Hotels By Yellowstone Park: Where to Stay by Entrance (+ Cabins & Lodges)
Five entrances, one big loop, and a hotel pick for each side of the park.
Enjoying the view and fresh morning air at our accommodation in Ennis
The first thing to know about hotels by Yellowstone Park, USA, is that the park has no center, and is massive. It has five entrances, gateway towns in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and a Grand Loop Road of about 142 miles. So, where you sleep decides how much of your trip you spend in the car.
We visited Yellowstone twice: on a camping trip, and as a highlights itinerary with Jake's parents, staying off the beaten path in Ennis, Montana.
This hotel, lodge and cabin guide goes around the park entrance by entrance, starting with a short note on lodging inside it. If you haven’t planned your route yet, our Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary for Non-Hikers shows how we linked both parks in a week.
🛌 Where to stay:
• Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, West Yellowstone — Contemporary cottages with kitchenettes, less than a mile from the West Entrance.
• Yellowstone Gateway Inn, Gardiner — Two minutes by car from the North Entrance, next to Gallatin National Forest.
• The Cody, Cody — A base for the East Entrance, with an indoor pool and a microwave and refrigerator in every suite.
🇺🇸 Top experiences:
• Full-day Yellowstone wildlife safari in Lamar Valley from Bozeman — A guided day in the part of the park known for wildlife watching.
• Lamar Valley wildlife van tour from West Yellowstone — The same valley as a van tour, leaving from the West Entrance town.
🚗 Compare car rentals at Bozeman airport — Every gateway town here is a drive from the airport, and you will want a car inside the park too.
Jump to: Inside the park · West Yellowstone · Island Park · Ennis · Gardiner · Cooke City · Cody · South Entrance · FAQ
Best hotels by Yellowstone Park: quick answer
For most first-timers, West Yellowstone is the easiest base. It sits at the West Entrance, on the geyser side of the park, and it is built entirely around visiting Yellowstone. Gardiner is the better choice for Mammoth Hot Springs and the northern part of the park, and its entrance is the one that stays open to regular vehicles through winter. Cooke City and Silver Gate are tiny and remote, right at the end of the road through Lamar Valley. Cody suits the East Entrance, with a long and scenic drive in. Island Park, Idaho, gives you more space and a quieter stay in exchange for a drive to the West Entrance. We passed it on our way from Ennis, and it’s very scenic.Lodging inside the park saves the most driving, and it sells out first.
Want a kitchen? Cabins and cottages exist on almost every side of the park. Look at Explorer Cabins in West Yellowstone, Yellowstone Riverside Cottages in Gardiner, Elk Horn Lodge in Cooke City, and Angler's Lodge in Island Park, which lists cabins and vacation homes. Booking.com's entire homes filter shows more in each town.
Lodging inside Yellowstone: run by the park's concessioner
Artist Point in Yellowstone
Rooms inside the park aren’t run by the Park Service. The Park Service lists nine lodging options, all handled by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, its authorized concessioner. They’re at Old Faithful, Canyon Village, Lake Village, Grant Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Tower-Roosevelt, and range from the Old Faithful Inn to simple cabins.
Only Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Snow Lodge stay open in winter, each with a short closure in spring. The other seven are seasonal. The Park Service's advice is to book as early as possible, because lodging fills quickly. What you get in return is the one thing no gateway town can offer: you wake up already in the park, and beat the crowds. When I (Eli) camped there, I got started as early as 5 or 6 am in August, which was prime to spot wildife and avoid tour buses. We haven’t linked any in-park lodges here because the concessioner takes those bookings. Campgrounds follow their own reservation rules, so check the Park Service page for those.
West Yellowstone, Montana: the West Entrance
The grand, Grand Prismatic from the viewpoint
Distance: the town sits at the West Entrance. Bozeman is about 90 miles away.
West Yellowstone is where most visitors end up, and unfortunately, it has a very touristy vibe. That being said, it’s a very convenient gate. It’s a town of motels, souvenir shops, and restaurants that stay open late, which matters when you come out of the park after dark. We stopped there to shop for souvenirs on the way to Idaho, and it has the feel of a town that exists for one reason. That reason is a few minutes down the road.
Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone
Contemporary cottages with kitchenettes and free parking, less than a mile from the West Entrance. Units range from one-bedroom cabins to two-bedroom cottages, and there’s an accessible cabin. Great self-catering options.
Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
A straightforward hotel a three-minute walk from the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. Guests mention friendly staff and comfortable rooms.
Clubhouse Inn
Three minutes by car from the West Entrance, with an indoor pool and hot tub. There’s 24-hour coffee and a laundry room, both useful after long park days.
Holiday Inn West Yellowstone
The chain pick in the middle of town, with easy parking. There’s a cool museum railway carriage inside the restaurant.
Island Park, Idaho: more space, a longer drive
Bison in Hayden Valley in September
Distance: roughly 25 to 35 miles from the West Entrance, depending on the property.
Island Park is a long, spread-out string of lodges, cabins, and resorts on the Idaho side of the state line. It’s much quieter than West Yellowstone, with river and mountain views instead of a main street, and you pay for that with a drive to the park each morning. As far as we’re concerned, we’d prefer nature to souvenir stores. It also puts you near the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, which we drove on our last day (free-roaming cows, yay!).
Sawtelle Mountain Resort
Views of the Sawtelle and Jefferson mountains, about 30 minutes by car from Yellowstone, with a year-round indoor pool and a hot tub. A solid hotel base if you don’t need (or want) to be in town.
Angler's Lodge
On the scenic banks of the Henry's Fork River, with private rooms, family cabins, and vacation homes, about 33 miles from Yellowstone. A good option if you want space and a kitchen.
Blue Buffalo Resort
We noticed that one from the road. A resort with a fitness center, roughly 17 miles from Upper Mesa Falls. Better for a trip that mixes Yellowstone with the Mesa Falls drive.
Ennis, Montana: where we stayed
Bear Trap Canyon trail on a beautiful September Sunday!
Distance: about 54 miles from Bozeman, and a longer drive to the park than from West Yellowstone.
Our base for Yellowstone was a home exchange in Ennis, a small Montana town on the Madison River. We landed late in Bozeman, so it made a manageable first drive, and the town came with fall color, cozy cafes, hot springs, and almost no tourists. The trade-off is distance. Our longest day, Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Mammoth, took about three and a half hours each way out and about two and a half back, before stops. We would do it again because Montana is a fabulous state, but not if the park is your whole trip. Ennis works best on a mixed itinerary, like the one in our Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary, with a slow day around Norris Hot Springs and Virginia City.
Red Bear Inn
A motel on North Main Street in Ennis with mountain views, and in a walkable area.
Gardiner, Montana: the North Entrance
Elks near Mammoth Hot Springs
Distance: Mammoth Hot Springs is about 5 miles from the North Entrance, and Old Faithful about 56.
Gardiner sits at the foot of the Roosevelt Arch, with the Yellowstone River running through town. It’s the best base for Mammoth Hot Springs, the northern part of the park, and the road toward Tower-Roosevelt and Lamar Valley. The North Entrance is also the one that stays open to regular vehicles all year, which makes Gardiner the usual base for winter visits.
Yellowstone Gateway Inn
Next to stunning Gallatin National Forest and two minutes by car from the North Entrance. Rafting, horseback riding, and fishing outfitters are nearby. The easiest all-round hotel in Gardiner.
Yellowstone Riverside Cottages
Cottages along the Yellowstone River, less than a mile from the North Entrance and the Roosevelt Arch. A good self-catering option for a group or a longer stay.
Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel
Sleep in a tipi, with towels and linen provided, plus an on-site bar and mini-market. Fun and unique!
Cooke City and Silver Gate: the Northeast Entrance
Lamar Valley boasts the highest concentration of large mammals in the lower 48 states. Aren’t they cute (from afar)?
Distance: the two villages sit just outside the Northeast Entrance, far from the geyser basins.
These are tiny. A couple of roads, motels, cabins, and not much else, which is the point. They sit at the end of the road that runs through Lamar Valley, the part of Yellowstone known for wildlife watching. If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we have a sweet spot for end of the road places. But they’re also a long way from Old Faithful, so choose this side only if wildlife is your priority.
Elk Horn Lodge Motel and Cabins
Motel rooms and cabins in Cooke City, with barbecue facilities, a sun terrace, free parking, and ski-to-door access in winter. And the name is cool!
Silver Gate Lodging
A relaxed stay with a bar, barbecue facilities, and a children's playground. Handy if you are traveling with children.
Alpine Motel of Cooke City
A motel in Gallatin National Forest, less than ten minutes by car from the park entrance.
Cody, Wyoming: the East Entrance
Cody puts you far away from some of Yellowstone’s biggest highlights, such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Distance: about 52 miles from Cody to the East Entrance on the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway.
Cody is bigger and more of a destination than the other gateway towns, named after Buffalo Bill (cool!) and set on the road to the East Entrance. The drive in follows the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway. The East Entrance road is seasonal, so check its status. Staying out in the Wapiti Valley, on the road between town and the park, shortens the morning drive.
The Cody
A hotel in town with an indoor pool and free Wi-Fi in public areas. Every suite has a microwave and refrigerator.
Chamberlin Inn
Just off Main Street, an easy walk to the shops, bars, and restaurants. Cozy and cute.
Yellowstone Valley Inn
In the Wapiti Valley, next to the Shoshone River with mountain views, a hot breakfast buffet, and an on-site restaurant. About 33 miles from the park, so a shorter morning than staying in town. But the panorama is worth it.
Find accommodation and tours around Yellowstone:
The South Entrance: between Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Mormon Row is the most photographed spot in Grand Teton
Distance: the South Entrance is about 57 miles from Jackson, Wyoming.
There are no real towns at the South Entrance. Lodging on this side belongs to the Grand Teton side, which is why we’re preparing a detailed guide for each park rather than squeezing both into one. We based ourselves in Driggs, Idaho, on the far side of the Tetons for Grand Teton, and these two picks are on the road between the parks.
Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch
Lodge rooms and cabins on the road between Jackson and the South Entrance. Guests describe it as a practical location with good-quality lodges and nothing fancy.
The Hatchet Resort
A resort in Moran that guests describe as a central base for Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Jackson.
🐧 Penguin tip: Treat every drive time as a minimum. Yellowstone has bison and other animals (bear jam, moose jam, elk jam, you got the jist) on the road, construction, and slow limits. Pick the entrance closest to the day you care about most, and let the other days be the long ones.
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FAQ: Hotels by Yellowstone Park
Where is the best place to stay near Yellowstone?
For most first-time visitors, West Yellowstone, because it sits right at the West Entrance on the geyser side of the park. Gardiner is better for Mammoth Hot Springs and for winter, Cooke City and Silver Gate suit wildlife watching in Lamar Valley, and Cody works for the East Entrance.
Can you stay inside Yellowstone National Park?
Yes. The Park Service lists nine lodging options, all run by its authorized concessioner, Yellowstone National Park Lodges, which also takes reservations. They are at Old Faithful, Canyon Village, Lake Village, Grant Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Tower-Roosevelt. The Park Service advises reserving as early as possible because lodging fills quickly.
Is it better to stay in West Yellowstone or Gardiner?
West Yellowstone is closer to the geyser basins and is built around park visitors, with shops and late restaurants. Gardiner is quieter, sits at the North Entrance, and is the better base for Mammoth and the northern part of the park. Choose by the day you care about most.
Which Yellowstone entrance is open in winter?
The North Entrance at Gardiner is the one that stays open to regular vehicles through winter. Inside the park, only Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Snow Lodge stay open in winter, each with a short closure in spring. Check the Park Service for current road and lodge status.
Are there cabins near Yellowstone?
Yes. Explorer Cabins in West Yellowstone and Yellowstone Riverside Cottages in Gardiner both offer self-catering cottages, Elk Horn Lodge in Cooke City has cabins, and Angler's Lodge in Island Park lists cabins and vacation homes.
Can you visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton from one base?
It’s possible, but the drives get long. We used two bases, one in Ennis, Montana, for Yellowstone and one in Driggs, Idaho, for Grand Teton. Headwaters Lodge and Cabins at Flagg Ranch sits on the road between the two parks.
How far is Cody from Yellowstone?
About 52 miles from Cody to the East Entrance on the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, according to Cody's tourism office. The East Entrance road is seasonal, so check its status before you go.
How far in advance should you book Yellowstone lodging?
The Park Service says to reserve as early as possible, because lodging fills quickly. It doesn’t give a number of months, so check the concessioner's booking calendar for the dates you want.
Book an hotel near the Yellowstone entrance for the day you care about most. West Yellowstone for the geysers, Gardiner for Mammoth and winter, Cooke City for wildlife, Cody for the quiet East Entrance. Or stay of the beaten path and drive further, like we did. Our accommodation was a house in Ennis, a long way from the geysers and worth it for the quiet and fall foliage along Madison river.
Finally, explore all of our USA Travel Guides here.
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