Yellowstone National Park Lodging

Yellowstone National Park has over 2 million acres of world-famous wilderness, wildlife and scenic wonders. There are 5 entrances/exits to the Park, and which one you choose is determined by which of the many attractions you are drawn to, and which particular Yellowstone National Park Lodging you will be staying at.

• Yellowstone National Park – Lodging in the park has some great advantages. The advantage to lodging in the Park is that you are right there in the middle of all the Park’s attractions. Be aware that Yellowstone National Park lodgings and Yellowstone hotels in the Park fills up the quickest so you have to plan months in advance and book reservations for the most popular hotels, like the famous Old Faithful Inn.
• The West Gate – West Yellowstone, Montana – If arriving from Bozeman or Idaho Falls you should consider the West Gate entrance. West Yellowstone is the biggest of the gateway communities that located at an entrance to Yellowstone, and offers the greatest variety of accommodation for the Park.
• The South Gate – Jackson Hole, Wyoming – Jackson is a good location if you plan on visiting Grand Teton National Park as well as Yellowstone, though prices do tend to be a little higher here. You might want to consider cheaper campsite options.
• The North Gate – Gardiner, Montana – This is close to the Mammoth Hot Springs, the headquarters of the National Park.
• The East Gate – Cody, Wyoming is located through this entrance, with access to the beautiful Wapiti Valley
• The Northeast Gate – The Northeast Entrance is nearby to Cooke City and Silver Gate. For lovers of wildlife this is a great choice, with large wolf packs and bears to be spotted.

Yellowstone National Park Lodging – The Options

There are 9 distinct lodging areas in Yellowstone and all are located close to the Grand Loop road. Each of the Yellowstone National Park lodging facilities is sited close to a major attraction. Lodging throughout the Park is operated by Xanterra Parks and Resorts. You need to organise your Yellowstone reservations way ahead of your vacation if you are going to one of the more popular venues.

• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins. This lies just inside the North Entrance from Gardiner MT, and is the park headquarters. As well as the Hot Springs Hotel, the resort offers a hospital, restaurant, restrooms, picnic area and gas station. It is open from late December to early March and from mid May to early October .The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins provides a range of accomodation from cabins to suites – expect to pay between $80 and $450.
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins. These are located between Mammoth and the Northeast Entrance. Open from about mid-June to early September, this is a favorite with bear spotters. The Roosevelt Lodge and Cabins have a distinct style – western and rustic – and cost between $60 to over $100.
• Canyon Lodge and Cabins. This resort is the midway point on the Grand Loop Road, between Mammoth and the West Entrance. Here you will find a mix of motel and lodge rooms, and cabins, with a nice visitor center. It is the close to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and is a popular with hikers, and lovers of wolves. Open from early June to late September and rates in the region of $100 to $180.
• Old Faithful Inn. Built in 1903 and now a National Historic Landmark, it has been extended to offer over 300 rooms, the Old Faithful Inn is a magnet for visitors to the Park, and is indisputably one of the premier attractions in the Park. There are plenty of restaurants, ice cream parlors, souvenir shops and bookstores – and of course proximity to the spectacular Old Faithful Geyser. The Old Faithful Inn is open between early May and early October, and early booking is advised. You can stay in one of the original rooms, right the way up to suites – expect to pay from $200-plus to $500. Remember that the old rooms offer pretty Spartan conditions, so what you gain in historicity you lose in comfort.
• Old Faithful Lodge Cabins. The Old Faithful Lodge Cabins are close to the Inn, and were built in the 1920′s with the same log and stone as the Inn. Open from mid-May to late September with rates between $70 and $100-plus.
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins. This resort was built as late as 1999, and is a modern lodge and cabin development. It opens from late April to late October, and in Winter from late December to early March. Expect to pay between $100 and $200.
• Grants Village. This resort resembles a mountain ski-resort in comparison to the other facilities in the park. It has 2 restaurants, a visitors center, gas station and it’s own marina. It opens from late May to early October, and offers restaurants, a visitors center, gas station and a marina. Expect to pay around $150.
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins. Built around the same time as Old Faithful Inn in a beautiful position on Yellowstone Lake (North America’s largest high altitude lake) with 110 miles of shoreline. The Lake Hotel has been updated and expanded, and is open from late May to late September. You will pay from $130 to $550.
• Lake Lodge Cabins. These are cabins near Yellowstone Lake, but in a more secluded setting, and with the least number of tourists. There are bears around, and consequently the resort is not open until mid-June, closing in early October, with rates from $70 to $180.

Yellowstone National Park Lodging – Warning

When you organise your Yellowstone National Park lodging accommodation, you must remember that you will be staying in one of the great wildernesses of the world, so do not expect to enjoy all the facilities of a modern 5-star hotel. Visitors unfortunately do complain about lack of comfort, television, phone and internet access at many of the resorts, even though they should know what to expect. If you simply cannot live without all modern conveniences, you could look for accommodation in places like Jackson or Cody.
Services are fairly minimal at the various Yellowstone National Park lodgings, so prepare and pack accordingly. Do not be surprised to have no Internet, air conditioning, or television. Not all rooms in Yellowstone lodging have telephones, and bathroom facilities are often communal.
Most Yellowstone National Park lodgings offer a simple cafeteria with food options, while others provide a full-service restaurant.
Cell phone reception is patchy – reception is usually available at the major centers, but away from these locations it can be virtually impossible to get cell phone coverage. And this can be an important safety issue, especially if you are going hiking in the Park.
To make the most of your Yellowstone National Park Lodging , then, you need to do a little planning and research. But it will be well worth the effort.
here