Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park

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Yellowstone National Park encompasses over 3,000 square miles and requires many nights to explore. To enable multi-day visits, in addition to the campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park, hotels, lodges, and resorts offer overnight refuge.

Visitors can find hotel and resort options within Yellowstone, located near the resource-heavy villages of the park and operated by a park concessionaire. Rates of hotels within the park reflect their easy access to the main attractions, leaving options outside park boundaries the typically more economical option.

The two most developed towns near the gates of Yellowstone are Gardiner, at the North Entrance, and West Yellowstone, at the West Entrance. Both towns provide a wide range of hotels and accommodations. Hotels in either town include family-friendly suites and mid-range hotels, and each are within minutes from the national park.

To effectively explore all the top attractions of Yellowstone National Park, it's a good idea to move around between the different hotels and lodges of the area. The time of year and availability may also determine where you end up staying and how much moving around you do.

To find the best places to stay between adventures, check out Yellowstone's best areas and hotels.

On This Page:

  • Where to Stay for Luxury near Yellowstone
  • Best Mid-Range Accommodation near Yellowstone
  • Where to Stay on a Budget near Yellowstone
  • Best Family Accommodation near Yellowstone
  • Where to Stay near Yellowstone for Romance

Where to Stay for Luxury near Yellowstone

Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park
Yellowstone Lake and Abyss Pool in West Thumb Gyser Basin

To relax in the lap of luxury within park boundaries, Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins provides pampering rooms, a string quartet for a soundtrack, and a dining room with a view. The hotel is in the southern region of Yellowstone National Park, along the shores of Lake Yellowstone, near the West Thumb Geyser Basin. The upscale accommodations and central location keep this hotel booked months in advance.

The Old Faithful Inn is also one of the most requested properties within the park. This national historic landmark offers modern furnishings with a rustic touch. Guests stay in log-lined rooms and suites, centered around a towering lobby complete with a massive fireplace and handmade copper clock. Guests to this classic park lodge also enjoy backdoor access to Yellowstone's most popular geyser.

Another popular spot within the park is Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. This historic property received major renovations in the past few years but retains its rustic appeal and "Parkitecture" design. This luxurious hotel puts visitors right at the heart of a hot spot near the northern park boundary. Visitors will want to allow some time to enjoy the signature Map Room, especially in the evenings, when a live pianist adds a soundtrack to the classy surroundings.

Outside of the park, in West Yellowstone, the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone provide a deluxe and rustic retreat with their 50-cabin facility. Each cabin comes with modern luxuries and stylish decor, allowing for maximum comfort while keeping the spirited nature of the rugged Yellowstone environment in view.

Best Mid-Range Accommodation near Yellowstone

Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park
West Yellowstone

Gardiner and West Yellowstone both have excellent mid-range hotel options. And one of the best is the Kelly Inn West Yellowstone. It's within walking distance of the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center, and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. It also features spacious rooms, an indoor pool, and a continental breakfast to start your day.

A few blocks south of the Kelly Inn West Yellowstone, and also near the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, the Gray Wolf Inn and Suites provides great hotel accommodations at an affordable rate. Featuring attentive staff, well-maintained rooms and suites, and the ability to hear wolves howling at night, for those interested in exploring the wildlife of Yellowstone in comfort, the Gray Wolf Inn and Suites is worth more than a night or two.

Near the northern entrance in Gardiner, Yellowstone Riverside Cottages provides a memorable place to stay. With studios, suites, and cottages available, this charming establishment also has a lovely outdoor deck overlooking the Yellowstone River. When it comes time to explore the park, the Roosevelt Arch and northern entrance is less than two minutes away. Mammoth Hot Springs is a 15-minute drive away.

Found close to the historic Roosevelt Arch and North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the Super 8 Gardiner/Yellowstone Park Area provides a plethora of services for a good price. The hotel features a beautiful indoor pool, continental breakfast, and a great location close to grocery stores and restaurants in the town of Gardiner. Book this hotel well in advance because it tends to fill up quickly.

For those traveling the Beartooth Highway to the Northeast entrance of the park, the charming city of Red Lodge offers several lodging options nearby. The family-owned Alpine Lodge is one of the best places to stay in Red Lodge, offering an excellent rate for the level of cleanliness and comfort.

Where to Stay on a Budget near Yellowstone

Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park
Bison in Yellowstone National Park

To maximize your vacation dollars, your best bet for a budget hotel is found outside the park boundaries. Most budget hotels are in West Yellowstone, including the One Horse Motel, which features clean and refurbished rooms, quiet surroundings, and easy access to the West Entrance.

Just a few blocks west of the One Horse Motel, the Days Inn West Yellowstone also provides proximity to the gates of Yellowstone, as well as spacious rooms and suites. In addition to the affordable rates, the Days Inn West Yellowstone also features the attached Trapper's Restaurant and a heated indoor pool and waterslide.

Within the same three-block radius of the One Horse Motel and Days Inn West Yellowstone, Stage Coach Inn is another affordable hotel that provides a western-themed decor. Featuring a grand staircase, spacious rooms, and a rustic appeal, Stage Coach Inn is perfect for those looking for something unique.

The Crosswinds Inn is yet another valuable resource in West Yellowstone. This budget-friendly hotel features over 70 subtly Western-inspired rooms, all less than three blocks from the West Entrance of Yellowstone. Other amenities at this pet-friendly hotel include free parking, high-speed internet, and a swimming pool.

Best Family Accommodation near Yellowstone

Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park
Thermal Pool in Yellowstone National Park

If you are traveling with the whole crew to Yellowstone, somewhere like the Yellowstone Village Inn in Gardiner can make the whole family happy. Featuring spacious rooms and two-bedroom suites, Yellowstone Village Inn is a family-owned operation that can help alleviate some of the stress from a family vacation. The enormous front yard of Yellowstone Village Inn is perfect for burning off some energy, and the proximity to the Northern Entrance of the park makes it easy to pack up and go.

Over in the town of West Yellowstone, the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone is another great place for families to stay. With large rooms and double sinks available, there's plenty of place to spread out your things. When it comes to dinner, kids receive a free meal at the attached restaurant. Add in laundry services, an indoor pool, and a convenient location close to park gates, and the Holiday Inn West Yellowstone is a great bet for families of all sizes.

West Yellowstone has several other family-friendly accommodations. Another great example is Three Bear Lodge. Less than a mile from the Western Entrance of the park, Three Bear Lodge provides a western-themed hotel and spacious suites that comfortably fit the whole family. All ages find something on the menu to enjoy at the connected Three Bear Restaurant, and family memories are made with the seasonal stagecoach rides offered by the lodge.

The Best Western Desert Inn, in West Yellowstone, offers another family-friendly option. This three-star hotel delivers on comfort and space with queen and king rooms and several bedding options. And the hotel's proximity to both Yellowstone and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center makes it easy to get everyone out the door each morning.

Where to Stay near Yellowstone for Romance

Places to stay outside of yellowstone national park
Old Faithful at sunset

Few things are more romantic than a rustic retreat in Yellowstone National Park, and thanks to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins, a picturesque setting can be a part of your next romantic rendezvous. The lodge accommodations are clean and tidy, but the real romantic setting comes from reserving one of the Western Cabins.

Featuring modern comforts and a rustic theme, Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins is set against a unique winter wonderland filled with geysers and fumaroles, making for a memorable, romantic retreat.

Featuring spacious accommodations and quick access to the wildlife-dense Hayden Valley region of Yellowstone National Park, the Lake Lodge Cabins provide a rustic retreat that can really set the mood for a romantic outing.

Imagine yourself and a special someone staying warm in a recently remodeled cabin, or returning to your rustic cottage after a full day of exploring. For the comfort of space and solitude within Yellowstone, Lake Lodge Cabins can have you feeling as though you have the entire place to yourselves.

Yellowstone Valley Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection also features romantic digs farther north of the park in Livingston. This modern collection of cabins centers around a five-star gourmet restaurant and the beautiful Paradise Valley. The north entrance of the park is approximately an hour's drive south, traveling through some of the most beautiful Yellowstone country outside the park gates.

What is the best town to stay near Yellowstone?

To quickly and easily access the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance, you'll want to stay in Gardiner, Montana. Every year there seems to be more north Yellowstone hotels. Gardiner is still a small town, but like many towns at the gateway to National Parks, it is packed with tourist amenities.

What side of Yellowstone is best to stay on?

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. The exception is Lamar Valley, which is located near the northeast corner of the park.

What is the closest town to Yellowstone National Park?

What is the closest town to Yellowstone National Park? The closest towns to Yellowstone are Gardiner, Montana which lies 3 minutes (0.7 mi) from Yellowstone's North Entrance. West Yellowstone is the next closest town and it is 4 minutes (0.9 mi) from Yellowstone's West Entrance.

Is it better to stay in West Yellowstone or Gardiner?

Compared with Gardiner, I think you will find a little more activity in West Yellowstone, perhaps a few more stores and shops. Of course some may prefer the smallness of Gardiner. Also, if your primary interests are the geyser basins and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, all are easy to reach from West Yellowstone.