Gorgeous Yellowstone Winter Getaways with Family Snow Tours

One of the country’s most impressive national parks is featuring Yellowstone winter getaways for select dates through early March. Plan now to experience this vast park — a favorite of all ages. You’ll agree that Yellowstone National Park shows off the best winter wonderlands found across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

With the Xanterra Parks & Resorts “Frosty Fun” and other lodging packages, get up close to nature for a special adventure in Yellowstone. The discounted offer is now available at the the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Although park trails are only accessible by snowcoach, snowmobile, snowshoes or skis, there’s much to see on a winter family getaway.

Frosty Fun at Yellowstone National Park

The Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the park’s newest hotel, completed in 1999. Nonetheless it is well designed and very convenient for winter sightseeing. Snow Lodge is in the heart of the Upper Geyser Basin, within walking distance of Old Faithful.

Familes like this lodge because the lobby’s several fireplaces make it cozy enough for evening board games and lingering over hot cocoa. Extra package perks include daily breakfast, a welcome gift, unlimited ice skate rental and ice skating on the Mammoth rink. Their Snow Card is good for additional 10% discounts on select gift shop items, tours, rentals and meals.

Only Snowcoaches or your own snowmobile can access the Snow Lodge in deep winter. Once there, take advantage of escorted tours to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, Firehole Canyon, and the Lone Star Geyser trail. Alternatively, explore on your own. It’s easy to rent cross-country skis or snowshoes from the lobby gear shop. There’s so much to see and do on a Yellowstone winter getaway that you’ll appreciate the discounts on transportation services and tours.

Mammoth Hotel to Remain Closed for Winter 2022-2023

Mammoth Hotel, opened in 1937 near the north entrance by the hot springs, is a long time national park favorite lodge. This is the place to find Hot Tub Cabins where the family can soak their cares away together.

Sadly, the severe flooding that closed the park this past summer damaged the hotel’s wastewater treatment plant. While Mammoth Hotel will not open to overnight visitors until late 2023, the lobby, ski shop and coffee shop can be visited this season. Do drop by, if only for a nostalgic selfie.

If the Mammoth Hotel was your dream getaway, book now for the 2023-2024 winter season because it’s sure to sell out.

Yellowstone Winter Getaways Pricing for 2022 Season

The Old Faithful Snow Lodge has lodge (hotel style) rooms, full Western cabins and more modest Frontier cabins for rent. Since there’s nothing else open in the park, we think kids will be happy to have a hotel base with a few shops, full- and quick-service restaurants and lounges available on the premises. 

Book Frosty Fun and other offers to travel between Dec. 15-21, 2022 or Jan. 3-Mar. 5, 2023. The two nights lodging with breakfast and more starts at $489 per person, double occupancy. The child’s rate is $35 for ages 11 and under. Multigenerational families should note that single room rates start at $919 so you may want to invite a friend. Taxes and fees are included but not the national park entry fee.

Remember, a winter season trip to Yellowstone requires advance reservations for rooms as well as transportation.

Yellowstone Educational Getaways With Activities Included

Yellowstone educational tours are ideal for ages 12 and older. There is lots of choice here depending on your interest.

Try “Lodging & Learning Winter Packages” which were developed with the Yellowstone Forever Institute. The focus is on teaching participants the basics of winter life in Yellowstone. This year, there are five-day programs about wolves and six-day programs focused on Old Faitful. Each program includes expert naturalist guides, accommodations, in-park transportation, some snowshoe tours, some meals and a Snow Card. Note: For the 2022-2023 winter season, these packages will be limited to using the Old Faithful Snow Lodge Hotel.

Getting Around and To / From Yellowstone

Except for the road from Gardiner, Montana to Cooke City, Montana via Mammoth Hot Springs, transportation within the park is limited to snowmobiles and enclosed heated snowcoaches during the winter. Snowcoach transportation is available daily to a variety of park locations. Xanterra, the park concessionaire, also offers a wide range of half- and full-day snowcoach, ski and snowshoe tours as well as ski and snowshoe rentals and instruction.

While you’ll have to rely on others to get around the park because it’s blanketed in such deep snow, you won’t have to worry about driving through storms to get there, either. There is an airport shuttle from Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport providing a convenient option for traveling to/from the park. Package participants receive discounts on the adult and children’s rates.

Winter packages through Xanterra can be booked by calling 307/344-7311 or on the website YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.