Yellowstone Accommodation Advice Please

[crazy Cat Lady]

Hi everyone I know this isn't Disney specific but wanted to get some advice from you fabulous travelers...

Next October we will be visiting Yellowstone as part of a three week trip (plan is to be there the last week of Oct 17). From the looks of it most of the accommodation inside the park will already be closed for the Winter. So I'd like to know from anyone who has done it, the following:

• Realistic travel time (own car) from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful
• Recommendation on mid priced accommodation in West Yellowstone
• What are the lunch options inside the park at that time of year if most accom is closed - do we have to take food in? That could be a bear problem right?
• Should we suck it up and pay through the nose for the accom that is available in the park? This was meant to be a budget trip but if we have to I can probably cut elsewhere.
• Any odd thing that you think we should know/see/do while there?

We've got two nights there and we don't mind getting up early to drive in to the park, but I'd like advice from those who've actually traveled the distance.

Thanks in advance!

 

[shushh]

We were there in late Sep 2011 and spent 3 days at Yellowstone as part of a driving trip around Montana, Wyoming, Utah and South Dakota. We stayed at the 3 Bear Lodge at West Yellowstone.
Taking food in is ok. I'm pretty sure that was what we did on one of our days. You just have to store it and dispose of it properly. There is lots of signage around the park. You can also look it up beforehand.
End of season is a nice time to go. The parks are empty and you can enjoy the beauty of it with no crowds.

Feel free to read through my blog posts and just take the bits that interest you!
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/grand-tetons-and-beyond.html
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/moose-matters.html
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/last-day-at-yellowstone.html

I'm not sure where you are in your planning and where else you're going. It might be worth getting an annual national parks pass if you are visiting others. If you are interested in fishing, it might also be worth considering a fishing license.

 

[crazy Cat Lady]

Thanks so much Shushh. That is great information. The Annual Pass is a great deal, we'll absolutely look into that. I'll be off to read your blog as soon as I finish work today!