone. There, you can rent boats, participate in boat tours, and embark on fishing and backcountry expeditions.
During your stay at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, you will enjoy unparalleled dining, a bar, free WiFi, and second-to-none guest rooms. Whether you stay in the Presidential Suite or a standard lodge room, you will feel the premier luxury offered in few other national parks.
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Sources:
Where To Stay | YellowstonePark.com
Top 10 Attractions Yellowstone National Park | ExploreBozeman.com
Yellowstone Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone | EarthTrekkers.com