Yellowstone, Jackson, Wyoming and Montana Lodging
Yellowstone has a lodging option for every style. Whether you prefer to sleep under the stars, bunk dorm style, live it up in a modern hotel or modernly adapted ranch, or even to experience Yellowstone rustic style in a private cabin, you'll find something to complete the vacation experience. Being one of the nation's premier family vacation destinations means there are numerous hotels, motels, ranches, cabins, and campsites to choose from, but it also means prices can be a bit steep in peak seasons. Prices can be 50 percent cheaper during off-peak months as compared to summer season and Christmas- New Year's prices at the ski resorts. Rooms fill up fast, and reservations are highly recommended. Surprisingly, in-park accommodations can be quite affordable, so definitely consider it an option.
Yellowstone Vicinity, Bozeman and Billings Hotels and Motels
Inside Yellowstone, standard hotel/motel rooms can be found at Grant Village as well as at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and two smaller lodges at Canyon Village. Lodging rates usually are listed for two people, as children under age 12 stay free. Modest accommodations start around $60 and go up to around the $150 range. Hotels with a bit more historic charm and cozier accommodations are also available in the park (see historic inns below). Nearby gateway towns like West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City, and Silver City all offer dozens of hotels and thousands of rooms for visitors to the region, their proximity to the park making them popular options in peak season. Montana towns like Billings and Bozeman also offer plenty of lodging options to suit every budget, which are generally less expensive than towns closer to the parks. For great stopping points on the way to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, Cody's hotels and motels are a bit pricier, while hotels in Dubois are a great alternative to the premium prices of hotels in tourism hotspot Jackson where lodging options are most expensive. In the summer months hotels fill up fast – by early afternoon they're often solidly booked - so arrive early or make reservations. Prices range from $100 to $200 a night, and can drop by 50 percent once peak season ends. The more luxurious hotels in Jackson have rates higher than $200 a night.
Yellowstone National Park Cabins
Inside and outside the park, cabin-style accommodations are available in a range of styles to suit every budget. Some of the most affordable lodging inside Yellowstone (around $40 a night) is available at Old Faithful Lodge (not to be confused with Old Faithful Inn), which offers 130 small cabins, geared with the basics, around a central rustic lodge. Roosevelt Lodge is an off-the-beaten-track option with basic but charming cabins away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the park. Most cabins have communal bathrooms, but cabins with private bathrooms are also available for around $90. Inside the park, more cabin-style accommodations are located near Yellowstone Lake, at Lake Lodge, at Canyon Lodge, and at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Visitors who want to get a rustic taste of the region and be in the heart of nature can stay at the many cabins located around and in Yellowstone's gateway towns. These are a popular option for families and those planning long-term stays.
Yellowstone and Jackson, Wyoming Bed and Breakfasts
Most every gateway town in the Yellowstone region has a variety of Bed-and-Breakfast establishments available. These are a great way to get to know the region and meet fellow travelers, whether at breakfast, in the library, or over a quaint cup of tea. These establishments definitely embrace a homey atmosphere, and you will likely get a chance to shmooze with the owner over a meal while getting great travel trips and interesting local information about the region. Some B&Bs are quite flexible, offering separate cottages or suites for vacationers looking for a bit more privacy than the family-style lodging and dining can provide. Prices range considerably, but $150 is the average price for standard accommodations.
Historic Inns in Yellowstone National Park
You will most likely have to make reservations more than a year in advance, but a stay at Old Faithful Inn, originally built on the site in 1904, will certainly be an experience. It is the largest log building in existence, and this rustic landmark inn, with its massive fireplace, chimney made from volcanic rock, and six story lobby, has an almost direct view of Yellowstone's famous geyser, Old Faithful. Lodging at this historic hotel doesn't have to break the bank. Basic rooms with communal bathrooms start at less than $100 and midrange rooms around $100. Only the suites tend to range above $300. There is an option for every budget, and the experience is unmatched.
Another historic hotel in Yellowstone that comes highly recommended is the southern, colonial-style Lake Yellowstone Hotel which began construction in 1889. The 158-room hotel has stunning views over Yellowstone lake and, in its restored elegance, offers a grandeur and charm like in the movies. A bit pricier than Old Faithful Inn, private rooms start at around $160 with suites reaching around $400.
Finally, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel rounds out Yellowstone's historic lodging options. It is a more modest hotel, located in the northwest corner of Yellowstone near park headquarters in the Mammoth district. Built in 1937, with one wing constructed in 1911 and the original hotel built even earlier, the hotel has over 200 rooms starting at $60 a night. Wildlife can often be spotted on the grounds, and an evening spent listening to live piano music in the lobby will certainly make the experience memorable. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel along with Old Faithful Snow Lodge offers the only wintertime accommodations inside Yellowstone.
Montana and Wyoming Dude Ranch and Guest Ranch Vacations
Staying at a Dude or Guest Ranch isn't just a lodging option; it's a true taste of the wild west. The dude ranch began as a sideline to the cattle raising business, as increasing numbers of city folk came from the east interested in visiting and helping out at Montana and Wyoming ranches. The “dudes,” as they became known, would live in the ranch outbuildings and help with the chores. Eventually the trend turned into a business, one that actually helped sustain many cattle ranches in the 1920's. Today, dude/guest ranches generally do not require the same “chores” they once did, and focus instead on giving guests the wild west experience – emphasizing scenery, horseback riding, campfires, hiking, chuck wagon cookouts, sing alongs, hearty family-style meals, and evenings around the fire. A few ranches still offer visitors the option to participate in ranch activities like cattle drives and roundups, while others don't require you to earn your keep at all.
Dozens of dude ranches can be found in the Yellowstone region and they vary considerably in terms of the level of accommodations, amenities, size, and costs. At their most basic, expect log cabins with rough edges, while at the higher end, you can find tennis courts and hot tubs. Guest and dude ranches generally provide not just a place to stay, but an all-inclusive experience. Staying at a dude ranch can cost between $2,000 and $3,000 for a week for two people, including meals, lodging and horseback rides. The fanciest resort ranches can reach as high as $12,000 for a week. Most ranches require minimum stays of three nights to a week, although a few offer overnight accommodations. Some of the most famous may be found locally near Jackson.
West Yellowstone and Jackson, Wyoming Hostels
Since affordable accommodations can be hard to find during peak season in the Yellowstone area, hostels are a great option for low-budget travelers who don't want to sleep under the stars (or on top of pebbles). The West Yellowstone International Hostel is located in what was once the historic Madison Hotel, currently listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. This affordable option, with dorm style accommodations at $20 per person, has tons of character. The walls of the rustic lobby are covered with deer and moose heads, the rooms themselves are filled with lodge pole furniture and the owners are incredible friendly. The hostel also offers motel and hotel style rooms for reasonable prices, with a four person room with a private bath running at about $50 a night. Not quite a hostel, but close enough, is the Bunkhouse in Jackson. This is actually the basement of the Anvil Motel, and is certainly the least expensive lodging option in pricey Jackson. A bed in the large co-ed sleeping area goes for around $20 a person.
Grand Teton and Yellowstone Camping
Certainly one of the cheapest, and quite often the most enjoyable, lodging option in Yellowstone involves pitching a tent in the great outdoors. Campsites are plentiful throughout the region, but very popular as well, so knowing the landscape and options is crucial.
Most campsites in Yellowstone, and all the sites in Grand Teton, are on a first come, first served basis. In July and August they get grabbed incredibly quickly – especially on the weekends – so make sure to arrive early and pitch your tent in the morning before you head off to see the sights. Yellowstone's concession (Xanterra) campgrounds allow you to make reservations in advance, so this is a good option for visitors who plan on moving around a lot. The Forest Service also offers campsites outside the park, which don't fill up quite as fast. Camping in Yellowstone is limited to 14 consecutive nights, and a maximum of six people and two cars are allowed at each site. Campgrounds by the National Park Service usually have flush toilets, drinking water, and picnic facilities and costs start at around $10 a night.
Wyoming and Montana Camping
Outside the parks, the National Forest and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campgrounds are generally less developed than their national park counterparts (no drinking water or trash facilities), but are less expensive. Several are even free or half price after mid-September. Sites can be reserved in certain campgrounds in the Gallatin Valley, Targhee National Forest, Custer National Forest around Red Lodge, and the Wind River area around Pinedale, through the National Recreation Reservation Service. In some public backcountry areas, free dispersed camping is even permitted – meaning you can camp practically anywhere, even right from your car along a dirt road. In other areas, you must be a certain distance from a developed campground or major highway. Make sure to ascertain the rules from local enforcement agencies before pitching your tent.
Private Campgrounds near Billings, Bozeman and Jackson Hole
Visitors can also opt for private campgrounds, usually located close to or in a town. Many, designed to cater to RVs, have more extensive facilities (laundry, swimming pools, hot showers, hookups for RVs), and fees tend to be much higher than in public campgrounds. Some upper-scale campgrounds, ranging in price from about $25, are located in Billings, Bozeman, Red Lodge, Livingston, and outside West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole through Kampgrounds of America.
Hotels, Motels and Resorts in Greater Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Jackson Hole in Wyoming and Bozeman, Montana
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