Hope someone can give me some suggestions about lodging in this area.

Except for the basic economy motel chains, I'm having a difficult time finding moderate priced accomodations outside of the parks. We usually look for a cabin or condo rather than just a room, and are usually able to find something unique and a bit out of the more crowded areas. Not so here, at least yet. I've been doing a lot of internet searches, but just haven't come up with the right site.

I also question the practicality of staying outside of the parks. Since we like to hike and those moonlight hikes to the geysers sound wonderful, but I don't think a long drive back to town would be fun late at night. However, the comments seem so negative about the places in the parks, and I imagine it's too late for reservations for summer.

Now today I read that one should make reservations now to dine on mediocre food.

Please comments or suggestions. Should we persevere with this trip or search out a new area for a mid-summer hiking trip? These are a few of the national parks which we haven't visited.

If you've never been to Yellowstone, I strongly recommend it. Yes, the accomodations aren't particularly cheap but they aren't awful either. And the food is not particularly good but it's not awful either.

There is nothing else like Yellowstone. Fabulous.

My daughter and I stayed in Gardiner, Montana when we visited Yellowstone many years ago.

I understand what you are saying. However, what is moderate priced? $100 a night?

My first trips to Yellowstone were as a camper. And having stayed in a bathless cabin with a rumpled mattress that was awful, my sleeping bag and tent were better.

In recent years, I have tried the accommodations within the park.
The best bet is the Western cabins at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. They are fairly spacious, but with small bathrooms and a less than prize winning setting. The go for $121 per night plus tax of $10. (Always that blasted tax.)
The Western Cabins at Canyon are the same price and are about the same.

If that is out of your price range, then take a look at the Tetons.
Jackson Lake Lodge runs around $170 per night. It is much nicer than anything in Yellowstone, however. But, you pay for it.

Signal Mountain Lodge for a 1 room cabin goes for about $100 a night.

But to be blunt, you either pay the going rate in the park or go to West Yellowstone, about 30 miles away.
And motels there are not cheap as you have probably found out.

There is no easy answer. So welcome to the facts of life around Yellowstone.
Visitation is high; demand exceeds supply in the summer. So prices reflect it. Holiday Inn ordinary king rooms go for $120 plus tax.

The Lazy G is more moderate, and it is not bad. It is not the Fairfield Inn, but I found it acceptable. If I were in your position, that is where I would look.

Clousie
We stayed at Old Faithful Inn with a remodeled bath and liked it because of the location. The Snow Lodge is close to Old Faithful Inn, we walked into the lobby and it looked good. We also stayed at the Canyon Lodge ( ask for the one built in 1998) and it was large, airy and very clean. The ONLY thing I did not like about any of our rooms is that there is no TV or Radio and I like noise in my room. I would stay there again because the location is great and Yellowstone is beautiful. While in the Tetons, we stayed a Jackson Lake Lodge and also enjoyed that stay. I called once or twice a week until I got our rooms as there are always concellations.

You simply can't think of doing that kind of trip for the wonderful accomdations and spectacular dining. It's all about the outdoors and nature. Yes, you will need to book ahead to get the mediocre (not bad) food at the nicest places. Sorry, that's just the way it is. If you want a vacation about dining and hotels, then Yellowstone is not for you. Yes, I'd highly recommend staying within Yellowstone. Jackson is really an OK place to stay for Tetons -- and you can hit some really good restaurants while staying there.

As you've already heard, you don't go to Yellowstone for cheap lodging or good food. But it's an amazing park, and one that's like no other. We took our then-5-year-old there several years ago, and he remembers that trip more than more recent ones. Hiking to geysers is great, even hot pots and hotsprings are very interesting and beautiful, and we've never seen so much wildlife while hiking (and we live in the Rockies). We plan to return in a year or so, when both our kids can do longer hikes.

We stayed at some rather yucky cabins in West Yellowstone (I would not recommend them). The drive into the park each day wasn't as bad as we thought (beautiful scenary to enjoy on the way). We're almost-vegetarians, and had a hard time finding much variety at restaurants, but didn't starve. We didn't eat in the park (except picnic lunches); we didn't feel the prices were worth the food. Next time (my hubby feels otherwise) I'd like to rent a camper and be able to stay in the park & prepare our own food. But don't skip Yellowstone because of the less-than-stellar food & lodging situation!

You might consider staying at one of the higher-priced places for a night or two and getting in your moonlight hikes on those nights. On the other nights, stay farther out--West Yellowstone is not bad and there are several small towns in the Teton Valley that have cabins for rent.

I would definitely go...We return to Yellowstone again & again, but have the luxury of going off season. I wouldn't hesitate to go in summer though. For lodging you might explore West Yellowstone...very close to the park entrance. If you stop there, the Grizzly Discovery Center is worth a look (NOT Bear World). We've stayed at the Yellowstone Inn...very reasonable cabin style lodging, with alot of charm for the price. I think W. Yellowstone has a pretty complete website to search. Availability in the park will have alot to do with whether you want to be in the center of it all (e.g. Old Faithful) or don't mind driving. I would not choose to stay in the Old Faithful area if you have any concern about crowds! Most visitors don't venture north of there, however. You might try the Roosevelt Lodge cabins in the northeast corner. Very nice and away from the hordes. Also a good location if you are interested in wolf watching. (the only place in the world, I think, where an average tourist can watch wolves in the wild). If you want more ideas, feel free to e-mail me direct. natalie [email protected]

My family and I went to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks last summer and had a great time. We stayed at the Old Faithful Inn for 2 nights and thought it was great. We were in a large room that must have been renovated. It was quiet, clean and new. We even brought an airmattress for our 6 year old to sleep. (The rooms only accomodate 4 people we were told). We loved the location and thought the accomodations were very good - though expensive. Also I did not book that trip until April or May so you still have time. Just keep on calling.

We also stayed at the Jackson Lake Lodge in one of the rooms outside the main lodge. It was not as nice as the room at Old Faithful Inn. I hear that the rooms in the main lodge are much nicer - especially if you get a view of the area behind the lodge.

Don't give up. You'll have a great trip. We were worried about the crowds which are reported on all of these message boards and were delighted to report that there weren't any. Also, be sure to check out the swimming hole in the firehole area. The water is warmed by the hotsprings and geyers. It was really fun for us. The ranger programs at Old Faithful in the evening were awesome. Have fun.

Try for the Snow Lodge, which is no more than 5 years old, and has very nice accommodations. (It's right next to The Old Faithful Lodge, which would be great too, just older.) Staying inside the park is your best bet. Don't give up! No, this will not be a luxury hotel, gourmet feast trip, but any lack of great food and lodging will be made up for many times by the beauty and interest of your surroundings. Yellowstone is the best! Buck up!

It's not too late to get reservations for either rooms or dining.

Don't go for rooms or loding--they aren't the highlight of the Yellowstone experience.

I visited friends staying in the cabins at Old Faithful last summer. They had been completely renovated, inside and out. They are right next to Old Faithful geyser but toward the back of the whole OF area so there isn't any traffic.

I made a point of going out to see Old Faithful geyser in the middle of the night because Bob_Brown said I needed to. It was a neat experience seeing it in the moon light and with no one else around.

We worried about making reservations for dinner then found there were no lines for food, no need for reservation. We were there in summer which is their season. But then, you never know. Best to book ahead.

Around Christmas I made reservations for hotels within Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks for June and they are over $125 a night. It sounds like it is far better to remain inside the park rather than spend a lot of time driving to and from. When you are on vacation, you are paying for time and I sure don't want to waste it on driving rather than seeing the sights. Call the parks and see what they have available.

What about Flagg Ranch Village? It is between Grand Teton and Yellowstone and we stayed there in 1995 and they had lots of new buildings and were adding more. It has what appear to be duplex like cabins that are your basic hotel room, no TV or phones when we were there. They have a very nice central lodge where you can eat, have a drink, make reservations for various activities. It is within walking distance to the Snake River and they have horseback riding on the premises which we did take advantage of. We had stayed for several nights in Jackson before that at a very nice Best Western and we wanted to be as close to Yellowstone as possible to get there early the next morning. I think it took around 40 minutes to get far enough into the park to one of the areas we wanted to see. I have no idea what the cost of Flagg Ranch would be but I imagine you can find it on line.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

My mine frustration was looking at Jackson Hole rates; thinking reservations would be impossible this late in Yellowstone and not wanting to stay 30 +- miles outside the park. I usually start planning trips much earlier than this, but you've given me the impetus to continue.

I definitely realize that one doesn't go to this area for the accommodations. In fact that's never a major factor for us; just want to get out and hike in the glorious scenery. We thoroughly enjoyed staying at Paradise Lodge at Mt Ranier and Timerline at Mt Hood, both times in miniscule rooms. Even the tent cabins at Yosemite weren't that bad, but do prefer my own bathroom.

Now my next question, especially for the hikers. If we can use the Old Faithful area as a base for 3-4 days, which other area would be a good base for another 2-3 days. Likewise, any suggestions for a 3-4 base for GT and then another for Wind River Mountains?

Another thought...since we're flying from Salt Lake City, should we spend the last 2-3 days in that area (for hiking) rather than Wind Rover MT? I'll probably pose that as another post, too.

Sorry. That's Wind River Mountains in WY not MT.

Anyone have a suggestion for a second base in Yellowstone that would have good day hikes?

In the Wind River Mountains area, I would recommend the towns of Lander or Riverton as centrally located.
For some good info on the area, contact the Wind River Visitors Council (800-645-6233 or check out its website: http://www.wind-river.org)
When we first explored Yellowstone, we stayed 2 nights at the Old Faithful Inn and 2 at Lake Yellowstone Lodge. We found the combination convenient for checking out the whole park.

Clousie
I would recommend the Canyon Lodge, (there are two of them but don't take the cabins) for the second part of your trip. We stayed in the Lodge that was built in 1998 and was very pleased with the Lodge and the location.