Trying to figure out where to stay in Bozeman? Our firsthand guide covers the best downtown hotels, affordable options, airport lodging and vacation rentals.
Bozeman makes a great place to spend your first or last night in Montana, especially if you’re flying into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
If you are on your way to explore Yellowstone or Big Sky or just passing through, know that Bozeman is a terrific place to spend a day or even a week.
If you have the time or perhaps just have a late flight or early departure, you won’t regret spending some time in this fun mountain town.
We’ve been visiting Bozeman as a family for over 15 years and have stayed in a variety of hotels and vacation rentals.
And I have to say, every experience has been terrific. Here’s the lowdown on where to stay in Bozeman!
For a one day itinerary, see A Simply Awesome Day In Bozeman. If you have a longer stay or want to see all the great things to do in Bozeman, see our 10 Best Things To Do In Bozeman.
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Best Places To Stay In Bozeman At A Glance
As a general rule, we try to stay as close to Bozeman’s downtown as possible to take advantage of walking to restaurants, shops, festivals, etc. on its historic Main Street.
However, the closer you are to downtown, the more expensive it will be. But I’ll also cover some more affordable but attractive lodging options that are still well located in Bozeman.
| Best For | Our Pick | Why We’d Choose It |
| Best Overall Downtown | Kimpton Armory Hotel | Rooftop pool and lounge with great views; historic building |
| Families | The Lark | Bunk-bed rooms and Main Street location |
| Longer Stays | Residence Inn Downtown | Suites and kitchen facilities but still walkable to everything |
| Close To Airport | Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites | 5 min to airport; 20 min to downtown Main St. |
| Families On A Budget | Comfort Suites Airport-University | Suite space and indoor pool |
| Unique Stay | RSVP Hotel | Mid-century retro with pool, bikes |
Welcome To Bozeman! 
Flowers on the M Trail 
Fabulous rooftop at the Kimpton Armory Hotel 
Music On Main
Best Areas To Stay In Bozeman
I’ve broken down my recommendations to 4 different areas:
- Downtown Bozeman — Best for first-time visitors, restaurants, shopping and walkability. Most expensive.
- North 19th Avenue/I-90 corridor — Best for travelers looking for practical chain hotels, parking and potentially lower rates.
- Belgrade near the airport — Best for late arrivals and early departures, not for exploring downtown on foot.
- Bridger Creek and Valley West — Best for families looking for vacation rentals, more space and a quieter neighborhood.
Downtown Bozeman – Walk To Everything
Downtown Bozeman Hotels
Fortunately, there are now a number of great new hotels located right downtown as well as vacation rentals.
If you have a short stay, all of these hotels are terrific. Park the car and explore the shops, galleries, restaurants, and pubs on Main St.
The hotels listed here are relatively new to the downtown Bozeman lodging scene and are very clean, modern, and attractive properties.
It’s a luxury to be able to walk from your lodging to downtown’s shops and restaurants on historic Main Street, but you’ll definitely pay for the convenience.
The Kimpton Armory Hotel is my first choice of hotels for those staying downtown. Best for couples, short downtown getaways and travelers who are willing to pay for an upscale stay. It’s the most expensive hotel downtown but is worth the splurge.
I would stay at this historic hotel just to enjoy drinks at the rooftop lounge and the views from their rooftop pool.
The building has an interesting history as well and doesn’t feel like your typical chain hotel. Edible Bozeman writes about it here.
The location is great, just one block off of Main Street and walkable to everything.
The Lark is my second choice, especially if traveling with kids. Kids will love the rooms with bunk beds, and the location right on Main St. can’t be beat. And of course, they also have standard room configurations if your kids have outgrown the allure of sleeping in bunk beds.
I likes its hip retro vibe, the courteous staff, and its excellent downtown location. It’s a motel/hotel setup where some room entrances open to the outside like a motel while another portion of the property has interior entry. We’ve stayed in both sections and don’t have a preference- both are terrific.
We have really enjoyed our stays here, and it’s always a first choice of ours for hotel lodging for the family.
More importantly, The Lark is typically a lower price point compared to other downtown hotels and its location is one of the best.
The Element. Located across the street from the Armory Hotel and also like the Armory, it’s pretty expensive. Offers rooms and suites, free breakfast, and an indoor pool.
AC Hotel. This modern and minimalist designed Marriott property also boasts a nice rooftop bar/restaurant serving cocktails and Neopolitan pizza. Expect excellent service. No pool for the kiddos though.
Note: The Kimpton Armory Hotel, AC Hotel, and The Element have the best downtown location and are all clustered together one block off of Main St. Can’t go wrong with any of them, so I would select based on their current rates. The Lark has an equally good downtown location and costs less than the other 3.
Residence Inn Downtown– Located at the far eastern end of Main St, it’s still a great location just not as convenient as those listed above. It’s close to a park and still less than a 10 minute walk to the cluster of shops and restaurants that line Main St.
It’s super close to one of our favorite restaurants, Montana Ale Works, and it offers an indoor pool and free breakfast. If you have an extended stay or traveling with a large family, it offers the convenience of a kitchenette as well as 1 and 2 bedroom suites.
RSVP Hotel. To be clear, I like the location of the above hotels the best. The RSVP is a bit further from the central shopping/restaurant area of Main Street than those listed above, but I’ve included it because it promises a unique stay.
This mid-century modern motel has been brought back to life–featuring retro wallpaper, bright colors, plush fabrics, and an outdoor pool for the kiddos. Every room has an old school record player along with vinyl records to check out in the lobby. Fun!
Free bike rentals for guests, and the on-property restaurant gets really good reviews.
Would be a super convenient choice if you’re in town to catch a show at the ELM, but it’s a 15-20 minute walk to the desirable shops and restaurants on Main St.
P.S. Be sure to get a scoop of honey lavender ice cream from Genuine, a local favorite, just across the street from the RSVP.
Downtown Bozeman Vacation Rentals
Want more space? If we are staying for more than a couple of nights, we always look for a vacation rental. It’s often less expensive than downtown hotel rates and we appreciate the extra room.
Here’s a sampling of downtown vacation rentals that are within walking distance to restaurants, shops, and town trails.
Tip: Find a rental as close to Main St. as you can between Rouse Ave and 3rd Avenue.
Northside Modern Farmhouse. In-town Contemporary. VRBO 975785. We absolutely love this property and have stayed here multiple times. Prime street, fenced yard, bright and open concept design. 2 bedroom/2 bath, sleeps 5. Fenced yard.
We love the location, the quiet street, the cozy and bright interior, and its walking proximity to downtown. Can’t say enough good things about it!
Stunning downtown studio with private deck and parking. VRBO 872979. We also really enjoyed our stay at this 824 sq.ft. above garage studio. It has a nice outdoor deck and sleeps 3-4. (Sleeps 4 if you have younger or smaller children that will fit on the pullout-sofa, otherwise it’s 2-3 people.)
Neighborhood location is within walking distance to Main Street, parks, library, and town trails. Free use of their bikes and private parking so you don’t have to find street parking which is definitely a bonus. This property is the best bang for your buck downtown. Had a great stay here.
I also like this vacation rental that has a really good location downtown- NEW! Main Street Condo – Walk to Parks & Eateries! VRBO 9398071ha. 2 bedroom/2 bath. Garage parking available.
More Affordable Bozeman Hotels- 19th Ave
The hotels along the I-90 corridor at 19th Ave are best for travelers looking for practical chain hotels, parking and potentially lower rates.
Keep in mind that “affordable” in Bozeman is relative. When prices spike or rooms are unavailable downtown, you’ll find plenty of chain hotels closer to I-90 at 19th and 7th Avenue exits that offer better value.
These hotels will be less than a 10 minute drive to downtown Bozeman’s Main Street but you will have to find parking downtown which can sometimes be a challenge.
All of these hotels are still pricey especially during the summer (it’s Bozeman!), but they are new and clean and still have a convenient location to both downtown Bozeman and the Bozeman Airport.
19th Ave is filled with lots of retail stores like REI, World Market, TJ Maxx, Home Depot, Costco, etc.
Overall, I would choose the hotels found on 19th Ave over 7th. They are typically newer hotels and closer to restaurants and shopping centers on 19th.
We have stayed at the Comfort Suites Airport-University and would definitely stay there again. This hotel typically has a great price point for Bozeman.
Nothing fancy but nice and clean and an indoor pool for the kiddos. We appreciated the extra space of the suite. Less than 15 minutes from the airport and about 12 minutes to downtown Bozeman.
Courtyard by Marriott– A fairly new, very nice and modern hotel less than 10 minutes to downtown and 15 minutes to the airport. Indoor pool. Restaurant on site but no free breakfast. Close to Do Overs Thrift if traveling with a teen!
Springhill Suites– Need a little extra room? This clean and attractive property is just 15 minutes to the airport and less than 10 minutes to downtown Bozeman. Hot breakfast, bar, and a swimming pool for the kiddos.
C’mon Inn– Western ambiance with rooms facing a large open atrium. Indoor pool for the kids, hot tubs, and breakfast buffet.
Best Hotel Near the Bozeman Airport
These hotels are located in Belgrade, MT and are best for late arrivals and early departures at Bozeman Airport.
The hotels here are super convenient to the airport, but the surrounding area doesn’t offer much amenities, so a car trip would be necessary for exploring downtown– about a 20 minute drive.
On the plus side, you can often find some really good rates here and the hotels are very nice and new.
These hotels are the perfect option for that early morning flight departure or late night arrival. It’s about a 6 minute, easy drive to the airport.
We have stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites near the airport multiple times with our hotel points. Even without points, it’s definitely a recommended stay and nicer than many of the Holiday Inns that we have stayed.
I appreciate that it has a refrigerator and microwave in the room, and there are plenty of outlets for recharging phones. Free full breakfast (which is good!), pool for the kiddos, and airport transfer is offered.
There is also a convenient gas station next door to fill up the rental car with gas before returning it to the airport.
Here are additional hotels near the airport, and each has excellent reviews as well. I would stay at any of these.
- EVEN, an IHG hotel, is brand new and is the closest to the Bozeman Airport.
- Atwell Suites (next to the Holiday Inn)
- Hampton Inn & Suites
- Hyatt Place Bozeman Airport
Tip: The Holiday Gas Station near EVEN Hotel is super convenient for refueling your rental car on your way to the airport. And if you’re looking for a place to eat, McKenzie River Pizza is a good close by option to these hotels.
Best Bozeman Vacation Rentals
The vacation rentals in Valley West and Bridger Creek are best for families looking for more space and a quieter neighborhood.
Although the vacation rentals listed below in Bridger Creek and Valley West are outside of downtown Bozeman, I really like both of these areas and they are typically more reasonably priced than the vacation rentals located closer to downtown.
The vacation rentals in Bridger Creek are within close driving distance (5 minutes) or biking distance to downtown.
Valley West is a nice residential development about 10-15 west of downtown Bozeman with a good selection of homes and guest houses to rent.
Tip: If visiting during July/August, double check that the vacation rental has air-conditioning. Many homes in Bozeman do not have AC. Outdoor temps cool off nicely at night but summer days here can be pretty hot.
Bridger Creek Townhome Vacation Rentals
Located in a quiet neighborhood just 2 miles north of downtown Bozeman, you can enjoy the space, creekside trails, views and star gazing, yet be close to the restaurants, galleries, and events of downtown.
I like the Bridger Creek location, because you have great access to the trail system which allows access to downtown by way of bike or you could even walk/bike to nearby MAP Brewery.
The M Trail and Drinking Horse Trail are also nearby, and Bridger Bowl is close for skiing in the winter. See my 10 Best Things To Do In Bozeman. for more details.
The Bridger Creek Townhomes are available in 2 or 3 bedroom arrangements.
2 bedrooms: VRBO 365909 and VRBO 1034254
3 bedrooms: VRBO 751879
Valley West Vacation Rentals
The Valley West area of Bozeman is a residential community located about 15 minutes west of downtown Bozeman. Many of the homes in Valley West have 1-bedroom guest houses (ADU’s) that owners have outfitted as vacation rentals. They are generally newer builds and have their own private entrance.
Valley West is a planned community with nice mountain views, parks, walking trails, a lake with a pavilion and a playground, and you’ll find a few neighborhood restaurants nearby in the Market at Ferguson Farms.
Guest House With Covered Parking and Large Outdoor Deck. VRBO 909765. 1 bedroom 1 bath, sleeps 4. This guest house has vaulted ceilings making the space seem larger. The bedroom has a king size bed and the living room couch pulls out to a double bed that is suitable for two children, or 1 adult. Nice outdoor deck with grill and covered parking.
Luxury Studio in Desirable Bozeman Neighborhood. VRBO 2803461. 1 bedroom, 1 bath. 720sf. Sleeps 4 with King and double futon. With an open floor plan, it has a full living, dining and kitchen great room space, plus a generous bedroom, bathroom and laundry area. The living room also offers a sleeper sofa that sleeps two. Love the heated floors in the bathroom.
“NEW” Bozone Bliss-Contemporary Town Home (KING Bed) Steps from Meyer’s Lake. VRBO 1356608. This one offers more room with a 3 bedroom, 2 bath sleeps 7. Good location and spacious for a family. Has a grill and patio to enjoy those cool Montana evenings.
Where Should You Stay In Yellowstone National Park or Big Sky?
We’ve got that covered too! Bozeman makes a great place to spend your first or last night in Montana, especially if you’re flying into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.
If you are venturing beyond Bozeman to Big Sky or Yellowstone, we have hotel and lodging recommendations there for you too.
Where To Stay In Big Sky, MT— Lots of options here! Mountain Village, Moonlight Basin, Town Center and Meadow Village- pro’s and cons of each area after 15+ years of visits.
Where To Stay In Yellowstone National Park–Trying to figure out where to stay when visiting Yellowstone? Here’s our lodging strategy with best places inside the park as well as nearby gateway towns.
We also have lots of trip planning advice!
How To Spend One Day In Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley
Skiing Big Sky- A Guide For First-Timers
Have a fantastic trip to Bozeman! You will love it! If you need ideas of things to do or want a one day itinerary, check out these posts. 10 Best Things To Do In Bozeman and A Simply Awesome Day In Bozeman.
