Visiting Yellowstone National Park is a magical, other-worldly experience. With so much to see and do in this park, you’ll need more than one day to take it all in. So where will you rest while gearing up for several days of exploring Yellowstone’s trails, lakes and geysers? Take a look at these lodging options to find a place to stay in or near Yellowstone National Park.
Lodging in Yellowstone National
Nine different lodging options are available within park boundaries, allowing you to choose from a variety of cabins, lodges and hotel rooms in Yellowstone National Park. Find modern, sustainable cabins and rooms in the centrally-located Canyon Lodge & Cabins. Stay further south to be closer to neighboring Grand Teton National Park in hotel rooms at The Grant Village lodging complex. Find rustic-style lodging near Yellowstone’s best-known geyser at Old Faithful Inn, one of the largest log structures in the world. Or stay at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel to experience the park’s oldest and most elegant hotel.
One unique feature of staying in Yellowstone National Park? You probably won’t have access to a TV or internet in your room. While the thought of this may initially cause anxiety, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how refreshing it is to disconnect while surrounded by nature and the ones you love.
If your heart is set on staying in the park, be sure to book early. Depending on the season, spots get booked months—or sometimes even a year—in advance. Go here to find a full list of Yellowstone National Park lodging.
Camping in Yellowstone National Park
If sleeping under the stars in your tent or RV sound just as appealing—or better than—staying in a lodge, camping in Yellowstone National Park might be the best option for you. The park offers 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 sites, most of which are filled on a first-come, first served basis. If you plan to snag one of these sites, be sure to arrive early and have a backup plan. Most campgrounds are full by early morning.
Several of the campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park may be reserved in advance through Yellowstone National Park Lodges. These include Bridge Bay Campground, Canyon Campground, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village Campground and Madison Campground. Additional campgrounds in Yellowstone can be booked through recreation.gov. Book early for the best chance of getting a campsite.
No matter where you camp in Yellowstone, please note that occupancy is limited to six people per site and camping is limited to 14 days from July 1 through the first Monday in September. Learn more about camping in Yellowstone National Park.
Lodging Near Yellowstone National Park
Booking a stay inside Yellowstone National Park isn’t the only way to enjoy multiple days exploring this Wyoming national treasure. Plenty of lodging opportunities exist just outside of the park, in areas that boast views of the sprawling Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. East Yellowstone Lodges offers a number of beautiful properties within 15 miles of Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance.
Stay at a lodge or cabin just two miles from Yellowstone at Pahaska Tepee and take a tour of Buffalo Bill’s original 1904 mountain lodge. Fish along Gunbarrel Creek and find rustic cabins with modern amenities at the historic Absaroka Mountain Lodge, with buildings dating back to 1910. Experience home-cooked meals, chuckwagon dinners and campfire cookouts at Bill Cody Ranch, which offers plenty of Western activities for all ages. When it comes to finding ranches, lodges and cabins near Yellowstone National Park, you have options to suit your travel style.
Towns Near Yellowstone National Park
Staying in a town near Yellowstone National Park allows you to experience the park during the day and take in the fun of local restaurants, shops and bars at night. Be sure to spend even more time exploring what these nearby towns have to offer before your Yellowstone vacation is all said and done.
Cody
Cody is known as Wyoming’s gateway to Yellowstone National Park. Located just 50 miles east of the park, Cody boasts plenty of its own attractions for you to take in when you aren’t exploring geysers or photographing bison from a safe distance. From Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s five world-class museums to nightly summer rodeos, camping fun at Buffalo Bill State Park and entertaining chuckwagon dinners, your opportunities to experience the West are endless in this town established by Buffalo Bill Cody.
Dubois & Jackson
Dubois and Jackson are located just 80 miles and 60 miles, respectively, from Yellowstone National Park’s south entrance. Each town offers its own unique things to do and plenty of lodging opportunities. See and learn about Bighorn Sheep at the National Bighorn Sheep Center in Dubois. Or if elk are more your style, visit the National Elk Refuge in Jackson. Both towns boast a variety of outdoor activities, cowboy culture and close proximity to Grand Teton National Park.
Powell & Meeteetse
Powell (75 miles northeast of the east entrance) and Meeteetse (80 miles southeast of the east entrance) are two additional nearby towns offering lodging and camping options. If you stay in Powell, add Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area to your list of places to explore, as Bighorn Lake is just a bit further east. Anyone staying in Meeteetse should consider driving south to Thermopolis to see Hot Springs State Park. This Wyoming park features otherworldly mineral water formations, an area bison herd and the State Bath House, which is free to the public.
