Planning a trip to Yellowstone? Not decided where to stay? Read our ‘where to stay in Yellowstone on a budget’ guide to know more about lodges, hotels, and cabins inside & nearby the park.
When planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, the foremost question you might have is ‘where should I stay?’ With a massive area, the Yellowstone National Park boasts a wide array of places and activities for you to enjoy. And choosing where to stay in Yellowstone on a budget becomes really important before you even plan your itinerary.
Often so, many travelers get overwhelmed by the options of stays Yellowstone has. Gone through the same experience, I hope to simplify things for you – to choose stays according to your preference, budget, and style.
In this lodging guide, I’ll take you through some of the best locations to stay in Yellowstone on a budget. This includes listing of popular hotels located inside and near the park. Moreover, I’ve ensured to link you through additional resources to help your plan your vacation in Yellowstone National Park smoothly.
Practical Information for Visiting Yellowstone On a Budget
Let’s first drive into some of the practical information you need to know about the accommodations in Yellowstone.
Hotels inside Yellowstone are trendy, and despite high prices – they tend to sell out fast! If you plan to visit the national park during the high season (June to mid-September) – you should try to book Yellowstone hotels well in advance. But if you plan on booking specific hotels inside Yellowstone, you’ll have to book more than a year before.
Sounds strange, right? But that’s the reality. Hotels inside Yellowstone get booked at least a year before the actual trip. Even if someone’s reservation gets canceled – it’s difficult to book because of the horrendous online system. You’ll need to check with hotels directly to know if any dates are available for your duration.
Travel Fact – Not only does the accommodation inside Yellowstone National Park sell out fast, but they’re much more expensive. The only way to tackle the price here is to book lodges inside the park a year before. Many hotels keep promotional deals on their listings to promote upcoming seasons.
Suggestion – If you’re keen to book hotels only inside the Yellowstone National Park, plan your trip at the earliest. Shortlist your hotels, make a list of them and keep their reservation deck numbers handy. Make sure you finalize the ones you’re ready to book and call them at least a year before to block your dates.
Essential Tips for Affordable Yellowstone Lodging
Here are some of my top tips before you book any hotels in and near Yellowstone National Park –
Deciding where to stay in Yellowstone is based on my factors – Before you book your hotel stay, it’s vital to decide how many days you plan to visit Yellowstone, where to visit, and the overall travel cost.
Consider staying in two different locations – If you have a longer itinerary to visit Yellowstone, I recommend booking two different hotels inside/around the park. This way, you can cut down your travel time between each attraction.
Consider booking your stay 12 months before your travel – For example, if you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park in May 2022, you will at least need to book hotel stays around May 2021. Further below, I have some additional tips on securing budgeted Yellowstone resorts even if it’s fully booked.
Do consider booking hotels outside Yellowstone Park – There are many options for budgeted stays & lodging outside the park. Most properties list good discounts before the peak season starts, and it’s one of the best ways to find a good deal and then save money for your trip. I will cover West Yellowstone later in the section, which boasts a great selection of hotels.
Explore camping at Yellowstone – Camping is one of the affordable ways to stay in Yellowstone on a budget. It won’t be the best-suited option for all age groups, but you can still save decent money. For more info, check this page.
| Recommended– ’19 Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park’ |
Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone
Lodges Inside Yellowstone National Park
In total, there are nine lodges scattered across the Yellowstone National Park. I won’t go much into the details – instead give you a gist of what to expect.
Canyon Lodge and Cabins. With more than 500 rooms and cabins, the Canyon Lodge is a sprawling facility with many amenities. The lodge will be open starting from early June through to mid-October. Since the place is centrally located, proximity to Yellowstone’s attractions becomes convenient.
Lake Lodge Cabins and Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Both these properties are located near Yellowstone Lake. A few of my friends did visit Lake Lodge Cabins, and they had some excellent reviews about the place. It features a main cabin and 186 other cabins with gorgeous lake views (superior rooms). On the other hand, nothing can beat the elegance of the Lake Yellowstone Hotel – which has been newly designed and renovated with extensive interiors.
Grant Village. The hotel is a six-story building housing 50 rooms, each with excellent hotel amenities. Since it is located near the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, Grand Teton National Park is only a short distance away.
Old Faithful. Home to three lodges – Old Faithful is a definite place on every traveler’s list to visit when they’re in Yellowstone. The most requested lodging facility is the Old Faithful Inn, the only remaining log hotel in the United States. Built in 1903-04, the entire structure of the lodge is built using stone and local logs. It’s an imposing sight for visitors traveling to Yellowstone. Even if you don’t book a stay, it’s worth paying for a quick lunch or drink. The other two lodges near Old Faithful Inn are Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Old Faithful Lodge Cabins.
Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins recently underwent significant renovations, adding extra rooms and special guest facilities named after the nearby springs. Even though it looks entirely modern, the originality of some of the rooms is still intact. Daily guided tours run from the Mammoth Hotel to Yellowstone’s famous attractions like – Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and several geothermal spots.
Tower Falls. Built-in 1920, Roosevelt Lodge Cabins boasts a rustic stay and an excellent dining option. Often preferred by large families visiting Yellowstone, the cabins offer large corral operations of various activities – stagecoach adventures, horseback trail rides, and Old West Dinner Cookout.
Note: The above-listed lodges aren’t cheap and won’t be suitable for a determined budget traveler. However, you can still snatch a room inside these lodges for a slashed price before peak season. This way, you save money while staying inside Yellowstone.
To find more details on lodging at Yellowstone, visit the official website.
Best Places to Stay Near Yellowstone On a Budget
Staying outside of Yellowstone National Park has its advantages. There’s more lodging available; hotels are cheap, reservations are comparatively easy to book, plus loads of hotel facilities & amenities. The best towns outside Yellowstone are West Yellowstone and Gardiner. These local towns make an excellent base for visitors to explore the national park. Moreover, they have plenty of options boasting cheap & affordable hotels.
Below, you can find detailed info about each of these areas.
West Yellowstone
With a fantastic range of hotels, short-term rentals, good restaurants, and grocery store options – West Yellowstone is a perfect location to stay outside the park. Also, the driving times to some of Yellowstone’s major attractions will be shorter. Except for Lamar Valley, everything is within a reasonable drive distance.
Some of the driving distances from West Yellowstone to top sights:
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – 41.3 miles, 1 hour 7 minutes
Grand Prismatic Springs – 24.8 miles, 40 minutes
Old Faithful – 31.5 miles, 53 minutes
Lamar Valley – 81.2 miles, 2 hours 16 minutes
Hayden Valley – 47.8 miles, 1 hour 17 minutes
Here’s my top recommendation for some of the options for lodging in West Yellowstone:
Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone – Located in the heart of West Yellowstone, Explorer Cabins is a 50-cabin property boasting stylish décor, clean, beautiful rooms, and unforgettable meals. This is even a dog-friendly place.
Kelly Inn West Yellowstone – Featuring rustic exteriors, along with carved wooden bears and historic antiques – Kelly Inn is located conveniently closer to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Popular attraction – Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is just across the street.
Gray Wolf Inn & Suites – Ranked as the best-seller on Tripadvisor, Gray Wolf Inn sits conveniently at the center of West Yellowstone. Rooms are pretty good, with complimentary Wi-Fi and cable programs available 24×7. It’s one of the best hotels to stay in Yellowstone on a budget.
Check Tripadvisor for more hotel/lodge options at West Yellowstone and find amazing deals on several accommodations. You could even compare prices from different platforms & book the cheapest one you find.
Gardiner
Alternative to West Yellowstone, Gardiner has a fantastic range of budget hotels. They are located just outside the park at the North Entrance – the local town swanks plenty of accommodation options, budgeted stays, and well-maintained rooms. Many travelers prefer to stay in Gardiner because of its close vicinity to North Yellowstone, Norris Geyser Basin, and East Lamar Valley.
Some of the driving distances from Gardiner to top sights:
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – 40.0 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes
Grand Prismatic Springs – 50.1 miles, 1 hour 22 minutes
Old Faithful – 56.9 miles, 1 hour 34 minutes
Lamar Valley – 38.0 miles, 1 hour 8 minutes
Hayden Valley – 46.5 miles, 1 hour 18 minutes
Yellowstone Riverside Cottages – Located on the Yellowstone River, expect some stunning views of the open park from the hotel rooms. The highlight of the cottage – is the open deck and a pergola – overlooking the Yellowstone River.
406 Lodge – It’s one of the most beautiful lodges in Yellowstone, and definitely worth a visit. Cabins are quiet, spacious & cozy, and even the meals were delicious. At sunset, you can see elk and pronghorn exploring the surrounding lodge.
Yellowstone Basin Inn – Beautiful views of mountains and spacious rooms make this cabin a must-stay place. The valley view room is by the far most popular one. It surely feels that you’re staying in your private cabin.
For more hotels & lodges in Gardiner, visit the website here.
Cookie City and Grand Teton
If you are unable to find any accommodation inside/nearby Yellowstone, then Cookie City and Grand Teton should be your last resort. Honestly, both these places are not on my recommendation list – because they are far from the daily commute to the park, but it’s also one of the cheap places to stay around yellowstone.
All the three locations listed above are perfect in order to book cheap hotels near Yellowstone. But, ensure you book hotels/lodges well in advance.
Find more details here, if you still need to explore some of the accommodations in this region.
Best Place to Stay in Yellowstone for Families
If you are traveling in a large group, it is challenging to find accommodation based on availability. There are only two options for lodges inside Yellowstone – Canyon Lodge and Lake Yellowstone Hotel. They can easily accommodate two adults and three or more children if rooms are available. Make sure you contact the reservation desk and acquire the required information. At times, rooms are kept blocked online for other purposes. Hence, it’s better to reach out directly.
Alternatively, if you don’t find availability inside the park, look for hotels near West Yellowstone. The one listed above, Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone – does great in accommodating large families, and they even have access to an indoor pool. Comparatively, you’ll get a much better deal concerning the ones inside Yellowstone.
You can even check Holiday Inn West Yellowstone for reservations. They tend to easily accommodate up to 10 people with their plethora of suites and rooms.
| TIP – There are also holiday rentals in Yellowstone National Park, which offers excellent stays and affordable prices. These are perfect if you’re looking for longer stays or visiting with a bigger family. |
How to Secure the Best Hotel in Yellowstone On a Budget
There’s always a high chance of canceled reservations at any one of Yellowstone’s lodges. If people who have already booked their stays inside the park – cancel their reservations – it immediately tends to show up online on the booking system of Yellowstone National Park. A room may even become available just a month/week before your trip.
While this is purely uncertain, it’s better to check their online platform periodically to stay updated. The lodges at Yellowstone don’t work with waiting lists, so there’s no point in waiting for their call-back. Instead, reach out to the reservation team and inquire once in a while about any cancellations.
If you’re anxious to only book lodges inside Yellowstone, try and make a dummy reservation at the best alternative hotel that offers a free cancellation. In the meantime, if any last-minute cancellation pops up – then make your final reservations at the lodge. This way, you can at least be secured from having a hotel booked nearby to the park.
| Booked a stay? But not sure to visit all places around Yellowstone? Check my ’19 Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park‘, for an in-depth guide and travel resources. |
General Yellowstone Lodging FAQ
Which is the best option for lodging at Yellowstone National Park?
My recommendation would be Canyon Lodge. It’s relatively new, with modern work done inside the rooms and it boasts great amenities. The other added advantage is its central location. Proximity to Yellowstone’s main attractions is very convenient.
Which is the best hotel/lodge outside Yellowstone National Park?
West Yellowstone would probably be my choice because it’s centrally located to explore major parts of the park. Also, the town has a great selection of hotels/cabins for you to choose from. Price being the main factor for any travel plan, you may expect pretty good rates out here in West Yellowstone. I would also recommend Gardiner, but it has fewer accommodation options and other facilities.
Which is the best entrance to Yellowstone National Park?
Northeast Entrance is the best entry point to enter Yellowstone National Park. Since the park is best known for its wildlife and scenic landscape, the proximity of the Northeast gateway to Lamar Valley makes it accessible for visitors to enjoy wildlife viewing.
How much does a trip to Yellowstone cost?
The price of your Yellowstone trip will heavily depend on the choices you make (hotel selection, transport, meals, itinerary duration, and other excursions). However, an average 7-day trip can cost $2,800 for a couple, to give an approximate idea. This price is an indicative number based on past data.
Are hotels very expensive to book in Yellowstone?
If you are keen on booking accommodation inside Yellowstone, then the answer is yes. Lodges are expensive since most of the attractions are nearby. If you want to travel Yellowstone on a budget and don’t want to go heavy on the pocket for hotels, consider nearby Yellowstone alternatives.
How far in advance can you book Yellowstone lodging?
12 months. Ideally, that’s what others recommend, too, due to the increasing popularity and even fewer restrictions around COVID-19. Hotels tend to sell out soon, so you need to buckle up with your travel plans accordingly.
Is Yellowstone lodging open during the COVID-19 situation?
Yellowstone National Park is open, but not all its services, and many of the attractions/hotels might still be closed. Currently, this is the latest update I can provide at the time of writing. However, this will surely change in no time. Instead, visit this website for COVID-19 guidelines and the latest updates on Yellowstone.
How many days do you need in Yellowstone National Park?
I recommend staying for 3-4 days in Yellowstone, and this is an ideal duration to explore the entire Grand Loop and many of its major attractions. We’ve got a separate guide on Yellowstone Itinerary, so check that out.
