Where to stay in or outside Yellowstone.
 

DH and I are going on a road trip. Traveling from Syracuse NY to visit South Dakota and Yellowstone Park. We are bringing along our motorcycles. In South Dakota we know hotels and motels will be geared up for all the motorcycle riders. What about Yellowstone? The little research I've done is really implying a lot of people RV and camp when they do Yellowstone.
We only plan on staying 3 days tops and only seeing some major highlights in the park. Yes, I know it's big.
Can you suggest a hotel either in the park or outside the park that we might like? Don't care if it's expensive or not. Just don't want to camp it. Needs to be on the east side as we are approaching from that side.
Thanks for any help.

In Yellowstone, I'd stay anywhere I could get a reservation but my favorite is Old Faithful Inn -
http://www.yellowstonenationalparklo...ul-inn-96.html

Outside, Cody is on the east side and I liked it a lot more than I expected.

A lot of people don't RV and camp in Yellowstone.

<i>ps - Have you seen this thread?
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ith-friend.cfm
Since you are from Syracuse I thought you may have some idea. :-)

I agree with starrs, get lodging in the park and if they say they are all full, take the number and call and keep calling as people make reservations way ahead and then as time gets close find they can't go.

I agree with starrs and emalloy. I called and called and called until I got Old Faithful Inn, We also took Canyon Lodge for a few days because Yellowstone is so large. We enjoyed meals in Old Faithful Inn and at Lake Lodge.

Book something now in Cody that you can cancel later if something in the park opens up. And call daily to see if something has. It usually does.

We loved our dinner at Old Faithful Inn too. At least one night opt for one of the dining rooms. The food is good, the service is usually good and the settings are like none other. One of my favorite experiences of the trip.

You haven't mentioned Grand Teton NP but I love it as much as Yellowstone. We had dinner at the Pioneer Grill (a unique experience at the longest counter imaginable) but breakfast (or any meal) in the Mural Room is a real treat.
http://www.gtlc.com/dining/jackson-l...ural-room.aspx

Cody would be my last choice of a city to stay in to see Yellowstone. It's 120 miles one way to the Old Faithful area. If you can get in on a cancellation in the park, then I'd stay in West Yellowstone.

Sorry, I don't have any recommendations because I'm one of those who DOES camp in an RV in the park and so many people do, you know need to make reservations to make sure you get spot!

Utahtea

Thanks all! I realize I need to get moving on this. I also realize not everyone camps or RV's it ;-)
Thank you for the suggestions.
ps
I'll check on that other thread starrs.

Utahtea is right - forget Cody. It's just too far away for repeated day trips into the park. If you can't get anything inside the park, then look for something in West Yellowstone first, and Gardiner second.

BTW, I've also camped in an RV inside Yellowstone and I'm willing to bet that on any particular night during the summer that there are more people camping in the park than there are in all the inns, lodges, and hotels in the park combined. Fishing Bridge Campground by itself is huge.

I found availability at Pahaska Teepee Resort. It's 2 miles from the east entrance. Would you say this is too far away? We plan on staying 3 nights and hitting just the highlights of the park.

Two miles from an entrance is great. Two miles from the EAST entrance is OK at best. Just so long as you realize that the maximum speed limit anywhere inside the park is 45 mph, it is still....

...26 rather nondescript miles (at least 35 minutes) just to get to Lake.

From Lake, it's a pretty 16 mile drive along the Yellowstone River and through the Hayden Valley to get to Canyon, or

a 20 mile (25 minute) drive along the lake shore to get to West Thumb.

From West Thumb you've got another 17 mile (22 minute) nondescript drive over the continental divide (twice) to get to Old Faithful.

That can be a lot of driving, BUT HEY.....your in Yellowstone!

You can keep what you have but continue calling for inside the park, even everyday, for cancellations. They honestly get a lot of cancellations, especially, closer to the date you want.

My experience is the same as stated above by cd.

While at Yellowstone, don't pass up the opportunity to visit amazingly beautiful nearby Grand Tetons NP.

HTTY

Ok. Thanks all!