A Guide with Hotels & Areas

Planning a holiday to a National Park is no easy thing but you’re definitely in the right place now, as I’ll tell you everything you need to know about this place, including where to stay in Yellowstone. 

Hop on this guide to find the best places to stay inside the park, the top towns closest to the park, plus a ton of information to help you decide on staying inside Yellowstone or outside. 

In short, West Yellowstone is the best place to stay when visiting the park as it’s super close to one of the top entrances and to the famous geysers! But definitely check out all the other places, as you might find something that you like or is more convenient for you! 

I’ve compared so many accommodations, from lodges to hotels, glamping and camping sites plus many others that you’ll find just below. 

Finding a good place to stay inside or outside Yellowstone is no easy thing! That’s why I recommend planning your holiday super in advance and booking your favorite one a few months before your travel dates! 

Quick Picks for Your Stay

Here is a list of the best hotels and ins in West Yellowstone, the west entrance to Yellowstone, that will help you decide in a second what’s the best choice for you: 

Here’s a map that will guide you through all the areas that I’m going to talk about in this post:

Inside or Outside Yellowstone?

Not sure whether to stay inside or outside Yellowstone? I know, it’s a hard decision to make, but luckily I’m

	Pros	Cons
Inside Yellowstone	– closer to the park’s attractions- easier to avoid the crowds	– more expensive – limited accommodations – hotels with fewer amenities like Wi-Fi, reception, dining spots
Outside Yellowstone	– cheaper hotels- more availability for last-minute booking – more dining options	– takes longer to get inside the park – limited access to the park’s wildlife

The 5 entrances of Yellowstone NP:

Here’s a map with all the 5 entrances of the park:

Before we start with the “hard stuff” I thought I’d list the 5 entrances of Yellowstone National Park and the closest towns to each of those entry points. That way you can start thinking about which town to pick if you’re staying outside of the park: 

North Entrance

If you want to stay right near the North Entrance, then Gardiner is for you! This town sits right at the entrance of the park. The North Entrance is great for those of you interested in seeing wildlife and learning more about the history of the park.

By using this entrance you’ll have easy access to the historic Fort Yellowstone area (map), the Mammoth Springs (map) and Lamar Valley (map).

Northeast Entrance

The closest town to Northeast Entrance is Silver Gate, sitting right near it. The Northeast Entrance is used only by a few visitors so it can be pretty quiet on this side of Yellowstone. If that’s something that you’d prefer then you could find lodging in Silver Gate.

NOTE: I didn’t include this area as there aren’t any good hotels there that I could recommend to you. The area is also pretty small and there are not many facilities there either.  

One of the closest attractions to this entrance is the Lamar Valley (map).

East Entrance

Welcome to one of the most popular entrances! The closest town to this entrance is Cody, set 1h drive away from it (the drive from Cody to the East Entrance is pretty scenic so that hour will surely fly by).

Some of the closest attractions inside Yellowstone that are closer to the East Entrance are Yellowstone Lake (map) and Fishing Bridge (map) 

South Entrance

The closest town to the park’s South Entrance is Jackson, set 1h away by car. This entrance is great for those who want to see a bit of Grand Teton National Park too, as you’ll first pass through it to get to Yellowstone.

Some of the closest attractions to the South Entrance are the Moose Falls (map) and the Lewis Canyon Falls (map).

West Entrance

This is one of the most popular entrances and the closest town to it is West Yellowstone, set right near the entrance (10 min drive). If you want to see the park’s famous geysers then staying near this entrance is definitely a good idea!

Some of the geysers that you can easily reach from here are Norris (map), Old Faithful (map) and Grand Prismatic (map).

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1. Where to stay inside Yellowstone

If you know for sure that you want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park, then have a look at the list of accommodations that I made below. You’ll find everything from lodges to hotels, cabins, plus a few others.

I’d recommend booking your hotel super in advance. These accommodations sell out months in advance, sometimes even a year, so definitely secure your spot early!

1.1 Hotels

Want to have all the comfort while staying inside Yellowstone National Park? Then check out the best hotels in Yellowstone:

• Mammoth Hot Springs & Cabins – located right near the Mammoth Springs, this accommodation offers family rooms, an on-site restaurant and parking. 
• Old Faithful Inn – one of the best places to stay in Yellowstone and the most famous hotel inside the park! This place is a national historic landmark that was built back in the 1900s. The hotel has rooms with geyser views, an on-site restaurant and a cafe. 
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins – although this hotel has no Wi-Fi, it has a great location on the banks of Lake Yellowstone, rooms with a private bathroom and an on-site restaurant. 

1.2 Lodges

Here are some amazing lodges that have some great locations inside the park:

• Canyon Lodge & Cabins – this is the best place to stay in Yellowstone’s east side, near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River! The lodge offers rooms with private bathrooms, a restaurant and an ice cream shop! 
• Grant Village Lodges – a great place that has rooms with coffee makers, located on the banks of Yellowstone Lake. There is no Wi-Fi here but you will find a restaurant. 

1.3 Cabins

If you like the rustic style, then these cabins are for you:

• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins – built back in the 1920s these cabins are set near Yellowstone’s Tower Fall area and they offer a shared bathroom. 
• Lake Lodge Cabins – set right on the banks of Yellowstone Lake, this accommodation offers different cabins. Some come with a shared porch, coffee makers, full bathrooms (or ones just with showers) and coffee makers. 

1.4 Camps 

Want to be as close to nature as possible? Then check out these camping sites inside the park:

• Madison Campground – set near the Old Faithful Geyser, this campground comes with 278 individual sites and 3 group sites, 14 restrooms with toilets and cold running water but no internet.
• Grant Village Campground – located on the banks of Yellowstone Lake, this campground has 400 regular sites and 8 group sites, 17 restrooms with toilets and cold water. 
• Canyon Campground – this is one of the most popular campgrounds, located near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and it comes with only 270 individual sites 15 restrooms with toilets and cold water as well as showers and laundry facilities.

2. West Yellowstone – best location near the West Entrance

Perfect for those who want to stay near the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park (which is set right near it), this town is picked by lots of tourists thanks to its proximity to some of the Park’s famous geysers like Old Faithful, which is a 50 min drive away. 

But it’s not only that, the town itself offers all the facilities that you’ll need from restaurants to a wide range of hotels. And, of course, you’ll find some attractions and fun activities like fly-fishing to mountain biking, river rafting, or skiing, and snowmobiling during wintertime

The town isn’t super big, but it does have some cool places like the Museum of Yellowstone where you can find out how to best plan your trip in and around the park. I’d also recommend checking out Yellowstone Aerial Adventures- Zipline Adventure Park (map) where you can spend some time “flying”! 

You’ll also find a couple of dining options where you can eat something yummy before and after hitting the park, like the Running Bear Pancake House (map) and the Buffalo Bar (map).

Other accommodation options in West Yellowstone

Things to do in West Yellowstone

• Spot a grizzly at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (map)
• Find out new things at the Museum of Yellowstone
• Go ziplining at Yellowstone Aerial Adventures
• Catch a movie at the Giant Screen Theatre at night (map)
• Go to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

Nearest entrance: West Yellowstone 
Distance to the park: 5 min drive to West Entrance 
Closest attractions: Gibbon Falls (30 min drive), Firehole Spring (40 min drive), Norris Geyser Basin (45 min drive), Old Faithful Geyser (50 min drive), Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (1h drive)

3. Jackson, WY – near the South entrance of Yellowstone

This beautiful town is located in Jackson Hole Valley, Northwest Wyoming and it’s the closest place to stay near the South Entrance of Yosemite (around a 1h drive away). 

When you come here, you’ll feel as if you’ve trespassed on a set for an upcoming Old West movie! 

This is a great place to stay for those who want to visit Grand Teton National Park as well, as you’ll pass through it on your way to Yellowstone’s South Entrance. 

Before you head to visit the parks make sure you check out some famous attractions in Jackson like the Jackson Town Square Park (map), Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, the National Elk Refuge and the National Museum of Wildlife Art.

During the winter you can also hit the slopes at Snow King Mountain Resort (map)!

By the way, don’t be surprised if you spot a moose, mule, or deer casually walking on the street at night, they are locals around the area. 

Honestly this town sounds like so much fun!

And if you’re still not sold about staying outside the park, don’t worry, you’re going to enjoy the drive to Yellowstone National Park from here too! Mountain views, flower fields, and small rivers – these magical elements will make the journey super memorable!

Other accommodation options in Jackson, WY

Things to do in Jackson, WY

• Spot a cute animal at the National Elk Refuge
• See the antler arches in the historic Town Square in Jackson Hole
• Have some family fun at Snow King Mountain resort 
• Learn new things at the National Museum of Wildlife Art
• Have an entertaining day at the Hole Rodeo (map) in Jackson Hole
• Visit the Grand Teton National Park

Nearest entrance: South Entrance 
Distance to the park: 1h drive to the South Entrance 
Closest attractions: Moose Falls (1h 15 min drive), Lewis Canyon Falls (1h 20 min drive)

4. Gardiner, MT – for the North Entrance of Yellowstone

Sitting just a 10 min drive away from the North Entrance, this town is a great base for those who want to access the attractions closer to that entrance like the Mammoth Hot Springs. 

Just like in West Yellowstone, you’ll find tons of accommodation options for on-budget hotels and cabins or lodges.

Gardiner is set on the banks of the picturesque Yellowstone River, so if you’ll get some amazing views! 

The authentic western atmosphere of Gardiner will make you want to spend as many days here as possible in addition to exploring the Yellowstone National Park. The town is very colorful and its inhabitants are friendly, so mingle away when you go there! 

You’ll find some cafes and restaurants here too, like Wonderland Cafe & Lodge (map) and Yellowstone Perk (map).Also, I’m sure that you’ll want to see the iconic Roosevelt Arch (map) which was built in 1903 as an homage to President Teddy Roosevelt. He actually gave a speech during his holiday in Gardiner when they laid the arch’s cornerstone. Cool right?

Other accommodation options in Gardiner, MT

Things to do in Gardiner, MT

Nearest entrance: North Entrance 
Distance to the park: 10 min drive
Closest attractions: Fort Yellowstone area (10 min drive), the Mammoth Springs (14 min drive) and Lamar Valley (1h drive) 

5. Cody, WY – near the East Entrance of Yellowstone

Located just an hour away by car from the East Entrance of Yellowstone! Be prepared, the drive from Cody to Yellowstone is gorgeous! 

This village in Wyoming is full of fun western activities, from horseback riding to visiting a dude ranch. You can set your base here, explore everything that this place offers, and then continue your trip in the National Park. 

While here, make sure you stop by the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum, the Cody City Park (map), the Cody Country Art League gallery (map) and Buffalo Bill Center of the West, an interactive museum where you can dive deeper into the Western World. 

You’ll even find a place where you can go golfing! Olive Glenn Golf Club (map) offers a stunning backdrop of the mountains so you’ll definitely enjoy your time there! 

Just like West Yellowstone, Cody has some great hotels from luxury to budget (you’ll find a short list right below. 

Other accommodation options in Cody, WY

Things to do in Cody, WY, and East Yellowstone 

• Learn new things at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West
• Visit the Old Trail Town
• Enjoy an authentic rodeo show in the village
• Have a drink and enjoy a live show at The Cody Company (map)
• See some cool old vintage weapons at the Cody Dug Up Gun Museum
• See the Grand Canyon and Lamar Valley 

Nearest entrance: East Entrance 
Distance from park: 1h drive to the East Entrance
Closest attractions: Yellowstone Lake (1h 20 min drive), Fishing Bridge (1h 40 min drive)

👑 Luxury price:	US$300
💵 Mid-range:	US$200
🛏️ Budget:	US$130
📍 Best area:	West Yellowstone
🛎️ Best luxury hotel:	1872 Inn
🧳 Mid-range hotel:	Kelly Inn
👛 Best budget hotel:	Crosswinds Inn

Practical tips about driving in Yellowstone National Park

Since you’ll be using your car most of the time when you’re visiting Yellowstone National Park, I thought I’d give you a short list of tips with things to consider and tips: 

• Leave super early in the morning otherwise you risk getting stuck in traffic 
• You’ll need to pay a fee to enter the park with your vehicle (usually around US$35) that will be valid for 7 consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase
• Watch out for wildlife on the road
• There are several gas stations near the biggest landmarks of the park and these are: near Old Faithful (map), near Grant Village (map), near Fishing Bridge (map), near Canyon Village (map), near Tower/Roosevelt (map), near Mammoth Springs (map)
• You’ll find parking near most of the big attractions inside the park (careful though as these can be busy, especially during the summer months, so that’s why it’s better to leave early)
• If you are visiting in winter, make sure you check the roads before as some may be closed 

FAQs about where to stay in Yellowstone

Final thoughts on where to stay in Yellowstone 

Well, it’s been quite a journey! 

I hope that this guide on where to stay in Yellowstone National Park helped you decide whether to stay inside or outside the park and which hotel and town to pick.

If you’re still not sure about the hotels, here are my top-rated favorite hotels, both set in West Yellowstone, just a short drive away from the West Entrance (often considered the best entrance):

• 1872 Inn – a gorgeous inn that offers a sauna where you can relax 
• Kelly Inn – this cozy place comes with an indoor pool and a spa

I highly recommend booking your hotels in Yellowstone in advance. Whether you want to stay inside the park or outside, the earlier the better, as all the accommodations sell out super fast. 

Enjoy your adventures, and don’t hesitate to drop me a comment below if you have any questions!

Have a good journey, 

Beti

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