The Best Motels and Cheap Hotels to Book in West Yellowstone, Montana

Enjoy being among nature when visiting Yellowstone National Park | © NPS Photo / Alamy Stock Photo

16 November 2021

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Yellowstone National Park was the first official national park established in the United States and it’s not hard to see why it’s number one on many travelers’ bucket lists. West Yellowstone in Montana is an excellent launching point to visit Old Faithful and other southwestern landmarks, especially if you’re keen for a day trip to Grand Teton National Park. Stay close to the trails and main routes through the national park at these budget hotels and motels in Yellowstone.

Gray Wolf Inn & Suites, for when you’re travelling with the pack

Courtesy of Gray Wolf Inn & Suites / Expedia | Courtesy of Gray Wolf Inn & Suites / Expedia

Get up close and personal with Yellowstone’s locals when you stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites. Directly across the street from the exciting Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and only two blocks from the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, these pet-friendly rooms are a perfect basecamp for your adventures. Though restaurants are within walking distance, we suggest opting for a room with a full kitchen if you’d like to eat dinner while listening to wolves howling in the distance.

Lake View Suites, for quiet lakeside lounging

Courtesy of Lake View Suites / Expedia

If you’re looking for a quieter alternative than the motels in Yellowstone’s central village, Lake View Suites has a room for you. Based near the shores of Hebgen Lake, these large suites feel far from the busyness of downtown and offer a relaxing space to rest your road-weary legs. Grab a drink and a hot meal at the lakeside Happy Hour Bar & Grill before hopping back on the highway en route to Yellowstone National Park.

Stage Coach Inn, for classic hunting lodge vibes

An indoor swimming pool at Stage Coach Inn

Courtesy of Stage Coach Inn / Expedia

There are few cheap hotels in Yellowstone that are as cozy as the Stage Coach Inn. A knotty pine lobby invites you to sit down with a cup of hot chocolate, warming up surrounded by life-like displays of Yellowstone’s majestic animals. As the flames from the stone fireplace cast dramatic shadows of the grizzly bears, moose, and American bison, you might want to scarper to the safety (and steaminess) of the sauna before you turn in for the night.

Best Western Desert Inn, for Wraith Falls walkers

A double room at Best Western Desert Inn

Courtesy of Best Western Desert Inn / Expedia

Only half a mile from Yellowstone’s West Entrance, Best Western wastes no time in helping you get onto the Wraith Falls Trail. Splitting double king beds with your hiking group is hardly a bother, especially since your room includes a full breakfast and refrigerator for storing trail snacks. Wake up rested and ready to rock, or sleep in and loosen up in the indoor pool. Yellowstone’s amazing vistas will still be waiting for you when you’re done.

Three Bear Lodge, for rustic relaxation

Courtesy of Three Bear Lodge / Expedia

Lodge vibes without the resort prices, Three Bear Lodge is exactly where you want to spend your holiday at the country’s first national park. Rustic charm welcomes you via the lounge’s stone fireplace and wood interior, and soaking in the warm waters of your in-room whirlpool tub after a long day in the snow will be one of your favorite memories. Before heading into the park, stop at the Museum of the Yellowstone across the street.

Dude & Roundup, for back-to-nature beatniks

Courtesy of Dude & Roundup / Expedia | Courtesy of Dude & Roundup / Expedia

Looking like one of the motels in Yellowstone circa 1960s, Dude & Roundup will get you (and even the kids) in the frontiersman spirit – disconnect from technology and plug into the natural environment. Minimalist rooms set the stage for laid-back lounging, though you won’t want to waste too much daylight inside, especially since you can hike through Yellowstone right from the parking lot. A coffee maker and dedicated hot water heater keep you cozy whenever you return from the chilly trails.

White Buffalo, for breakfast benefits

Courtesy of White Buffalo / Expedia

Few cheap hotels in Yellowstone offer complimentary breakfast buffets, but White Buffalo gladly welcomes you to dive into their full spread. If the post-meal coffee in the private courtyard doesn’t put the pep back in your step, sitting out beneath the blue Montana sky is sure to. Let the kids get their energy out at the Town Park’s playground across the street; you’ll all appreciate the sound of their snoozing before hiking the Upper Geyser Basin.

Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone, for geyser gazing

Indoor pool with a slide at Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone

Courtesy of Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone / Expedia

Cheap hotels in Yellowstone aren’t off the beaten path; in fact, Days Inn is a stone’s throw from the park. A free shuttle from Yellowstone Airport keeps your focus on planning your route to Old Faithful. The legendary geyser is a sight to behold, though your kids will probably be just as excited about the hotel’s 100-foot (30m) water slide. You’ll save a little scratch with two entree vouchers per night that you can use at the restaurant next door.

These recommendations were updated on November 16, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.

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