Roosevelt Hotel - Yellowstone — Hotel in West Yellowstone

So, me and my wife planned a trip to Yellowstone National Park via the North entrance. This was our first trip ever. We flew into Bozeman, MT and I did ALOT of searching beforehand. Honestly, there are ALOT of places to stay in Gardiner, MT (small town) but the best review stars I could find was this place so I decided to pick it.

Advantages or pros

1. Close to the north entrance of park ~5-8 minutes only.
2. The town is small with restaurants (I think most closed at 8pm but 2-3 are open until 9pm on weekdays), gas station, grocery store, & gift shops.
3. Small coffee area/breakfast area
4. They stocked the rooms well. Lots of towels.
5. Bed was very comfortable as was the bed mattress and comforter.
6. Staff are VERY nice. I think his name was Samuel, very nice and did not charge us one day for the pet.
7. Room was definitely clean on our arrival: no bad odor, bed well made, no trash etc.

Disadvantages or cons

1. The room wall is thin. I can hear people from nearby room and you can hear the water running in their room.

2. The hot water was a BIG issue for us & hence the 1-star for room service. When we called front desk, they said the buildings are new and to let it run for awhile before it gets hot. We had to let it run for at least 25-minutes for a hot bath (I personally timed it). To me, this was a major deal breaker because after long day at park, I need a good shower.

3. Room needs more hanging areas for towels to separate used towel from unused.

4. Air conditioner: I am a person who needs the room cold to sleep. Despite me adjusting the AC, the room did not get cold enough to my liking. (This is more personal choice--my wife likes it hot).

5. Trash: Unless I misunderstood but I think we have to take our own trash out before leaving? I have stayed in handful of hotels (probably more than anyone doing a review here) & never had that a requirement. Of course, we always take our trash out and we are extremely clean people but having this as a requirement not sure I like it.

6. If traveling with pet, there is not alot of areas to take your dog out. And careful because alot of the grass that is available in other area has elk poop. lol

7. Location: We gave 4 star because it's close to park. Otherwise, our room is in back area where there is absolutely ugly site of old broken down cars throughout your drive to hotel room. That was unsightly and took away from the "Mountain View". And giving it 4-stars is generous.

Overall, if you take the average of the stars we gave it, it still exceeds 50% so if you stay in Gardiner, this is still the place. I think the above definitely needs improvement but how do you make walls thicker now that the building is built? And how do you tell residents in the area to get rid off broken down cars? And how do you fix the plumbing for the hot water when the buildings are...

• Cleanliness: Frequently described as “very clean”, with an average rating between 9.2 and 9.6/10. • Location & Accessibility: Excellent location, very close to the Yellowstone National Park entrance, making access easy and convenient. • Staff Service: Many reviews mention friendly front desk staff and efficient check-in/check-out procedures. • Rooms & Beds: Guests often say the beds are comfortable and the rooms are spacious. • Breakfast: Basic continental breakfast (mainly coffee and pastries). Some guests found it a bit minimal.

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✅ Checkpoints • Check-in: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM • Check-out: by 10:00 AM • Parking: Free self-parking available • Pets: Not allowed (service animals only) • Elevator: No elevator – stairs required for upper floors

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🛏 Why We Recommend It Close to the Park Entrance – Perfect for early morning Yellowstone exploration. Scenic Views – Great for enjoying nature right from your room. Clean & Comfortable – Well-maintained rooms, comfortable beds, and friendly service. Cabin Options Available – Ideal for families or longer stays; includes kitchen facilities.

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💡 Booking Tips • Cabin vs. Room: For families or those who need a kitchen, go for a cabin. For couples or solo travelers, a Queen or King room is more than enough. • Breakfast: Since the complimentary breakfast is quite basic, consider bringing your own food or visiting nearby cafés. • Book Early: Summer and weekends get booked fast – make reservations as early...

Our room looked nothing like any in the posted photos. It really is just a standard 2-3 star motel room - didn’t even feel like I wanted to take a pic of the room. Zero views whatsoever. Really wished we didn’t pay USD 300 to stay at a room that’s like any other motel on the same road. Location close to the Park entrance is good but so is everything else in this small town.||It’s clean… that’s about the only other positive I can think of. Has a fridge and freezer in the room but you’d have to go to the front office to use a microwave. ||We arrived a bit after 9 am after driving from Spokane WA, and the front desk was lukewarm at best. All the light fixtures inside the room were cool-white which gave everything in the room an eerie, clinical glare, the opposite of cozy. (If management is reading this - please at least use warm white, even if it must be eco friendly not tungsten). ||There were also at least two dozen small bugs swarming the ceiling light, and they fell off sequentially (onto our beds) as the night gets on. Swatted one big fly that wouldn’t leave us alone, and later, 3 mosquitoes in the bathroom for 10 minutes before I dared to take a shower. Even though this is close to nature and bugs shouldn’t be unexpected, we deeply regretted forgetting to pack the...