Yellowstone Big Rock Inn

The room was a good size, with two queen beds, a sofa, a desk and chair, and a nice bathroom. It was also a budget-friendly place to stay, which we appreciated with everything inside the park so expensive. We were glad we chose Big Rock Inn. We visited Mammoth Hot Springs in the early evening, drove the ten minutes back to Gardiner for dinner, stayed the night, then headed farther south into the park the next day.

Our third-floor room had a kitchenette and worked perfectly for us. The balcony view was spectacular, and bars and restaurants were close by. Driving around town, we decided this was the best hotel at a reasonable price. No complaints.

The staff were top notch, but the room had problems. For all three nights, crawling insects kept appearing around the bathroom and sink, and we found one on the bed. Other reviews have mentioned this several times. The health department needs to visit. The towels and washcloths were old and so worn from washing that my rags are in better condition. There was no breakfast. We travel through the summer and spend four to five months a year on the road, staying exclusively in hotels. As I've said before, nothing beats Drury Inn & Suites: lower prices than other chain hotels, a full breakfast buffet, and a full dinner buffet. We choose Drury Inn & Suites whenever we can.

For a Yellowstone trip focused on the north, this is a good choice. The room was huge, the beds comfortable, and the one staff member we spoke with was nice. Each room seemed to have a mountain view, with chairs and a small table outside. They also provided window cleaner and a squeegee for cars, and bear spray was available to rent. We were told at check-in that there'd be no daily cleaning or towel replacement during our two-night stay. That was fine with us, and we could get fresh towels by leaving the used ones on the chairs outside. Gardiner's food options aren't the best, and getting back here from the bottom of Yellowstone is a bit of a trek, so the location works best if you're exploring the northern part of the park.