Inexpensive lodging needed @ Yellowstone

[Early Bird]

Well! I had an eye-opener. We want to take a late summer vacation to Yellowstone.

Even the MOTEL 6 is $90/ night !

Any ideas?

[Early Bird]

Was that Holiday Inn Express near Yellowstone? If so, I WANT THAT PHONE # !

[Darlene]

There's quite a few here.http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-348693-comfort_inn-i

saw this too.http://www.nationalparkservices.org/...tone_3bear.htm

[Early Bird]

Thank you much! I bookmarked both!

[CatherineID]

I live in Idaho and frequently have to drive through to Wyoming so I end up hitting the Yellowstone and Grand Teton area frequently. One time I was with my grandchildren and on an impulse decided to stay the night in the Yellowstone area - west entrance which is in Montana. What a madhouse! I was driving around calling motels from my cellphone while parked out front in my car because I couldn't kept dragging the kids in and out of the car. I finally gave up and started to search farther from the park.

On a whim I checked out the KOA campground which is a few minutes out of town. Koa's now have facilities called Kamping Kottages (they have Kamping Lodges and Kamping Kabins, too). The Kamping Kottages are BEAUTIFUL and even have heat, a bathroom with a shower and a kitchen! I paid something like $64 for that night.

The facilities don't have sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, cookware or utensils but that wasn't a problem. I was able to pull together bedding for me and the grandkids from the car (what kid doesn't travel with their favorite blankie?) and I found some hand towels that got us through showers. If I had flown into the area I probably would have bought some supplies from a local thrift store (or WalMart) and donated the stuff to a charity when I was done. Cooking was no problem as there are tons of places to eat out and the KOA has a breakfast service (at least coffee was available). Besides, so much can be bought at the grocery store that needs nothing more than a microwave - which was available at the Kottage.

The Kottage we had was wonderful! It was cleaner than most motels. The view was lovely and each Kottage has a little porch swing out front. The KOA facility has an indoor swimming pool that is open until late night and there are cycle-carts available for rental (fun for kids).

When we travel now we definately look for a KOA with Kamping Kottages or Lodges. They're a GREAT DEAL.

[Early Bird]

Wow, Catherine! I hope you get a brownie point for posting that!
I didn't know they had showers -- AND A KITCHEN!

I wonder if they fill up fast?

[Early Bird]

EEEK! The Kamping Kottages are now $135/night. But they look nice.

Did you, by any chance, go off-season?

Now ... can I live w/out a bathroom?

[CatherineID]

I definately wasn't there off-season. As a matter of fact, the only reason I got the place was because some bikers had rented it but decided to leave because they didn't have bedding. The KOA membership isn't very expensive and worth it for the discount.

There are some nice areas outside the park and a bit of a drive away. Look in Idaho on the way to the west entrance. Anything near the south entrance - the Teton / Jackson area - will be VERY expensive. I do know there are a few B&B's in Jackson. There is a website just for Wyoming B&B's. You can Google to find it. I wouldn't recommend the east entrance. It's a long, tedious drive and any facilities are more geared to the hunter/fisherman. Think rustic withOUT any qualities of quaint. I've never approached the park from the north so I can't help you there.

Good luck! It's definately a beautiful area and you're bound to have a terrific time.

[Early Bird]

Thanks again Katherine.

What an interesting story -- bikers! (probably a middle-aged man and wife, (all kinds of people bike nowadays) but I picture 4 young men covered with muscles and tatoos!)