Wondering where to stay in Yellowstone National Park? There are many options available, ranging from camping to elegant hotels. Our previous post discussed the various options for getting to Yellowstone. Now we’ll take a look at where to stay. The first question to consider is: how many days you will need to explore the park?
How Many Days Do You Need to Visit Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park is vast. According to the National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park spans 3,472 square miles, which is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined! Most of the park is situated within the state of Wyoming, and smaller portions of the park located in Idaho and Montana. A handy map can be found here.
In theory, you can visit the park in one day. We have done this several times, usually when we have out of town visitors who have only one day. But it can be a grueling day, and with heavy summer traffic in the park realistically you can see very little in one day.
Ideally, you should stay at least one night in Yellowstone, with two full days allocated for exploring the park. And if you wish to conduct any hiking or other activities, three days and two nights would be ideal!
Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
The National Park Service owns several lodging facilities in the park and all reservations are required to be made here.
However, many of the rooms and camp sites are sold out up to a year in advance! It is important to plan months, if not a year, ahead when trying to obtain lodging reservations in Yellowstone National Park. The reservation system opens one year in advance, so start making your 2025 plans now!
Lodging options within the park fall into these categories:
Hotels and Lodges in Yellowstone
The most iconic hotel within Yellowstone is the Old Faithful Inn. Built in 1904, the Old Faithful Inn is one of the largest log structures on Earth. Staying there is a special experience, you can feel the history as you walk the hallways. Other hotels include the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Similar to hotels, summer lodges within Yellowstone are another option. All the summer lodges are listed here. These hotels and lodges offer lovely rooms, and in most cases a private bathroom. Note: most of the rooms at the Old Faithful Inn do not have a private bath but instead guests use a shared bathroom which has private shower stalls.
Cabins in Yellowstone
Several small cabins, some with private bathrooms and some without, are available in the park. For example, Lake Yellowstone Cabins and the Canyon Lodge Cabins. I personally have stayed at one of the Lake Yellowstone Cabins. The cabin was small with basic necessities and a tiny private bathroom, but it was perfect for our needs at the time. All the cabin options are listed here.
Campsites in Yellowstone
One the most popular options is to reserve a campsite for your tent and/or your recreational vehicle. The campsites can get very crowded during the summer, and most campsites sell out months in advance, so plan accordingly. Our family stayed at one of the campsites, and there were lots of people, and lots of vehicles. The shared bathroom facility was clean and acceptable. Even with the crowds, camping at Yellowstone it is such a fun experience. Campsites can be found here.
Hotels Near Yellowstone
If you are unable to secure lodging reservations within Yellowstone National Park, no worries! There are many options that are just outside the park boundaries. Here are some areas to focus on:
- West Yellowstone, Montana. West Yellowstone is a small town just minutes from the West Entrance. In the town, not only will you find hotels and motels, but also there are tiny cabins and some campsites. Some of the options can be found here.
- Island Park, Idaho. Situated along a reservoir, Island Park is a lovely community approximately 30 miles from the West Entrance. In Island Park you will find cabins, homes for rent, and some hotels.
- Cooke City, Montana. Cooke City is a good option for those who will use the Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone. Cooke City has quite a few small hotels and cabins.
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming. If you are planning to use Yellowstone’s South Entrance, you might consider staying in Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole is a fun destination with lots of hotel options. Note: Jackson Hole will be a pricier option in comparison to other towns.
As you can see, there are many options available, depending on whether you stay within Yellowstone National Park itself, or in a nearby town. Next, we will take a look at itineraries for visiting Yellowstone National Park.
