Hi

We are flying into Jackson Hole on July 3rd for a 5 day trip to see the Yellowstone Natl park.

We are having a very difficult time finding accommodation in the park.

1) I am not for staying outside the park. Does it make sense to stay in a hotel outside the park?

2) Are there any chances that cancellations happen during this time?

HELP!!! What do I do?

Thanks
Priya

Last February we tried to get desirable in-park lodging for August. Couldn't get anything decent and we've postponed the trip to 2004. I'm sure cancellations occur but it's aremote enough area that you surely wouldn't want to show up and wing it.

Have you looked outside of Yellowstone for accommodations?

There are always cancellations. Check with the park hotels and ask when they release rooms for the same day. I stayed at Old Faithful, booked 4 months in advance and there were same day walk ins that got rooms. Have you thought about Jenny Lake Lodge(between Grand Teton and Yellowstone). Its beautiful. Also there are hotels just outside the west entrance of yellowstone conveniently called west yellowstone. The other option is to call Park reservations every day for cancellations. Good Luck.

The park is just about sold out for the summer. You may be able to find one night here and there. For example, I just checked Grant Village, and there was one room available for July 6 and 7, but not for the 8th.

There is some availability of rooms in August, but even that is limited. The Fairfield Inn in West Yellowstone had zero availability for July 6, 7 and 8.
But the town has many motels, start trying is all I can say. You might find something in Jackson and commute to Yellowstone, but that is a long drive.
I don't mean to sound negative, but for the peak summer, you must start early.
Welcome to the club of those who started too late!
If you want one of the better rooms, reserve in December.
You might try the motels in West Yellowstone. It is the closest place that you might be able to find a vacancy, but chances are not good.

I booked 3 nites for june in Dec.
and still did not have the choice I would have liked,Im also staying a couple of nites each in Cody & Gardiner They was not as hard to get but again res. was made in Dec,
Good luck

If you want to visit Yellowstone then staying in West Yellowstone just outside the park is not that bad of an option for siteseeing.

Yellowstone is so spread out you really need to spend a few nights in a few different locations anyways or you will be doing just about the same amount of driving.

If it's a choice of staying outside the park or not going, I would stay in West Yellowstone.

BTW, have you given any thoughts to camping?

Utahtea

We stayed in West Yellowstone last year and it was quite convenient--the Park entrance is right there . As you drive into the park you have the option of turning north toward the Norton guyser (spelling?) area and onto Mammoth Hot Springs or south toward Old Faithful area
However, you may have trouble with lodging at this "late" date.
Good Luck

anandanj
We are going to Yellowstone the middle of August and I just made reservations at the Yellowstone Lodge in West Yellowstone, recommended by one on this board. It's outside the park by only three blocks and only a half hour drive to Old Faithful. (closer then many accommodations inside the park) And, I look at it this way, we have TV, music, pool, etc for the evenings which you don't have inside the park, with breakfast, which you also don't have inside the park. AAA rate is 116.00. If interested, http://[email protected]/

thanks all....found some cabins within the park in the pioneer cabin for 2 nights and in the old faithful inn for 2 nights. I kept calling the yellowstone reservation people and it looks like they do get a lot of cancellations.

Thanks everybody
Priya

Congratulations on your persistence and good fortune. I hope you have the time of your life. I should have done what you did, stay persistent.
I think the most incredible sights in Yellowstone are the Falls and the Grand Canyon and several of the "big" geysers.
I usually go to the visitor center at Old Faithful and check on the eruption time windows for Grand and Castle.
Then I plan my day to be present during the the center portion of the time
estimates. Usually there is a 4 hour window. I show up an hour before the median time prepared to wait.

Just take along plenty of sunscreen.
There is no shade in the geyser basins to amount to much and the sun is unfiltered! It can burn!