Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.

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Entire home

Lilac Cottage is behind apple tree and among lilac bushes bordering the yard.

The cottage sits behind the owners' home. This is the backyard.

Lilac Cottage guests have a sweet yard to enjoy.

Entry to cottage. Bathroom and kitchen in view.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

1 bathroomSleeps 2290.6 sq ft

Popular amenities

Outdoor Space

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Kitchen

Barbecue grill

Check out the area

Gardiner, MT

Parks' Fly Shop5 min walk
Roosevelt Arch10 min walk
Yellowstone National Park North Entrance14 min walk
Bozeman, MT (BZN-Bozeman Yellowstone Intl.)85 min drive

Rooms & beds

0 bedrooms (sleeps 2)

STUDIO

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen

Garden

Dining Area

About this property

Access to Yellowstone Park from our north entrance was fully restored October 30, 2022 with a beautiful new road! Our sweet backyard cottage is nestled among the fruit and flower trees of the yard. It is easily within walking distance to the grocery store, coffee, shopping, restaurants, laundromat, post office, and local arch park events. It is at the north entrance to Yellowstone Park, as is all of Gardiner. The cottage is in the heart of town but shielded from the main street by the owners' home. The yard is shared with the owners but privacy is afforded by the layout. The owners' home was built in 1930 and its cottage was built in 1940 by former owners, the Eastons. It is believed that their intent was to rent the cottage to visitors of Yellowstone, making it a very early vacation rental in this town. The cottage is a perfect fit for two people who want to day trip to northern Yellowstone, book local activities like rafting, biking, horseback riding, and return to a simple, basic, clean environment to relax. Our guests note that the well cultivated green and floral landscaping add to the charm and character of their experience. The stucco cottage still has the details of its early history with the old style glass door knobs and kitchen cabinets. There is a comfortable queen bed, sitting area with Smart tv, eating area, full but small kitchen, and full bathroom. It is clean, well cared for, and you are welcome! We keep our reservation calendar updated to the minute and our description on this page accurate. So as you're reading this page if Lilac Cottage sounds like a good fit for you and if the dates you want are open on our calendar and you have no questions, you are welcome to book directly without contacting us (use Instant Booking option). Just follow VRBO's process with your credit card. We'd be in touch immediately upon booking. If you do have specific questions not answered here, please email Eleanor. NOTE: Because the lilacs and other historic bushes and trees were planted in 1930s and 40s, Tom is constantly pruning and removing sections for new growth.

Property manager

Eleanor Stone

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor Space

Barbecue grill

Air conditioning

Kitchen

Microwave

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 24

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Groups staying nearby cannot congregate here

Pets

No pets allowed

There are no exceptions.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Smoking is not allowed on the entire property.

Follow checkout list that is on the welcome letter in Cottage.

Entrance gate needs to be closed and latched each time that you exit/enter the property.

Maximum number of nights allowed to book - 18

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

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

Note from host: Groups staying nearby cannot congregate here

Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Gardiner

Located in Gardiner, this cottage is in the city center. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone National Park North Entrance and Yellowstone National Park. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

View more Cottages in Gardiner

Gardiner, MT

What's nearby

Parks' Fly Shop - 5 min walk
Roosevelt Arch - 10 min walk
Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 14 min walk
Boiling River - 7 min drive
Mammoth Hot Springs - 16 min drive

Getting around

West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone) - 97 min drive

Restaurants

Cowboy's Lodge & Grill - 5 min walk
Wonderland Cafe & Lodge - 6 min walk
Mammoth Hot Springs Terrace Grill - 15 min drive
Yellowstone Pizza Company - 6 min walk
Outlaws Pizza - 11 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.?

As of Apr 19, 2024, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location. on May 13, 2024 start from $272.88, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location. located?

Located in the heart of Gardiner, this cottage is within a 15-minute walk of Gallatin National Forest, Yellowstone National Park North Entrance, and Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone River and Parks' Fly Shop are also within 5 minutes.

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.

Learn more

10/10

Cleanliness

9.2/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Jen P.

Oct 24, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Montanna getaway

Totally Amazing. Shorts drive to Yellowstone. Had everything You needed. Sweet hostess

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ashley G.

Oct 21, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cute little backyard cottage

This was an adorable cottage that was perfect for our needs.

Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leah L.

Oct 18, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

She has thought of all the extra comforts

We really enjoyed our stay. Eleanor has xtra things throughout the space to ensure comfort. The only thing was I thought we were supposed to get off season pricing. Although I haven’t followed through and that’s on me. I know she is not out to scam anyone. I would highly recommend staying here! She has thought of everything that you might need. Thank you Eleanor!

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steve S.

Oct 9, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

review

Perfect for two and location excellent. Definitely recommend to friends and family.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

SCOTT M.

Sep 27, 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful cottage & garden !

Just an amazing setting within minutes of the Northgate to Yellowstone. The cottage was equipped with everything you need, I mean everything ! So neat & clean, the outside sitting area / Flower garden was so perfect what a green thumb. And wildlife to boot birds, rabbits, the passing Elk& mule deer outside the fence ! I will be back ! Thank you again Scott & Joann

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

About the host

Hosted by Eleanor Stone

Tom and Eleanor Stone came to Yellowstone Park in the late 70s and early 80s, met and were married here. They worked in the interior of the Park for a number of years and then settled in Gardiner in 1989. They raised their two daughters in Gardiner. Newly retired in 2019 from work in Yellowstone, Tom enjoys gardening, cooking, fly fishing, reading, home projects, and learning Italian. When not working at a local ranch, Eleanor loves to read, take walks, nordic ski, volunteer in the community, keep in touch with her very large family, and care for the house and cottage. They have been hosting family and friends in the Lilac Cottage for years and are happy to have opened it in 2014 to newcomers and folks who want to enjoy the area.

Why they chose this property

We have lived in Yellowstone/Gardiner for over 40 years and have owned our home and backyard cottage since 1995. With all the TLC we've poured into this property you can see from the reviews that the folks who love it most are the ones who enjoy that charm of the old cottage and the beautiful, outdoor space to relax. If you prefer a "newly built place" kind of character, or a vacation rental with owners far away, this may not suit your vacation.

What makes this property unique

We love our home and cottage because of its location. It is handy to go out the door to run errands, raft, rent an e-bike, or hop into Yellowstone, and yet this downtown property has a surprising ability to tuck you away. We love the old fashioned comfort of this small, historic property and work to keep it that way. We purposely keep the nightly rate of Lilac Cottage reasonable for this area. The reason is that we think that the additional 12% taxes (8% state and 4% local) plus the $50 cleaning fee and the taxable VRBO Service Fee add enough to your charges! We are making our rate fair in comparison to small vacation rentals in the area and even to Gardiner motels.