Where to Stay in Yellowstone: Inside the Park, Gateway Towns & Campgrounds

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Yellowstone

The short answer: Plan on at least 3 to 4 nights to visit Yellowstone. Ideally, spend one or two nights inside the park, at a lodge or campground, to experience sunrise there, then stay in West Yellowstone or Gardiner for more flexibility and a better price. In-park lodging sells out 12 to 18 months ahead during the busy season, so don't wait to book.

Where to stay: towns, lodges and campgrounds (25)

All Gateway townsLodgesCampgrounds

• Gateway town West Yellowstone entrance West Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Gateway town Gardiner entrance North Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Gateway town Livingston entrance North Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Gateway town Cooke City entrance Northeast Entrance · hotels, gas station, restaurants Directions ↗
• Gateway town Cody entrance East Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Gateway town Dubois entrance South Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Gateway town Jackson entrance South Entrance · hotels, supermarket, gas station Directions ↗
• Lodge Old Faithful Inn Upper Geyser Basin · May-Oct Directions ↗
• Lodge Old Faithful Lodge Cabins Upper Geyser Basin · May-Sep Directions ↗
• Lodge Lake Yellowstone Hotel Lake Village · May-Oct Directions ↗
• Lodge Lake Lodge Cabins Lake Village · Jun-Sep Directions ↗
• Lodge Roosevelt Lodge Cabins Tower-Roosevelt · Jun-Sep Directions ↗
• Lodge Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Mammoth Hot Springs · May-Oct Directions ↗
• Campground Bridge Bay Campground see NPS · 432 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Canyon Campground see NPS · 273 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Fishing Bridge RV Park see NPS · 310 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Grant Village Campground see NPS · 430 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Indian Creek Campground recreation.gov · 70 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Lewis Lake Campground recreation.gov · 85 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Madison Campground see NPS · 276 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Mammoth Campground recreation.gov · 85 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Norris Campground see NPS · 112 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Pebble Creek Campground see NPS · 27 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Slough Creek Campground recreation.gov · 16 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Tower Fall Campground recreation.gov · 31 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Should You Stay Inside or Outside the Park?

This is the central decision for any Yellowstone trip. The park covers nearly 3,475 square miles in the northwest corner of Wyoming. From the West Entrance, reaching Lamar Valley in the east takes about 1.5 hours of driving, and bison crossings can make it longer. In other words, you can't see everything from one base without spending a serious amount of time behind the wheel.

Choose in-park lodging if:

• You want to see geysers and wildlife at dawn, before the day-tripper crowds arrive
• You've booked well in advance, which is essential for any in-park option
• The experience matters more to you than comfort or saving money

Choose a gateway town if:

• You're booking less than 6 months out, since the park lodges fill up in summer
• Your budget requires tradeoffs, because there are far more options outside the park
• You're traveling with young children and prefer the convenience of a motel

Our favorite strategy for 4 to 5 days is one night at Old Faithful Inn or Canyon Lodge & Cabins, booked a year ahead, followed by the rest of the trip in West Yellowstone. You get the experience of staying in the park without putting your entire lodging budget toward the lodges.

Staying in Yellowstone: Park Lodges and Accommodations

The park has nine properties managed by concessioner Xanterra, ranging from rough-hewn log cabins to historic landmark hotels. Reservations open 13 months ahead on Xanterra's website, and July and August dates at the most popular properties disappear within a few weeks.

Old Faithful Inn

This is the only lodge where you can watch Old Faithful from the terrace or from some rooms. The historic log wing, built in 1903, is worth the extra cost over the newer wings.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel

Choose this hotel if the lake setting matters to you. The columned building overlooks the largest high-elevation lake in North America and is open from May through early October.

Canyon Lodge & Cabins

Its central location is hard to beat for exploring the entire park, from Lamar Valley to Old Faithful.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Along with the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, this is one of the park's winter lodging options. You can reach it by car from Gardiner, making it a natural northern base for Lamar Valley and the Mammoth area.

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins

Log cabins 15 minutes from Lamar Valley, in the park's wildest corner. The season is short, running from mid-June to early September.

Grant Village Lodge

A southern option with more availability during the busy season, and a convenient choice if you're continuing on to Grand Teton.

For complete opening dates and booking advice, see our Yellowstone Hotels & Lodges page.

Camping in Yellowstone: Park Campgrounds

Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds with about 2,000 sites, five of which can be reserved through Recreation.gov. The other seven are first-come, first-served. During the busy season, arrive before 10 a.m. For reservation details, site fees, and wildlife safety rules, see our Yellowstone Camping page.

Where to Stay Around Yellowstone: Gateway Towns

West Yellowstone (Montana), West Entrance

This is the park's main hotel hub. The small town runs almost entirely on tourism and offers the widest range of options among the gateway towns: budget motels, decent hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. The West Entrance is 1,640 feet away, Madison Junction is 15 minutes away, and Old Faithful is less than an hour by car. In winter, West Yellowstone is the departure point for snowmobile and snowcoach excursions into the park. The West Entrance is closed to cars from December through April, but tracked vehicles can still enter from mid-December through mid-March.

Who it's for: All kinds of travelers, families, RVers, people with camping gear, and winter visitors.

Gardiner (Montana), North Entrance

Gardiner is the only gateway with year-round access by car. It's more authentic and less overrun with tourists than West Yellowstone, with several good B&Bs and hotels along the Yellowstone River. Mammoth Hot Springs is 5 miles inside the park. Gardiner is also the most logical base for heading up to Lamar Valley via the northern road. The drive takes about 1.5 hours, but it stays in the park's wild heart the whole way.

Who it's for: Winter travelers, wildlife enthusiasts focused on the park's northeast, and visitors concentrating on Mammoth.

Cody (Wyoming), East Entrance

About 62 miles from the East Entrance via Sylvan Pass, which closes in winter, Cody is a real town with an identity of its own. It has the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a summer rodeo, and a solid restaurant scene. It's the farthest option from the park's main attractions, but also the least crowded. It's worth considering if you're planning a larger Wyoming road trip.

Who it's for: Long road trips, fans of Western culture, and families who want to alternate park time with a cultural stop.

Jackson (Wyoming), South Gateway via Grand Teton

About 1.5 hours from Yellowstone's South Entrance, Jackson is an upscale town with an airport served by direct flights from several major U.S. cities. If you're combining Yellowstone and Grand Teton, which we recommend for trips of 7 days or more, Jackson is a natural arrival or departure point. Lodging costs are noticeably higher than in the other gateway towns.

Who it's for: Yellowstone and Grand Teton combination trips, travelers with a comfortable budget, and visitors arriving by air.

For a road-trip perspective and more detail on these towns beyond lodging, our regional guides lay out complete itineraries.

When to Book Your Yellowstone Lodging

The basic rule is simple: book as early as possible. For July and August, plan on booking park lodges 12 to 18 months ahead.

• Xanterra lodges: The calendar opens 13 months ahead. Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel sell out within weeks for summer dates
• Campgrounds reservable through Recreation.gov: Reservations open 6 months before your stay, and the most sought-after sites go within hours
• Hotels in West Yellowstone and Gardiner: Book 3 to 6 months ahead for July and August. June and September are more flexible

June and September give you more room to maneuver, pleasant temperatures, and far fewer people than midsummer. To choose your dates based on weather and wildlife, read our When to Visit Yellowstone page.

Lodging Budget: How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Yellowstone?

Prices vary widely depending on what you choose:

You'll also pay the entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. If you're visiting several parks on the same trip, the America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) pays for itself starting with the second park. Find all the details on the national parks fees and passes page.

Our Recommendation for Different Travelers

First visit (4-5 days): Spend one night at Old Faithful Inn or Canyon Lodge & Cabins, booked a year ahead, and stay in West Yellowstone for the rest. You'll cover the park's main areas without putting your entire budget toward the lodges.

Families with children: Base yourself in West Yellowstone or Gardiner, where you'll find convenient motels, easy access to supplies, and no complicated logistics. Pair it with our Yellowstone Family Guide for activities and precautions suited to younger children.

Tight budget: Camp at Madison or Norris for an in-park experience, then stay at a motel in West Yellowstone on the other nights. Proper camping gear for cool nights is essential. Find booking advice and required equipment on our Camping page.

Nature and wildlife immersion: Stay at Roosevelt Lodge for Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel for the northern area. Wake up at 5 a.m., bring a thermos of coffee, and watch for bison on the road. Find the best wildlife-viewing spots in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton combination (7 days or more): Use Jackson as your arrival base, spend 2-3 nights in Grand Teton, then 2-3 nights in Yellowstone, at Canyon Lodge & Cabins or Old Faithful. Our Yellowstone Itinerary and Trip-Length Guide offers ready-to-use plans based on the number of days you have.

To see all the park's lodging options, with comparisons and booking links, visit our Yellowstone Hotels & Lodges page.

Frequently Asked Questions