Here are my top finds for Canyon & Grant Areas of Yellowstone NP
🏨Lodges: Canyon Lodge, Grant Village, Lake Yellowstone Hotel
📍Tours: Yellowstone Lake Morning Kayak Tour with Lunch, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Loop Hike with Lunch
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Lake Lodge Cabins at Yellowstone National Park
Picture yourself sitting in a rocking chair on an expansive lodge porch after a full day of exploring Yellowstone. You see Lake Yellowstone in the distance, the sun setting, and bison and elk grazing. This is your evening routine at Lake Lodge Cabins.
This is what staying in the Lake Lodge Cabins makes possible and it's impossible from any hotel 60+ miles from the heart of the park.
What makes staying in the Lake Lodge Cabins special is staying 15 minutes from Hayden Valley, the "Heart of Yellowstone," where wildlife encounters aren't occasional, they're daily.
The amount of bison and elk around this area is ridiculous. I'm not exaggerating, I've seen an abundance of wildlife in this area during every single stay.
What We Loved
Staying in this area of the park feels like you are staying in a wildlife theater. We saw bison and elk daily, sometimes right outside my cabin. We even seen wolves in Haden Valley!
We cherished the quiet and peaceful nights. There's something special about being somewhere where you don't hear the sounds of everyday life, especially when you look up into the sky and see more stars than you can count. These are the moments my mind begins to calm down from a world of constant inputs and diversions and begin to reconnect with nature.
Overall Rating
I would rate the Lake Lodge Cabins a 4.5 of 5 stars.
Sure you can find a hotel with all of life's amenities like TV's, kitchens, air conditioning, high end appliances, etc. but then you are really missing the whole experience of going to Yellowstone.
My only deductions are for the sparse electrical outlets and the beds are on the firm side with limited pillows.
From my years of being a park ranger, I would always tell people that a year from now nobody will remember what was on TV that night, but the experiences in nature last for years!
Room Types and Amenities
The Lake Lodge is located on the shores of Lake Yellowstone and has 186 cabins with three different room types. 66 of the 186 historic cabins were refurbished in 2023.
There are 10 ADA-accessible cabins available, however the main lodge and cafeteria may require assistance for wheelchair users as there are no curb cuts.
The Lake Lodge and cabins are a non-smoking, non-vaping facility and cooking is not allowed in the cabins.
Western Cabins
Western Cabins come with 2 Queen sized beds, a shared porch, full bathroom, heat, coffee maker, hair dryer, alarm clock, and a fan.
Rooms do not have air conditioning, TV, telephone, or radio. Select cabins are pet friendly.
Frontier Cabins
Frontier Cabins have one or two double beds (full size), full bathroom with shower only, heat, coffee maker, hair dryer, alarm clock, and fan.
Pioneer Cabins
Pioneer Cabins are the most rustic and simple cabins available. The Pioneer Cabins have one or two double beds (full size), bathroom with only a shower, and heat.
Cabins do not have air conditioning, TV, alarm clock, telephone, radio, coffee maker. No pets allowed and no cooking is allowed either.
Lodge Amenities
- Free self-parking
- Restaurant and lounge on-site
- shopping on-site
- Laundromat
- Ice/vending
- Main lodge with large porch offering spectacular rocking chair view of Lake Yellowstone
- Beautiful lobby with two fireplaces
What's not included
- No internet service
- No air conditioning, this is okay, as the average high does not reach above 70 degrees except for July and August. July and August have an average high temperature of 79 Degrees and the temperature cools off quickly at night. The lodge sits at 8,000 feet in elevation!
- No TV
- No Radio
Lake Lodge Cabin Map
My Experience staying Cabin #A03 a 2 Queen Bed Western Cabin
We have stayed at Lake Lodge Cabins on several occasions and love them! They are perfect for people who end up spending all day exploring the park and getting in touch with nature without paying the price for a historic lodge like The Old Faithful Inn.
The amount of elk and bison we saw surrounding this area was ridiculous! I could just sit out on that porch all day
On our last trip, we stayed in cabin #A03, a Western Cabin with 2 queen beds, a shared nightstand, a larger dining/work table, and a dresser with a private bathroom.
I feel these cabins are perfect for exploring the eastern portion of Yellowstone including the West Thumb Geyser Basin, Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake.
I will say that the bed mattresses are very firm. They had two small pillows for each bed so if you are someone who loves pillows you may need to request more or bring your own pillow.
We were there in mid-July and there is no air conditioning in the cabins, but there is a fan. We were able to open the window and sliding glass door before we went to bed to get some cross ventilation with a plug-in fan to cool the cabin down.
We did find the sliding glass door was unlocked when we first got to the cabin. This is well worth checking before you leave any gear or your stuff in the cabin and head out to explore.
Overnight the cabin was really quiet and peaceful. When I got up in the middle of the night you could see hundreds of stars glowing.
The bathroom has a deep tub with a shower and toilet. The sink is just outside the bathroom near the main room. The shower had amazing water pressure!
The tub is fairly deep so if you have any knee or mobility restrictions it may be hard to step up into.
One tip is to not judge the cabins by how they look on the outside. The grounds appear a bit worn and the roads have several potholes.
There are very few electrical outlets in the room so you may want a charging bar especially if you need to charge multiple camera batteries or phones.
Book Your Lake Lodge Cabin Now
Dining Options
Wylie's Canteen
- Season: Early June through early October
- Operating Dates: Exact dates change by year
- Serves: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Dress Code: Casual
- Reservations: First-come, First-served.
Wylie's Canteen offers American fare like breakfast burritos, oatmeal, yogurt, and English muffin sandwiches for breakfast and hamburgers, Bison dogs, and salads for lunch and dinner.
We stopped in for both breakfast and dinner. I had the Sausage, egg & cheese on English muffin for breakfast and was good and filling. Perfect for a full day out exploring the park.
In the evening I had the Wylie's Beef Burger and was pleased again. Wylie's is very casual, you wait in line and order what you want. I really like this for breakfast as I was able to get it to go and ate in the car while heading to Hayden Valley.
Practical Information
Check-in Time - 4 pm
Check out Time - 11 am
Accessibility - 10 ADA rooms are available (Call 307-344-7311 to request an ADA unit)
Smoking - All rooms and facilities at Yellowstone National Park are non-smoking.
Cooking is prohibited in all accommodations.
Wifi - Wifi, Internet, and cell service in Yellowstone are limited or nonexistent.
Televisions, microwaves, radios, rollaway beds, swimming pools, and air conditioners are not available.
GPS Coordinates - 44.5550856, -110.3957481
Address - 459 Lake Village Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
Closest Airports
(JAC) Jackson Hole Airport is 2.5 hours, and 60 miles south. Airlines that provide year-round service include Alaska, American, Delta, and United.
(BZN) Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is 2.5 hours, 90 miles North with year round service from Alaska, American, Delta, and Southwest. Seasonal service from Allegiant, Frontier, JetBlue, and Sun Country.
Weather by Season
June (Early Season)
- Highs: 60-70°F
- Lows: 35-45°F
- Expect cool mornings, warmer afternoons, and possible snow
July and August (Peak Season)
- Highs: 70-80°F
- Lows: 40-50°F
- Warmest months
- Potential afternoon thunderstorms
September (Shoulder)
- Highs: 55-70°F
- Lows: 30-45°F
- Cooler temperatures, and amazing wildlife activity.
Best Yellowstone National Park Tours & Activities
Yellowstone Lake Morning Kayak Tour with Lunch
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (206+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🛶🌋 Check Rates and Availability
This morning kayak tour is one of the most unique ways to experience Yellowstone, Guests will paddle on Yellowstone Lake for approximately 6 miles along the shore of the West Thumb. Geysers and hot springs visible only from the water are a highlight, along with frequent wildlife sightings including elk, waterfowl, bears, and bald eagles along the shoreline. A full brown bag lunch with sandwich, fruit, chips, and snacks is included, along with hot coffee or tea, a kayak, paddle, life vest, paddle jacket, and dry bag. Suitable for first-time kayakers and experienced paddlers alike.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Rim and Loop Hike with Lunch
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Stars (407+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 6 hours | 🥾🏔️ Check Rates and Availability
This guided loop hike is one of the most spectacular half-day experiences in the park and a favorite that many visitors call the highlight of their entire trip. Unlike the Lamar Valley hike, this one focuses on Yellowstone's dramatic canyon country, hugging the rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River with jaw-dropping views of the Upper and Lower Falls before looping through forest trails to hidden lakes, mud pots, and steam vents that most visitors never find on their own. A packed lunch is included, along with bear spray and binoculars.
Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Yellowstone and Grand Teton
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars (67+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours to 1 day (self-paced) | 🚗 Check Rates and Availability
This GPS-triggered audio driving tour covers both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in a single purchase, making it one of the best values available for road trippers exploring the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Powered by GuideAlong, the narration fires automatically as you reach each stop, covering Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Jenny Lake, Mormon Row, and more, with 550-plus points of interest across both parks. Works fully offline once downloaded, so no cell service is needed anywhere in the park. One purchase covers everyone in the vehicle with no expiry, and you can start, stop, and resume any time across multiple days. Reviewers consistently say they would have missed major sights without it.
Click here to find more great Yellowstone National Park Tours.
Nearby Yellowstone Attractions
- Yellowstone Lake - It is hard to believe that Yellowstone Lake covers 131.7 square miles and has 141 miles of shoreline.
- Old Faithful - Old Faithful is one of the big icons of Yellowstone National Park.
- Mud Volcano - Just up the road from West Thumb this is a great thermal area that has a really nice trail around it.
- Hayden Valley - Explore one of the best places in Yellowstone to see wildlife.
- Black Sand Basin - This is a great boardwalk trail through a thermal area near Old Faithful.
- Biscuit Basin - 3 miles north of Old Faithful this geyser basin includes Jewel Geyser, Mustard Spring, Black Opal, and Sapphire Pools.
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone - See the largest waterfall in Yellowstone.
- Yellowstone Waterfalls - There are a couple of great waterfalls near the Mud Volcano area.
- Grand Teton National Park - From this part of Yellowstone, it is a fairly quick drive to the south entrance of Yellowstone and on to Grand Teton.
Click Here to Book Your Stay at the Lake Lodge Cabins
Lodging Options in the Canyon and Grant Area
⭐️ 3.9 of 5 Stars - Canyon Lodge and Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
Yellowstone's largest in-park lodge with over 500 rooms and cabins, sitting just half a mile from the breathtaking Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its thundering Upper and Lower Falls!
Choose from modern lodge rooms and suites in the Cascade and Dunraven Lodges featuring mini-fridges, coffee makers, hair dryers, and elevator access, or Western and Frontier Cabins with private bathrooms and shared front porches. The Canyon Lodge Eatery food hall features multiple dining stations including Grab and Go, Slow Fast Food, and Fresh Wok, plus the Falls Cafe, Washburn Lookout snack bar, and an Ice Creamery. Pet friendly cabins available. Open mid-May through late October!
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The oldest operating hotel in Yellowstone National Park and a National Historic Landmark, a stunning 1891 colonial masterpiece sitting directly on the shores of Yellowstone Lake with sweeping water views!
The iconic Sunroom with its floor-to-ceiling windows and live string quartet is the most celebrated gathering place in the park, perfect for afternoon cocktails while watching bison wander the lakeshore. Choose from elegant hotel rooms and suites in the main historic building, Sandpiper Lodge rooms, or rustic lakeside cabins with private baths. The full-service Lake Hotel Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with reservations required, while a deli and gift shop round out the amenities. Free parking and porter service included. No WiFi, TVs, or air conditioning, keeping the 1920s ambiance gloriously intact. Open mid-May through early October, book well in advance!
⭐️ 3.9 of 5 Stars - Lake Lodge Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The most relaxed and affordable way to stay on Yellowstone Lake, with a classic log main lodge featuring a wide front porch lined with rocking chairs and unobstructed lake views that rival anything in the park!
The 186 cabins come in three styles ranging from the basic rustic Pioneer cabins to the spacious and renovated Western cabins, all with private bathrooms, heat, coffee makers, and fans. Wylie's Canteen serves casual American comfort food with lake views, the Map Room Bar is perfect for post-hike drinks, and a gift shop and coin-operated laundry are on site. No WiFi, TVs, or air conditioning. Pet friendly in select cabins, free parking. Open early June through early October!
⭐️ 3.8 of 5 Stars - Grant Village Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The most modern and family-friendly lodging option near Yellowstone Lake, sitting on the southwest shore just 2 miles from the spectacular West Thumb Geyser Basin where hydrothermal features bubble and steam directly into the lake!
The 300 motel-style rooms are spread across six lodge buildings featuring private bathrooms, heating, fans, and coffee makers, with pet friendly rooms available. On-site amenities include two restaurants, a bar and lounge, gift shop, general store, coin-operated laundry, and the closest lodging to the South Entrance for visitors arriving from Grand Teton National Park. Free parking and open late May through late September!
Click this link or the map below for a complete list of hotels and vacation rentals in the Gardiner, Montana Area.
https://www.stay22.com/embed/668d9fc09193e822c63b0a1bBook your Lake Lodge Cabin before they fill
After multiple stays at Lake Lodge Cabins, I can comfortably say this is one of Yellowstone's best lodges for sitting around and watching wildlife. Here is what you get staying here:
Legendary Porch Experience
Those rocking chairs overlooking Yellowstone Lake? They're not just there for photos though everyone takes them. They're for morning coffee with elk grazing in view, evening wildlife watching, and star filled nights that remind you why you came to Yellowstone.
Yellowstone's Premier Wildlife Theater
The amount of elk and bison we saw around the Lake Lodge isn't normal, it's RIDICULOUS! While most visitors are driving around searching for wildlife, you get to watch from your cabin or lodge porch!
The Booking Reality
The Lake Lodge's 186 cabins can fill up months in advance, especially in July and August.
If you're reading this thinking "I'll book next week," there's a good chance your preferred dates and cabin type will be gone, especially summer weekends.
Check Lake Lodge Cabin Availability Now
Can't Get Your Exact Dates?
Try booking in the shoulder season (June or September).
The moment you're sitting in those rocking chairs watching the elk and bison walk by or watching what seems like an endless amount of stars at night, you'll understand why we keep coming back.
The wildlife show is waiting, don't miss your front row seat.
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Yellowstone National Park Information
- Yellowstone National Park Guide - Your complete guide to exploring the world's first National Park!
- Things to do in Yellowstone - These are the top things to do that you don't want to miss, including exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Museum of the National Park Ranger, Yellowstone Waterfalls, Kayaking in Yellowstone, fishing in Yellowstone, Fairy Falls Trail, and more!
- Yellowstone National Park Facts - Learn more about our 1st National Park and fun facts about the wildlife in the park.
- Yellowstone Wildlife Guide- Complete Guide to seeing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park, including the most popular wildlife viewing areas, including Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
- Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Lodging Guide - This complete guide to all of Yellowstone National Park's Lodges and cabins
- Ultimate Yellowstone Camping Guide - This complete guide to camping in Yellowstone includes all front country campgrounds
Yellowstone Geyser Basin Areas
- Upper Geyser Basin, including Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Old Faithful Geyser.
- Midway Geyser Basin, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Firehole Lake Drive.
- Lower Geyser Basin, including Fountain Paint Pot Trail and Firehole Canyon Drive
- Norris Geyser Basin-This basin is known for having some of the hottest water and springs in the park. It is actually two basins: Porcelain Basin and Black Basin, with famous geysers, including Ledge Geyser, Cistern Geyser, and Steamboat Geyser.
- West Thumb Geyser Basin - Beautiful boardwalk trail with hydrothermal features right next to Lake Yellowstone!
- Mud Volcano - The Mud Volcano area is Located south of Canyon Village and North of Lake Yellowstone. It has several hydrothermal features, including a mud volcano and Dragon's Mouth Spring.
Additional Montana National Parks
- Complete Guide to Grand Teton National Park - Your complete guide to go explore Grand Teton National Park before or after you visit Yellowstone!
- Epic Guide to Glacier National Park - Complete guide to exploring Glacier National Park
- Little Bighorn Battlefield - Also known as Custer's Last Stand, a place where the Plains Tribes fought their last major battle and won.
- Big Hole National Battlefield - site of the pivotal battle in the Nez Perce War of 1877 between Colonel Gibbon's troops and five bands of the Nez Perce Indians led by the famous Native American Leader, Cheif Joseph.
- Grant Kohr's Ranch National Historic Site - See what ranch life was like in the 1800s in Montana
Check out all of the Wyoming National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Utah, National Parks in South Dakota, National Parks in Nebraska, National Parks in Montana, Idaho National Parks, and Colorado National Parks.
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