Visiting Yellowstone National Park is an unforgettable experience, and it’s even better when you can stay in a comfortable hotel close by. Opting for one of the hotels near Yellowstone National Park allows you to take advantage of outdoor activities and attractions such as hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing, to geysers, hot springs, and let’s not forget mud pools. It also means you can take your time exploring the enormous national park without driving too far or getting up with the birds to avoid crowds.
Photo: Expedia
The 9 Best Hotels Near the Entrances of Yellowstone National Park
There are multiple entrances to Yellowstone and each offers access to different areas and attractions. Considering the sheer size of the park, choosing which gateway is best for you will somewhat determine where you stay. The hotels here are either in, or close to towns and cities that are within walking or driving distance of the gates. Here are the best Yellowstone National Park hotels for a truly immersive outdoor vacation.
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park
The peak season for visiting Yellowstone National Park is from late May through early September. During this time, you can expect warmer temperatures, longer days, and more wildlife activity. However, this also means that the park will be more crowded with tourists.
For those looking for a quieter experience or who want to avoid the summer crowds, spring, and fall should be considered. In April and May, you can witness the awakening of nature as plants start blooming and animals come out of hibernation. In September and October, you’ll get to see beautiful autumn colors as well as some of the park’s unique geothermal features like hot springs and mud pools.
Taking a trip to Yellowstone? Check out Matador’s accommodation guides to the best places to stay:
We hope you love the hotels near Yellowstone National Park we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
- Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
- Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park East Entrance
- Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park South Entrance
- Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park West Entrance
Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
The North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park is located in Gardiner, Montana. It is the second most popular entrance to the park and the only one open year-round. From here, visitors can access many of the park’s attractions including its geothermal features, wildlife viewing opportunities, and hiking trails. The North Entrance Station also offers information and services such as maps, permits, and educational programs.
Yellowstone Gateway Inn
Photo: Expedia
Yellowstone Gateway Inn is a family-run business in Gardiner, Montana, that provides a “home away from home” stay. Its in-town location is only five minutes away from Yellowstone.
The luxuriously appointed apartment-style accommodations have full kitchens, so guests have the ability to prepare home-cooked meals and avoid the expense of eating out. They also have separate living rooms with one or two sofa beds and some of them have epic views over the Yellowstone River, patios with grilling facilities, and Jacuzzi tubs with outdoor showers.
The Inn is known for its impeccable level of hospitality. The helpful and kind staff are unbeatable and have superb local knowledge (and connections) in the town and the park.
Yellowstone Gateway Inn: 103 Bigelow Lane, Gardiner, MT 59030
Price per night: $125
The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone
The Ridgeline Hotel is also set in Gardiner near the northern gateway, the Roosevelt Arch, and the Yellowstone River.
It’s a pet-friendly hotel and has outstanding facilities including a lively bar and lounge, a spa and sauna, and a communal picnic area. The concierge and tour desk are raved about for their outstanding service and can organize guided outdoor activities on the river and within Yellowstone.
Modern and comfortable rooms range in size from standard accommodations with two queen-sized beds, to sprawling suites with either mountain or river views. The suites come with a fully-kitted-out kitchen area and a lovely balcony with outdoor seating.
The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone: 905 Scott Street W, Gardiner, 59030
Price per night: $241
Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel
If you’d rather be a little closer to nature (and sleep under Montana’s big sky), Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel offers luxury glamping seasonally between May and October. The business is Gardiner’s first glamping site and is also a superb pet-friendly option nestled on the side of rolling hills.
Dreamcatcher has spacious and beautifully-furnished tipis that sleep up to five guests. The canvas tents are elevated with memory foam mattresses, WiFi, luxurious pillows and rugs, private fire pits, and added touches such as complimentary reusable water bottles.
Guests can enjoy the panoramic views of nearby Yellowstone and dark skies by the camp’s communal fire pit and munch on s’mores, enjoy complimentary adult beverages, and grill with fellow travelers. And there’s no chance of getting bored. Games such as cornhole and a giant Jenga set are free to enjoy for the entire family.
Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel: 20 Maiden Basin Drive, Gardiner, MT 59030
Price per night: $408
Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park East Entrance
The East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park is located near Cody, Wyoming. Visitors can pay the entrance fee here which gets a car into the park for seven days. It’s a superb base for a Yellowstone road trip. The East Entrance Road is one of five roads that provide access to the Grand Loop Road and the rest of Yellowstone.
Pahaska Tepee Resort
Photo: Expedia
Pahaska Tepee Resort sits between tall pines in Shoshone National Forest just east of Yellowstone Park at the foot of Cody Peak in Park County Wyoming. It has one of the best locations for access to the East Entrance — which the owners state is the most scenic gateway to the park. The original lodge was built by Colonel William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody and is on the National Historic Register.
Today the extended and somewhat modernized mountain resort offers guests comfortable cabin-style rooms and amenities such as an on-site bar and restaurant, a convenience store, and between May to mid-September horseback riding.
Pahaska Tepee Resort: 183 North Fork Highway, Pahaska, Cody, WY, 82414
Price per night: $169
Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park South Entrance
The South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is located in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. The South Entrance generally opens at the beginning of May and closes at the beginning of November to wheeled vehicles, so it’s important to plan your visit accordingly.
Jackson Lake Lodge
Jackson Lake Lodge is owned by the National Park Service and is located near Moran in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
It offers 385 rooms including luxurious suites, main lodge rooms, and cottages. Its 60-foot floor-to-ceiling windows provide an awe-inspiring view of the Teton Mountain Range and there are a variety of amenities for guests to enjoy during their stay. Dining options range from BBQ brisket to outdoor restaurants with stunning views. There are also retail shops, a heated swimming pool, a meeting space, and an exhibit featuring Native American artifacts and Western art. On-site recreation guides are available to help plan your perfect Wyoming excursion including horseback riding, river rafting, boat cruises, narrated tours, kayak, canoe, and motorboat rentals, fishing, hiking, and golfing.
Jackson Lake Lodge: 100 Jackson Lake Lodge Road, Highway 89, Moran, WY 83013
Price per night: $388
The Virginian Lodge
Another super place to base yourself is Jackson, Wyoming. It is the closest major city (an hour’s drive) to the South Entrance of Yellowstone. This makes it a great starting point for those looking to explore Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park in one day.
The Virginian Lodge is a trendy downtown modern motor lodge that has a nice selection of retro-styled rooms and suites. Accommodations range from the standard king, double bunkbed rooms for four, to a selection of suites (some of which have kitchen facilities.) After a day of exploring guests can relax in the on-site saloon with a craft beer or cocktail and classic burgers and fries at their renowned burger joint.
The Virginian Lodge: 750 West Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
Price per night: $150
Hotels close to the Yellowstone National Park West Entrance
The West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park is located near the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Nearby attractions include some of Yellowstone’s most iconic natural wonders such as Old Faithful Geyser where you can witness eruptions every hour or so from mid-day until night. There’s also a variety of wildlife that frequent this area such as elk, bison, bears, wolves, and other native species.
Best Western Desert Inn
Situated in West Yellowstone, this three-star offers a comfortable stay perfect for those who are visiting the park for a day or two. The town of West Yellowstone is an outdoor playground. Snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and dog sledding can be enjoyed in winter; hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing in summer.
The Inn offers guests everything you’d expect from the Best Western brand. There are no bells and whistles here, but the rooms are clean and modern with in-room small refrigerators, coffee and tea-making facilities, and a complimentary hot breakfast. It’s also pet-friendly and allows up to two dogs per rented room.
Best Western Desert Inn: 133 North Canyon St, West Yellowstone, 59758
Price per night: $271
Kelly Inn West Yellowstone
Photo: Expedia
The Kelly Inn West Yellowstone sits just across the street from the West Entrance. It’s also close to local shopping and restaurants, as well as two of West Yellowstone’s most popular attractions — the IMAX Theater and Grizzly Wolf Discovery Center.
The Inn has a variety of amenities, including a 100 percent non-smoking facility, a complimentary continental breakfast, one of the largest indoor heated pools in town, and laundry facilities. Guests can also take advantage of the firepit for roasting marshmallows or simply enjoying an evening under the stars on the outdoor patio.
Kelly Inn West Yellowstone: 104 South Canyon Street, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Price per night: $183
WorldMark West Yellowstone
WorldMark West Yellowstone is located one block from the West Entrance and offers spacious one- and two-bedroom resort suites that comfortably sleep four to six guests. The larger accommodations feature a full kitchen and dining area, and a gas fireplace.
Between exploring the park, guests can enjoy amenities such as a heated pool and two indoor hot tubs which are open throughout the year — perfect during the colder season. And if you don’t get enough exercise hiking in the park, there’s a game room, recreation center, basketball court, and expansive state-of-the-art fitness center. 
WorldMark West Yellowstone: 110 Gray Wolf Avenue, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Price per night: $155