Lodging

Yellowstone

Lodging at Yellowstone requires careful planning. First, while there are campgrounds and RV lots, given the problems with Black and Grizzly Bear and frequent hostile weather, we think camping is not a wise option. We've seen campgrounds evacuated due to a foot of snow on July Fourth. And we see continual problems with Bears. So we recommend staying in one of the nine lodges. On your first stay, or your first in several years, we recommend staying in Old Faithful Village. It's centrally located, so your drives to the various attractions in the park are reasonable. It's a huge park, so this is a serious consideration. Then, we further recommend that if it's your first stay, or your first in several years, you stay in Old Faithful Inn. It's historic. It's the foundation of the style of architecture now called Parkitecture. It's such an incredible building that in itself it's one of the park's major attractions. To have time to fully appreciate it, you need to stay there.

At least once you need to stay in the historic section. This was the original part of the lodge, before the wings were added. The historic rooms (see photo below) have been tastefully updated with modern beds and sinks, but share a bathroom down the hall.

It's not just the historic section which is primitive. There's no wifi, no AC, no TV, no telephones. When you come to Yellowstone, you step away from civilization for a week.

In 1902, architect Robert Reamer was commissioned to design a building "quirky, rough and tumble, echoing the Nature of the park itself." A walkway ran along the roof peak (see top photo), and guests had a 360 degree view of the entire upper geyser basin. The walkway is now closed. All the materials in the Inn were either logged or quarried within the park. The central lobby (photo above) rises 76 feet. Most of the logs and branches are from Lodgepole Pine. The 41 foot fireplace is of lava rock. Originally elite guest rooms opened directly onto the first floor lobby, but in 1927 they were removed to make room for a gift shop, registration desk, snack bar, offices and Old Faithful View area. The current dining room was added in 1922.

Today Old Faithful Inn has 327 rooms. 87 of those are Old House rooms with shared baths (see photo, right). The other 53 of the Old House Rooms have had baths added.

There are elevators in the wings but they're not always working and repairs often take several weeks. However, bell hops will take your luggage up and down the stairs for you.

The bathrooms may be down the hall, but they're very upscale in an old fashioned way. The showers in particular are luxurious.

If Old Faithful Inn is already full, your next option is The Snow Lodge, right across the parking lot. Snow Lodge is open year round to serve Winter visitors. Its rooms are much more modern and all have bathrooms. Prices are about the same as the Inn and you still need reservations a year in advance.

The Obsidian Dining Room here is considered by many to be the best restaurant in the park. There's also the Geyser Grill and a well stocked bar.

You're right across the parking lot from the Inn and from Old Faithful.

Your final noncamping option at Old Faithful Village is the assortment of historic 1920s cabins circling Old Faithful Lodge and administered through the Lodge. These have all been tastefully updated with modern beds and sinks but rest rooms and showers are in a separate building. The big advantage of the cabins is that they're the most affordable lodging in the park : $150 a night and up. There's no wifi and no AC but there is heat. You still have to make your reservations a year ahead. The Lodge itself has a cafeteria, snack bar, and bakery, but no actual rooms. It is, however, an impressive 1920s building, including huge timbers and great views of Old Faithful Geyser.