Unique Lodging in Montana's Yellowstone Country

This Tuesday marks National Plan for Vacation Day, a call to plan your vacation days at the beginning of the year to combat burnout and improve well-being. We’ll admit, the first time we heard of this, we may have been a bit flippant about it, but on further study, the reasoning is valid. According to the U.S. Travel Association, half of working Americans forfeit their paid leave, a statistic that genuinely surprised us, given that our interest in travel runs deep.

In addition to taking a much-needed respite from daily life and connecting with family and friends, or even a relaxing solo excursion, there are practical reasons to plan early. Here in Montana’s Yellowstone Country, holidays, spring break and summer vacation tend to be our busiest times of year, and to be sure you get the accommodations and tours you want, booking early is advised. For the skiers and riders in the mix, you can get the best deal on ski tickets by booking in advance online. And the dining in our region is top-notch, so you’ll also want to make a few dinner reservations if you have some specific restaurants in mind.

As for unique lodging, the options are fantastic. Guest ranches are known for their summer activities, but there are some that offer winter stays that are simply magical. B Bar Ranch in Paradise Valley has 20 km of groomed trails with varying levels of difficulty, plus yoga, ski touring and night sky viewing. In the Gallatin Canyon, the 320 Guest Ranch is centrally located between Big Sky and West Yellowstone, perfect for those who want to explore both Yellowstone National Park and Big Sky Resort. And, their appetizer sleigh rides are lovely excursions with wild game chili, hot and adult beverages and ranch stories by a campfire.



If you’re looking for a historic stay, The Pollard in Red Lodge, The Grand in Big Timber, The Murray in Livingston, or the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks, all take you back to the days of the early west, featuring classic Victorian design coupled with modern comforts (like cozy beds and great food!)

Come summer, you may want to explore one of our glamping options. Under Canvas has two locations — one in West Yellowstone near the West Entrance to Yellowstone, and one in Paradise Valley near the North Entrance. These nicely sized canvas tents boast king-sized beds with plush linens, ensuite bathrooms, wholesome food and some fantastic night sky viewing. Yellowstone Tipis, also near Gardiner, offers guests a stay in luxurious tipis with access to several outdoor recreation opportunities, including whitewater rafting, horseback riding and even a combination day including both!



Boutique hotel lovers will want to check out RSVP, The Sapphire Motel, and the Lewis and Clark Motel in Bozeman. All three are renovated motor inns that now combine lovely interiors with an affordable price tag and luxuries such as champagne on arrival at RSVP, or the eucalyptus steam room at Lewis and Clark.

And finally, if you’re traveling without kids, the 1872 Inn in West Yellowstone is an adult-only boutique hotel, The Outpost Montana is a self-check-in micro-hotel in downtown Belgrade (just a short drive from the airport), and Treasure State Hostel is the area’s only hostel, located in the heart of the action in downtown Bozeman.

We hope you’ll consider visiting us soon — and for your sake, don’t let that PTO go!