When lodging inside Yellowstone National Park is fully booked (which is common, especially during the peak summer months), your best option is to stay in one of the surrounding gateway towns in Montana, Wyoming, or Idaho.
These towns offer a wide range of accommodation, dining, and gas options, but they will require more driving time to reach the park’s main attractions.
📍 Best Gateway Towns by Location
The most popular towns are located right outside a park entrance and are the best base camps for exploring different areas of Yellowstone:
| Gateway Town | Park Entrance Served | Best for Exploring | Pros & Cons |
| West Yellowstone, MT | West Entrance | Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the main Geyser Basins (Lower Loop) [Source 1.5, 3.1]. | This is the most popular and busiest gateway town with the largest selection of hotels, restaurants, and shops. It can feel very touristy. Drive time to Old Faithful is about 1 hour. |
| Gardiner, MT | North Entrance | Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley (best for wolf/wildlife viewing), and the Roosevelt Arch [Source 3.1, 3.6]. | This is the only entrance open to vehicles all year. It has a great local, laid-back vibe, and is less touristy than West Yellowstone. Drive time to Old Faithful is about 1 hour 45 minutes. |
| Cody, WY | East Entrance | Yellowstone Lake and Hayden Valley. | A true “Wild West” town with excellent museums (like the Buffalo Bill Center of the West) and a nightly summer rodeo. It’s a great destination itself. Longest drive to major attractions, about 2 hours 45 minutes to Old Faithful. |
| Cooke City-Silver Gate, MT | Northeast Entrance | Lamar Valley (prime wildlife viewing) and the scenic Beartooth Highway [Source 1.6, 2.5]. | A very small, rustic village perfect for solitude and escaping the crowds. The Beartooth Highway to it is stunning but is typically closed from October to May. |
| Jackson Hole (Jackson, WY) | South Entrance | Grand Teton National Park (which you drive through to reach Yellowstone’s South Entrance) [Source 3.1]. | Famous for its upscale lodging, dining, and proximity to the Teton mountains. Best for a combined Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip. Drive time to Old Faithful is about 1 hour 10 minutes. |
🏘️ Other Nearby Options
For even more availability, especially if you are comfortable with a longer commute to the park entrance:
- Island Park, ID: About 30-45 minutes from the West Entrance, offering a quieter, more remote feel with plenty of rentals, motels, and campgrounds.
- Bozeman, MT: A large college town about 1.5 to 2 hours from the West Entrance. It’s a convenient option if you are flying into the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and offers excellent dining and entertainment.
- Big Sky, MT: About 1 to 1.5 hours from the West Entrance, offering more luxury accommodations, particularly in the summer and winter resort season.
Visit our Lodging Page for more detailed information.