Help! I can't find lodging inside the park. Has anyone ever stayed in Canyon Village, Grant Village, or Lake Lodge? I was told I could find some accomodations there. I do not want to stay in any run down cabins. Would I be better off staying in a motel in West Yellowstone outside the park? We will be staying here for 5 nights, so will it be a big problem to drive in and out of the park everyday? Thanks for any help.

You'll get quicker response by putting your destination somewhere in the title....

I suggest a call to Xanterra.
Cancellations show up at the desk but not on the web site most of the time.
You would be better satisfied in commercial accommodations.
You might be ok in the most expensive accommodations at the Snow Lodge or the Lake Hotel.
The cabins are nothing great.

I would absolutely stay in West Yellowstone. Many more accomodations there. Many more nicer accomodations there. It is not a problem to drive in and out of the Park each day at least from West Yellowstone. Also, for 5 nights you will find better restaurants in West Yellowstone. I would suggest that it is not a multiple choice question.

Patti5
You do know that Canyon Village, Grant Village, and Lake Lodge ARE inside the park? We had reservations in West Yellowstone because I could not find reservations inside but upon frequent calling 307-344-7311 I sercured lodging inside the Park. I looked at a map of Yellowstone and found it best for our first night to be in the Old Faithful area and got the lodge with bath there. The second night I took at Canyon Lodge as we will spend time there, the third night I took lodging at Yellowstone Lake as it is closest to our way out of the Park going to Cody. This will save a lot of driving time! If you are spending five days in the park, look at the map and you will see what I am talking about. I also have made reservations for the first night at Old Faithful dining and the third night for an Old West Cookout by Wagon or horseback at Roosevelt. There will be no TV or radio but I am taking a boom box with CD's for our hotel rooms.

Don't forget Gardiner, Montana. That's the town at the North Entrance. Most people think about staying in "West", but Gardiner is a good choice too.

Also, did you ask what kind of cabins were in the park? Were those "run down cabins" avaliable in the park right now?
Depending on the location, the cabins can be either rustic or hotel-like.

I agree with TravelJune-- Gardiner is a great place to stay and I prefer it to West Yellowstone. It is a short drive to Mammoth Hot Springs- and other locations in the Park. It is also a quaint little town. A lot less commercial than West Yellowstone. The "Best Western" is pretty good - and there is a nice family owned place called the Absoroka (?)or Absorkee Lodge (?) with kitchenettes.
Sharon

Patti5

If you scroll down or do a search, there were several discussions on West Yellowstone within the last week that listed places to stay, etc., two of which I posted to as well.

Thank you everyone for all your great help. I made a reservation for a couple of nights in West Yellowstone. I will check out the Gardiner area. I realize that Canyon Village, Grant Village, and Lake Lodge are in the park but the accomodations didn't sound very nice.

It looks like Gardiner lodgings are quite close to Mammoth Springs. Is there an advantage to staying at Mammoth then ? This is for middle of September.

West Yellowstone is definitely your best bet! The hotels are nice and not as pricey. There are several good ones; we usually stay at the Kelly Inn, Fairfield Marriott, or the Gray Wolfe Lodge. There is no problem driving in and West Yellowstone has a Grizzly Discovery Center with bears and an IMAX theater. It's a fun experience. Then each day you could take a different route into the park, there are a couple of loops and very easily drove from West Yellowstone. Have a good time!