Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
Highlights
Cook, dine, and unwind
Top-rated for its fully equipped kitchen, perfect for every meal.
Centrally-located
You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
Discover nearby landmarks
Near Yellowstone National Park
1 bathroomSleeps 2
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Air conditioning
Barbecue grill
Garden
Free WiFi
Explore the area
Gardiner, MT
Yellowstone River
Place, Yellowstone River
2 min walk
Roosevelt Arch
Place, Roosevelt Arch
9 min walk
Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
Place, Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
17 min walk
West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone)
Airport, West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone)
102 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
Perfect for two! Less than half mile from Yellowstone. 'Downtown' location.
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, through VRBO. If you do have specific questions not answered here, please email Eleanor through VRBO. 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.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.
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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
Important information
You need to know
Property # 602487
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
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. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and rafting nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking.
Yellowstone National Park North Entrance - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
Getting around
West Yellowstone, MT (WYS-Yellowstone) - 97 min drive
Restaurants
Wonderland Cafe & Lodge - 5 min walk
Cowboy's Lodge & Grill - 5 min walk
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dining Room - 14 min drive
Terrace Grill - 14 min drive
Wild West Corral - 6 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 For 2, near Yellowstone Park?
As of Jul 25, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at For 2, near Yellowstone Park on Jul 30, 2026 start from $286, 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.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
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.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Amazing location and close to everything—walking distance to many bars, restaurants. Very cute and clean cottage with all the essentials. Private location. A must stay!! Wonderful hosts!
Lilac cottage had everything we needed and even some we didn’t know we needed! The camp chairs and cooler were very helpful. Location was great —just a few blocks from the entrance to Yellowstone. Highly recommend!
Susan S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 14, 2026
Glad you enjoyed your stay and sorry we didn’t meet!
Eleanor and Tom, the owners, have created a special place to stay with the Lilac Cottage. We enjoyed the coziness and comfort of this very well appointed cottage. The kitchen has everything you needed to cook any meal you wanted. The recliners and bed are very comfortable. We also appreciated how clean it is. The Lilac Cottage has our highest recommendations. We hope to return someday, as the cottage is a great base to explore Yellowstone.
This is so close to the entrance, many walkable options for dining if you just dont want to use the well stocked kitchen at the home. Everything was very comfortable. Its a great place to go after a long day in the park. It is so nice to be so close. Safe and perfect for 2.
They have one of the best lots in the country, and they created a guest house to share it with others. It is so close to Yellowstone, you can see the park from the yard. I traveled solo, so I can’t say how well it would fit two people, but I found it to be perfect.Eleanor was a delight, eager to help with anything but otherwise determined to stay out of the way. She let me borrow bear spray, so I didn’t have to rent or buy it. The welcome packet was thorough, and they provide a designated parking spot.Gardiner is a cute little town, and the house is right on the main strip. You can easily walk to restaurants and shops.I highly recommend this place! (The pic was from the pizza place I walked to, right near the Roosevelt arch.)
Becky D.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 19, 2026
How kind Becky, thank you. Tom has curated a sweet yard and we’re glad that guests like you enjoy it!
We stayed a week in this well laid out studio with a private feel in the yard in downtown Gardiner. Eleanor has thought of everything to make it comfortable and she is a great communicator. The kitchen had whatever we needed, even a crockpot. The bathroom is roomy. We loved the dresser and the shelves left vacant for our use. The recliners are wonderful. Highly recommend.
Great location to access the North entrance to Yellowstone NP. The hosts have thought of everything to make a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The location was peaceful and the cottage's kitchen was well-equipped to prepare meals. We hope to stay again sometime.
The Lilac Cottage was adorable and just perfect for us! It was very well furnished and had many little extras. The location was great for visiting Yellowstone everyday that we were there.
Kathleen Randall S.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Aug 20, 2025
Thank you both so much for the review and I’m glad the Cottage pleased you! We like to supply it with the things that we look for when we’re on vacation away from home
We had everything that we needed for our stay. Quiet and comfortable. Perfect for our time at Yellowstone.
Laurie K.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Chris
May 14, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Friendly and welcoming hosts, comfortable cottage, fantastically well-equipped kitchen and in an area with lots to see and do: a great location for visiting Yellowstone.
Great base for visiting the upper loop. Very cute cottage within walking distance to restaurants. It had everything we needed and then some. The hosts are very friendly!
Beautiful, cozy cottage. Very clean and well appointed. We really appreciated the Yellowstone park information and town tips.
Chris ..
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jun 20, 2025
Glad you found all the information useful! Gardiner is a busy town with limited eating and we try to steer our guests through that and through the best resources for the best Yellowstone knowledge. Sorry we never got to meet but thanks for the great communication!
We really enjoyed this cozy space. The owners have really tried to think of everything you might need and make themselves available for any questions you might have during your visit.
Wonderful comfortable cottage with everything you need. Great base to explore Yellowstone. We even saw wildlife right outside. Hosts were awesome and very helpful throughout.
TIM H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on Jul 23, 2025
Thanks very much, Tim! Glad you found the cottage to be well supplied. That is what we aim for and over the years, we’ve used good ideas from guests and used our perspectives as travelers. Please come back anytime.
Everything about Lilac Cottage was wonderful. Great location with plenty of privacy and everything couples would need. Highly recommend.
Brian D.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
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. We worked in the interior of the Park for a number of years and then settled in Gardiner in 1989. We raised our 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 cattle and guest ranch, Eleanor loves to read, take walks, nordic ski, volunteer in the community, keep in touch with her very large family, and help Tom care for the house and cottage. We have been hosting family and friends in the Lilac Cottage for years and it makes us 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. The neighborhood is a mix of residential and commercial. 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, grab a meal, raft, rent an e-bike, shop, 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 plus 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.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests