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Hotel Review: The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel in West Yellowstone
- Alyssa
- Apr 14
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 22
The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel is one of the most unique places to stay in West Yellowstone, and one of the closest options to Yellowstone National Park’s West Entrance. This historic property is over 100 years old and offers a mix of motel-style rooms and budget-friendly hostel accommodations just steps from restaurants, shops, and gas stations.
We stayed three nights in the Lewis Lake room and paid $592.68 in total. Below is our honest review of what the rooms are like, how the location worked for visiting Yellowstone, and whether we think the Historic Madison Hotel is worth it for your trip.
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Location: Staying at the Historic Madison Hotel in West Yellowstone
The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel is located in West Yellowstone, Montana, just a five-minute drive from the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. This is one of the most popular and convenient bases for visiting the park thanks to its walkable town center and easy access to restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and gas stations.
The hotel sits right in the heart of West Yellowstone’s main lodging and dining area, so you can reach most restaurants and stores in under 5 minutes on foot. The area is safe, small, and easy to navigate, making it ideal for travelers who want quick access to food and supplies before or after exploring the park.
The West Entrance is the closest access point to several major Yellowstone highlights, including Madison Junction, Old Faithful, Biscuit Basin, and the Firehole River area, making this location perfect for anyone planning multiple days inside the park.
Airport Options Near Yellowstone & The Historic Madison Hotel,
The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel is located in West Yellowstone, just minutes from the park's West Entrance. Visitors have two main airport options:
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) – larger airport with more flights
Yellowstone Airport (WYS) – only 3 miles from the hotel
Below is a breakdown of each airport and all transportation options available.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
Distance to the hotel: ~90 miles (about 2 hours)
Best for: cheaper flights, more rental car options, more availability
Trade-offs: long drive, potential wildlife delays, crowded rental car center Bozeman is the most common airport for Yellowstone visitors. Flights are more frequent and usually cheaper than flying into Yellowstone Airport (WYS). The biggest drawback is the 2-hour drive into West Yellowstone.
Transportation Options From International Airport (BZN)
Rental cars (recommended) - ~$256 for 3 days with insurance (Hertz). Expect long pickup lines (~90 minutes). Driving is easy overall, but wildlife such as bison may delay traffic.
Shuttles - Karst Stage ($165 per person, one-way), Old Faithful and Friends ($300 one-way).
Taxis = Summit Taxi (~$360 one-way), Bridger Taxi (~$331 one-way).
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) - Uber (~$204), Lyft (~$212). Easy from the airport, but return availability is unreliable because drivers don’t live in the region.
Tip: A rental car is by far the best option. Yellowstone is massive and cannot be explored efficiently using rideshare or shuttles once you're inside the park.
Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Distance to the hotel: ~3 miles (6 minutes)
Best for: maximum convenience, shortest travel time
Trade-offs: limited flights, limited rental cars, rideshare availability is inconsistent Yellowstone Airport (WYS) is the closest airport to the Historic Madison Hotel, only a short drive or shuttle ride away. It is by far the easiest option for travelers who want to minimize transit time, but flight frequency and transportation availability can be limited.
Transportation Options From WYS (All in One Place)
Hotel shuttle (recommended if staying at Madison) - Free transfers to and from the airport for guests at the Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel.
Rental cars - Only two companies operate here: Budget and Avis. Prices are typically ~$250–$350 for 3 days, not including insurance.
Turo - Cars start around ~$75/day. A flexible option, and some hosts offer hotel delivery.
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) - Technically available, but long wait times are common. Uber example: ~$11 (10-minute estimated wait). Lyft example: ~$12.79 (wait time 5–30 minutes).
Taxi - Yellowstone Taxi serves the airport area. A ride from WYS to the hotel is around ~$16.
Tip: If you’re staying at the Historic Madison Hotel, use the free airport shuttle. It is the simplest, most reliable option, and avoids rideshare wait times or high rental car costs at this small airport.
Check-In, Checkout & Parking
Check-In at the Historic Madison Hotel
We arrived at 7:30 PM and had no trouble finding street parking directly outside the hotel. The official check-in time is 3:00 PM, but travelers should note one important rule:
Guests must check in before 10:00 PM. After 10:00 PM, the staff leaves for the night and there is no late check-in option, so plan travel accordingly.
The hotel is connected to a gift shop, but hotel guests use a separate entrance for check-in.
Once inside, we signed several forms covering hotel policies, including:
No housekeeping during the stay
Parking behind the hotel is prohibited
Street parking only
Do not lock the back door (a unique rule due to the building’s historic layout)
After paperwork, staff went over amenities such as the free coffee and hot chocolate bar, a small lobby seating area with board games and a TV (first-come, first-served), and general expectations like noise being possible in the historic building.
Checkout
Checkout at the Historic Madison Hotel is 11:00 AM, and the process is extremely simple.
At check-in we were told that no formal checkout at the desk is required. Guests can either:
Drop keys in the designated key drop box near the back exit or
Hand keys to the staff at the front counter (what we chose)
There was no pressure to leave early, and we were able to pack up at a relaxed pace before heading out just before 11:00 AM.
Parking
Parking at the Historic Madison Hotel is limited to street parking only.
The hotel prohibits guests from parking behind the building.
Street parking was readily available during our stay.
Because West Yellowstone is a small, walkable town, parking was not an issue.
Room Details: What It’s Like Staying in the Lewis Lake Room
The Historic Madison Hotel, Motel & Hostel is a small and truly unique property. Inside the 100-year-old hotel building, there are only 12 total rooms, six traditional hotel rooms with private bathrooms and six hostel-style rooms that offer only a bed and access to shared bathrooms at the end of the hallway. Every room is different, which adds to the charm but also means experiences vary. For our stay, we booked the Lewis Lake Room, a traditional hotel room with a king bed and a private bathroom. We paid $592.68 for three nights, which was nearly half the price of larger chain hotels in West Yellowstone.
Room Layout & First Impressions
The Lewis Lake Room was small but cozy, with warm colors and rustic wood interior that immediately gave us fall cabin vibes. The space included:
A king bed
A small vanity with a bench
A dresser with a built-in mirror (drawers did not open)
A small accent chair
A wooden log-style bench (better for luggage than sitting)
As a historic property, the room had clear signs of age. Some items had seen better days, particularly the small window AC unit, which was propped up with tape but still functional. Given the price point and the age of the property, this was not unexpected.
Cleanliness & Bed Bug Concerns
During check-in, guests must sign a form agreeing not to bring any of their own bedding. This immediately raised a concern for us about bed bugs, so checking the mattress was our first priority. Thankfully, the mattress and linens were clean and free of any signs of pests, which was a huge relief.
Bed Comfort
Despite being in a historic hotel, the bed was surprisingly comfortable. The mattress had a medium firmness that felt supportive after long days in the park. The thin quilt provided just enough warmth for Yellowstone’s brisk mornings without overheating us at night.
TVs & Entertainment
There are no TVs in the hotel rooms or hostel rooms within the historic building. This may surprise some guests, but it aligns with the property’s rustic, unplugged nature. If a TV is important, these are available only in the motel rooms behind the hotel. For us, the absence of a TV was fine, we were out in the park all day and mainly used the room to sleep.
Bathroom
The bathroom was compact but functional, with a toilet, small sink, and a shower/tub combo. The shower area had:
A window directly above the tub (we joked that we were mooning half of West Yellowstone)
Some mold/mildew around the window frame and grout
A slightly discolored shower curtain
Clean shower floor and shower head
Basic toiletries (2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner, body lotion, bar soap)
We had forgotten our shampoo, so we used the provided 2-in-1. It wasn’t ideal (it dried out our hair), but it worked in a pinch. The toilet was very small, almost child-sized. While not the most comfortable design, it made sense for the limited bathroom space.
Noise Levels
One of the biggest things to know before booking is that the Historic Madison Hotel is, well…historic. The building is over a century old, and:
Floors creak
Stairs creak
Doors creak
Walls are thin
Hallway noise travels easily
We learned this firsthand:
We woke up early from guests heading to the park
Voices and footsteps were clearly audible
Late-night talking resulted in a loud knock from the guest next door (even though we weren’t being loud)
If you’re a light sleeper, bring earplugs or a sound machine. It makes a huge difference.
Furniture & Storage
A few key notes about the room’s functionality:
The dresser drawers did not open, so we lived out of our suitcases.
The accent chair offered the only real seating option.
The log-style bench looked like a seat but was uncomfortable to sit on; it worked better as a luggage rest.
There were a handful of hooks for hanging jackets or bags.
Overall Room Experience
The Lewis Lake Room offered exactly what we expected from a 100-year-old historic hotel: Character, charm, quirks, some cosmetic wear, and a cozy place to crash between days exploring Yellowstone. If you’re the type who values modern luxury, this won’t be your place. But if you want a budget-friendly, historic stay minutes from the West Entrance, and you don’t mind noise or a little vintage character, it’s a memorable and atmospheric choice.
Property Perks at The Historic Madison Hotel
The Historic Madison Hotel sits in one of the best locations in West Yellowstone. You can step outside the front door and be within seconds of cafés, restaurants, gift shops, and even a gas station, everything you need before a day in the park. The hotel is also just five minutes from the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, making it an incredibly convenient home base for early-morning drives into the park.
Lobby & Guest Spaces
Guests have access to a shared lobby space 24/7, which includes:
Multiple seating areas
Board games
A communal TV
Rustic taxidermy decorating the walls (including a full-size bison!)
The space definitely leans into the “Old Yellowstone” theme. At night, the quiet lobby combined with the creaky stairs and life-sized animals staring at you adds a quirky, memorable charm, though it can also feel a little eerie after dark.
Coffee & Hot Chocolate Station
One of the best perks for travelers is the hotel’s complimentary drink station on the ground floor. It includes:
Coffee
Hot chocolate
A variety of flavor packets
Disposable cups, bowls, and plates
A shared mini-fridge for storing small items
This was especially convenient for early park mornings when most cafés were still closed.
Dining Credits & Gift Shop Discounts
Guests receive two nice bonuses during their stay: $10 Food Credit at Timberline Café
Each guest gets $10 toward a meal at Timberline Café, which is located immediately next door. To redeem it, you’ll need both your coupon and your hotel room key.
Gift Shop Discount
The hotel’s attached gift shop offers a small discount for Madison Hotel guests. Just show your room key at checkout. These little extras helped balance out some of the hotel’s more rustic elements and added value to the overall stay.
Food Options Near the Hotel (What to Expect)
We didn’t explore many local restaurants during our stay, most days we grabbed quick meals between long hours inside Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone is a small town with limited options, so expect simple, fast, and convenient food more than standout dining.
Some things to keep in mind:
There are several casual cafés and grab-and-go spots within a minute of the hotel.
Quick options like McDonald's are in walking distance, and they were reliable on days we needed something fast before heading into the park.
Many restaurants close early, especially outside peak summer season, so don’t expect late-night meals.
Picnic/boxed lunches are popular in the area, we grabbed a few and found them useful when spending full days inside Yellowstone.
If you want higher-end meals, Bozeman has more options, but it’s two hours away.
If you stay at the Madison, we recommend planning your meals around your park schedule and keeping expectations simple. The location is incredibly convenient, but the dining scene is more functional than memorable.
Final Verdict: Is The Historic Madison Hotel Worth Your Wallet?
Overall, we paid $592.68 for a three-night stay in the Lewis Lake room and walked away feeling like The Historic Madison Hotel is one of the most memorable, and most character-filled, places to stay in West Yellowstone.
Yes, the room showed its age: the taped window AC unit, a bit of mildew in the shower, and creaky floors remind you that this building has been standing for over a century. But those quirks are part of the charm. Instead of feeling run-down, the property feels cozy, historic, and deeply connected to Yellowstone’s past. Staying here genuinely enhanced our appreciation for the park, the wildlife, and the surrounding landscape.
Despite the quirks, our bed was comfortable, the location was unbeatable, the staff was friendly, and the historic atmosphere made our stay feel unique, something we wouldn’t get from a standardized chain hotel. We both agreed we would happily stay here again, especially in cooler weather when the cozy atmosphere would feel even more inviting.
Who This Hotel Is Best For
Budget-conscious travelers who want a prime West Yellowstone location without paying national-park-town premium prices
History lovers who enjoy unique, character-filled stays
Adventurous travelers who don’t mind creaky floors, thin walls, or a little wear and tear
Park-focused visitors who plan to spend most of their time exploring Yellowstone, not hanging out in the room
Who Should Look Elsewhere
Travelers who need silence to sleep (the walls are very thin)
Anyone looking for modern, polished, resort-style amenities
Guests who prefer brand-new hotels with updated furnishings
If you’re looking for a charming, historic stay steps from Yellowstone’s West Entrance, and you’re okay with some quirks, The Historic Madison Hotel is absolutely worth your wallet.