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Just as diverse as the area’s landscape, which fades from small Western cities into vast lengths of open prairie and forested mountains, are its accommodations. In the population centers lodgings range from new chain hotels with wireless Internet access to elegant and historic stone inns decorated with buffalo skins and Victorian furniture. Move beyond these cities, however, and everything changes. Campgrounds abound in the open countryside. On the prairie, expect sprawling guest ranches alongside cold mountain-fed creeks. In the higher elevations, look for charming bed-and-breakfasts on mountain slopes with broad alpine vistas. But whatever the type of accommodation, all kinds of amenities are available, from the ordinary to the unconventional, including saunas, hot tubs, horseback riding, fly-fishing lessons, and square dancing. Perhaps the greatest benefit of all, however, is the isolation. In what some might call a welcome change in this era of information overload, many rural lodgings don’t have in-room televisions or telephones, and vast stretches don’t have cell-phone service.
Located in Hot Springs State Park on the banks of the Big Horn River and by far the best hotel in town, this handsomely restored 1918 hotel has spacious rooms with attractive Western log-cabin-style furnishings, and suites have fireplaces. Guests can take a dip in the seasonal courtyard pool or soak in the private hot tub, fed directly from geothermal mineral springs. The hotel is a short walk from several other hot springs pools inside the park.
Although the exterior of this motel near downtown and the Stagecoach Museum is unremarkable, the lobby is attractive, with a ceramic-tile floor, hardwood trim, and wrought-iron tables and lamps. There are some extra-large rooms that can accommodate up to eight people.
The simple but attractive single and duplex log cabins here are pure Western, right down to the pitched-roof beam ceilings, iron bedsteads with horseshoe designs, and bathroom wallpaper printed with boots and cowboy hats. High-thread-count sheets and soft duvets ensure a restful sleep.
With a covered wagon on the front portico, an indoor pool, and an outdoor playground, this U-shape motel is an inviting place for families with kids.
The standard-size rooms are rustic but warm, and service is friendly at this affordable, locally owned motel in downtown Lusk. It's within walking distance of area restaurants.
About 15 miles west of Cody and 30 miles east of Yellowstone National Park's east entrance, this sprawling property offers basic accommodations in a mountain setting on the Shoshone River. Most rooms are in a motel or duplex cabins, but there are two larger suites in the main lodge. There's also an RV and tent camping park.
This all-suites hotel incorporates Western themes into a thoroughly modern and eco-friendly property. Exposed timber, tile accents, and a sunset-and-ochre color scheme connect you to the land. Meanwhile, flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and Wi-Fi keep you in touch with the rest of the world. Green features include reclaimed wood trim from old structures inside Yellowstone National Park, natural bamboo-fiber fabrics, and organic soaps and shampoos. Some rooms have hot tubs and fireplaces.
