Dawson City is small enough that where you stay matters less than when you visit. The town is a compact grid of streets running back from the Yukon River, and everything in this guide is within a short walk of everything else. The real decision is about the season, because some hotels close for the winter while others stay open all year. Here is how to choose.
Open year round
If you are visiting in the cold months, perhaps for the northern lights, choose a hotel that stays open. The Eldorado, The Downtown, Aurora Inn and Dawson Lodge are all listed by Travel Yukon as open year round. The Eldorado, with 40 rooms on Third Avenue, has a dining room and a lounge. The Downtown is the largest, with 59 rooms and a 24-hour front desk. Aurora Inn is the family-run boutique choice. Dawson Lodge is a small self-service lodge with keyless entry.
Summer only
Midnight Sun, a Coast Hotel, says it is open seasonally from May to September, with check-in handled at The Downtown next door. It is a good small summer base close to Diamond Tooth Gerties, but it is not an option in winter.
Third Avenue and the historic district
Most of the hotels sit on Third Avenue, Second Avenue or nearby, in the heart of the historic district. This puts you within walking distance of the Visitor Information Centre, the museum, Diamond Tooth Gerties and the waterfront. The Eldorado at 902 Third Avenue, Dawson Lodge at 1057 Third Avenue and Midnight Sun at 1054 Third Avenue are all on this street, and The Downtown is on Second Avenue.
Fifth Avenue and Harper Street
Aurora Inn is on Fifth Avenue at Harper Street, a few blocks back from the river. It is quieter, and it is close to the area around the Visitor Information Centre and the museum. The walk to Diamond Tooth Gerties is short.
Choosing by style
For a central, well-run hotel with a dining room, choose the Eldorado. For large family rooms and a 24-hour front desk, choose The Downtown. For a small, personal stay with a barbecue restaurant, choose Aurora Inn. For a quiet, self-service, eco-minded stay, choose Dawson Lodge. For a summer boutique stay near the evening entertainment, choose Midnight Sun.
Summer and winter strategy
In July and August, book as early as you can, because the town has limited rooms and a flood of road-trippers, cruise-tour groups and families. In winter, the problem is the opposite: fewer places are open, so confirm that your hotel's restaurant is operating, bring snacks, and ask about parking, since cold nights may require plug-in power for vehicle block heaters. Shoulder months, late August and September, combine long-enough nights for the aurora with most summer attractions still running, and are a smart choice for first-timers.
Getting to and from your hotel
The airport is about a 15-minute drive from town, and several hotels run a shuttle on request, some free and some for a fee, so tell your hotel your arrival time. Taxis are limited, and a rental car or a tour operator is needed for the goldfields, Tombstone and the Midnight Dome. Walking between hotels, restaurants, the museum and Diamond Tooth Gerties is easy in summer and manageable in winter if you dress properly.
Good to know
Dawson has few hotels, and none are budget in the usual sense, so prices are moderate for a remote town and summer rooms fill early. Restaurant hours in the off season can be shorter than listed, so ask when you book. Most hotels offer an airport shuttle on request, and parking is easy. The Westminster Hotel, a historic bar, burned in May 2026, but it was no longer operating as a hotel, so room supply was not affected.
