As the nation’s first national park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant, Yellowstone’s spectacular landscapes are seared in the collective consciousness.
It’s one of Earth’s most dynamic places, home to more than half of the world’s hydrothermal features — at least 10,000 percolating geysers and steaming hot springs, as well as mud pots, fumaroles and travertine terraces.
Yellowstone is vast, extending across three states and almost 3,500 square miles, and access is limited during the winter; it’s mid-April when the main entrances and park roads start to reopen. Only the north entrance is open year-round.
Choosing when to visit and where to stay depends on what attractions are the most important to you, how much time you have and whether you have the desire or budget to combine your wilderness adventure with a plush suite, gourmet dining and a luxurious spa treatment.
Since more than 3 million people visit Yellowstone each year, it’s no surprise that accommodation options (especially within the park) are at a premium.
Here are TPG’s favorite places to stay in and around Yellowstone National Park:
Mountain Sky Ranch
Emigrant, Montana, USA
Best for: Outdoorsy families with a healthy budget looking for an upscale ranch experience with plenty of outdoor activites, spectacular scenary and a social vibe.
Why stay here: Charming cabins, incredible scenery, gourmet cuisine, a happening bar scene and riding excursions to Yellowstone.
Best way to book: Book directly (and well in advance for summer stays) with Mountain Sky.
Just 30 miles from Yellowstone’s north entrance, in an area of spectacular natural beauty, Mountain Sky is one of the finest dude ranches in the U.S., known for its extensive lineup of outdoor activities for all ages, fine dining, fun-loving staff and emblematic accommodation.
Rustic log cabins surround the main lodge, which is imbued with Western charm and features a colossal stone fireplace, beamed ceilings, colorful rugs with Native American motifs and gracefully aged leather chairs and sofas. You’ll never doubt for a second where you are in the nation.
After a day spent galloping along the trails, fly fishing or taking a guided tour of Yellowstone, guests gather for drinks in the lively saloon before dining on gourmet regional fare with new friends at semicommunal tables — bonding with fellow travelers comes easy here. On any given night, a five-course menu could include ahi tuna sashimi with scallion sticky rice, peanut oil and a sweet soy reduction, followed by oven-roasted bison tenderloin with whipped potatoes, baby carrots and a blackberry demi-glace.
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It’s a great property for a multigenerational vacation since guests stay in cabins in a variety of sizes and configurations with wraparound porches. Many cabins date to the 1920s, but all have been carefully restored and outfitted with plush beds and sofas, stone fireplaces, Western-style furnishings and modern bathrooms.
For families, the children’s programming, which accommodates kids from tots to teens, is outstanding. Children can take care of their own horse, ride to cookouts, go fishing, put on evening skit shows for their parents, play dodgeball on the lawns, and enjoy their own buffet meals.
At the Mountain Sky Wellness Center, you can soothe saddle-weary muscles with a massage, set your intention with an early morning yoga class or splash around with the kids in the outdoor heated pool. For solo travelers and budding equestrians, there are a number of themed weeks throughout the year, including Wild West Women, Wellness Week and the adults-only Fall Roundup.
While Mountain Sky certainly isn’t cheap, it has garnered a loyal following and fills up quickly, especially during the peak summer holiday period. Rates include accommodation, gourmet meals, all activities (even horseback riding, kids program, golf, guided hiking, yoga and fly fishing instruction).
Rates from $16,000 per cabin (for up to two people) or $26,000 (for up to four people).
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole
Teton Village, Wyoming, USA
Best for: A luxurious family vacation at any time of the year.
Why stay here: A year-round heated pool in an aspen grove, an expansive library, and a naturalist ready to advise are just a few of the features distinguishing the Four Seasons Resort and Residences. With the Bridger and Sweetwater gondolas just steps away, you’ll be happy staff is on hand for ski tuning and boot warming.
Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to enjoy elitelike benefits and on-property credits, or via American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts with your Platinum Card from American Express.
Some 129 miles from West Yellowstone and 12 miles from star-powered Jackson Hole, this luxurious Four Seasons resort is one of the brand’s finest U.S. properties.
Sophisticated accommodations meld contemporary styling with chic mountain decor to create a spacious, inviting and luxe base for exploration.
Across each of the eight accommodation categories (three room and five suite types), all 124 rooms are appointed with natural stone and rich mahogany wood, an elegant white-and-gray color palette and cozy living areas furnished with leather sofas and chairs, gas fireplaces and subtle Western-themed artworks. All rooms have private balconies, many with views of the Grand Tetons or the valley.
Where this property really stands out, though, is its curated, immersive excursions. The full-day excursion to Yellowstone National Park includes a chartered flight for up to eight guests and a private tour with expert naturalists who lead guests on wildlife-watching expeditions to spot bison, elk, moose, grizzly and black bears, and mountain lions.
The property has three restaurants, including the acclaimed Westbank Grill, a modern steakhouse specializing in locally sourced meat, fish and seafood. Expect to dine on perennial favorites, such as Idaho trout almondine with green beans, potatoes, brown butter and preserved lemon ($40) or venison with sweet potato, cranberry shallot jam and butter-poached Brussels sprouts ($55).
For more-casual vibes and sustaining post-hiking fare, stop by the Handle Bar for an extensive beer, wine and cocktail menu, along with elevated comfort dishes, such as the “Can You Handle It” 30-ounce burger, served with extra-large fries and a 30-ounce draft beer ($68).
In addition to a heated outdoor swimming pool year-round, there’s also a fitness club with daily mind-body classes, the brand’s signature Kids for All Seasons kids club, and a game room for teens. At the lavish spa, you can soothe aching muscles with a Warm River Stone Massage (90 minutes for $335) or an Alpine Glow Rejuvenating Body Wrap (60 minutes for $270).
Skiers will enjoy ski-in, ski-out access during the winter months, and ski concierge services.
Rates start from $820 per night during the shoulder season but can soar during ski season and peak summer holidays.
The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA
Best for: Solo travelers or couples searching for a luxury home base for visiting the Grand Tetons.
Why stay here: This hotel is a pleasure at any time of year, whether you’re intent on soaking up the foliage in the fall, hiking in the spring or skiing in the winter. The hotel isn’t ski-in, ski-out, but it offers a shuttle to nearby resorts during ski season.
Best way to book: Pay or redeem your points by booking directly with Marriott.
Part of Marriott’s boutique Autograph Collection, The Cloudveil is an elegant property that feels right at home in the gilded and glamorous mountain town of Jackson Hole, and it’s also an excellent use of Bonvoy points.
Located 120 miles from West Yellowstone, the 100-key property is ideal for travelers looking to combine national park excursions and outdoor activities with fine dining, boutique shopping and gallery hopping.
Stylish rooms riff on the rustic-chic mountain theme with blond wood and metal furnishings, hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Plush gray carpeting, leather decorative elements, a gas fireplace and plenty of pillows and throws give off cozy vibes. Luxe bathrooms feature glass-walled walk-in showers, marble-clad vanities and mosaic-tiled floors.
Standard king bedrooms run around 425 square feet, but for more space and amenities, consider upgrading to one of the larger suites, which start at 800 square feet and have separate living areas with L-shaped sofas, free-standing bathtubs and balconies with mountain views.
In addition to an outdoor swimming pool and small fitness center, the on-site restaurant, The Bistro, serves acclaimed French-American cuisine and is the latest addition to Jackson’s thriving gourmet dining scene from acclaimed local restaurateur and entrepreneur Gavin Fine.
Rates start from $274 or 73,000 Bonvoy points per night.
Related: The 26 best Marriott properties in the world
Amangani
Jackson, Wyoming, USA
Best for: Money-is-no-object travelers seeking an uber-luxurious, exclusive retreat with superlative rooms, amenities, views and service.
Why stay here: A lavish, wellness-oriented lodge with impeccable Western-style suites featuring deep soaking tubs, fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the magnificent Grand Teton mountain range.
Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to enjoy elitelike benefits and on-property credits.
Located 20 minutes from Jackson Hole and a 2 1/2-hour drive from Yellowstone National Park, this luxurious, cliff-clinging resort is mountain living at its finest.
A design lover’s dream, public spaces seamlessly blend inside and outside, framing views of Grand Teton National Park from seemingly every angle.
Starting at 800 square feet, each of the 40 suites and four homes is supremely comfortable. Some have large balconies with mountain views, and all are lavishly appointed with fireplaces, woven cowhide chairs, faux fur throws, and luxurious spalike bathrooms with deep soaking tubs.
For families, the four-bedroom homes, carved into the cliffside, sleep up to 10 people and offer privacy and the impeccable, personalized service for which the Aman brand is known.
As you’d expect, there’s a surfeit of amenities. The spa is out of this world, with a menu of treatments categorized as either Grounding Journeys or Purification Journeys (180 minutes from $750). A 35-meter heated infinity pool offers stunning views of the Grand Tetons and the Snake River Range, making it the perfect place to relax after a long day hiking at Yellowstone.
At the redwood-paneled Grill restaurant, executive chef Manuel Fernandez reinterprets classic American comfort dishes, melding international culinary techniques with locally sourced ranch meats, fresh fish and farm-to-table produce.
Amangani is the pinnacle of wilderness luxury, and when it comes to pricing, expect steep prices across the board, regardless of the season.
Rates start from $800 per night.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins
Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth, Wyoming, USA
Best for: Wilderness seekers looking to enjoy winter pursuits and experience the park’s snow-covered landscapes without the crowds.
Why stay here: A prime Yellowstone location near Mammoth Hot Springs and refreshed rooms and spaces that stay true to the original 1930s architecture.
Best way to book: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Book directly (and well in advance) for the best prices.
Just a few miles from Yellowstone’s north entrance, tucked beneath the namesake limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, this classic lodge was built in 1936.
For adventure-seekers that value a superb location, budget-friendly accommodations, historic charm and roaming wildlife over luxurious amenities and swanky rooms, this unassuming lodge ticks a lot of boxes. This is also one of the few National Park Service lodgings open for the winter season (January through March).
There’s truly something here for every type of traveler and budget — multigenerational families, couples and solo travelers. Rooms range from no-frills cabins ($122) with a shared bath to spacious suites (from $385) with a separate living room, private bathroom, a minifridge that’s stocked daily and the only satellite televisions in any in-park NPS accommodations. None of the accommodation options at this property have air conditioning, nor do they allow cooking or pets. Deluxe rooms have been recently renovated, and while they may be a bit too spartan for some tastes, their quirks are easily offset by the property’s superb location and laid-back, nature-loving vibe.
Recreational activities abound in Yellowstone, and guests can access ski and snowshoe rentals. Daily guided tours also depart to popular Yellowstone natural wonders, like the Lamar Valley, Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon and Old Faithful. But even just sitting on your porch will likely bring wildlife viewings, namely gangs of elk that are often spotted ambling across the hotel grounds.
The Mammoth Hotel Dining Room serves buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinner (a la carte and buffet) in a cozy, modern setting, and it’s the first NPS restaurant to be certified by the Green Restaurant Association for its sustainability.
Rates start from $122 per night.
Sage Lodge
Pray, Montana, USA
Best for: Celebrating couples looking to experience all the thrills and majesty of Yellowstone combined with healthy doses of relaxation and pampering.
Why stay here: With stylish quarters, wellness pursuits, daily programming and a full-service spa, wilderness lovers can feel truly immersed in nature here, while still enjoying the finer things in life.
Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to enjoy elitelike benefits and on-property credits.
Set on the banks of the Yellowstone River, Sage Lodge is one of the closest (and more affordable) luxury resorts to Yellowstone National Park, located just 35 minutes away.
For travelers with a taste for adventure, it’s an ideal base for combining tours of Yellowstone with Montana‘s signature wilderness adventures: fly fishing, hiking, trail rides, biking, cross-country skiing and dog sledding.
In the main lodge, handsome, Western-themed rooms start at 420 square feet and feature stone gas fireplaces and wood and leather accents. Each room is designed to maximize space with cozy living areas decked out with comfy sleeper sofas, rustic wooden desks and either a balcony or patio framing views of the lush rolling hills of Paradise Valley. Upscale amenities include flat-screen smart televisions, Nespresso coffee makers and white-tiled, modern bathrooms with glass-walled walk-in showers; deluxe rooms also have deep soaking tubs.
Epicureans won’t be disappointed at The Grill, where prime cuts of meat sourced from local ranches, fresh fish and regional produce combine to create an innovative modern American fusion menu. Popular dishes include wagyu sashimi with house ponzu and serrano chilies and tobiko ($39) and elk tenderloin with fava bean puree, oyster mushrooms, huckleberry sauce, frisee and pea shoot salad ($55).
End the day at the spa with a rejuvenating Targeted Hand + Foot Recovery ($170), which includes a sugar scrub exfoliation, a healing gel mask and a hydrating massage. There’s also a dry sauna, steam room, outdoor private hot tub and a relaxing outdoor lounge area.
One of the main draws of Sage Lodge is the private, full-day Yellowstone tours in one of the house cars, a GMC Denali, taking in some of the park’s iconic features — Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, Dunraven Pass and Grand Canyon.
Room rates start at $499 per night.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Best for: As one of the oldest hotels in any U.S. national park, history buffs will enjoy the Colonial Revival ambience, classic decor and serene lakeside setting.
Why stay here: Swift access to Yellowstone’s natural wonders and a variety of accommodation options across the budget spectrum, ranging from no-frills standard rooms to plush two-bedroom presidential suites.
Best way to book: Lake Yellowstone Hotel is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Book directly (and well in advance) for the best prices.
Entwined with the history of Yellowstone National Park, this landmark Colonial Revival property dates to 1891 and exudes turn-of-the-century grandeur. It’s the oldest property within the park’s boundaries and was designed by revered architect Robert C. Reamer at a time when adventure tourism began to capture the collective imagination.
A $28 million renovation in 2015 returned rooms and public spaces to their former glory. Behind the egg-yolk yellow facade framed by white Ionic pillars, the timelessly elegant sunroom invites guests and visitors to enjoy beautiful sunset views with a classic cocktail in hand while a live string quartet or pianist performs.
Classically appointed rooms and suites range from frontier cabins built in the 1940s to faithfully restored guest rooms with modern tiled bathrooms, and, for those looking to splurge, there’s the two-bedroom presidential suite where former President Calvin Coolidge stayed in 1927 during a fishing trip. For a true sense of place, it’s worth spending up for a lake-view room at least.
At the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room, dine on creative contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on sustainable, organic ingredients: a made-to-order egg-white frittata for breakfast, a hearty entree salad for lunch and seared wild Alaska salmon for dinner. At the deli, you can pick up sandwiches and freshly prepared grab-and-go items to fuel a day’s adventuring, as well as soups, salads and baked goods.
While there are not a ton of amenities on the property, you’ll have the benefit of bedding down at the center of the action. Yellowstone tours and kids programming can be conveniently arranged at the ranger desk or on-site tour desk.
Cabins start from $284 per night; deluxe hotel rooms from $494. The hotel is open from mid-May through late September.
Under Canvas West Yellowstone – Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley, Montana, USA
Best for: Outdoorsy couples and families looking to camp in style and stargaze just 10 minutes from Yellowstone’s west entrance.
Why stay here: A stylish back-to-nature experience, with safari-style tents, healthy cuisine, organized activities and excursions and daily programming.
Best way to book: Book direct with Under Canvas for the best rates, discounts and packages.
Under Canvas is one of the best-known glamping companies, having truly honed the art of camping in style.
There are two camps at Yellowstone, one on the popular west side that puts glampers in striking distance of Old Faithful, and one on the less-traveled north side, which boasts Paradise Valley views, geothermal hot springs and optimal wildlife sightings.
Uber-luxe tents and suites come in various sizes and layouts, but all are equipped with plush king-size beds, en suite bathrooms with hot showers and organic products, and in-tent wood-burning stoves.
For families, suites have an additional lounge area with a queen sofa bed. Smaller deluxe tents and Stargazer tents are ideal for couples, and simple safari tents with shared bathrooms are a solid option for budget-minded travelers. A kids tent with two twin beds can be placed directly next to any tent type.
The on-site restaurant serves wholesome, locally sourced cuisine. The menus change frequently, but you can expect to feast on dishes like fried cauliflower with honey-guajillo-citrus glaze and pickled red onion ($25), as well as wholesome salads and elevated comfort food options, including the hearty Canvas Burger with an Angus patty, cold-smoked bacon and arugula ($17). A kids menu also has fail-safe items like chicken tenders and a grilled cheese sandwich.
Expert guides, or “experience coordinators,” can arrange guided hikes through Yellowstone, private driving tours, horseback riding and complimentary on-property activities, including morning yoga, live music and children’s programming. For guests that like to mingle, lively gatherings include nightly s’mores, happy hour socials and culinary campouts.
Safari tents start at $244 per night; deluxe tents start from $439 per night (with a kids tent, it’s $519); suites cost $594 per night. Note that Under Canvas Yellowstone is open seasonally from March 9 to Nov. 6.
Montage Big Sky
Big Sky, Montana, USA
Best for: The chance to visit one of the country’s most exclusive new ski hotels before it’s discovered by the international jet set.
Why stay here: There’s no skimping on style (or glass) at the Montage Big Sky, where windows seem to frame the towering peaks from every angle. Residences are available with as many as six bedrooms, making the Montage a prime choice for large groups.
Best way to book: Book through our partner Skylark to enjoy elitelike benefits and on-property credits, or via American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts with your Platinum Card from American Express.
The highly anticipated Montage Big Sky debuted in December 2021 as the first truly luxurious resort in the titular Montana mountain town beloved for its year-round outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, horseback riding, dog sledding, blue-ribbon fly fishing and golf.
Located less than an hour’s drive from Yellowstone, the 150-key property channels a modern mountain aesthetic, with an abundance of glass, wood and stone and colossal windows that frame views of the Spanish Peaks mountain range. Light-filled, spacious rooms start at 500 square feet and meld rustic wood elements with sumptuous marble, leather and gold accents.
With six dining and drinking venues, there’s a place for every mood and moment. At the acclaimed fine dining restaurant, Cortina, regional produce, herbs and locally sourced meat and fish create memorable Italian cuisine; highlights include an herb-crusted rack of venison with juniper, pine, chanterelle and pistachio ($115) and a classic seafood stew with grilled squid, the local catch of the day, clams and octopus ($72).
An array of on-site amenities includes an indoor lap pool, a Powder Park with snow tubing and snow biking and access to Spanish Peaks Mountain Club’s 18-hole golf course, designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Montage is known for its lavish, expansive spas, and this one is no exception. The 11,000-square-foot Wellness Center features 12 treatment rooms (including couples rooms), a lap pool, heated plunge pools, steam rooms within relaxation lounges and a full-service salon. After a long day’s hiking adventure, indulge in a 90-minute Peak Performance Recovery Massage ($400), purported to increase circulation, or a Peace Within (90 minutes for $480) treatment, which combines Ayurvedic rituals and traditional massage therapies.
If you haven’t felt the burn after a day hiking through Yellowstone, the large gym features Peloton, Technogym and TRX equipment, plus free weights and daily classes, including yoga and pilates.
Guests who visit in the winter have the benefit of ski-in, ski-out access to more than 5,800 acres at Big Sky Resort, along with white-glove ski services.
Room rates from $506 per night.
Old Faithful Inn
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Best for: Nature lovers that value history and charm over swanky amenities and who want to stay at the very heart of Yellowstone.
Why stay here: One of the largest log structures in the world, this lodge charms with its vintage features, colossal fireplace and partial geyser views from its suites.
Best way to book: Old Faithful Inn is operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Book directly (and well in advance) for the best prices.
The most popular lodging within Yellowstone’s park boundaries, this landmark inn — the prototype for the park service’s “parkitecture” aesthetic — was built in 1903. One of the largest log-style structures in the world, it has undeniable historic charm and an unbeatable location that places guests within striking distance of the park’s thermal basins.
The lobby is breathtaking, with soaring ceilings anchored by a massive stone fireplace and a hand-crafted clock made of copper, wood and wrought iron. Choose from a multitude of room types at various price points, ranging from spacious suites with two queen beds, a separate living area with a minifridge and coffee maker, and partial views of the geyser basin, to basic rooms with shared bathrooms.
All rooms are rather spartan, and none have air conditioning or Wi-Fi, but what you’re really paying for here is the location, convenience, magnificent public spaces and convivial ambiance.
The Old Faithful Dining Room is an atmospheric backdrop for copious breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets serving a mix of hearty regional staples and international fare. The Bear Pit Lounge is a lively spot for happy hour and light bites, and you can furnish your trailside picnic baskets with grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks from the Bear Paw Deli.
Amenities are limited, but that doesn’t matter when nature’s show is around-the-clock spectacular — guests have front-row seats to Old Faithful’s eruptions, and the views of the Milky Way here are magical.
Rooms with shared bathrooms start from $220 per night; deluxe rooms with private bathrooms are available from $449. The inn is open from May 5 to Oct. 9.
Related reading:
11 of the best national parks to visit during the winter
TPG’s favorite national parks: A month-by-month guide
Visiting a national park this summer? Better plan ahead
The 20 national parks every traveler needs to see at least once
5 national parks to visit before your kids leave the house
How to plan your 1st visit to a national park
