The Lake Yellowstone Hotel is a National Historic Landmark and a Green Seal Gold Certified hotel. Located on the shores of Lake Yellowstone you can enjoy epic sweeping views over the lake and easy access to other attractions within the park.
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 Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
The hotel recently underwent a full interior renovation in 2014 helping to restore the hotel's colonial revival heritage. The public spaces, guest rooms, the dining room, and the deli were all renovated. All of the rooms within the hotel have a private bath with a tub/shower combination. You can find both queen and king-size rooms within the hotel.
During the summer from the middle of June through the beginning of August, you can enjoy a performance from the Lake Hotel String Quartet in the sunroom on Thursday through Monday evenings. On other nights of the year you can enjoy piano music in the sunroom.
One really cool thing you can do at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel is taking a free walking tour of the hotel. These tours are offered every afternoon and meet in the lobby.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel opened in 1891 and is the oldest operating hotel in Yellowstone. The hotel originally was a basic three-story clapboard building that was built for the cost of $46,000. This 1st hotel provided the first-class accommodation guests wanted including indoor electricity, indoor plumbing, steam heat, and epic views of Yellowstone Lake.
Over time renovations were completed to add more guest rooms. The front gables, the iconic columns, and false balconies and dormer windows. The hotel name was changed to Colonial Lake Hotel.
Today guests can still enjoy the luxurious experience of staying on the shores of Lake Yellowstone.
Room Types
Hotel Rooms
All hotel rooms are located in the main historic building and feature private bathrooms with tub and shower combination and classic furnishings that reflect the hotel's Colonial Revival heritage. The 2014 renovation restored the period character of every guest room while updating fixtures and finishes throughout. Rooms are available with one queen bed, one king bed, or two queen beds. Lakeside rooms offer partial views of Yellowstone Lake. No televisions, radios, WiFi, or air conditioning are available in any hotel room.
- Queen Room
- King Room
- Two Queen Room
- Deluxe Lakeside Queen Room with Partial Lake View
- Deluxe Lakeside King Room with Partial Lake View
- ADA Accessible Hotel Rooms with Accessible Bathroom Features
Presidential Suite
The Presidential Suite is the most luxurious accommodation at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and one of the finest rooms available anywhere in the National Park System. Located on the lakeside of the hotel, it features one king bed, a large separate sitting room, and two full bathrooms including a separate shower and soaking tub. The suite offers a partial view of Yellowstone Lake and is available for guests seeking a truly special Yellowstone experience.
- Presidential Suite with One King Bed, Large Sitting Room, and Two Full Bathrooms
Frontier Cabins
The Frontier Cabins were originally built in the 1920s and completely remodeled in 2003 and 2004, giving them a fresh, comfortable interior while retaining their classic duplex cabin character. Located directly behind the main hotel building in a quiet wooded setting, they offer easy walking access to the hotel's public spaces, dining options, the Sun Room, and the lake. Each cabin is configured as a duplex unit with one or two double beds and a private bathroom featuring a shower only. No televisions, radios, WiFi, air conditioning, or telephones are available. Select Frontier Cabins are pet friendly.
- Frontier Cabin with One Double Bed and Private Shower Bathroom
- Frontier Cabin with Two Double Beds and Private Shower Bathroom
- Pet-Friendly Frontier Cabin (select units)
- ADA Accessible Frontier Cabin with Accessible Bathroom Features
Room Amenities
- Private Bathroom with Tub and Shower Combination (hotel rooms)
- Private Bathroom with Shower Only (Frontier Cabins)
- Coffee Maker (hotel rooms and Frontier Cabins)
- Hair Dryer (all rooms and cabins)
- Alarm Clock (all rooms and cabins)
- Fan (all rooms and cabins)
- Heat (all rooms and cabins)
- Bathrobes (hotel rooms)
- No Air Conditioning
- No Television or Radio
- No WiFi on Property
- Business Center with Computers and Free Internet (available to all hotel and cabin guests)
- No Telephone (Frontier Cabins)
- Seasonal Availability (mid-May through early October)
- Non-Smoking Property
- No Pets in Hotel Rooms (select Frontier Cabins are pet friendly)
- No In-Room Cooking
- Free Self-Parking
- Full-Service Dining at Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
- Lake Hotel Deli for Grab-and-Go Meals
- Reamer Lounge with Full Bar
- Sun Room with String Quartet (mid-June through early August, Thursday through Monday evenings)
- Gift Shop
- Concierge and Activities Desk
- Boat Cruises on Yellowstone Lake (nearby)
- Green Seal Lodging Certified for Sustainable Operations
Click Here to Book Your Stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel
We stayed in a one queen bed with a private bathroom
The hotel room had one queen bed with a nice headboard and bench at the foot of the bed. There is organic Tumblewood Irish Breakfast Tea and Rainforest Organic Coffee. The armoire has an in-room safe, fan, extra blanket, and iron/ironing board.
There are nice recycling and compost bins within the room. The bathroom came with robes, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. There are also small bottles of lotion, sunscreen, and Chapstick branded with the Lake Yellowstone Hotel you can take with you. There were loofah mitts and makeup remover wipes along with shower caps. There is a hairdryer in the room. The shower is gorgeous with white subway tiles and silver fixtures.
The only random thing with the bathroom is you have to close the door to see the mirror and vanity area. You would have to move to make room for another person to open the door to enter the bathroom. It is definitely a bathroom made for one person at a time or you will be very close to each other.
The Yellowstone Hotel also has a presidential suite with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. One bedroom with a king bed and one with a queen bed.
Superior Rooms include one king bed or one or two queen beds on the lakeside of the hotel.
Premium Hotel Rooms have one king-size bed or one or two queen beds.
Standard Lodge Rooms are located in the Sandpiper Lodge and offer one queen or one king bed.
The hotel has accessible rooms with communication accessible rooms and accessible rooms with the same set up as other rooms.
There is a complimentary valet which was a huge plus when we arrived back to the hotel late at night and the back parking lot was packed.
Would we stay here again - Yes, The hotel was beautiful and located right in Yellowstone National Park. While the nightly rate is pricey the amenities and location were amazing.
Book Your Stay at Lake Yellowstone Hotel Now
Restaurants at Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room is the finest dining experience available in Yellowstone National Park, and it earns that reputation consistently. The dining room stands on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, and the menu is creative and upscale, with a commitment to sustainable cuisine using local and organic ingredients that is more evident here than at any other restaurant in the park.
- The dining room is open from May to October for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Dinner reservations are required and can be made ahead of time by calling 307-344-7311.
The Lake Hotel Deli
The deli is located off of the main lobby just down the hall. They are open from May 10 - October 6th.
The deli offers on-the-go options including specialty deli sandwiches, soups, baked goods, and Starbucks coffee. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Reamer Lounge
The Reamer Lounge, named for the architect who transformed this hotel into the landmark it is today, serves as the bar and lounge adjacent to the Sun Room. It offers cocktails, beer, and wine in a refined and relaxed setting, and on evenings when the string quartet is performing, the combined atmosphere of live music, lakeside views, and a well-made drink is genuinely hard to beat. It is the place to be at Lake Yellowstone Hotel when the sun starts going down.
Reserve Your Room at Lake Yellowstone Hotel
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.
Things to do When Staying at the Lake Yellowstone Lodge
🌅 Watch sunrise over Yellowstone Lake from the hotel's sunroom or lakeshore, one of the great morning experiences in any national park
🎻 Enjoy live chamber music in the sunroom during evening hours, a beloved and enduring Yellowstone tradition
🚣 Rent a rowboat or join a guided lake tour from the nearby Bridge Bay Marina
🎣 Fish for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in the lake and surrounding waters
🥾 Hike the Storm Point Trail along the lakeshore for wildlife and sweeping lake views
🦬 Wildlife watch for bison, grizzly bears, and bald eagles throughout the lake area
🌋 Walk the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk, a short drive west, where hot springs and geysers sit directly on the shore of Yellowstone Lake
🐦 Birdwatch for trumpeter swans, white pelicans, ospreys, and loons on the lake
📸 Photograph the hotel's iconic yellow facade and white columns reflected in the morning lake waters
🍽️ Dine at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room, one of the finest restaurants in the park
☕ Relax in the sunroom with coffee and lake views as the morning light deepens the blue of the water below
🚗 Drive the Grand Loop Road north to the Hayden Valley, one of the best wildlife watching areas in the park
🦦 Watch for river otters, trumpeter swans, and white pelicans along the lakeshore and nearby wetlands
🏛️ Visit the Fishing Bridge area and Lake Village for additional park history and natural history exhibits
Book Your Room at Lake Yellowstone Hotel Before it Fills
Things to know when planning a stay at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel
Opens: May
Closes: October
Check-in time - 4:30 pm
Check out time - 11 am
Cribs - Cribs and crib sheets are available from the front desk upon request
Firearms - firearms, both open carry and concealed weapons under permit, are prohibited in Xanterra-operated properties.
WiFi - There is an Ethernet connection in the room
The hotel offers wired internet service and a business center.
There is NO air conditioning, television, or radio in any rooms.
The hotel has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
View the location map of park lodging and cabins at Lake Yellowstone
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/668d9fc09193e822c63b0a1b
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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