Last updated on March 9, 2023
Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park? Straddling Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, Yellowstone is a mighty space covering 3,468 square miles. Accommodation options inside the park are limited, so you’ll most likely want to stay in one of the towns on the edge. Airbnb is an ideal option, especially for social distancing, and there are plenty of Yellowstone Airbnbs to choose from, depending on your priorities.
To save you time, I’ve outlined the best towns for Yellowstone and the best Yellowstone Airbnb options, including everything from apartments to cabins to tents.
Full transparency, I’m now linking to VRBO and Booking.com listings because I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you book through their sites. All these listings can also be found on Airbnb, but unfortunately Airbnb has terminated its affiliate programme, which my business relied upon. So thanks a million if you opt for Booking.com/VRBO. Those commissions are how I keep this site going.
The Best of Airbnb, Yellowstone National Park
Where to stay inside Yellowstone National Park?
If you want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park, there are nine lodgings to choose from: Read more on the official Yellowstone National Park website. These all tend to book up in advance and are more expensive than the options outside the park. That said, you can’t beat them for convenience.
What are the best places to stay near Yellowstone National Park?
West Yellowstone, Montana
West Yellowstone is your best option for sightseeing in Yellowstone. Just one mile from the park’s entrance, the popular mountain town has plenty of restaurants, shops, museums and tourist services. Some of the best Yellowstone Airbnb accommodation options are between here and Island Park.
Island Park, Idaho
Island Park is about 20-30 minutes from the west entrance to Yellowstone and the second best option to West Yellowstone. There are several lovely cabins between the two towns.
Gardiner, Montana
Gardiner is just outside the north entrance to the park. It’s well situated for visiting the east to Lamar Valley, the Mammoth Hot Springs and the area up to Norris Geyser Basin, but it’s quite far from the rest of the park. You could combine a stay here with one of the other peripheral towns, closer to the other area of the park.
Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a cute place to stay en route to Yellowstone, but a little far out for doing days of sightseeing (it’s around 1.5 hours from the north entrance).
Big Sky, Montana
Again, Big Sky is a bit far away (one hour from the west entrance) for basing yourself when sightseeing Yellowstone, but it’s a good stopover option for your journey to and from the park, perhaps on a USA road trip. It’s one of the USA’s most popular ski resorts.
Jackson and Cody, Wyoming
Both Jackson and Cody are on the east side of Yellowstone National Park and also well located for exploring the Grand Teton National Park. They are a popular gateway to park, but not ideal for commuting each day for sightseeing as the traffic is heavy and the distances are quite far. West Yellowstone is a better option for basing yourself for sightseeing, but both Jackon and Cody are ideal for bridging a trip between Yellowstone and Grand Teton. I’ve written a separate guide to the best Airbnbs in Jackson Hole.
Airbnbs in West Yellowstone and Island Park
West of West Lodge
This lovely West of West Lodge is just eight miles from West Yellowstone and offers epic views of the Lionhead Mountain and surrounding peaks. There’s a five-night minimum during the summer season. Sleeping up to eight guests in four bedrooms, and with an open-floor plan and fully equipped kitchen, it’s ideal for groups. Enjoy nights in front of the fire or out on the porch taking in the sunset.
Yellowstone Under Canvas
Enjoy a spot of glamping at Under Canvas Yellowstone where you can stay in cabin-style safari tents, complete with a king-size bed and wood burning stove. It’s the perfect complement to your time exploring Yellowstone. Bathrooms are shared. And they also have a cafe serving food all day. An added bonus: free s’mores every evening to enjoy around the campfire!
What the guests say: “We stayed at Under Canvas for a girls weekend near Yellowstone. We were there on their first day open this season and while things were still coming together a bit (due to snow late in the season) the staff was friendly and accomodating. It was rainy during our stay and our tent stayed perfectly dry.
“We were impressed with the little touches (packs to charge our phones in the tent, help with lighting our wood stove, extra blankets if needed). Overall Under Canvas and the restaurant (Embers) really made our stay in West Yellowstone great. We would definitely return!.”
Yellowstone Getaway
A group of up to six can share this bargain of a townhouse in the heart of West Yellowstone. Curl up in front of the fire after a day exploring and cook feasts in the full kitchen. The home is spread over two floors and has two bedrooms, one with a queen and the other with two doubles.
What the guests say: “Joyce’s place was perfect for our trip to Yellowstone. It was our first time to Yellowstone and also opening weekend and Joyce provided us with great tips that made our trip great. Her place was clean, cozy, warm, and was just what we needed after a long day of exploring the national park.
“We had 6 people and everyone had a comfortable bed to sleep on and communication was excellent. My friends and I highly recommend Joyce’s place for anyone wanting to explore Yellowstone!”
Raven’s Heart – Charming Cabin
Raven’s Heart is a sweet and cosy cabin, sleeping four on a double bed and sleeper sofa. There’s an outdoor area with a grill and it’s a popular spot for fishing. Conveniently located in the Old Town of West Yellowstone and close to the park entrance.
What the guests say: “This little cottage was a perfect fit for my husband and I to enjoy our trip to Yellowstone. It had everything we needed and more to get by for 4 days. The house was extremely clean and the host left some great little welcome gifts.
“Location was perfect with a nice little restaurant/bar next door. We had a great time and hope to return some day to stay longer in this wonderful cottage in a great down to earth little town.”
Blue Ribbon Bungalow
This one-bedroom, open-plan bungalow with a fully equipped kitchen is just five minutes’ from the park entrance and in the heart of downtown. If you’re happy being cosy, it can sleep up to 8 guests at a bargain price (there are two queen beds in both the bedroom and living room).
What the guests say: “Fantastic, updated retreat close to Yellowstone NP and fishing! This is a true home away from home that is sparkling clean with amazing hosts! We highly recommend this home!“
VRBO listing: Blue Ribbon Bungalow
Booking.com listing: Charming cabin
Price: From $209 per night
Sleeps: 8 people
Imperial Elk Lodge
Just 10 miles from the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park, the gorgeous Imperial Elk Lodge is surrounded by mountains, meadows and forests. Built in 2020 to a luxury spec, it’s a beautiful, comfortable space that makes the most of the surrounding nature with views from every room. It sleeps up to 12 and is spacious inside and out. There’s even a hot tub, which is open year round. It’s about 10-15 minutes from the park.
What the guests say: “Our stay here at this cabin was just wonderful. Everything is brand new and the cabin is so beautifully decorated. Every amenity you could think of was also included and the hosts were super quick to respond to all of our needs. The views are absolutely breathtaking from this place also. We would be back in a heartbeat.”
Big Springs Bungalow
A 30-minute drive from West Yellowstone, this comfy two-bed cabin, Big Springs Bungalow, is a peaceful getaway, close to several restaurants and planty of places for hiking, rafting and kayaking. There’s a spacious loft, fireplace and space for up to eight guests.
What the guests say: “Karen’s cabin was a wonderful space for our family of 4. The kids had there own space upstairs and we had ours downstairs. I love all the bear decor. it had everything we needed. The neighborhood was wonderful and the store down the street was very reasonable for groceries. The cabin was only 20/25mims from West Yellowstone entrance.”
Aspen Heights Cabin
This classic woodland cabin, just 20 minutes from Yellowstone, is an atmospheric place to stay, decorated with plenty of homemade wood furnishings and kitted out with all modern amenities. It’s surrounded by trees and comes with a porch area for for BBQs and an area for camp fires. It’s nice and spacious with four bedrooms two baths and a living space.
What the guests say: “This place was an amazing place to say! Really cozy place and was well stocked with amenities. Owners were awesome to deal with and very helpful! Suggest this place all day long”
Yellowstone Cabin Retreat
This cosy cabin with mountain views in Island park Village is 20 minutes’ drive from Yellowstone and sleeps up to 10 people. It’s ideal for family getaways.
What the guests say: “Excellent property and management! Perfect distance from Yellowstone to get you away from the bulk of the visitors yet close enough to reach the park within 20~30 minutes.
“Great ‘feel’ in the lodge/cabin with great view of the mountains and provision of almost every utensil, appliance, and staple one would need for an extended stay, with plenty of ‘extras’ to make you feel at home. Well done at this property and just the right price.”
Airbnbs in Gardiner
Yellowstone River View
This beautiful 1920s cabin overlooking the Yellowstone River has gorgeous panoramic views and all the comforts of home. It’s been recently renovated to a high spec and can sleep up to 6 people
What the guests say: “This is an amazing cabin with warm, welcoming vibe and incredible views out over the Yellowstone River from the kitchen window while cooking and enjoying dinner! The piano, games, and books were enjoyed by the kiddos and adults alike! Jess and Shane were really welcoming and have tons of great suggestions as to local activities. We look forward to staying here again!”
VRBO listing: Yellowstone River View in Gardiner
Price: From $360 per night
Sleeps: 6 people (3 beds)
Airbnbs in Big Sky and Bozeman
Big Sky house with mountain view
This new luxury chalet has huge floor-to-ceiling windows with epic views of Lone Peak and the surrounding landscape. It has a modern open floor pan and comes with luxuries including a hot tub, games room, outdoor fireplace and fully equipped kitchen.
What the guests say: “Beautiful and well appointed house with stunning views of Lone Peak from the floor to ceiling windows (and hot tub). Couldn’t imagine a better house for a ski weekend for a family or friends. Owners were very responsive to questions and Uber helpful. House is a short drive from the Big Sky base area.”
Airbnb listing: Big Sky house with mountain view
Price: From $400 per night
Sleeps: 8 people (3 bedrooms)
The Blue Barn on Yonder Farm, Bozeman
This barn near Bozeman is a fun place to stay en route to Yellowstone, but would be too far away to commute. Located on the 147-acre Over Yonder Farm, it has a lovely private location complete with a pond for swimming in,
What the guests say: “This is a fantastic Air B and B!! The barn was quaint and cozy. The basketball court upstairs was fantastic especially for our 9 year old! We had a great experience here and wished we could have stayed longer! The host greeted us and offered us to explore the land and meet the animals- very accommodating!! We hope to come back again!”
Airbnbs near Grand Tetons
I have written a full post on the best Jackson Hole Airbnbs as there are so many good ones. There’s an example below, but see the full post for plenty more options.
Pearl at Jackson
This luxury lodge in downtown Jackson is just steps from the town square but with magnificent mountain views. The whole place has a luxury feel with high ceilings, a large private hot tub, fine furnishings and artwork throughout. You also get access to a full fitness centre, yoga and fitness classes, ski shuttle and spa services.
What the guests say: “This place is perfect for 2-4 people! I don’t think there is a better place to stay for a fun getaway to Jackson for a small group. We had a blast. And the private hot tub with a view was the amazing icing to an already delicious vacation!”
All photos courtesy of Airbnb.
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