Accommodation in Yellowstone National Park
Staying inside the national park is the best way to make the most of everything Yellowstone National Park has to offer, since it’s a vast park and the distances between different sites can be quite long. This makes it easier for you to avoid having to change accommodations every night, although there are some drawbacks.
✅ Benefits of staying overnight in Yellowstone National Park
- Located in a prime location and close to tourist attractions
- More time exploring the park and less time driving
- You can visit the famous sights early without having to get up too early
❌ Disadvantages of camping inside Yellowstone National Park
- High price, especially during peak season
- Fewer and more expensive services (restaurants, supermarkets, etc.)
- Accommodations fill up very quickly, especially during peak season, so you should book well in advance
As we mentioned in our guide to visiting Yellowstone, there are five entrances that provide access to the Grand Loop Road, each with its own pros and cons. It’s important to decide what you want to see and in what order so you can choose the best place to stay.
We recommend spending at least 3 days in Yellowstone to get the most out of the park and see as many of its attractions as possible. In our post on what to see in Yellowstone, we’ve put together itineraries ranging from 1 to 5 days so you can easily plan your trip 😉.
There are up to six areas within the park where you can stay, each offering different types of accommodations.
Grant Village
It is located on the western side of Yellowstone Lake, and we consider it a very beautiful and convenient place to stay. It is quieter than Old Faithful, though it has far fewer amenities, and is close to the park’s main geyser basins and the south entrance.
Grant Village
A modern lakeside hotel featuring 2 restaurants, a bar, a lounge area, a gift shop, and breakfast. It offers two types of rooms: double rooms with a king-size bed and family rooms for up to 4 people with two king-size beds. Open from late May to early October.
Mammoth Hot Springs
This area of the park has been designated a historic district and features many protected buildings. It can get quite busy due to the large number of people who visit or pass through during the day, as the park offices are located here.
It’s an ideal spot for spotting elk among the gardens of the houses or for taking a stroll, and it’s right next to the Mammoth Hot Springs. We wouldn’t recommend it, however, since it’s only 6 km from the town of Gardiner, where lodging and amenities are cheaper.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins
A historic hotel in the park, opened in 1936, featuring a restaurant, bar, terrace, lounge area, gift shop, and breakfast service, open year-round. It offers double or family rooms (up to 6 people) with private bathrooms and double or family cabins (up to 4 people) with or without private bathrooms. Open from late April to early November and in winter from mid-December to early March.
Yellowstone Lake
A quiet area on the shores of Yellowstone Lake and very close to Hayden Valley. We think it’s a beautiful and peaceful place to stay within the park, although amenities are somewhat scattered and it’s less bustling than Canyon.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
Another historic hotel, renovated in 2014, offering views of Yellowstone Lake. It features a restaurant, bar, lounge area, and gift shop. It offers double rooms with a king-size bed and family rooms with two king-size beds, all with private bathrooms. Open from mid-May to early October.
Lake Lodge Cabins
These cabins overlooking Yellowstone Lake are ideal if you prefer more privacy than a hotel offers, although they are much more rustic. The property also features a restaurant, bar, terrace, lounge area, and gift shop. The cabins are either double rooms with a king-size bed or family rooms with two king-size beds, all with private bathrooms. Open from mid-June to early October.
Old Faithful
This is the most famous and crowded area of the park, offering direct access to some of the most iconic sites and located very close to the other geyser basins. It’s also the area with the most amenities, though that comes with both pros and cons. It’s ideal if you want to visit the main geothermal areas without too much hassle or having to get up too early, or if you prefer to have more amenities than in other parts of the park.
Old Faithful Inn
Without a doubt the most spectacular and well-known hotel in the park, it has been designated a historic building and is a prime example of rustic resort architecture, built in 1904 using local wood and stone. It’s located right across from the famous geyser of the same name, and even if you’re not staying there, you should definitely check out its common areas or grab a drink on its terrace.
It features a restaurant, bar, terrace, lounge area, breakfast service, and a gift shop. Rooms include double or family rooms with one or two double beds and a private bathroom, or historic rooms with a double bed, some with and some without a private bathroom. It is open from early May to early October.
Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
If you want to enjoy unbeatable views of Old Faithful while having a drink, eating, or relaxing in the lobby, you should stay in these cabins. The property features a restaurant, a gift shop, and a lounge area. The cabins are available as double rooms with a king-size bed or family rooms with two king-size beds, accommodating 3 or 4 people, and come with either a private or shared bathroom. It is open from mid-May to early October.
Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
This modern yet rustic wooden hotel is a 5-minute walk from the famous geyser. It features a restaurant and a bar, and is the only one in the area that is open in winter. It offers double or family rooms with one or two double beds, all with private bathrooms. The summer season runs from late April to late October, and the winter season from mid-December to early March.
Canyon
This area is the most central part of the park and will save you the most driving time, as it’s located at the intersection of the Upper and Lower Loops. It’s right next to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and close to Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley, and Norris Geyser Basin. It offers amenities such as a grocery store, gas station, and restaurants, as well as several hiking options.
Canyon Lodge & Cabins
This modern hotel and restaurant is strategically located in one of the most central areas of the park. It features a restaurant, a café, two bars, and an ice cream shop. It offers double and family rooms that accommodate up to four people, with one or two double beds, and all rooms have private bathrooms. Open from mid-May to early October.
Roosevelt
This area, located next to Lamar Valley, is ideal for wildlife viewing. It is also close to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Mammoth Hot Springs. It features a gas station, a store, and restaurants.
Roosevelt Lodge Cabins
If you want to experience the Wild West, this is the place to stay, as these cabins—with over 100 years of history—look like something straight out of a movie. It features a porch with excellent views, as well as a bar and restaurant. There are rustic double and family cabins that sleep up to 6 people, with 1, 2, or 3 double beds, though only a few have private bathrooms.
Campgrounds in Yellowstone
Camping in Yellowstone National Park is a fantastic and more affordable way to spend the night inside the park. It has 11 campgrounds and more than 2,000 campsites, all of which must be reserved in advance—except for those at Mammoth Campground from October 15 to April 1, when sites are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. This campground is the only one open year-round.
You can make reservations up to 6 months in advance of your stay through recreation.gov, whether the campground is open during those dates; it is recommended that you book as far in advance as possible. Through 2026, some campgrounds are booked through Yellowstone National Park Lodges, but starting in 2027, all reservations will be handled through recreation.gov.
If you're interested in booking a campsite during peak season, we recommend creating an account on recreation.gov in advance and practicing with the app to get familiar with it. The most popular sites fill up fast!
In this table, we've listed all the campgrounds in Yellowstone, their locations, prices, operating dates, and a brief description. You'll find them all marked on the map at the end of the article.
| Campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Opening | Price | Things to keep in mind | ||
| Bridge Bay | North Yellowstone Lake | May to September | $38 + taxes | At 7,798 ft or 2,377 m, with views of the lake and mountains, it has a store, restroom facilities and water | |
| Canyon | Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | May to September | $45 + taxes | At an elevation of 7,900 ft or 2,408 m, nestled in a pine forest, it has laundry facilities, a dump station and water | |
| Fishing Bridge RV Park | North Yellowstone Lake | May to October | $94 + taxes | Located at 7,798 ft or 2,377 m along the Yellowstone River, it has a store, laundry facilities, a dump station and water | |
| Grant Village | West Thumb | June to September | $45 + taxes | Located at 7,798 ft or 2,377 m on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, it has a store, laundry facilities, a dump station and water | |
| Madison | West Entrance | May to October | $38 + taxes | At an elevation of 6,801 ft or 2,073 m, near the geyser basins, it has a dump station and water | |
| Indian Creek | Mammoth Hot Springs | June to September | 20$ | At 7,300 ft or 2,225 m, with views of the mountains, it has water | |
| Lewis Lake | South Entrance | June to November | 20$ | At 7,798 ft or 2,377 m above sea level on the lake shore, it has water | |
| Mammoth | Mammoth Hot Springs | All year-round | 25$ | At 6,200 ft or 1,890 m, with wapiti and bison roaming about, there is water | |
| Pebble Creek | Northeast Entrance | Closed | |||
| Slough Creek | Lamar Valley | June to October | 20$ | At 6,250 ft or 1,905 m, you can hear the wolves howling, and there's water | |
| Tower Fall | Lamar Valley | May to September | 20$ | Strategically located at 6,601 ft or 2,012 m, it has a store and running water | |
Accommodations around Yellowstone
If the accommodations inside the park don’t quite meet your needs or you’d like to explore other options, there are several towns where you can find accommodations around Yellowstone National Park. Your choice will depend on your itinerary, how many days you plan to spend in the park, or whether you’d prefer to stay at the same hotel every night and drive a bit more.
✅ Benefits of staying outside Yellowstone National Park:
- A wider variety of accommodations
- Best prices
- More services (restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies, laundromats…)
❌ Disadvantages of staying overnight in Yellowstone National Park:
- More driving time
- Possible lines at the entrances during peak season
- You'll need to get up earlier if you want to get into the park early
Jackson (South Entrance)
Grand Teton National Park is located at the South Entrance, and further south lies the upscale town of Jackson (92 km), which makes accommodations here extremely expensive. In any case, we’ve listed a few options below, as this is an ideal area to start or end your trip through Yellowstone and Grand Teton (coming soon) and offers all the necessary amenities.
Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch: located within Grand Teton National Park and very close to the South Entrance, it features a restaurant, bar, and gift shop. The lodge has a rustic style and consists of double or family cabins that sleep up to 4 people, with 1 or 2 double beds, and all feature private bathrooms. ➡️ Book it here.
Colter Bay Village: Located within Grand Teton National Park on the shores of Jackson Lake, it features a restaurant, a store, a picnic area, and barbecue grills. Built in a rustic style, it consists of family cabins that sleep up to 5 people, each with 2 double beds and 1 single bed; some have private bathrooms, while others share facilities. ➡️ Book it here.
Cache House: Although it’s a hostel-style accommodation with shared rooms, it has excellent reviews, is clean, and is the most affordable option in Jackson. Beds are available as doubles or singles, and it features a restaurant and a lounge area. ➡️ Book it here.
Cody (East Entrance)
The town of Cody (53 mi or 85 km) is located at the East Entrance, offering all the amenities you need and several tourist attractions in the surrounding area. This area is much more affordable than others near the park, so it’s worth driving a little further to save a significant amount of money. Fortunately, some accommodations are located well before you reach the town.
Trail Shop Inn: This roadside motel, located 27 mi or 44 km from the east entrance, offers rustic cabins for two or families of up to six people, with views of the mountains. While it’s not the kind of place you’ll fall in love with, it’s the closest accommodation to the entrance. ➡️ Book it here.
Green Creek Inn: another roadside motel located 29 mi or 47 km from the east entrance, offering double or family cabins that sleep up to 6 people, featuring a double bed and bunk beds. All cabins come with a private bathroom, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and mountain views. ➡️ Book it here.
Big Bear Motel: If you’d rather drive a bit further but stay in a town with all the amenities, like Cody, then this is the place we recommend. It offers double or family cabins with different layouts that can accommodate up to 8 people. All cabins feature private bathrooms, air conditioning, and a heated outdoor pool. ➡️ Book it here.
Cooke City (Northeast Entrance)
The reality is that the northeast entrance is located in a fairly remote area with few amenities, as the towns are tiny, but accommodation prices are more affordable than at other entrances and very close to the park entrance. Here you can find accommodations in Silver Gate and Cooke City.
Silver Gate Lodging: Just 1.2 mi or 2 km from the northeast entrance, you’ll find these rustic-style cabins, which feature a bar and a children’s play area. They offer double or family cabins that can accommodate up to 8 people, all equipped with a barbecue, private bathroom, and mountain views—some even have a kitchen. It’s the perfect place to enjoy Lamar Valley without breaking the bank. ➡️ Book it here.
Elk Horn Lodge Motel and Cabins: located in the town of Cooke City and just 3 miles or 5 km from the park entrance, it offers double and family rooms for up to 4 people, each with a barbecue, a terrace, a private bathroom, Wi-Fi, and some with a small kitchen. ➡️ Book it here.
Alpine Motel: Also located in the town of Cooke City and 3 miles or 5 km from the park entrance, it offers family rooms that sleep up to 4 people and feature 2 double beds. These rooms have private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, and mountain views, and some include a kitchen. ➡️ Book it here.
Gardiner (North Entrance)
At the northern entrance lies the small but charming town of Gardiner, Montana. Situated on the banks of the Yellowstone River, it offers many amenities, such as gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and numerous hotels—though the hotels are by no means cheap. It’s a very convenient place to stay due to its proximity to the park and the area’s main airport in Bozeman.
Super 8 Gardiner: This simple hotel, one of the most affordable in the area, offers double or family rooms that sleep up to 6 people in double beds. All rooms feature Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, and air conditioning. The supermarket is right across the street. ➡️ Book it here.
Absaroka Lodge: This motel is located across from the Yellowstone River, and some rooms offer stunning views of the river and the surrounding mountains. It offers the best value for money in the area and provides double or family rooms for up to 4 people, all with double beds. Rooms feature private bathrooms, air conditioning, balconies, and some have a small kitchen. ➡️ Book it here.
The Antler Lodge: This hotel is located a short distance from downtown, but it features a restaurant, bar, and fitness center, making it a great place to stay in Gardiner. It offers double or family rooms that can accommodate up to 6 people in 3 double beds, and all rooms are equipped with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. ➡️ Book it here.
West Yellowstone (West Entrance)
The main perks of the accommodations near West Yellowstone are its proximity to the park’s west entrance and its wide range of hotels, as well as its many amenities, such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more.
Al's Westward Ho Motel: You can't get any closer to the entrance, and it's one of the most affordable places to stay in town, offering great value for money. It offers double and family rooms with two double beds, air conditioning, a private bathroom, and Wi-Fi. ➡️ Book it here.
Yellowstone Lodge: This hotel offers the best value for money in town and features an indoor pool and laundry facilities. In addition, all rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, private bathroom, air conditioning, and a coffee maker. They offer accommodations in double or family rooms with either two double beds or one double bed and a sofa bed. Although it’s located on the outskirts of town, you can walk to anywhere in town, and the park entrance is just a 1-minute drive away. ➡️ Book it here.
City Center Motel: This basic motel in the town center features a lounge area and a shared kitchen for all guests, perfect for breakfast or dinner. It offers double or family rooms that sleep up to 6 people, all equipped with double beds. Each room includes a private bathroom, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi. ➡️ Book it here.
Map of places to stay in Yellowstone
On this map of accommodation in Yellowstone National Park, we've included all the lodgings we've mentioned, as well as campgrounds, park entrances, visitor centers, restaurants, grocery stores, and the main attractions.
FAQs About Accommodation in Yellowstone
Where is the best place to stay in Yellowstone National Park?
It depends on your itinerary, but staying inside the park is the most convenient way to save time. If you can't find availability, the best areas outside the park are West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Jackson, or Cooke City if you're most interested in wildlife.
Is it better to stay inside or outside Yellowstone National Park?
Staying inside the park is more convenient since it minimizes travel, but it’s usually more expensive and has fewer available options. Staying outside the park is more affordable and offers more options.
Is it expensive to stay in Yellowstone National Park?
Yes, especially during peak season. Accommodations inside the park and in nearby areas tend to be expensive, especially in the summer.
How far in advance should you book accommodations in Yellowstone National Park?
It is recommended that you book as far in advance as possible—even several months ahead—especially if you are traveling between June and September, when demand is very high. Campgrounds can only be booked 6 months in advance.
How many nights should you stay in Yellowstone National Park?
Ideally, you should spend three full days at the park, which means you’ll need to stay in the area for four nights.
Is it worth changing accommodations within Yellowstone National Park?
Yes, it can be a good way to save time on travel, since the park is very large. Many visitors combine two different areas.
Can you enter and leave every day if you're staying outside Yellowstone National Park?
Yes, you can visit the park every day from the nearby towns, although you should take travel times into account.
Is it worth staying overnight in Yellowstone National Park?
Yes, especially if you only have a few days, since you’ll spend much less time driving and can enjoy the park first thing in the morning or at sunset. Plus, depending on the lodging you choose, the experience will be much more special than staying somewhere outside the park.
We hope this guide to accommodation in Yellowstone National Park helps you make the best decision!
