Where to Stay When Visiting Yellowstone (From a Local)

Where to Stay When Visiting Yellowstone National Park

So you're visiting Yellowstone National Park.

Welcome!

As a local to the area, it fills my heart to see millions of tourists pass through our town each year. We live in a special place, and I never want to take it for granted.

I haven't always lived outside Yellowstone. I grew up in Michigan (where this blog was born) and remember coming out to this area when I was eight years old. It was the biggest trip my family ever took and the first time I ever saw mountains. 20 years after my visit, seeing families experience those same moments it part of what makes me love living here.

Now I feel the need to tell you something very important.

Yellowstone is crowded. Extremely crowded in the summer. Lodging within the national park often sells out 8+ months in advance. If you're coming here to visit, the prices of lodging might shock you. And because it is a big investment, you want to ensure you choose wisely when it comes to where to stay when visiting Yellowstone.

1. Gardiner, Montana 

Located near the north entrance of Yellowstone, Gardiner is an excellent place to stay during your visit. This town was completely cut off from civilization during the 2022 floods. I was in Gardiner the morning of the floods showing a friend around the area. Little did we know we were one of the last people to take the road into Yellowstone before it was completely washed out. Gardiner deserves all the support after those floods.

Even before this occurred, Gardiner was my favorite place to stay with guests who were visiting. Why? Well, many reasons.

It's not too touristy; there's great food, you can soak in hot springs, and there's plenty of free camping nearby. If you stay in Gardiner, here are my top recommendations:

• Yellowstone Hot Springs
• Wonderland Cafe (Coffee + Dinner)
• Roosevelt Arch
• Tumbleweed Bookstore  Cafe

2. Cody, Wyoming 

This is where I live, and my pick is not biased. If you want a town that oozes wild west, has tons to do, and isn't gimmicky with tourist attractions, Cody is perfect. It's directly on the route for most coming from the east and is the perfect place to stay a day (or two!) on your trip to Yellowstone.

Cody is more than a destination on the way to Yellowstone, Cody is a destination itself. I recommend everyone who visits to spend at least a day here. We have mountain biking, off-roading, overlanding, free camping, and great hiking with virtually no crowds. We also have some of the best fly fishing in the country. Most set their sites on Yellowstone, which means here, we can have entire trails to ourselves in the middle of July. A rodeo occurs every night at 8 pm June-August, and we have some of the best food in the area.

Here are my recommendations on what to do in Cody:

• Chamberlain (drinks)
• Chief Joseph Pass (sunset)
• Cody Rodeo
• Kirwin Ghost Town (take a day)
• Southfork of the Shoshoni
• Fly Fishing
• El Vaquero (Mexican)
• Buffalo Bill Reservoir

3. Cooke City, Montana

If you're looking for a route into Yellowstone that is a little longer but perhaps the most scenic, Cooke City is it. This entrance into Yellowstone is also the least popular. I'm not sure I would even consider it a 'town' and more like a 'village,' There are 140 year-round residents here, and in the winter, it is only accessible via snowmobile.

Cooke City has a couple of inns, a few tiny restaurants, and not much else. But it's located in an incredibly scenic valley, and the drive to it will not disappoint. It's also a great way to visit the park that doesn't feel cluttered, crowded, or overwhelming.

But perhaps the biggest perk of this location is its proximity to Lamar Valley. This section of Yellowstone is famous for its wildlife, including wolves, bears, moose, bison, and elk. The best chance to see wildlife is in the morning, and Cooke City is just a short drive away.

4. Lake Village, Yellowstone National Park

There are multiple villages to stay at in the park. If you can support a bordering town and stay there, that is wonderful. But if you would like to stay inside Yellowstone National Park, I don't blame you! It's a great experience.. There are numerous locations and villages within the park to choose from. 

The worst is the Mammoth Hot Springs area. It's crowded, and touristy, and does not feel like you are staying in a national park beside the herd of Elk that constantly roams the town. If you want to stay somewhere that is extremely nice but also wild; the Lake area is best. There is a luxurious lodge and also rustic cabins to choose from. The lake is beautiful, and there is plenty of wildlife around—my top choice for villages in the park. 

Where to Stay When Visiting Yellowstone - Additional Notes

You might be wondering why some locations are missing here. And that's just because I would not choose to stay there. Gardiner, Cody, Cooke City, and Lake are my top picks. Here is a breakdown of some other locations and why I did not choose them. 

West Yellowstone - I call this the 'Gatlinburg of Yellowstone.' Honestly and frankly, it's just super touristy and expensive, and does not provide an authentic experience.

Mammoth Hot Springs - Gardiner is a VERY short drive from Mammoth Hot Springs, and I like it MUCH better. If you want to stay in the north of Yellowstone, choose Gardiner. 

South Yellowstone - There aren't many places to stay in southern Yellowstone.  Headwaters Ranch is a lodging area, but is often booked out far in advance. If you can squeeze a spot here, it's a nice place to stay between Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Grant Village is awful and does not offer much, so I do not recommend staying. 

Canyon Village - A location I would put in the middle of my choices. I have not spent much time in the village, but the location is pretty good. Artist's Point is one of the most scenic areas in the park, and if you can visit before crowds by staying in Canyon Village, it might be worth it.