Yellowstone area accommodations that aren't $$$?

[wavepool]

We're going to Montana in July and we're looking for something in the Yellowstone area to stay one night on our way there. We'll be coming from either the south or the east (depending on where we can find to stay), so it could be a community outside of Yellowstone in either of those directions. We only need one night, it will be the two of us adults and our one year old, so we need room for a pack n play. 
We need a place on July 15 and would love for it to be under $200, but it's not looking like that's going to be easy to do. Bonus if it's outdoorsy (but not tent camping). We love the idea of the Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, but they're booked.
Thanks!

[gringachef]

We live outside of Denver & have driven to Yellowstone a few times. We've entered from both the East side (stayed in Cody) and the South side (stayed in Jackson Hole).

We needed a last minute room in Jackson Hole over the 4th of July one year & ended up at the Anglers Inn which I was concerned about but it ended up being completely sufficient, esp for the price. Anything in July around the park is going to be costly for what you get. 

I believe we stayed at either the Cody Hotel or the Kings Inn in Cody. Also completely fine for a budget-friendly spot. 

[sunshinedaydreams]

You say no tent camping, but how about something like a KOA? They have cabins in a lot of their locations that are pretty nice and typically dirt cheap.

My family did an RV trip to Yellowstone last year and we stayed at the KOA in Red Lodge, MT, then took the Beartooth Pass into Yellowstone. I highly, highly recommend taking this route. It was SO stunning going over the pass. It's a windy, slow-going route, but it's so worth it.

[wavepool]

Mar 22, 2014 14:04:45 GMT -5 sunshinedaydreams said:

You say no tent camping, but how about something like a KOA? They have cabins in a lot of their locations that are pretty nice and typically dirt cheap.

My family did an RV trip to Yellowstone last year and we stayed at the KOA in Red Lodge, MT, then took the Beartooth Pass into Yellowstone. I highly, highly recommend taking this route. It was SO stunning going over the pass. It's a windy, slow-going route, but it's so worth it.

 I'm not normally anti-tent-camping--we do it around our house frequently in the summer. This will be our first trip with our almost one year old, so we're thinking we won't want a tent for this trip. Thanks for the KOA cabin suggestion. I hadn't thought of that! Thanks for the route recommendation, as well. We will look in to that. It's been overwhelming to read about all the different routes and attractions in the area and we'll really only have one day there to see the best of the best.

[wavepool]

Mar 21, 2014 21:49:49 GMT -5 gringachef said:

We live outside of Denver & have driven to Yellowstone a few times. We've entered from both the East side (stayed in Cody) and the South side (stayed in Jackson Hole).

We needed a last minute room in Jackson Hole over the 4th of July one year & ended up at the Anglers Inn which I was concerned about but it ended up being completely sufficient, esp for the price. Anything in July around the park is going to be costly for what you get. 

I believe we stayed at either the Cody Hotel or the Kings Inn in Cody. Also completely fine for a budget-friendly spot. 

The Anglers Inn looks like something that could work. I'll also check out your Cody suggestions. Still trying to decide which way we're going in. Thanks!

[gringachef]

Mar 22, 2014 15:20:21 GMT -5 wavepool said:

Mar 21, 2014 21:49:49 GMT -5 gringachef said:

We live outside of Denver & have driven to Yellowstone a few times. We've entered from both the East side (stayed in Cody) and the South side (stayed in Jackson Hole).

We needed a last minute room in Jackson Hole over the 4th of July one year & ended up at the Anglers Inn which I was concerned about but it ended up being completely sufficient, esp for the price. Anything in July around the park is going to be costly for what you get. 

I believe we stayed at either the Cody Hotel or the Kings Inn in Cody. Also completely fine for a budget-friendly spot. 

The Anglers Inn looks like something that could work. I'll also check out your Cody suggestions. Still trying to decide which way we're going in. Thanks!

I don't know where you're coming from so that makes a difference but we always go in one way & out the other to optimize the amount of things we get to see/do. We have a 3/12 yr old DD & would love to go to Yellowstone but think we'll wait 1-2 more years to take a road trip like that. Have a great time!

[wavepool]

Mar 23, 2014 13:24:33 GMT -5 gringachef said:

Mar 22, 2014 15:20:21 GMT -5 wavepool said:

The Anglers Inn looks like something that could work. I'll also check out your Cody suggestions. Still trying to decide which way we're going in. Thanks!

I don't know where you're coming from so that makes a difference but we always go in one way & out the other to optimize the amount of things we get to see/do. We have a 3/12 yr old DD & would love to go to Yellowstone but think we'll wait 1-2 more years to take a road trip like that. Have a great time!

We're coming from SC Kansas and we're planning on going through the Dakotas on the way home, so we only have one shot at Yellowstone this trip! I imagine we will be back when he's older, but it works out for us to go this summer because of the wedding and we have plenty of time off to drive, so we're going to try it!