Where to Stay in the Wilds of Yellowstone National Park, USA

It must be good because its name rhymes. Located in the town of West Yellowstone, on the Montana side of the park, minutes from the West Gate entrance, these handcrafted cabins will make you feel as if you’re right in the middle of the Old West – if the Old West had satellite TV and a hot tub. The Wyoming border and Gibbon Falls are a 40-minute drive away.

This box-fresh complex is located on the east side of the park near the 24mi-long (39km), 1,200ft-deep (366m) Grand Canyon, carved by the Yellowstone River. Owned by the National Park Service (they run most of the accommodation within park boundaries), you will find yourself ensconced in log-cabin-style rooms, some with sturdy balconies that take in the sylvan setting. You’re ideally placed, smack-bang in the middle of the park, for trail rides along Cascade Creek, as well as full-day Circle of Fire trips, which tick off park highlights such as Old Faithful Geyser, Yellowstone Lake and Hayden Valley.

With a combination of cabins and rooms, this renovated resort is home to the famous map room, containing a large wooden map of the United States, constructed from 15 different kinds of wood from nine countries. Located close to the North Entrance and, as indicated by the name, Mammoth Hot Springs, it’s also within reach of the Grand Loop Road and many park activities.

Probably don’t stay here during the -15C (5F) temperatures of winter… But you can’t anyway because this luxury-camping hideaway from the celebrated Under Canas clan isn’t open then. Come in summer, for hotel-worthy furnishings, comfortable beds, wood-burning stoves and even the option for a window above your bed to stargaze. All in all, a cut above how the pioneers did it. Located just 10 minutes from Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance, it also serves as a gateway to Montana’s unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders, roamed by a parade of diverse wildlife.

A resort in Montana that has both a bar, and – you guessed it – a ranch. 6 miles (10km) from the west entrance of Yellowstone, on an expansive 200-acre (81ha) valley property, it’s the perfect destination to access countless adventures and scenic beauty, whether summer or winter. Whatever the season, you have a choice of luxurious lodge rooms or private cabins with spectacular views and snappy internet, so you can post photos of spectacular views at speed.

We’re certain Goldilocks would approve of the picturesque West Yellowstone location: within walking distance of the shops and restaurants in town, and just blocks from the west entrance to the park, this welcoming lodge offers hearty meals, a pool, a hot tub and Western-styled rooms with handcrafted furniture. And yes, they do serve porridge.

This is as far from back-to-basics camping as you’re ever going to get. Gorgeous, lavishly furnished tipis sit on this site near the north entrance of the first American national park. Each interior at this West Yellowstone glamping spot is uniquely designed with heaters, solid floors, fluffy high-end bedding and restorative mountain views. Situated over the Montana border, you’re a 20-minute drive from Mammoth Hot Springs.

Here’s our sage advice: this place is excellent. Sage Lodge, located on the banks of the Yellowstone River, is just 35 minutes from Yellowstone National Park and offers the ultimate Montana luxury resort getaway. You have your choice of smart guestrooms or beautiful ranch houses, and, after a day of biking, hiking, fly-fishing or cross-country skiing, you can relax under the stars at the exclusive spa. At the indulgent Fireside Room, Montana prime ribs and hearty bowls of bison bolognese are served up alongside widescreen mountain views of aptly named Paradise Valley.

If you choose to stay within the boundaries of Yellowstone, you’ve got to be next-door neighbors with the most famous geyser in the world, right? One for the warmer months (the snow lodge is just next door for the sub-zero crowd), this place is bathed in old-school Americana vibes, close to some of the most famous Yellowstone sites, including the Black Sands Basin, the Continental Divide, the Firehole River and West Thumb basin. Lace up those hiking boots.