Where to stay at Yellowstone

Question

We are planning a family trip to yellowstone.

Which side do you recommend staying at - West Yellowstone or Jackson Hall?

Please include why you suggest that and any suggestion you have hotel-wise.

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

West Yellowstone is at the West Entrance and takes about 5 minutes to get into the park. Jackson is a 1/2 day drive from Old Faithful area and extremely expensive.

I recommend West Yellowstone. Much nicer crowd and good (reasonably priced) food. The Grizzly Bear Discovery Center is in West and is a great family thing to do. Also The Yellowstone Historical Center. There are rodeos all summer.

Check it out at: http://www.westyellowstonechamber.com/

As far as in the park, your cheapest options are the cabins at Mammoth, Roosevelt, Canyon, etc. Pricier options are Old Faithful Inn or Snow Lodge and Lake Hotel.  

Answer 2

Jackson Hole is a nice little town, with a downtown. It's close to the Grand Tetons and some other attractions. We stayed at a mom-and-pop hotel a little outside of the shopping area, which was fine. But that was to see the Tetons and the immediate area.

In Yellowstone, we stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge. It's much better to be in the park. You get a better flavor of the place that way, and the prices are more reasonable. West Yellowstone is a bit out of the way, and you have to do extra driving if you stay there while exploring. It will do, of course, if that's what your budget calls for, but I'd look at the other two first.