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Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it!

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Property grounds
Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, free WiFi
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire cabin

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 80 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
    Parking available
  • Washer
    Washer
  • Barbecue grill
    Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor Space
    Outdoor Space
  • Kitchen
    Kitchen
  • Air conditioning
    Air conditioning

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it!

If you've been surfing Gardiner, Mt on VRBO, you have got to be asking yourself: What is with all these cloned cabins? Let me explain. My cabin and the others were part of the former Yellowstone River Resort. The resort was initially built in 2000 to provide lodging and meals for the Elderhostel programs in and around Yellowstone National Park. In 2005, the owners offered the cabins for sale to individuals. The majority were purchased as rentals or second homes. The exteriors and floor plans are the same. For the most part, it is only the decor that varies and perhaps a few gizmos.

My cabin (#11) is the only one locally owned and operated. As such, I am able to offer significant savings over my neighbors (as much as $10-$40/night) depending on the time of year. The cabin is set off a bit from the other original cabins and is oriented for the mountains views. You can Google Earth the place at 45 degrees 04' 16.65" N 110 degrees 46' 24.31" W (no airstrikes, please). I maintain the cabin personnally and make myself available to answer questions and provide information to help you make the most of your stay. In return, you supplement my livelihood. I trust that this will always be a fair trade.

Regardless of whether you stay at my place, my neighbors' or elsewhere in the Gardiner area, you are well positioned to explore Yellowstone. As a tourist, fly fisherman or an attendee of the educational programs offered by the Yellowstone Association, the North Entrance provides the best gateway to the Grand Loop and Yellowstone's most sought after features.

For further information on me and my place, refer to the link to my website. For information on lodging providers (some not necessarily on VRBO), you also may want to check with the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce.



Keywords: Cabin

Property manager

Wade Peck

Languages

English

Property amenities

Ski

  • Snowboarding and cross-country skiing nearby

Internet

  • Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Spices
  • Ice maker
  • Electric kettle

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • TV with cable/satellite service
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • On the waterfront
  • Near a hospital
  • Near a zoo

Things to do

  • Rock climbing nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hiking nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Sledding nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector installed (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • Fire extinguisher
  • First aid kit
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1 sq ft (0 sq m)

Similar properties

Terrace/patio
Yellowstone Riverfront Cabin, Sleeps 9, $171-$325/nt, 300 yards to Yellowstone
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (185)
Yellowstone Riverfront Cabin, Sleeps 9, $171-$325/nt, 300 yards to Yellowstone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

Property is also known as

Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it!
Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it! Cabin

About the neighborhood

Map
Gardiner, Mt

What's nearby

  • Yellowstone Hot Springs - 11 min drive
  • Roosevelt Arch - 16 min drive
  • Parks' Fly Shop - 17 min drive
  • Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 18 min drive
  • Mammoth Hot Springs - 30 min drive

Getting around

  • West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone) - 112 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Wonderland Cafe & Lodge - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Cowboy's Lodge & Grill - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Yellowstone Perk - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Iron Horse Bar & Grill - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Outlaws Pizza - ‬19 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it!?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it! located?

This family-friendly Gardiner cabin is located on the waterfront, just steps from Gallatin National Forest and Yellowstone River. Parks' Fly Shop and Yellowstone Hot Springs are also within 6 mi (10 km).

Looking for an Alternative to a Big Box Motel? We're it! Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 110 out of 113 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 113 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 113 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 113 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 113 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location. Awesome, wide open spaces, quiet, wildlife, amenities, friendly host.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Yellowstone getaway
This cabin is the perfect place to start and end your day. Super clean, very well equipped kitchen, a wonderful patio to enjoy coffee in the morning and a glass of wine at night. The area is very quiet and the dark sky at night for star gazing was amazing. Check in could not have been easier. I highly recommend this as your home.base for visiting the park!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Thomas O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Way more than we expected
Arrived to an impressive, fully stocked cabin with everything we needed Even had bear spray 5 miles from the Northern Yellowstone park entrance Super convenient Wade, the owner, very responsive and took care of everything Will definitely use again if in the area
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Daniel J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely mountain cabin perfectly located
Wade was a pleasure to deal with, answered all the questions we had and the whole process was super easy. The cabin is perfectly located just a few minutes from Gardiner and from the North West entrance to Yellowstone. (Seriously the only complaint I have is the 5 mile gravel road to the cabin... We were on a Harley and it was really rough on the bike.) That said, the vote of devil's slide every morning was beautiful. The cabin had EVERYTHING we could possibly need. We had a herd of elk come visit one evening. The town of Gardiner is welcoming and quaint. We loved our stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

James R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Cabin in Gardiner
Cabin was immaculate clean with everything you would want in the kitchen. The views were spectacular and the host easy to deal with.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mica H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing Yellowstone Stay
We had the best time staying at cabin #11. Wade made sure that everything we may need was there. There was thought put into it, not just a place to stay! We saw antelope as we sat on the back porch. Elk were all around. The cabin was immediately clean. The washer and dryer were so nice to have. I have zero complaints and hope to stay again one day! It’s not far from Yellowstone and yet still away from all the people of gardiner. It’s a quiet retreat!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mark G., Johnson Creek, WI

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic place near Yellowstone NP
A spacious cabin with a great view of the Gallatin range and the Yellowstone River on the border of Yellowstone NP. Elk and Pringhorn Antelope were common in the area. The cabin was clean and had all the amenities and a back patio. Beds were comfortable and AC was available. We had a great stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Patricia C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great property
We enjoyed our stay. The cabin was clean and provided everything we needed plus more. We liked watching the pronghorn in the meadow in the morning. Very peaceful. The only thing I didn’t like was the rough gravel road from Gardiner to the cabin. But the cabin itself made up for it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Todd H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay
What a great place to stay just outside of Yellowstone. Beautiful views front and back. Close enough to town but far enough away. Wildlife right outside the door almost daily. All of the amenities that you need. Quiet. This property is down a 4.5 mile gravel road that is fairly well maintained. The upside is that there is very little traffic by the cabin, keeping things very peaceful; a tradeoff that is a no-brainer for me. At the end of the road is the Roosevelt Arch and the entrance to Yellowstone. Thanks, Wade. It's a trip we'll never forget.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Allison L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Slice of Heaven
1st let me say, " don't hesitate on booking this cabin! " You will regret missing out on a great location within a few miles of YNP Northwest entrance. Mountain views and wildlife right out the back porch. The cabin has the perfect setup. My husband, son and I had a bedroom ( 2 queen beds ) and full bathroom to ourselves and my parents had the same thing to themselves. The fully stocked kitchen, washer and dryer, super comfy couch in the livingroom and porch with glider benches and a place to eat were icing on the cake to our stay at Wade's cabin! He even let us borrow a cooler and bear spray! We had an amazing stay and will definitely come back to this slice of heaven in the future. Thanks again Wade!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

joy g., Greenwood sc

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay!!
Well equipped had everything we needed. Loved the location and view. Owner very helpful. Enjoyed evenings on the patio with an amazing view. Would definitely rent again and would highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shannon A., United States

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Yellowstone cabin
The cabin was perfect for our family of five. Plenty of room for everyone and everything was provided. The view from the back porch was amazing and perfect for my morning coffee. Loved the easy access to the north entrance of Yellowstone. This cabin was a perfect place to relax after spending a long day at the Park.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dean W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent
Great location, great property. Highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fabulous
We stayed for 3 nights on our Yellowstone leg of our trip. Beautiful views from the property. Felt like coming home every night. Wade was very easy to communicate with. We had a wonderful experience and would definitely stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Renee S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful cabin
This house is perfect. Clean, fully furnished with everything you need. Perfect base camp for Yellowstone. Elk and pronghorn and deer out back door. Love it
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jack G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Jack
Quiet, clean, great location. Even got a chance to walk down to river and caught some fish. Very relaxing.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Doug B., Johns Creek, GA

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect home base for a week in YNP!
Our stay couldn't have been any better. The cabin was perfect for our needs. We spent most days waking very early to head into the park before sunrise for photography and wildlife. We'd return most days right after sunset. The elk were in the field outside the front of the cabin and sometimes in the area outside the back porch. The bull elk were bugling a lot - what an experience! One very morning we woke and saw the aurora borealis while the elk bugled in the distance and a few shooting stars flew by - magical. The cabin is nicely appointed and comfortable. We enjoyed the short drive into Gardiner (10-15 min) and would frequently see wildlife (elk, pronghorn, coyote, skunk!, etc.) on our drive out or in. Wade was great with communication on a few questions we had. We would stay here again. This time it was just the two of us but there would be room for more if we return again with more family/friends. We've vacationed close to YNP ~10 times and this ranks as one of our favorite places.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Taylor H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Stay
This property was perfect, a great place to stay on your trip to yellowstone. It is very close with easy access to the park, and we loved watching the elk come up to the back porch while drinking coffee every morning.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cecilia K.

Liked: Cleanliness
We loved it!
The scenery from the cabin windows was beautiful! The cabin was spacious, clean, well stocked with utensils and spices for cooking, and filled with information to make the most out of our trip to Yellowstone.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Great stay at wades place- perfectly outfitted and great communication and check in process
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tera R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic place!
Perfect spot to serve as home base for our Yellowstone trip. The views were amazing! The cabin was clean, well stocked, and quiet. We enjoyed seeing the nearby elk herd. Absolutely recommend staying here!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Beverly P.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great experience
A wonderful place to stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent stay
Property was very clean. Loved the proximity to Yellowstone. Saw elk and pronghorn everyday in the open fields next to the cabin. Highly recommend!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sharon G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Absolutely lovely!
This cabin was more than we expected. The bedrooms and bathrooms are appointed like a hotel, with luggage racks and wall lamps etc, but with the added homey touches (lodgepole bedframes, lovely quilts), it didn't feel like a hotel. The rest of the cabin was just like home. It's roomy enough that 5 days with 5 people residing there didn't feel cramped, especially with two large gliders, a single glider, and "picnic" table on the patio. You do not need to bring anything except your clothes, beach towels if visiting any of the swimming/bathing spots in the area, your food, and yourselves. The kitchen is fully equipped, even with a spice rack and condiments in the fridge. Washer/dryer works well. Three queen beds and a double - our family of 5 slept comfortably. It is quiet and peaceful, with a bunny that visits the corral across from the cabin morning and evening, elk and antelope in areas around the cabins. The quickest route to Gardiner is the dirt road from the cabins (about 8 miles to the Roosevelt Arch); it's kept fairly well but is still a dirt road, thus a few potholes and washboard sections (OK for trucks, SUVs, and miniSUVs but maybe not so great for sedans). Wade is a respectful, nonintrusive host, and you can tell he loves his cabin. It is clean, clean, clean, and comfortable. Worth every penny. I will stay here again in the future and have recommended it to anyone who will listen. 🙂
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dani S., Adel, IA

Liked: Cleanliness
Couldn’t have been more perfect for us!
We absolutely adored this property and will definitely stay here again! The location was incredible, you just take a gravel road a few miles outside of the Roosevelt arch and there you are! This cute little cluster of cabins has Yellowstone on one side, the Yellowstone river on the other. It had everything we could need and the setup was perfect for us! We had a little power outage one night (the whole town) and Wade was very easy to reach and provided prompt updates. The best part of the place was the back patio where we lounged on the rockers and watched the elk & pronghorns in the evening. We cannot wait to get back to this place, probably the best part of our trip!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023