Best Western By Mammoth Hot Springs

Although it's a chain hotel, this BEST WESTERN PLUS has a rustic look that blends seamlessly with the surrounded rugged landscape. A large asphalt parking lot connects the three buildings, all of which are brown-colored and a little shabby looking from the outside. One building faces the Yellowstone River and a wooden deck overlooks the river. There are a few wooden wagons on the grass near the building. The small lobby is Western-themed, with horse motifs and framed photographs of the area, and the seating area features a pair of well-worn red leather couches. The peaceful sound of the moving river can be heard from open windows throughout the hotel. The majority of guests are families and couples visiting Yellowstone Park.

The hotel sits on the main road in Gardiner, adjacent to a restaurant and casino on one side, and a horse stables on the other. The Yellowstone River runs along the back of the hotel. In general it's a quiet area with elk and other wildlife sometimes walking about. A handful of restaurants and shops are within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. The entrance to Yellowstone National Park is a five-minute drive away, while Roosevelt Arch is about a three-minute drive from the hotel, or less than a 20-minute walk. Mammoth Hot Springs will take 15 minutes to reach by car and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is less than 90 minutes away by car.

Some rooms are more rustic than others, with log bed frames in the Suites, but all rooms offer hints of this hotel's mountain theme, with nature prints on the walls and lamps featuring moose and bear silhouettes. It's a homey look, and verges on dated, with tan carpets that could use an update, simple mid-tone wood furniture, and unintentionally retro design elements like sunken whirlpool tubs in the bedrooms in some rooms. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, modern mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers, but the carpets could use an updating. Rooms on the river are by far the best option, as the rushing water can be heard when windows are open and wildlife can occasionally be spotted. Suites are spacious and ideal for families, with sofa beds plus full kitchens with stoves, ovens, full-size fridges, and all of the necessary utensils to make meals. Bathrooms are standard for this category of hotel, with long granite counters in the main body of the room in most units, plus shower/tub combos and toiletries. Rooms with in-room whirlpool tubs only have walk-in showers. 

This BEST WESTERN PLUS has a large indoor pool and a hot tub, though there's certainly a vintage look to the space, with a large deck around the edge and a few pieces of plastic furniture. A steam room and sauna are also available. There's a steak house and gift shop next door that's also home to a small "casino." This is where the hotel's free breakfast buffet is served, though it doesn't get enthusiastic marks from previous guests. Pets are allowed for an extra fee and free cookies and dog biscuits are available in the lobby every afternoon. Outdoor parking is free, as is Wi-Fi, though it can be spotty in some areas of the hotel. A small meeting and presentation room is also available.