Review of Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel, Plus Other Lodging Options in Yellowstone Area

This is a guest post from my cousin-in-law Jen. Like us, her family has recently visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks. In fact, that’s who I got the idea from in the first place. Thanks, Jen!

Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel 

We recently got back from eight days in and around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. One of the definite highlights of our trip was staying at the Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel. 

When I was contemplating booking a Yellowstone trip earlier this year, I came across these tipis while searching for different places to stay using Chase Ultimate Rewards. Once I saw them, I knew we had to go. They definitely are not easy on the budget, but I don’t regret the splurge. For two nights, the price was $789.82 or 52,654 Ultimate Rewards Points via CSR card. 

There are 14 tipis arranged on the property with a community fire pit and shared restrooms. Don’t let the shared restrooms scare you from staying here. They were large and extremely clean.  Each bathroom unit had a private shower and a toilet, ideal for families with small children. Every tipi was occupied, but in the two days we were there, we never had to wait for a bathroom to be open. 

 The tipi itself was spacious. Even with four people plus luggage, we had plenty of room. Two full-size beds and linens were top notch, so we slept great. 

There are two heaters, so even if a cold snap hits, you’ll stay warm. I thought the owners really thought of everything to make it as luxurious and comfortable as possible. Adult- and children-sized robes were provided, as well as flashlights and umbrellas.      

We loved the community feel of this place. There were several families, as well as few couples staying while we visited. We enjoyed meeting people from all over the US and other countries. My children loved making friends and playing each evening with the other kids. 

Every night there is a campfire with complimentary s’mores, beer, and wine. Everyone would gather around talking about their adventures of the day and offer suggestions on things you must do and see the next day. I enjoyed meeting the owners and their family around the campfire. You can tell that they really put their heart into making this place special.   

Warning: Your kids will enjoy their time here so much, they will be begging to leave Yellowstone early so they can get back to the hotel. We were in and around Mammoth Hot Springs area, and my kids kept asking to go back so they could race boats with their friends in the stream at the campground. We finally gave in and headed back only to find that another family had come back early because their child was begging to do the same thing.        

This was our first experience with glamping and we are hooked now.

Here are a few other places we stayed: 

Old Faithful Inn

We spent two nights at the Old Faithful Inn in the old section (shared bathroom.) I liked staying at this lodge which is so full of history. The rooms in the old house (two queen beds) are quite reasonable at $167 a night. Booking this room was tough, and I had to stalk the website for several months before I saw a cancellation.

Leana mentioned a little bit about our stay here in her post. While we did enjoy it and are happy we stayed here, it did feel quite crowded and busy. It wasn’t our favorite place on this trip. We also stayed one night at the Snow Lodge. This is much newer and had a bathroom in the room. This cost was $300 a night. You are basically paying for the location here. No character or history, but it’s right beside the Old Faithful Inn, so it’s convenient. 

Hibernation Station 

I was pleasantly surprised by this place in West Yellowstone. I booked our room as just an overnight after we landed in Bozeman and before we headed into the park the next day. I paid 20,000 Chase points for this stay, and I really wish I had booked a few more nights here. Our cabin at The Hibernation Station was decorated so beautifully with a western motif and had a fireplace, a Jacuzzi tub and a kitchenette.

The beds and linens were just perfect for cold nights. My daughter commented that she felt like Laura Ingalls sleeping here. West Yellowstone is a very convenient base for visiting Yellowstone from the west entrance.  

Hampton Inn Jackson Hole 

We stayed two nights at the Hampton Inn in Jackson Hole (sorry, I don’t have any pictures) while we were exploring Grand Teton National Park. Cost was 60,000 Hilton points per night. I thought this was a great value, as the cash rates were over $400 a night. If we go to Jackson again, I’d probably like to stay in a cabin or lodge, but this hotel was adequate and a good use of my Hilton points.  

It was nice to get outside of the park for a bit and enjoy more dining options. We loved the town of Jackson and are dreaming of visiting over winter in the near future. We found a free park in town that had bouldering walls, and my kids enjoyed climbing them so much that they begged to go every day we were there.

Click here to view various credit cards and available sign-up bonuses