The Aspen

We enjoyed staying at the Aspen on our trip. It's close to the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, with a pleasant downtown area and restaurants within walking distance if you feel like walking. Guests can use the laundry and get ice for free in a separate building during the day and evening.

The condo had plenty of room for our family of five and all our road trip stuff, with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and a full kitchen. The beds were one queen, another queen, and two twins. Someone could even sleep on the downstairs couch, so six or seven might fit. It worked well as a base for visiting Yellowstone. We drove in each day, heading south to Old Faithful, east to Grand Canyon, and north to Mammoth. The entrance lines can get long, so leave early. A few restaurants and grocery stores are within half a mile, and the location made for a short drive to the west entrance. The bedrooms felt a bit odd because each window had a large hose attached to a noisy fan/AC unit that took up quite a bit of space. Still, we needed AC one night and heat the next, so being able to control both was useful. The modern interior felt spare and more like a hotel, without much personality.

The two-bedroom condo was wonderful, and we'd stay again. It's a couple of blocks from the busy areas, close enough to walk though we drove. There are grills beside a shared patio with comfortable furniture. Laundry is free, in a separate building.

The king room was very clean, with towels that looked brand new. It didn't have a strong cleaner smell, which I appreciated, and the man in the office was nice. The in-room fridge and microwave were a welcome extra. Trucks on Route 20 went by until 11 p.m.; the owner provides earplugs for the noise. At $324 a night it felt expensive, though the convenience of the location is part of what you're paying for.