travel tips yellowstone

13 Tips & Tricks for Visiting Yellowstone National Park

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 30, 2024

Yellowstone National Park is a place like no other. The park is so big, so diverse, and so unique that it just can’t compare to any other spot on the planet. However, Yellowstone is also a place that requires some advance planning and preparation.

If you want to enjoy your Yellowstone vacation to the fullest and make the most of your trip, there are some things that you should know in advance. It can make a difference between it becoming your dream trip or a frustrating experience.

In this article, we share some essential tips for visiting Yellowstone . Make the most of your trip – find out!

Good to know: You’ll need an entrance pass to visit Yellowstone National Park . It costs 35 USD per private vehicle and is valid for 7 days. However, if you are visiting several National Parks in the same year, it’s better to get an annual National Parks Pass. It’s called  America the Beautiful Pass  and costs 80 USD for the whole family traveling in the same vehicle. It is valid in all National Parks and 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States for one year from the month of purchase. You can also buy this pass at the park entrance.

Without further ado, here are our top tips for Yellowstone:

1. Book in Advance

Yellowstone is one of the most-visited national parks in the United States . Furthermore, the main season to visit Yellowstone is rather short. So when planning a trip to Yellowstone, you really have to book your accommodation in advance!

To give you an idea, if you want to stay inside the park in summer, you have to book your Yellowstone hotel more than a year in advance!

Luckily, there are also some alternatives, small towns near Yellowstone that you can use as a base for some day trips into the park. But also there, the sooner you book the more availability you have and the better the prices.

Good to know: When considering where to stay, keep in mind that Yellowstone has a very limited mobile network and Wi-Fi coverage is very poor. Furthermore, Yellowstone accommodations have no TVs or air conditioning. So if you absolutely need these facilities, you’re probably better off staying in the hotels outside the park – more info below.

TIP: If you are visiting Yellowstone on a lower budget, you should also know that lodging outside the park is much cheaper than Yellowstone hotels. The same counts for food or fuel – it’s more expensive in the park.

Good to know: The best-located towns to stay at for sightseeing are West Yellowstone (for the majority of the park) or Gardiner (for the northern side of Yellowstone).

READ MORE: Best Places to Stay In and Near Yellowstone Best Hotels & Cabins Near Yellowstone National Park

TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in West Yellowstone . Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay.

You can also use the same map for Gardiner accommodation – you just have to change the location to see all the best deals in other places. Check it out!

2. Prepare a Good Itinerary

Yellowstone is big and many first-time visitors underestimate the size of the park and the time it takes to get from one place to another. If you want to make the most of your trip, be sure to plan your Yellowstone trip well. That way you don’t end up driving up and down and wasting more time in the car than sightseeing.

The location of your accommodation is very important and will influence how much driving you have to do every day. However, it’s even more important to prepare a good itinerary so that you know where to go and how to plan your time.

To help you plan your trip, we have some detailed itineraries for one day in Yellowstone and also for two days in Yellowstone . We also have a guide with detailed maps and day-by-day itinerary suggestions for any trip from 1 to 5 days.

LEARN MORE: Yellowstone Itinerary

TIP: If you don’t have the time to plan a trip and want to see the best of Yellowstone in a short time, you can also consider booking an organized tour. There are tours for 1 or 2 days, but also for longer durations. Here you can find our selection of guided Yellowstone tours . Check it out!

3. Foresee Extra Time

If you can, try to spend at least 3-4 days in Yellowstone. This will give you enough time to see all the main highlights of the park in a rather relaxed way.

Furthermore, Yellowstone is all about nature and many things cannot be predicted or scheduled . So you need to have some flexibility for bison jams on the roads, unexpected wildlife encounters, or erupting geysers.

Having some unscheduled free time will make your Yellowstone trip so much more relaxed. After all, you don’t want to miss a geyser eruption or wildlife sighting just because you didn’t foresee enough time in your schedule.

4. Start Early

The best way to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone is by starting your days early. If you can, try to visit the most popular landmarks such as the Old Faithful Geyser or the Grand Prismatic Spring early in the morning, ideally before 10 AM. The same counts for the Yellowstone Canyon and also Mammoth Hot Springs .

The busiest hours in the park are from around 10 AM to 5-6 PM. So another option is to visit the most popular places in the evening. However, it’s incomparably busier in the evening than it is in the morning.

If you can start your days at 6-7 AM, you’ll experience Yellowstone in a completely different way. It’s a priceless experience to have some of those amazing sites all to yourselves.

TIP: Save the busiest hours of the day for the lesser-known places in Yellowstone, go for a hike, go swimming, or rent a boat on Yellowstone Lake.

READ MORE: Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in Summer

5. Pack a Picnic for Lunch

One of my top tips for Yellowstone is to pack a picnic lunch . That way, you don’t have to waste your time looking for a place to eat at noon and waiting in a long line to be served. In addition, having your own food gives you complete flexibility. You don’t have to plan your sightseeing based on where restaurants are located.

We packed a picnic with us on most days and it made everything so much easier. Once, we thought we’d just go for lunch at a restaurant. It was at Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the quieter places in the park, so we thought it wouldn’t be an issue. But it was so busy there that we wasted a ridiculous amount of time for something that could have taken us 15 minutes. Furthermore, the kids were getting cranky having to wait for lunch and it really wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Good to know: Consider bear safety rules if you plan on carrying food with you when you go hiking. Often, it’s easier/safer to eat close to your car or use designated picnic areas in the park. For longer hikes, you should make sure that your food is packed in such a way that bears can’t smell it. Here you can find more information about how to store food in a bear-proof way .

TIP: Make sure to pack a reusable water bottle with you. Ideally, you have one bottle per person. There are many places in the park where you can refill your water bottles. It’s free and environmentally friendly.

6. See Wildlife by Knowing Where & When to Go

I see you frowning – wildlife encounters can’t be predicted. And you are absolutely right, you never know whether and where you’ll see wild animals. However, you can highly increase your chances by knowing when and where to look.

The best time to see wildlife is around sunrise or sunset. Dusk and dawn are prime wildlife viewing times because animals are more active and often come out of the forest in search of food.

The best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone are Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. The absolute best place and time to see wild animals in Yellowstone is Lamar Valley at sunrise.

7. Get off the Beaten Path

As already mentioned above, it’s best to go to the main landmarks in the morning and spend the busiest hours of the day visiting less popular areas in Yellowstone. There are so many places in Yellowstone where you hardly meet any people.

Good to know: The busiest places in Yellowstone are the Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful Area), Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic area), Yellowstone Canyon, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Norris Geyser Basin (mainly the Porcelain Basin).

Visit any place that’s not in one of these areas and you’ll see an exponential decrease in the number of people. Also, Upper Loop is much less busy than the Lower Loop. If you leave the Grand Loop Road completely, you can have some amazing hidden gems completely to yourselves.

Of course, you have to see  the main landmarks of Yellowstone – no trip would be complete without that! But it’s those unplanned experiences, places you have all to yourself, and unexpected encounters that will make your trip so much more memorable.

8. Go Hiking

Also in high season, it’s quite easy to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone if you really want to. Simply go hiking. Even the easiest short hikes are rather quiet. But if you walk more than 20-30 minutes from your car, you’ll likely be completely alone.

Before our trip, I read an article that said that about 80% of Yellowstone visitors never walk further than 10-15 minutes from their car. Based on what we saw, this seems to be quite an accurate estimate.

So if you have some time to spare and are physically capable, make sure to make at least a couple of short hikes in Yellowstone.

Here are some ideas for short hikes in Yellowstone where you’ll hardly meet any people:

• Ice Lake . Between Norris and Canyon Village.
• Trout Lake Trail . East of Lamar Valley.
• Harlequin Lake Trail . Between Madison and West Entrance.
• Mystic Falls Trail . Back of the Biscuit Basin boardwalk.
• Wraith Falls . Between Tower-Roosevelt and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Here are some better-known hikes that were also really quiet when we visited:

• Uncle Tom’s Trail . It’s located at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and I assume it might get quite busy during the day. However, we were here at around 8.30 – 9.15 AM and there was almost nobody else around.
• Upper Geyser Basin Trail . Located at the Old Faithful, this is supposedly one of the busier places in the park. However, we were here in the early afternoon, in July, and by the time we got to the Morning Glory Pool (1.4-mile hike), we were all alone.
• Storm Point Hike . This is a nice short hike north of Yellowstone Lake, one that’s quite well-known. However, we met maybe two other families during the entire hike here. We did scare an elk though – we didn’t see him and he didn’t see us until we were very close. In a panic, he jumped out of the bushes right in front of us, and we definitely jumped in the air too…

TIP: You can find even more ideas in this guidebook with easy hiking trails in Yellowstone . Alternatively, you can also opt for this highly-rated guided hike at the Yellowstone Canyon.

9. Be Bear Aware

Yellowstone is home to many bears and they roam all over the park. While your chances of running into a bear at the busy landmarks are very low, you should always be prepared for bear encounters. This is especially the case when you go hiking or are venturing a bit more off the beaten path.

First, make sure that you follow the rules. At different times of the year, some places in Yellowstone get closed for bear management. That means that you are not allowed to go there. Also, always stay on maintained trails and avoid thick brush.

Be sure to take a moment to read the guidelines on how to avoid encounters and what to do if you run into a bear. You can usually find these tips in the maps and brochures that you get at the park entrance gates.

Don’t go hiking alone, make noise when you are hiking ( a bear bell might be a good idea if you don’t have noisy children as we did), and always be alert. Hiking at dusk or dawn is not such a good idea and hiking in the dark should be avoided at all costs. If planning to venture more off the beaten path, it’s essential to carry a bear spray and know how to use it.

Good to know: Having said all of the above, your chances of running into a bear in Yellowstone aren’t that high. If you are only visiting the main landmarks, there is really nothing to worry about. We did some short hikes in Yellowstone and were often completely alone, but never saw a bear. I also have to add that our three kids made enough noise that probably scared all the bears away long before we got anywhere near them.

10. Don’t Approach Wildlife

Every year, there are some crazy images and videos going around on the internet showing people’s irresponsible behavior around wild animals in Yellowstone. And while accidents can happen, there is really just one simple rule – never approach wildlife .

There are plenty of opportunities to see animals from the safety of your car or by maintaining a safe distance. This is especially the case with bison and bears, but also other animals in distress can launch at you.

Sometimes, you’ll see big groups of cars and people standing next to the road. Usually, this means that there are some animals around. I noticed that Yellowstone Park Rangers are often there to make sure that everyone keeps a safe distance. But if they are not around, always use your common sense.

11. Dress in Layers

Yellowstone is known for its pleasant, warm summers and very cold winters. Be sure to check the weather forecast a few days before your trip so that you have a somewhat better idea of what to expect. Here you can also find our guide for the best time to visit Yellowstone , with weather information and tips for every season.

You should also keep in mind that the park is big and that the weather can change very quickly. Furthermore, it can be nice and sunny in one part of the park and raining or even snowing in another. So you should always be prepared for this and the best way to do it is by dressing in layers.

Even in summer, make sure you always have a sweater and a light rain jacket at hand. Most likely, it will be sunny and warm, but sometimes you can experience all seasons in a couple of hours.

READ MORE: What to Wear in Yellowstone in Summer

12. Bring Binoculars & Good Camera Equipment

To many of us, wildlife is one of the reasons to visit Yellowstone. Sometimes, you’ll see many animals right next to the road, and quite often very close to your car. However, more often animals will be at a bigger distance and you really need a pair of good binoculars in order to truly enjoy the experience.

For any trips involving animals, we pack a pair of good-value binoculars for each member of our family. It’s not a huge investment and it always does wonders in keeping the kids more interested and engaged during the trip.

If you are looking for a really good pair of binoculars, I recommend binoculars with image stabilization . However, that’s quite an investment, so I wouldn’t get it just for one trip. Remember that any binoculars are better than none and you’ll be really glad you packed them.

One more thing to remember is that it’s really difficult to take good pictures of wildlife with your smartphone. So if you are into wildlife photography, you should consider taking a good camera and the best zoom lens you own. Here you can find some tips for cameras and lenses for wildlife photography.

READ ALSO: Travel Photography Tips

13. Respect Nature & Rules

Yellowstone has many geothermal features that can be very dangerous if approached too closely. So always follow the signs and stay on the marked paths. Only swim where it’s explicitly allowed. The rules are there to protect you.

There are also so many rules in Yellowstone that protect nature and wildlife. Most often, it’s simply common sense. Don’t litter, don’t throw anything into the geothermal features, don’t approach or feed wild animals, don’t speed on the roads, etc.

There are very few places in the world that are as special as Yellowstone. So it’s our responsibility to leave no trace and preserve this incredible natural wonderland for the future.

So, these are our top suggestions, things you should know before going to Yellowstone. I hope that these Yellowstone tips will help you make the most of your trip!

For more tips for your trip, please check our Yellowstone travel guide . It contains lots of practical information for your trip and an overview of all our articles about Yellowstone. Check it out!

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More tips for your trip to Yellowstone:

• What to see:   Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
• Itinerary:  Yellowstone Itinerary for 1 to 5 Days
• Short visit:   Yellowstone Lower Loop Itinerary and 2 Days in Yellowstone
• For families:   Yellowstone with Kids
• Accommodation:  Where to Stay In Yellowstone & Hotels NEAR Yellowstone
• Must-see:   Grand Prismatic Spring  and  Old Faithful
• Hidden Gem:   Boiling River
• Nearby:  One Day in Grand Teton National Park & Best Things to Do in Jackson, Wyoming

READ ALSO: Grand Teton & Yellowstone – Itinerary ideas for any trip

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Wednesday 9th of March 2022

Jurga, My wife, Karin, and I are driving to Yellowstone in June from Tucson, AZ. Thank you for the wonderful guide and tips!

Glad to help, Rick. Have a wonderful trip!

Debby Stutler

Saturday 1st of August 2020

We are heading to Yellowstone for the first time in a couple of days. Your information is wonderful, but is there any way I can print it to have for reference? There isn't a print option anywhere that I can see, and it won't even let me highlight .....

Sunday 2nd of August 2020

Hi Debby, normally, you can just use Ctrl+P or whatever Print option your computer has. It will, however, print the pages with everything - pictures and ads - I'm afraid. But you can choose to print only the pages you need. Unfortunately, we had to disable the copy/paste on our website as so many websites misused this function and used our articles and imagery as their own. This is not perfect, I know, but for now, we didn't find any better way to avoid this from happening. But because you're not the first person to ask for this and I had a few hours free, I just created a printable version of this article that you should be able to download by subscribing to our free newsletter via this link. I'll embed this form in some of our articles later on, but for now, this should work for you. Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!

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A Guide to Outsmarting the Crowds at Yellowstone National Park 

By Nina Kokotas Hahn

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The second-most visited national park in the country has always drawn a crowd, but Yellowstone National Park recently set new records with its busiest summer on record, including the most recreational visitors ever at the park in one month—over one million in July—and more than 920,000 recreational visits in August. It’s a call for a change and more responsible visits to this massive, all-seasons park, where shaking the crowds can be as simple as a few strategic moves.

Read on for everything you need to know to plan an expert trip to Yellowstone National Park—whether it's your first time visiting, or your fiftieth. 

The Grand Loop Road connects Yellowstone's main attractions. 

Get a lay of the land

One of the world’s most intact temperate ecosystems, Yellowstone spans 2.2 million acres and three states—Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho—and has five entrances, with three in Montana and two in Wyoming. While most of the park is undeveloped forest and mountains, Yellowstone’s main attractions and eight developed regions are almost entirely situated along the 142-mile, Grand Loop Road, also dubbed the “Figure Eight” for its shape. Grand Loop connects to all five entrances, affording access to every park feature no matter which way you enter. The park is open all year round, though access is limited in winter. Fees for entering Yellowstone National Park are $20 per person on foot and $35 a car, and reservations are currently only required for camping .

Which of the five entrances is right for you?

From unique gateway towns to proximity to certain park highlights, the entrance you chose plays a big role in your experience. In Wyoming, the East Entrance gets you close to Yellowstone Lake for boating and fishing, while outside of the park, you can stay in the small frontier town of Cody with its superb Draper Museum of Natural History . From the South Entrance, you can also access Yellowstone Lake as well as backcountry hiking in forests and high meadows, though what’s just beyond this entrance is a big deal; within a half-days drive, you can be at the doorstep of Grand Teton National Park .

Old Faithful is Yellowstone's most iconic geothermal feature.

From Montana, the West Entrance points to geysers and hot springs , including Old Faithful. Drawing more of the crowds, the popular North Entrance takes you through the famed Roosevelt Arch to Mammoth Hot Springs. Just outside of its gates, Gardiner is a great place for whitewater rafting down the Yellowstone River. The Northeast Entrance winds through Yellowstone’s wildlife wonderland, the Lamar Valley. From here, don’t miss one of the best-kept secrets outside of the park on the Beartooth Scenic Byway (U.S. 212), a mountainous, dazzling drive that summits at nearly 11,000 feet.

What to do in Yellowstone

With so many popular sites just off Grand Loop Road, including Grand Prismatic Spring and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, most visitors tend to stay close to the road in an effort to pack the main sights into one or two days. This is criminal given the park is home to more than 1,100 miles of trails and roughly 500 geysers. A better way to visit: target a region, see its iconic sites, then get off the road for a crowd-free hike.

The park's Mammoth Hot Springs cover a terraced hill of travertine. 

Steph Koyfman

Shannon McMahon

Charlie Hobbs

Do walk the boulevards over Mammoth Hot Springs and its steamy travertine terraces, but then try a moderate hike at the nearby Bunson Peak Trailhead, ascending through meadows to an 8,564-foot peak with views over Swan Lake Flats. For a family friendly option, see the Old Faithful geyser and nearby Biscuit Basin with its crystal-clear pools, then hop on the Mystic Falls Trailhead for a three-mile roundtrip hike to a 70-foot waterfall. Want something more intrepid? Try AllTrails new “Trails Less Traveled” filter, which lets you search for popular trails light on traffic, including the challenging 11.2-mile Sepulcher Mountain Trail.

The best time to visit 

Yes, summer has the best weather, longer days, baby animals, and wildflowers , but also the most people. If you must come in summer, avoid the crush of traffic by visiting outside the park’s busiest hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., arriving strategically late or as early as 6 a.m., when wildlife is out, and roads and boardwalks are clear. For still-comfortable weather and lighter crowds, aim for June, when baby animals—like bear cubs, wolf puppies, and adorable bighorn fawns—are abundant and waterfalls are at their fullest, or September to mid-October, when aspens turn to gold and elk are bugling.

Lone Mountain Ranch offers guided snowshoeing adventures for guests. 

Mid-October through April is winter in these parts, definitely the least crowded and actually quite spectacular. Expect brisk temps that range from single digits to the low 20s, but also a truly peaceful experience with multicolored hot pools against white snow, bison herds crusted with icicles, and Old Faithful seemingly all to yourself. Most roads are closed in winter, though you can visit parts of the park via snowmobiling or guided snowcoach (small bus) tours. For an extra cool nighttime visit in winter, check out the “Steam, Stars and Winter Soundscapes Tour” snowcoach experience. You can also rent skis from the shops at Mammoth Hot Springs or enjoy privately guided snowshoeing adventures as part of a stay at Lone Mountain Ranch in the Big Sky area.

Where to stay

Yellowstone’s bonkers visitation numbers mean accommodations are often snatched up fast, anywhere from six months to a year in advance, with the latter becoming the norm. We’ve called out our favorite accommodations in this complete guide on where to stay in Yellowstone , which includes glamping sites, cabins, and mountain-view condos in and near the park.

Jackson Hole, home to upscale stays like the Four Seasons Jackson Hole, is one of the park's most popular gateway towns. 

If you’ve got your eye on camping , nearly all of Yellowstone’s 12 campgrounds require reservations from May 1 to mid-October. Pebble Creek and Mammoth also have first-come first-served sites. For the rest of the year, from roughly late October through April—essentially winter in Yellowstone—the few campgrounds that remain open also shift to first-come first-served. It’s important to note that all dates and deadlines are subject to change. Park insiders recommend booking campsites exactly six months in advance, when reservations become available, and checking back often for cancellations if you aren’t able to snag a spot.

A number of first-come, first-served camping sites can also be found outside of Yellowstone, such as in the Shoshone National Forest near the East Entrance and at Hegben Lake near the West Entrance, which also has easy RV camping at Yellowstone Holiday.

Tack-on adventures in Bozeman and Jackson Hole

Bozeman and Jackson Hole are Yellowstone’s two biggest gateway towns, each with plenty of dining, lodging, and unique adventure options. Outside of Montana’s West Entrance, Bozeman has a lively main street and excellent dinosaur exhibits at the Museum of the Rockies . Also nearby, there’s skiing at Big Sky Mountain Resort , with a new Montage Big Sky opening this December.

The Montage Big Sky will open this December. 

Within 60 miles of Wyoming’s South Entrance, upscale Jackson Hole shines with locally owned options, like Gavin Fine’s new Bistro , luxury Hotel Jackson and Stio for splurge-worthy outerwear. There’s also guided flyfishing on the Snake River with Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for skiing, paragliding and a thrilling via ferrata climb.

Before you go

Check the weather as well as the park’s social media channels or website for the latest on park hours, conditions, and road closures , which change by season and sometimes at a moment’s notice. It’s best to plan for delays on the road, whether from car traffic in busy warmer months or snow in winter. If you plan to hike, make sure you pack plenty of water, food, and bear spray , the latter of which you can rent near the park and at Canyon Village.

Go guided for peace of mind

Overwhelmed by planning yourself? Take a guided trip with an experienced outfitter, like Montana-based Austin Adventures , who know the park inside and out, and can handle your lodging, logistics, meals, and more, with the best tricks for getting you safely off the beaten path. REI Adventures and Wildland Trekking also arrange Yellowstone trips.

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A beginner's guide to visiting Yellowstone National Park: Everything you should see and do

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

I recently returned from an incredible trip to Yellowstone , our nation's first national park. It was very strange to be there in the days of COVID-19, but it was also one of my best visits yet, as it wasn't as crowded as it's been in the past. It was also my first time actually staying inside the park, which was quite a treat.

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Of course, you could easily spend weeks exploring the sprawling 2.2 million acre park and still not see it all. But even a day trip here or long weekend getaway is well worth your time. Here's everything you need to know to plan your trip to Yellowstone National Park.

What to see and do in Yellowstone

Let me start with the highlight: the wildlife.

Among the many rare species you might encounter are grizzly and brown bears, wolves, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, elk, deer, buffalo, moose and every matter of birds. You can easily pull off the road and see any or all of these animals at once. Buffalo, in particular, are known to cause traffic jams as they use the same roads you do to commute.

Travelers will also discover a ton of adventure in this park. You can camp, hike in the backcountry, boat, fish, cycle and, in the winter, you can even try cross-country skiing.

Both biking and hiking are great ways to experience the natural wonder of this incredible park, and there are plenty of mountain biking and off-roading opportunities. Campsites are available from just $5 a night, and there are approximately 900 miles of trails to explore in the park — just be hyper-aware of your surroundings, as you'll be sharing the territory with some fearsome predators. When I was there last, I saw both bears and wolves.

There are so many amazing hikes here that aren't too difficult and are within walking distance of accessible parking areas. My favorite was probably the hike to Mystic Falls from Biscuit Basin, not too far from Old Faithful. The 2.5-mile round-trip walk takes you to a dramatic waterfall. If you hike a little farther you might luck out like I did and see Old Faithful erupt on the horizon.

Old Faithful

Probably the most famous of all Yellowstone's attractions, Old Faithful is a massive geyser that erupts reliably every 60 to 110 minutes. It's a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin and easily accessible by road, and park rangers can tell you when the next eruption is during the day. There are benches from which you can watch the spectacle. It erupts about 20 times per day, and the plume of water and steam can be as high as 180 feet!

You can usually stay at a lodge near Old Faithful, but for the 2020 season, only cabins are available.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

This river valley formed by the Yellowstone River is probably my favorite part of Yellowstone. I've been here now in several different seasons and it's always changing, always distinctly different and always awe-inspiring.

There are several viewpoints, and it's one of the most dramatic areas in the country. I'm especially fond of Artist Point. As you can imagine, they call it that for a reason.

You can also check out the Canyon's Lower or Upper Falls viewing areas. I highly recommend doing the Brink of the Lower Falls observation point where you can really get a sense of the river's immense power. If you're driving, be prepared to pull over constantly to get a new perspective.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs was one of the first parts of the park that saw policing back in the 1800s when poaching was a problem. The U.S. Army had a base there (it still houses park employees) and it's home to historic Fort Yellowstone.

Travelers will also find the Mammoth Hot Springs lodges and cabins, places to eat and even a gas station.

But the best features are the dramatic hot springs laced with boardwalks for closer observations. You can get a good look at the many steaming hydrothermal pools and the travertine terraces. You can walk (or drive) to the Upper Terraces. There's also a hiking trail circling the pools and falls, but bring your bear spray. In a 24-hour span, I saw a grizzly bear and her cubs, and the next morning I saw another grizzly near the road.

There are also herds of elk that call the area home. You're pretty much guaranteed to see elk during a trip here.

Biscuit Basin and Mystic Falls

Not far from Old Faithful you'll find Biscuit Basin, which is home to gorgeous hot springs and small geysers with fairly regular eruptions.

The mix of colors and textures in the rocks is striking. You can follow a wooden walkway and it will eventually lead to an easy hike to Mystic Falls and a spectacular waterfall in a river valley.

Related: State-by-state guide to reopening America

There are also plenty of fun family-friendly activities just outside the park in cities such as Gardiner and West Yellowstone, Montana. Consider, for example, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. You and the kids can see live bears and wolves who can't return to the wild and learn a ton about the fearsome animals from a safe distance.

Whether you're exploring the park by foot or car, don't forget to grab an $80 annual national park pass . Yellowstone National Park normally charges a $35 entrance fee per vehicle, so if you have any other national park trips on the horizon, you can easily get your money's worth.

The best times to visit Yellowstone

The peak time is definitely summer when everything is open. It can get hot, but it's generally not humid. You should pack shorts for the daytime, and be sure to bring sweaters, a sweatshirt or a coat. Yellowstone is in the mountains and it gets cold at night even in the summertime.

You can travel here all year long, including during the winter , which would be a magical (albeit cold) time to visit Yellowstone. Warren Smith, a chiropractor at HealthSource in Butte, Montana, told me he has cross-country skied into the park from West Yellowstone, and outfitters will take even take you snowmobiling.

My personal favorite time to visit is in the early fall when the crowds are thinner, and the colors begin to change. Temperatures are more moderate and it's not quite so hot. You get more of the park to yourself and wildlife is more likely to be around. Keep in mind, though, there can be freak snowstorms even in September — so pack for anything.

Read our complete guide on the best times to visit Yellowstone .

Where to stay in Yellowstone

There are plenty of places for you to stay in and around Yellowstone. Both vacation rental properties and hotels are plentiful at all five entrances to Yellowstone (there are three in Montana and two in Wyoming).

Related: How to visit the national parks for less

Points hotels near Yellowstone

Search Cook City, Gardiner, Red Lodge or West Yellowstone in Montana for hotels or rental properties near the trio of Montana entrances. There are also plenty of places to bed down at the two Wyoming entrances. You can search Cody, Wyoming and areas in Idaho.

If you're looking for places to spend points, however, there are far fewer options unless you're willing to stay a few hours outside the park in places like Bozeman, Montana or Idaho Falls, Idaho.

There's a nice Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone where last-minute rooms in July started at $281 a night. That's steep, but if you book early you can certainly find better rates. A long weekend in September will set you back $252 a night, or you can use 45,000 IHG Rewards Points per night.

I booked a room here in July and, despite the last-minute reservation, managed to secure a decent rate. Just watch out for added taxes and fees (unlike the rest of Montana, there are taxes in West Yellowstone). The final price ended up being almost $300 a night. Ouch.

There are also two Choice hotel properties travelers may want to consider: An Ascend Hotel for $212 a night and a Comfort Inn starting at $186 a night in West Yellowstone. Choice also has select properties in Livingstone, Montana, but that's an hour away from the park.

Travelers can also consider the Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone (from 15,000 Wyndham points per night). And if you have Best Western Rewards points, you could try the Best Western Desert Inn or the Best Western Weston Inn , both from 28,000 points per night.

If you're looking for a major chain hotel, you'll need to head to Bozeman, Montana for a Hilton or a Marriott property. Rates are generally better, but it's a good 2-hour drive to Yellowstone. Prices are also high during the peak summer season — yes, even in 2020 — and can easily run at least $250 per night.

When it welcomes its first guests on Aug. 18, the 122-room Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman will be one of the area's most exciting new properties. The art deco building dating back to 1941 and features a whiskey bar, a rooftop pool and a concert hall. It's about an hour from Big Sky and two hours to the north entrance to Yellowstone .

In Big Sky, the relatively new Wilson Hotel, a Residence Inn by Marriott, is one of the first from a major brand in the area.

Related: How to use points to stay near national parks

Staying inside Yellowstone's borders

Within the park, travelers will discover several rustic lodges. Xanterra is the concessioner for all accommodations inside Yellowstone National Park (as well as Glacier and others, too). Many of the large lodges have existed for more than a century, so keep that in mind and manage your expectations accordingly.

Related: I went to Glacier and Yellowstone during COVID-19 and it was weird

Hotels sell out quickly during the high season. Even this summer, with the coronavirus crippling travel, there isn't much availability. In fact, only cabins are available in the park right now. Lodges are closed and are likely to remain shut down for the remainder of 2020. That makes inventory even scarcer than it usually is this time of year.

I was able to find some dates with availability, but prices are high. At Mammoth Falls Lodge cabins, rates were $277 a night for dates in July and August.

Back in June, I stayed in the cabins at Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge. They are charming but basic. The beds are small, and there's no air conditioning. Still, it was really fun staying inside the park and having easy access to hiking trails and the beautiful Mammoth Springs.

The cabins at Old Faithful Lodge are cuter and just steps from the famous Old Faithful geyser. They're tiny, sure, but the perfect base for exploring the nearby geysers, mountains and hot springs when I stayed there in June. Rates in August start at $174 a night.

If you're thinking about staying inside the park this summer, you want to act fast.

Betsy O'Rourke, chief marketing officer at Xanterra, told TPG earlier this year, "We open the inventory 13 months out and we sell out in a few hours. However, about 30% of that inventory cancels and gets rebooked."

Her advice? Check back frequently. "Our cancellation policy is 48 hours out, so we do get cancellations even close in."

You can find better deals if you're willing to stay at a vacation rental instead. Airbnb has plenty of properties, especially for travelers who want something unconventional like a traditional log cabin, glamping-style tent or a treehouse.

Even last minute, there's availability on Airbnb outside the park. I recommend searching for West Yellowstone or Gardiner. I found plenty of options near Montana's Western entrance to the park starting at $157 a night.

Luxury accommodations near Yellowstone

It can also make a lot of sense to use your credit card points to help offset the cost of an upscale stay near the park. Consider redeeming a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a stay at an independent property. You could also "erase" a qualifying travel charge by using a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

The Under Canvas "glamping" lodge is just 10 minutes from Yellowstone's West Entrance. I found availability in August for $264 a night. With taxes and fees, a four-night stay would be just over $1,200.

If you really want to splurge, try the Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana — it's about 4.5 hours from the park, and rates start around $1,600 a night. Paws Up resort in Greenough, Montana is also a 4.5-hour drive, and rooms will set you back about $1,700 a night. And the first five-star, ultra-luxury hotel in the entire state, a Montage in Big Sky, will debut in 2021.

Camping in Yellowstone

Of course, you can always camp inside Yellowstone. Yellowstone has 12 proper campgrounds with over 2,000 individual spots. You can head over to Yellowstone National Park lodges to make reservations, which cost $27 a night, on average.

Other campgrounds are available on a first come, first served basis. They fill up quickly in the summer, and in 2020 not all campgrounds are available because of the pandemic, so your mileage may vary. A search in July found just four of the 12 campgrounds open and accepting reservations. In fact, most were full by 7 a.m.

If you have an RV or camping equipment, you can stay outside the park in the surrounding national forests for very little — or nothing at all. It's called dispersed camping, and travelers comfortable with a more primitive stay should consider the surrounding Custer Gallatin or Bridger Teton National Forests.

How to get to Yellowstone

Flying to yellowstone.

You can fly to a number of cities that put Yellowstone within reach. The easiest and closest airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana, which bills itself as the "Gateway to Yellowstone." It's the busiest airport in Montana with nonstop service to 21 U.S. cities.

Related: New routes make it easier than ever to visit these top US National Parks

American Airlines has been betting big on Montana and added four seasonal flights last year for this summer. American was set to fly to Bozeman from Los Angeles (LAX), New York-LaGuardia (LGA) and Philadelphia (PHL) and to Kalispell (FCA) from LGA. None of those flights are happening, but we're hoping they return next year.

American normally flies from Newark (EWR), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) nonstop to Bozeman. I found tickets in September for between $377 and $425 in the main cabin. Award prices started at 25,000 AAdvantage miles in coach or 50,000 miles for first class, plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.

United flies to Bozeman from six of its hubs, and Delta Air Lines also flies from six hubs, including Salt Lake City (SLC). At this time, Delta is only flying from Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Alaska Airlines has flights from Portland, Oregon (PDX) and Seattle (SEA), and Allegiant flies from four cities including Nashville, Tennessee (BNA). Frontier flies from Denver (DEN), and Sun Country now flies from its Minneapolis hub. JetBlue normally flies from New York-JFK and Boston (BOS) but this summer, they're not flying from New York.

Give yourself two hours for the drive from Bozeman to Yellowstone depending on traffic, weather and which park entrance you're using. There are a variety of operators that offer guided tours of Yellowstone. Karst Stage is one touring company that operates charter buses and day trips from Bozeman to the park.

You can also fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson, Wyoming. The airport is only 45 miles south of the park. It also gives you easy access to Grand Teton National Park. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines all fly to Jackson Hole airport, and Frontier offers seasonal service.

Delta has flights from Salt Lake City for about $300 in the main cabin in August or 23,000 SkyMiles plus $11.20.

You could also fly to Idaho Falls, Idaho and its Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA). It's just under 100 miles from Yellowstone. Allegiant offers year-round, nonstop flights from Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix-Mesa (AZA), and seasonal service from Los Angeles and Oakland (OAK).

Delta offers year-round, nonstop flights from Salt Lake City and seasonal service from Minneapolis, and United has service from Denver. United's flights to IDA were about $347 round-trip in main cabin or 25,000 United miles and $11.20 in taxes and fees.

Of course, there's always Yellowstone's eponymous airport. Yellowstone Airport (WYS) is located just 2 miles from Yellowstone National Park . Delta flies into this airport from Salt Lake City, and I found tickets from $175 in August.

Where to eat in Yellowstone

Montana and Wyoming aren't exactly known as foodie paradise. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, but haute cuisine isn't exactly a thing.

Personally, I recommend doing grocery runs and always keeping a picnic ready for those mountain meadows you stumble upon. Be sure to pack lots of snacks, as restaurants are typically only open in the high season and often have limited hours.

They are also few and far between, especially inside the borders of the park, and they're especially scarce in the age of coronavirus. In fact, most restaurants inside the park remain closed, and the few that are open are take-out only. Forewarned is forearmed.

Smith, the chiropractor from Butte, told me he really likes two places in West Yellowstone: the Slippery Otter Pub that serves bison and elk burgers, and The Branch Restaurant and Bar. Unfortunately, it was closed when I visited in early July (probably due to COVID-19). Hopefully, it will reopen next year.

One of the most important things to know about visiting the national parks right now is that most of the bathrooms I encountered in both Yellowstone and Glacier were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. If you go, definitely have a plan for the call of nature. Folks driving motorhomes will be fine, but be sure to plot your visit and use bathrooms wherever you find them.

Getting around Yellowstone

I strongly recommend renting a car (or an RV!) for your trip to Yellowstone National Park. The park is really designed for drivers, with major roads taking you to most of the iconic attractions. Still, if you really want to explore, bring hiking boots. And don't forget to pack your bear spray. You can't fly with it, though, so buy bear spray after your flight.

If you'd rather not drive, seasoned park veterans take visitors on the famous Yellowstone Yellow Bus Tours . The vintage 1920s buses are an iconic part of the park's heritage. The long, yellow buses with rollback tops are perfect for gazing at the mountains without worrying about the notorious curves in the park's roads.

"These days, a fleet of eight vintage White Motor Co. buses ferry visitors on guided wildlife-watching tours, photo safaris, sunset tours and more," says operator Xanterra. "The distinctive antique yellow vehicles have retractable canvas roofs and panoramic windows, making them ideal for sightseeing. Plus, they're really cool to ride around in."

They also book up quickly, so you'll want to be aggressive with your planning. But, unfortunately, Yellow Bus tours are not running during the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns.

You could also bike around the park, but there's not a lot of separated bike lanes. There are, however, a few trails specially designed for mountain biking. There's a complete guide to biking in Yellowstone here , but you can also rent bikes at Old Faithful Lodge.

Bottom line

Yellowstone National Park should be very high on your travel bucket list. It's a great time to go local and explore the nation's many national parks. Yellowstone is a personal favorite, and getting to see wolves and bears here was one of the highlights of my entire year.

If you're traveling to Montana, don't limit yourself to Yellowstone National Park, though. Across the state, there's Glacier National Park and countless sites that tell the incredibly important history of Native Americans in the United States. Big Sky, not far from Yellowstone, is also surging in popularity. It's a great spot for skiing in the winter.

I highly recommend a visit here this year, especially since travelers with a U.S. passport might find they can't venture too far from home. Just be sure to pack your masks and have a firm plan for where to stay — and use the bathroom — before you go.

Additional reporting by Meghan Hunter.

All photos by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy.

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The Ultimate Guide to Yellowstone National Park — Best Things To Do, See & Enjoy!

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Where Is Yellowstone National Park?

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Journey back in time when visiting Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the world. This massive park stretches over 2 million acres of land through 3 different U.S. states and brings over 4 million visitors each year.

Yellowstone is home to never-ending prairies, majestic mountain ranges, and a plethora of wildlife. This incredible park also has a host of rivers, lakes, and forests and amazing geothermal features such as Old Faithful, the park’s most famous geyser.

Experience the untouched natural beauty and discover the grandeur of Yellowstone National Park.

How To Get to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest region of the U.S. It is such a large area that it is actually found in 3 U.S. states: Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. There are 5 entrances to the park, which is why planning is of extreme importance, so you can know which entrance to utilize so you don’t waste time getting to the sights on your itinerary.

The fastest way to get to the park is by plane, and Yellowstone National Park has an airport near every entrance.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, near Bozeman, Montana, is the most convenient and closest way to get to the North or West Entrance to the park. This airport is lovingly nicknamed “The Gateway to Yellowstone” and is a popular airport for adventurers.

Bozeman is the only airport that provides year-round service for these entrances, and it also provides nonstop flights to over 20 big cities in the U.S. Choosing flights to and from Bozeman ensures that travelers make the most of their vacation and that they use their travel time in the best way possible.

Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA)

Idaho Falls Regional Airport is another option when planning your trip. This airport is 2.5 hours from the West Entrance of the park. Travelers like this option because of its close proximity to Yellowstone and other national parks. This airport is served by 6 well-known airlines that offer nonstop flights to 13 destinations in the U.S.

Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Jackson Hole Airport is the final airport option for traveling to Yellowstone National Park. This airport is around 1 hour away from the South Entrance to the park. Jackson Hole is serviced year-round by Alaska, American, Delta, and United.

Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

Yellowstone Airport is a smaller airport located near the park’s West Entrance. This option is just 10 minutes from the park. The commercial carriers for Yellowstone Airport are Delta and United. The airport provides services during the months of May through October.

Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD)

Yellowstone Regional Airport is located less than an hour from the park near Cody, Wyoming , which is a fun town to visit en route to the park for its famous Buffalo Bill Village . United Express serves Yellowstone Regional Airport year-round and offers flights to and from Denver (DEN).

For those who want the true road trip experience, driving is always an option to get to Yellowstone. Many families will load up their cars, vans, or RVs and set out for an unforgettable journey to make memories of a lifetime along the way.

This park is expansive and has 5 entrances that offer very different experiences, so preplanning is the most important part of this road trip. Another important factor is researching which entrances will permit vehicle access at the time of year you are traveling . Some entrances are closed throughout the year, so in order to save time, checking the entrance information in advance is a must. Once you have decided which entrance you want to utilize, you will be ready to begin.

The most popular entrance to Yellowstone National Park is the West Entrance which takes you through the quaint town of West Yellowstone. This entrance brings you to Geyser Country, home of the infamous Old Faithful.

The West Entrance also gives immediate access to some of the most remarkable geothermal features in the park, including over 500 geysers, hot springs, and mud pots.

The North Entrance was originally designed to be the main entrance to the park. Guests can access Mammoth Hot Springs and the Boiling River at this entrance.

Lamar Valley is the perfect place to view the diverse wildlife found in the park. This area is easily accessed from the Northeast Entrance .

The East Entrance is home to the largest mountain lake, Yellowstone Lake. A little further is Buffalo Bill Dam and Sylvan Pass.

The easiest entrance to Yellowstone is the South Entrance . This entrance is where Lower Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, and the Great Fountain Geyser can be found.

For those wanting to get to Yellowstone National Park, the closest Amtrak station to the park is in Salt Lake City, Utah . From there, you can rent a car or RV to get to the park.

The best option for exploring Yellowstone is by car. The park consists of 310 miles of paved roads, which makes exploring easy. There are also several companies that offer bus tours. These tours take off from one of the many visitor areas.

Cycling enthusiasts also ride their bikes throughout the parks. If you prefer to cycle through Yellowstone, it is important to note that there are no bike lanes or safe shoulders. You will be sharing the road with those driving vehicles as well as wildlife. While this would be an exciting way to experience Yellowstone, it could be dangerous at times.

The main road in Yellowstone is called the Grand Loop. It is a long drive to try and complete in 1 day, as it is 142 miles around the park in a figure 8 shape. This loop connects adventurers to all the must-see attractions, such as Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and Fountain Pots.

When traveling through the park, don’t forget to take your hiking boots with you. There are many hiking trails throughout the park that offer incredible views of the landscape and wildlife.

In the snowy parts of the park, snowmobiles, snowcoaches, and skiing are available as exciting ways to explore the park.

Hot Tip: Whether you travel by car or bus tour through the park, it’s important to have your list of must-see attractions planned in advance so that you don’t miss a thing.

The National Park Service offers free printable maps of the park, which are also available in braille, audio description, and large print.

What To See and Do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, perfectly nicknamed “Wonderland,” is filled with countless sights to behold. From incredible geysers to scenic views to amazing wildlife, there is something for everyone to discover when visiting this majestic park.

Yellowstone’s very own Grand Canyon is a sight to behold. This expansive canyon is about 20 miles long and 800 to 1,200 feet deep. The Yellowstone River flows into this canyon and cascades over Lower Yellowstone Falls .

With colorful canyon walls, rushing waterfalls, interesting wildlife, and incredible hiking trails, this is definitely a stop you want to make while exploring Yellowstone National Park.

Grand Prismatic Spring is the U.S. and Yellowstone’s largest hot spring and is located between the Upper and Lower Geyser Basins. This geothermal attraction is famous for its rainbow colors.

There are walking trails and various vantage points where guests can take photos and observe the natural beauty of the spring, but a favorite viewpoint comes from the boardwalk close to the spring.

This valley is located in the center of Yellowstone and offers incredible views of wildlife found in the park. Haden Valley is home to elk, grizzly bears, and herds of bison. You can also see lots of waterfowl near the Yellowstone River, including Canadian geese, pelicans, and ducks.

Lamar Valley is one of the best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone. Visitors often overlook this location due to its remoteness, but it is one that should make it to your must-see list for its incredible landscapes and wildlife.

This is a place where animals such as deer, pronghorn, elk, gray wolves, grizzly bears, and bison freely roam. The perfect time to see this incredible array of wildlife is at dawn or dusk.

This must-see feature is very different from the other geothermal areas in Yellowstone. In this area, water flows through limestone instead of volcanic rock. This limestone is from an ancient sea that used to cover the park.

This limestone is carried out and deposited as white travertine, leaving exquisite patterns and designs. Natural staircases have been formed this way, as well as cascades.

The Mammoth Hot Springs region is made up of 2 parts: the Mammoth Lower Terraces and Mammoth Upper Terraces. These 2 areas are connected by stairs and boardwalks and provide guests with stunning views of the natural land features and hot springs. This attraction is sure to take your breath away.

Mount Washburn has an elevation of 10,219 feet and is a very well-known mountain peak in Yellowstone. This peak became popular as an early attraction in the park’s history because of the stunning views that can be taken in from the top. There are now hiking trails where adventurers can explore Yellowstone’s beauty from an exhilarating vantage point.

The most famous attraction in Yellowstone is Old Faithful . This geyser is the largest, regularly erupting geyser in the park. Visitors love to watch the breathtaking eruptions from the viewing area or on the boardwalk surrounding the geyser.

If you’d like to see the eruption from a different vantage point, there’s an observation point where you can see this remarkable site from an elevated distance.

For a more relaxed Old Faithful experience, guests can view the spectacular sight while sipping a drink on the viewing deck at the Old Faithful Inn. Eruptions occur every 60 to 110 minutes and last up to 5 minutes long.

While Old Faithful Inn isn’t a natural attraction found in Yellowstone, it is one of the top attractions in the park. This national historic landmark was built in 1903 and 1904 and is one of the oldest lodges in the park. The inn is considered the largest log structure in the world and has an impressive interior as well as exterior.

Many people decide to stay at Old Faithful Inn for their vacation, but you don’t have to be a guest to visit. There are organized tours of the lodge that are free of charge and that are offered several times a day.

Tower Fall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park. This stunning waterfall is located in the northeastern part of Yellowstone and plunges an incredible 132 feet. Not only is there the breathtaking waterfall to take in, but massive, unusual rock columns are there to see. These impressive columns were created centuries ago by a lava flow that cracked during the cooling process.

The Upper Geyser Basin is found right in the heart of Yellowstone and is comprised of different areas for adventurers to explore. Some of these areas include the Old Faithful area, Black Sand Basin, Geyser Hill, and Biscuit Basin.

The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest concentration of geysers in the world , which makes it the perfect location for seeing these natural phenomena in action.

West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the smallest geothermal areas in Yellowstone, but it is one that explorers love to visit.

This area has an incredible trail that follows the lakeshore and passes many thermal features, including Yellowstone’s deepest hydrothermal pool, Abyss Pool. The colorful geothermal pools are colorful and stunning and are fun to take pictures of.

Grand Loop is the main road found in Yellowstone National Park. Driving on this road is one of the best things to do while visiting the park.

This figure 8-shaped road winds around the park, and the scenery will take your breath away. If you drive the entire road, you will pass all of the major attractions in Yellowstone, except Lamar Valley.

The road is an impressive 142 miles long and takes between 4 to 8 hours to completely drive it all. So if you want to stop and explore along Grand Loop Road, which is highly recommended, it could take 3 to 4 days to visit the attractions near the road.

Yellowstone Lake is America’s largest high-elevation lake and is a major attraction of Yellowstone National Park. This stunning lake stretches over 20 miles long and 14 miles wide and has an incredible shore where tourists can stand in awe of its magnificence and beauty.

Swimming is not prohibited at Yellowstone Lake due to its frigid temperatures, but many adventure activities are hosted on and near the lake, such as boating, fishing, hiking, and camping.

Best Times To Visit Yellowstone National Park

While Yellowstone National Park is open year-round, there are times during the year when certain areas and entrances of the park are unable to be accessed and utilized. It is wise to plan your trip to be sure that you are able to see everything on your wish list while not having to worry about closures.

Fall is a magnificent time in general, but experiencing autumn in Yellowstone is truly a remarkable occasion. The best time for viewing the bright fall colors in Yellowstone National Park ranges from the last week of September through the first week of October.

While this is a short window of time, if you are able to make it, you won’t regret it. Some great areas to see the vibrant colors include Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs.

If you are planning a winter trip to Yellowstone, the best times are from mid-December through February. While most of the roads and facilities are closed during these times, there are plenty of winter activities to be enjoyed.

Winter is a magical time to view wildlife. The wildlife tends to gather in the lower elevations, so big horn sheep, wolves, foxes, bison, elk, and coyotes are easy to spot in the valleys.

Many parts of the park are open for “ Winter Recreation Season ,” but there are also several parts of Yellowstone that can only be accessed with snow vehicles.

Hot Tip: The most popular entrance for winter touring is the West Entrance, where guests can ski, go on snowshoe trails, and take advantage of snowcoach and snowmobile tours.

November through March are ideal months for planning a trip to Yellowstone if you are seeking a less crowded experience. These months are considered the off-season, which means lighter crowds and more opportunities to explore the park at your preferred pace.

Should you visit Yellowstone during the regular season, a less crowded entrance is the East Entrance. This is the perfect entrance for visitors who want to avoid crowds as much as possible.

Now that we know the best times to avoid crowds, it may also be helpful to learn about the busiest times for visitors to the park. June through September are considered the busiest months at Yellowstone, so if you are hoping to have a less crowded vacation, you will want to avoid these months at all costs.

A popular time for camping at Yellowstone is in the month of September. This time is perfect since summer temperatures are still present during the days. The average daily temperatures are in the high 60s and in the high 30s at night. This time of year is also great for camping since the crowds have thinned out, which means reserving a campsite is a breeze.

The off-season is also the perfect time for experiencing wildlife. There are other months when wildlife emerges and can be viewed by tourists.

Bears come out from hibernation between March and April, many birds return from migration right before May, and elk emerge seeking a mate starting in the middle of September. If you are hoping to see elk, bison, moose, and mountain goats, they are easy to observe in the summer months, which just so happens to be the busiest season at the park.

It’s no secret that we love a good photo op these days, and Yellowstone sets the scene for stunning photography . It’s true that every season provides opportunities for incredible photographs, but the months of April, May, September, and October are truly the most spectacular times for capturing the beauty of Yellowstone.

These seasons are typically less crowded and the scenery is perfect with less snow and lots of lush plant life. Most of the areas in the park are open during these months, including lodging and campsites, which gives photographers a perfect opportunity to capture sunsets and sunrises.

Summertime is another great time for photographers to capture Yellowstone. The park is filled with lively wildlife, beautiful foliage, and lots of daylight hours for shooting. The downfall of the summer months is that the park is crowded, which can make capturing the perfect shot difficult.

Winter is another great season for photographers. The snowy landscapes, in contrast with the hydrothermal attractions, create stunning photo opportunities as long as the photographer is ready to brave the wind, snow, and cold temperatures.

Hot Tip: Check out our guide to the best travel cameras , including compact, DSLR, and mirrorless options.

The ideal time to visit Yellowstone and experience the best weather is during the summer. The weather is typically 70 degrees during the daytime, which is perfect for hiking and exploring the park.

Other advantages of visiting Yellowstone during the summer are the extended daylight hours and lovely weather during the night. Summertime is also the driest time at Yellowstone, which means you don’t need to worry about rain ruining your exploration plans.

Whether you are camping, exploring, or lodging, summers at Yellowstone provide the best experience for your adventure vacation.

Summer and early fall are the ideal months for those who want to hike and backpack through the park. If you choose to hike before the summer, you may find snow-covered or closed trails.

The weather during this time is warm and filled with sunshine. The extended daylight hours also allow adventurers extra hours to explore the park. Hiking during these months can also mean that wildlife is easily viewed.

To plan the most affordable trip to Yellowstone, adventurers should schedule their visit during the park’s slow season, which is between mid-September to April.

Early spring is typically a cheaper time to visit the park because guests can expect lower prices on flights and lodging rates. These rates typically begin to climb by Memorial Day weekend and stay high for the remainder of the summer.

Several months during the year, the park hosts a variety of events for adventurers to experience. These events are available during the winter, summer, and fall. These events have included snowshoe walks led by park rangers, a Geysers Galore! talk, Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics, and a Geyser Hill walk.

Hot Tip: For more tips, see our guide on the best times to visit Yellowstone National Park (by seasons and interests) .

Where To Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Whether you choose to stay in the park or near the park, there are dozens of options guests can choose from when it comes to lodging. Tourists can choose from an authentic camping experience or luxury resort-style accommodations both in and around the park.

Yellowstone has a diverse array of lodging types available inside the park. Adventurers have the choice between modern, historic hotels or rustic cabins. No matter your lodging preference, you can rest assured that Yellowstone National Park has the perfect accommodations for your vacation right in the park.

The Old Faithful Inn is the world’s largest log structure and is the most requested lodging location for visitors to the park. The inn has a stunning view of the magnificent Old Faithful geyser and has a variety of unique amenities to help guests have an experience of a lifetime.

Old Faithful Inn has over 300 guest rooms, a restaurant and lounge, and historic charm that creates a unique ambiance throughout the property.

Canyon Lodge & Cabins

Canyon Lodge & Cabins is a beautiful facility that has the most accommodations available in Yellowstone. There are over 500 rooms and cabins for guests to choose from. This lodging option is located on the east side of Yellowstone and is near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins

Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins is a stunning historic landmark that is the oldest operating hotel in Yellowstone. The hotel was restored to its Colonial Revival heritage in 2014 with profound interior renovations.

The hotel was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2015 and offers guests remarkable hotel accommodations or frontier cabins, a dining room, and a bar. Visitors enjoy taking in the view of Yellowstone Lake from the hotel.

Explorer Cabins

The Explorer Cabins are located in the heart of West Yellowstone in a cluster of 5 camp settings. There are 50 cabins in total , and this lodging option provides visitors with a unique rustic experience with convenient amenities such as housekeeping, Wi-Fi, luxury linens, and a kitchenette. The Explorer Cabins make the perfect choice for family vacations or a couple’s getaway.

Campgrounds and Campsites

For those wanting to experience the great outdoors, camping is an excellent choice. The park has 12 campgrounds that feature over 2,000 campsites. These campsites are typically filled in a first-come, first-served manner. Many campsites can be reserved in advance.

There are 13 gateway towns located near each entrance of the park. These towns offer adventurers lodging, dining, and a variety of activities while visiting Yellowstone National Park.

Each town offers unique experiences for tourists to enjoy during their vacation. Whether you are searching for a small, quiet location or a lively, exciting destination, these gateway towns have something to offer everyone.

Big Sky is a mountain village located in the heights of Madison Mountain Range. This town has luxury lodging options, campgrounds, restaurants, and shopping centers. Big Sky is about an hour from the West Entrance to Yellowstone and is the dream destination for travelers to get the best of both worlds: adventure and relaxation.

Bozeman is a quaint town near the North or West Entrance to Yellowstone. This town is a college town that has plenty to offer visitors. Bozeman has many restaurants, plenty of places for lodging, and tourist centers to help with planning your trip.

This town is also a place with a busy community calendar. Travelers can enjoy theater productions, live music, farmer’s markets, and art walks. There are also many opportunities to spend time in nature with amazing fly fishing rivers, hiking trails, and skiing available in the town.

Situated right outside the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Cooke City it is a perfect destination for travelers who seek a laid-back vacation with fewer crowds. This gateway town is known for being the quietest of them all.

The town offers visitors dozens of motels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and several restaurants and guide services. This location is perfect for those who want to experience the great outdoors with opportunities for fly fishing, camping, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

Gardiner is located right outside the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Gardiner is Yellowstone’s only year-round entrance for vehicles, which makes it a popular destination for visitors during the winter.

Gardiner has a host of motels and a couple of campgrounds for lodging, a small airport, several restaurants, souvenir shops, and art galleries.

Those who stay in Gardiner enjoy driving through Paradise Valley, viewing the hot springs at Chico Hot Springs , and hiking through the mountains. Gardiner makes the perfect destination for travelers planning to visit Yellowstone.

West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone is an incredibly convenient tourist town right outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone Park. West Yellowstone has everything someone could need while vacationing, including a host of souvenir shops, a Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center , an IMAX theater, a historic center, and a variety of restaurants and lodging options.

Cody is located on the far east side of the park and can be accessed easily from the East Entrance. This town is a famous western landmark and has an abundance of history and appeal to visitors. The town was made famous by its nightly summer rodeo and has an abundance of hiking, fishing, and camping opportunities.

While staying in Cody, visitors enjoy spending time at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and Buffalo Bill State Park or dining in incredible restaurants and diners in the center of the town. Cody is also an amazing place for shopping for western gear, souvenirs, and gifts.

Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole is situated near Yellowstone’s South Entrance. This community is known for the best ski areas in the county. There are many things to see and do in Jackson Hole, including sleigh rides through the National Elk Refuge , fly fishing, rafting, and snowmobiling.

The town square is where tourists gather for dining and shopping opportunities that line the square. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is the most esteemed of the 3 resorts found in the town. This resort offers guests skiing, hiking trails, and tram rides through the mountains.

Where To Eat in Yellowstone National Park

With 9 lodges, 12 campgrounds, and hundreds of campsites found in the park, Yellowstone has several options for dining around each of these lodging options. Restaurants and cafeterias are found near the lodges, and there are several general stores throughout the park where guests can grab snacks on the go.

Top customer-rated dining experiences include Mammoth Hot Springs General Store, Old Faithful General Store – Lower, and Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room.

When most people hear general store, they aren’t thinking of great food made to order, but Mammoth Hot Springs General Store  isn’t your average store. This store has typical groceries, but it also has a grill where guests can refuel their bodies with a quick, incredible meal.

Guests can take advantage of the indoor dining area or set up a picnic outdoors while enjoying their meals.

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Old Faithful General Store – Lower  is another great option for guests who want to enjoy a delicious meal at a reasonable price. Burgers and milkshakes are popular with diners and can be enjoyed in the indoor dining area or the outdoor picnic area.

Adventurers especially love dining outdoors and enjoy watching the nearby wildlife graze and roam while they eat. Now that’s dinner with a view!

This dining option is built near Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite location and is a Yellowstone tribute to the Old West. This rustic log lodge has 2 stone fireplaces, a family-style restaurant, a lobby bar, and a front porch for relaxing and taking in the scenery.

Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Offering excellent views and reasonable pricing, guests enjoy this casual dining experience and often come back for several during their stay.

1. Yellowstone Is an Active Super Volcano

Beneath Yellowstone lies one of the world’s largest active volcanoes. The last lava flow was approximately 70,000 years ago. This volcano is monitored closely for seismic activity, so adventurers can freely explore the park without worry.

2. The First National Park

Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872 when President Grant signed a bill into law to protect the land of the park area. This act was the beginning of national parks and set the stage for preserving land and wildlife.

3. Home to the Most Famous Geyser on Earth

Yellowstone is home to the most famous geyser on earth, Old Faithful. While this geyser is not the biggest in the world or even in the park, it is the largest, most consistent geyser that erupts. Visitors from all over the world come to Yellowstone to see this phenomenal geyser.

4. Yellowstone Has the Third Largest Hot Spring in the World

Grand Prismatic Spring is about 90 meters wide and 50 meters deep. This spring is known for being the largest hot spring in Yellowstone and the third largest in the world.

5. Highest Lake Elevation in North America

At 7,733 feet above sea level, Yellowstone Lake is the largest high elevation lake in the entire North American continent. This massive lake is around 20 miles long and 14 miles wide with 141 miles of shoreline. While this lake is unsuitable for swimming, visitors can take boat tours, go fishing, and take in stunning views from the shore.

6. Over 500 Active Geysers in the Park

While Old Faithful is the most talked about geyser in the park, there are actually over 500 active geysers found in Yellowstone National Park.

7. Largest Concentration of Mammals in the Lower 48 States

There are at least 67 mammal species that can be found in Yellowstone National Park. These mammals include bison, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, coyotes, grizzly bears, white-tailed deer, and mountain lions.

8. Earthquakes in the Park

Since Yellowstone sits on top of an active supervolcano, the park is one of the most seismically active areas in the nation. Each year, between 700 and 3,000 earthquakes occur in the park.

9. Waterfalls Galore

Yellowstone features 290 waterfalls throughout the park. Famous falls include Yellowstone River Upper and Lower Falls. These waterfalls can be viewed from a variety of hiking trails throughout the park.

10. Over 10,000 Hydrothermal Features

The geysers in Yellowstone are very well known, but there are over 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park, including mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles. There is even a volcanic opening that releases steam and hot gases.

Yellowstone National Park has something to offer everyone, from its awe-inspiring landscapes, astonishing geothermal features, remarkable wildlife, and remarkable hiking trails.

With a little research and some wise planning, you can be prepared for an unforgettable vacation in this magnificent park. Yellowstone is a trip of a lifetime that you will want to experience again and again over the years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did yellowstone national park get its name.

Yellowstone National Park is named after the Yellowstone River, which is the major river that runs through the park. The river was named by a Native American tribe that gave the river a name that translated to Yellow Stone.

Is Yellowstone the largest national park?

Even though Yellowstone is massive, it is not the largest national park. Until 1994, Yellowstone was the largest national park in the U.S., but Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska now holds that title.

Is swimming in the rivers and lakes permitted at Yellowstone National Park?

Swimming is not a recommended activity for visitors to Yellowstone. Some lakes have icy temperatures and swimming could be a health hazard. There are some places near the park where swimming is permitted, but not inside the park.

How do I get an entrance pass for Yellowstone?

There are several options for obtaining an entrance pass for Yellowstone. Guests can choose from 7-day passes, annual passes, or even an all-parks pass which gets you into any national park for a full year. Park passes can be purchased at the entrance station where you enter the park.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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I'm a Yellowstone guide — here's what you need to know if you plan on visiting in 2022

Apr 4, 2022 • 5 min read

Life-long Yellowstone enthusiast shares his insights and expert tips for visiting the park in 2022 © Sean Jansen

For the better half of three decades, I have been blessed with the opportunity to work and play in Yellowstone National Park , the first national park of the United States of America .

On March 1, 2022, Yellowstone turned 150 years old. In those 150 years, the boundaries of the park have changed, animals have both flirted with extinction and thrived with protection and park visitation numbers continue to soar year after year.  

As a Yellowstone tour guide and avid outdoorsman, here are my top 5 do’s along with 5 don’ts  all park visitors this very special 150th season should, well, do and don’t do.

5 top Yellowstone Do's:

Get up early, stay late for sublime solitude 

Without question, the best-kept secret of Yellowstone is the dawn and dusk hours. The dawn is peaceful with wildlife at their most active time of day. Dusk is often solitary with people exiting the park to hit happy hour rather than the golden hour of the landscapes at sunset. Despite the visitation of the 150-year anniversary, solitude can still be found for those willing to wake up and stay late. 

Everything you need to know about paddling in Yellowstone National Park

Go hike the park's 1000+ miles of trails 

There are 310 miles of paved roads in 2.2 million acres of Yellowstone. Roughly one percent of the parkland is covered by pavement, the rest is wild and untouched wilderness. With over 1000 miles of trails to explore, there is no better reason to get out of your car and hike. Do you want to get away from people for this special year? Lace up those shoes, grab your bear spray and take to the trails.

Experience Yellowstone National Park sustainably: your guide to going green

Go camp under the stars

With numerous campgrounds to choose from, the true Yellowstone experience is one spent overnight in the park. Imagine going to bed to the sound of elk bugling, not the latest craze on Netflix. The animals you should be watching are those wild and free in the landscapes they call home, not those that are domains for TV shows. Spark a fire, roast a marshmallow and relax in the symphony of Yellowstone’s opera beneath a canopy of stars to really bring the memories of your trip home.

Yosemite vs Yellowstone: which national park is best for you?

Visit the visitor centers

The Visitor Centers are a labyrinth of information covering wildlife recourses to the world’s largest volcano beneath our feet. From kid-friendly to scientific journals, there is information for everyone, with enough to make an entire day out of it.

A wolverine has been caught on camera in Yellowstone for the first time

Multi-day visits help to explore further and linger longer

Large enough to fit Rhode Island and Delaware inside the park, it is impossible to see it all in a day. Multi-day and weeklong trips are a must. I have been exploring it for 26 years and counting. I may not see it all in my lifetime, even if I try.

America's 'pocket planet': exploring Yellowstone National Park

5 top Yellowstone Don’ts :

Avoid the rush from 11am to 4pm and during July and August

This is the busiest time of day and when the major tour bus companies operate. With July and August being the most visited months , coffee is paramount for these moments to take in the solitude of dusk and dawn and nap during the mid-day rush hour.

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Skip Old Faithful, there are 500 other geysers in the park

Old Faithful is the main attraction to the park, but unless it is absolutely necessary for you to see it, watch it on YouTube. The time spent sitting around waiting for it can be used to see the, oh I don’t know, 500 other geysers in the park. FYI, Old Faithful isn’t even the largest in the park, begging the question of why thousands go every eruption.

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Never hike alone: yes, there are bears out there!

The most common question I get is about bears. Yet if I told you that 99% of attacks could be avoided, would you believe me? It is recommended you hike in groups of at least three and make noise. Talk, play music and always carry bear spray. With bears averaging 400-600 pounds, it isn’t if you see a bear hiking, it is when. But with simple hiking precautions, your safety could almost be guaranteed.

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Don’t approach wildlife – Yellowstone is not a petting zoo

I don’t care if it is a squirrel or a bear, do not touch or approach it. On a tour, a dad pulled me aside afterward and said, “if you hadn’t told me not to pet the bison, I wouldn’t have known not to.” All creatures you must be at least 25 yards away, and bears and wolves, 100 yards. I joke about how people-watching in Yellowstone is almost as entertaining as the wildlife themselves. The lunacy of people approaching animals needs to stop!

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Stay on the boardwalks and leave your pets/children at home

The boardwalks are designed by geologists to map out the safest places for people to walk. There are hollow spots in the ground, especially near thermal areas with signs everywhere for people to stay on the boardwalks. Yet every year we hear of someone passing away and being cooked, stepping off the boardwalk. Yes you read that right, cooked! Stay on the boardwalks and hire a dog or babysitter. The most common reason people get burned is chasing after a dog or child. Unless your child is old enough to remember it, leave them at home.

The complete guide to Yellowstone National Park

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10 Insider Tips for Visiting Yellowstone

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Yellowstone, America’s first national park is big, 2.2 million-acres big! In addition to its size, Yellowstone divides into distinctly different regions and habitats that include geysers, fumaroles, other geothermal features, a canyon, a lake, a series of limestone terraces, and an abundance of roaming wildlife. With such vastness and variety, the park can be overwhelming. When you visit Yellowstone National Park, follow these insider tips to make the most of your vacation.

1. See Old Faithful in the early morning or in the evening

Old Faithful, probably the park‘s biggest show-off is also one of its busiest. Almost everyone who enters the park heads to Old Faithful. Get up early (or come back in the late afternoon) and beat the tourists to the park’s prime spots in the Upper Geyser Basin to avoid line-ups and enjoy a more intimate experience. Or hike the Observation Point Trail loop, with its own geyser and fine views of Old Faithful action.

View of Old Faithful and Old Faithful Inn from the Observation Point Trail

2. Visit Yellowstone Lake in the afternoon

While the day visitors view Old Faithful and the surrounding area in the afternoon, head to 136-square-mile Yellowstone Lake, the largest in the park (and the largest high elevation lake in North America). Go beyond the shoreline and consider taking a scenicruise , a guided boat tour   for fishing or sightseeing, or rent a boat on your own and explore.

The Scenicruise on Yellowstone Lake with Lake Yellowstone Hotel in the background.

3. Take a hike

Most of the park actually can’t be seen from the road-98% is off the beaten path.  Seeing Yellowstone shouldn’t be limited to marveling at wonders through your car window. One of the best ways to see Yellowstone is to hit the trails. Walking even a ½ mile on a boardwalk or trail offers you a more complete sense of Yellowstone’s features and landscape. So dust off your hiking shoes, park the car, and see the wonders of Yellowstone that lie beyond your car window.

Hikers crossing the bridge on Trout Lake trail

4. Look for wildlife at the right times

Yellowstone’s amazing wildlife is the real star of the show; bison, elk, bears bighorn sheep, and more. Get up early and explore at dawn (or wait until dusk.) Head to Hayden Valley, widely known as one of the best spots, especially for bison. Your best chance of spotting the park’s legendary bison as well as other critters is in the early morning or evening. Check out our article here for more tips on wildlife viewing.

5. Explore Lamar Valley in winter

The single best place to watch the wild things is Lamar Valley, America’s Serengeti. A wolf-watching mecca since the wolves were reintroduced, you‘re also likely to see bears (in summer), coyote, and bighorn sheep. The valleys open vistas are especially great at dawn and dusk. Often less-visited than other areas, Lamar Valley’s habitat draws wildlife and the open vistas create optimum viewing conditions. Consider booking the park’s early-morning Wake Up to Wildlife Tour in summer or the Wake Up to Winter Wildlife Tour or the longer Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour in winter.

6. Stop at the Visitor Centers

Get the scoop at a Yellowstone Visitor Center. Each facility presents educational exhibits that focus on their region of the park. Located throughout Yellowstone, Visitors Centers offer all kinds of interesting info about the park and the region you’re in with educational exhibits, activity booklets for kids, and interpretive offerings. Be sure to make time for a ranger walk, talk, or evening program. Ask the Ranger for details.

The Visitor Center at Fishing Bridge

7. Look at the stars

Big skies, clean air, and wide-open spaces make Yellowstone the perfect place for stargazing, one of Yellowstone’s true and most underrated wonders. Shift your gaze up as the night sky fills with brilliant stars and breathtaking magic. Go outside after dark. Walk 100 yards from your lodge or drive a short distance to a turnout, then park, scan the lot for wildlife and if none is present, exit your car to look up at the dazzling display of stars. With little light pollution, the night sky is a wonder. Bring a star chart and don‘t forget your telescope.

Milky Way rising over Roosevelt Arch

8. Visit or Stay in a Historic Place

For a bit of comfort amidst the wilderness, head to the awe-inspiring Old Faithful Inn or Lake Yellowstone Hotel, both are registered National Historic Landmarks. Staying in the park is THE BEST way to experience Yellowstone. You can be up early (or out late) enjoying the park after many tourists have left for, a sometimes long, drive in and out of the park. Regardless of were you stay, a stop at Old Faithful Inn lobby will not disappoint with its 65-foot ceiling, massive fireplace, and contorted pine poles. Then grab a cone at the coolest ice cream shop.

Lobby of the Old Faithful Inn

9. Visit the “Other” Hot Spots

Yellowstone is a hotbed of geothermal activity and natural wonders that don’t seem natural at all. Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Hot Spring are just two of many of the park’s other-worldly thermal features. Don’t miss lesser-known hot spots in the Midway Geyser Basin and the West Thumb Geyser Basin that sits on the shores of Yellowstone Lake.

Black Pool in West Thumb Geyser Basin

10. Pack for multiple seasons

Dressing in layers in any season and packing rain gear is key. Even in summer, low temperatures at night can hover near freezing and daytime highs shoot into the 80s. And because of the high elevation and surrounding mountain ranges, the weather can change quickly. We’ve complied a handy list of suggest packing gear for your Yellowstone adventure. And most importantly don’t forget to pack your patience. Long lines, crowded spaces, and wildlife jams are frequent during the peak of the summer season.

Bison on the road being monitored by law enforcement

Article contributions by: Candyce H. Stapen. She has written 30 travel guidebooks, including two for National Geographic, and her blogs and articles appear in many outlets. For more information, see gfvac.com  and follow her  @familyitrips . 20190527

For A World of Unforgettable Experiences ® available from Xanterra Travel Collection ® and our sister companies, visit xanterra.com . Want to experience Yellowstone in-depth? See what makes Yellowstone National Park a great place to work for a season or longer!

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12 Tips for Your First Trip to Yellowstone National Park

By Brianna | July 31, 2020

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Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park is one of the most popular travel destinations in the United States. With stunning landscapes (featuring over 10,000 hydrothermal features) and abundant wildlife a trip to Yellowstone is a discovery of some of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Spanning close to 3500 square miles, planning a proper Yellowstone itinerary is no easy task. Check out these 12 tips for visiting Yellowstone so you can maximize your time, save money, and see as many of the best  attractions in Yellowstone National Park  as possible.

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Book accommodations in advance or visit during offseason

With only 9 hotels inside Yellowstone National Park and over 4 million visitors per year, the accommodations inside the park get booked out fast. During peak summer season (July to August), the hotels are often booked out more than a year in advance. Though there are pros in staying outside the park, but staying inside the park allows you to wander around at night (with caution), and enjoy the sights with fewer crowds. Visiting during the offseason means less crowds, more hotel availability and lower prices.

Short on time? Stay in the park. Traveling on a budget? Stay outside.

If you are short on time, staying in the park will allow you to be closer to the sights and is a good option to maximize your time if you have only a few days in Yellowstone. If you are traveling on a budget staying outside of Yellowstone can be much more affordable. Outside the park borders food and lodging prices tend to be cheaper. Check out this Yellowstone vacation guide to make the most of your time in the park.

Staying outside Yellowstone National Park ? Consider staying in more than one location

Because Yellowstone National Park is huge (ranging across parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho) it’s a good idea to base yourself in several locations during your trip to see all of the best things in Yellowstone . There are a total of 5 entrances in Yellowstone, and they are located a minimum of 1.5 hours away from each other. If you want to visit the Mammoth Springs (one of our personal favorite attractions in Yellowstone) located in the northern part of Yellowstone, you want to stay in Gardiner, Montana. For other popular sights like Old Faithful or Grand Prismatic Spring the town of West Yellowstone in Montana would make a great base.

Plan Your Trip According to The Season

When planning your trip to Yellowstone, it is important to take the weather and seasons into account. In the summer months, it’s usually smooth sailing – roads are open, lodges are accepting guests, and etc. However, things can get a little tricky in autumn, spring, and especially winter. Snowfall might cause some of the roads to be completely closed, preventing visitors from seeing certain places in Yellowstone! Make sure you refer to the  Yellowstone National Park official site  before planning your trip.

Prepare for unpredictable weather

No matter the time of year the weather can b extreme and unpredictable. At night the temperature at higher elevation might even drop below freezing (32 degrees F) in the summer with daytime highs getting up above 80 degrees F. Bring plenty of layers, it’s not unusual to wear a jacket in the mornings and change into shorts later in the afternoon.

Don’t forget about the altitude

Many visitors often neglect the altitude when visiting Yellowstone National Park. The lowest elevation of Yellowstone is along Reese Creek (5,282 feet/1,610 meters) and the highest point in the park is on Eagle Peak (11,358 feet/ 3,462 meters). If you’re coming from sea level or not accustomed to altitude beware of the possibility of getting altitude sickness (headache, fatigue and shortness of breath are common signs of altitude sickness). Take rest breaks and be sure to stay hydrated.

Get an early start to avoid the crowds

With thousands of visitors a day during peak season many of the sights in Yellowstone can get very crowded.If you want to avoid the crowds try to visit these spots early in the day, especially for the Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Nothing ruins the geological wonders of Yellowstone more than being smacked by selfie sticks and shoved around like you are in a sweaty nightclub. Try to visit Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful before 9 am if possible.

Use offline maps to navigate through Yellowstone

Cell service can by spotty in Yellowstone. It doesn’t matter which service providers you have, you will not receive a signal in most areas of the park. To navigate around Yellowstone be sure download offline maps on Google Maps or use an offline map on apps like  maps.me .

Bring plenty of food and water

Restaurants and other food vendors are scarce inside Yellowstone National Park. Often times, you might have to travel an hour by car just to arrive at a place where you can find some food. Bring your own snack and drinks means you don’t have to plan your day around stopping for food. Ideally, you want to have a big breakfast before entering the park in the morning, find a scenic spot to eat your packed lunch during the day, and then leave the park in the evening and find a nice restaurant in one of the towns nearby.

Check out the visitor centers to know the predicted time the geysers will erupt

With over 500 geysers erupting at various times a little research is needed to make sure you’re there for the show. Luckily for you, the visitor centers have a monitor with their predicted time of eruption. With this information, you don’t have to sit there and wait hours for the geyser to spring into action.

Check out the best spot for viewing Grand Prismatic Spring

For the best view of Grand Prismatic Spring make shure to view it from the nearby Fairy Falls Hiking Trail. Many visitors wanting to see the Grand Prismatic Spring will simply input the name in Google Maps and an while this location is correct, there is a better spot to view the world’s largest hot spring. The size is simply too massive for you to appreciate its beauty up close. On the Fairy Falls hiking trail is a Grand Prismatic Overlook, allowing visitors to see this magnificent beauty from above. This isn’t exactly a secret spot and the Fairy Falls Hiking trail can get quite busy.

Wildlife safety

When visitors come to Yellowstone National Park, they must understand that they are in a foreign territory. The park is home to grizzly and black bears, bison, wolves, and other wildlife. Do not approach wildlife (the selfie is not worth it) and carry bear spray when you go out hiking.

If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park pin this post for later!

Author Bio:Sean Lau is a travel blogger at  LivingOutLau . There you will find personalized travel tips and guides to help you maximize your time and money on your next adventure.

About the Author

Freelance travel writer and blogger who seeks out laid back luxury. Focus on culinary, adventure and nature travel. [READ ALL ARTICLES]

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August 1, 2020 at 3:04 pm

Yellowstone is one my top USA bucket list spots that I hope to visit soon. Thanks for the suggestions!

August 1, 2020 at 6:38 pm

I’d love to visit! I think id defiantly want to stay in the park – looks like there is so much to see!

Taylor says

August 1, 2020 at 11:01 pm

This is such a great and helpful guide! I’m possibly planning a trip there in late September, so this definitely came at a good time. 🙂

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Home » Blog » Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Guide and Itinerary

Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Guide and Itinerary

Yellowstone National Park is world-renowned for its epic landscapes, unique wildlife, and fascinating natural history. Each year millions of people come from all over the globe to witness Yellowstone’s wonders, and for some, it has been a lifetime dream. In this blog post, I am sharing everything you need to know to plan your own trip to Yellowstone National Park, including all the best things to see and do!

If you’re new to my blog you may not know that I visited all the US national parks in 2017 , so this guide truly comes from firsthand experience. To date I have visited Yellowstone National Park five times, and I plan to visit many more times in the future!

Disclaimer : This blog post may feature some affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). It’s one of the ways I can keep producing free guides and resources for my readers. Learn more about my affiliate policy  here . Thank you for the support!

Yellowstone National Park Guide

Yellowstone National Park has a rich history. It was established as a national park by US congress in 1872 , and signed into law by president Ulysses S Grant. This was the first national park in the entire world, and paved the way for the protection of future national parks all over the globe.

Today, Yellowstone remains as probably the most well-known of the US national parks, and in recent times has opened its gates to roughly 4 million people each year . It sits in the north-western portion of Wyoming, but a small part of the park extends into both Idaho and Montana. Within the boundaries of the park also happens to be the Yellowstone Caldera , a 34 x 45 mile super volcano within the national park. With this comes extreme volcanic and seismic activity, the reason for its thousands of geothermal features, geysers, and springs.

Taking a road trip to Yellowstone is a dream for a lot of Americans, and it’s also a huge draw for visitors from all around the globe. Thankfully it is quite easy to get around Yellowstone, and can be rather affordable if you are willing to camp or plan ahead. In this guide I will go over everything you need to know , including how to get there, where to stay, the best things to do, photography tips, and more! I hope this is able to make your Yellowstone adventure the best it could possibly be.

When to visit Yellowstone

Yellowstone is technically open year-round , but there are a lot of closures during the winter period in the park from October till May. The most popular times to visit are June through August, but personally my favorite months in the park are May, September, and early October when the crowds are smaller and it should be free of snow. You can still visit Yellowstone during the winter , but personal vehicles will be limited to the road between Gardiner (MT) and Cooke City (MT), the only part of the park where the road is open and maintained in winter. To reach the other parts of the park you will need to have a means of cross-snow travel such as a snowmobile, or take a tour through the park on one of the snow-cats. Be sure to check out the park’s website to research road closures before visiting as dates change every season depending on the weather.

How to get to Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone region is in a pretty remote area of the country, located almost 5 hours from the nearest major city (Salt Lake City). There are a number of ways for guests to access the park , and I will go into detail about some of them below.

Arrive by car

Yellowstone has five entrance stations that are each located in different sections of the park. Where you are driving from previously will determine which of these you will want to enter. The most popular entrance is West Yellowstone as it is the quickest entrance to reach from Salt Lake City (4.5-5 hour drive). Salt Lake City is the nearest major city from which you can fly into and drive from. Another popular way to enter the park is the south entrance station, being just a short drive from Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Airport.

Use Skyscanner to find the best flight deals and for car rentals compare using Kayak across multiple rental agencies.

Arrive by plane

While you cannot fly directly into Yellowstone National Park, you can fly into one of a few nearby towns . The closest of which is West Yellowstone, only a short 5 minute drive from the West Yellowstone entrance. Bozeman (MT) and Jackson Hole (WY) are a couple of alternate options, both being less than a 1.5 hour drive from Yellowstone entrances.

Arrive on a tour

There are a variety of options if you would prefer to visit the park on a guided tour . The advantage of this is that the logistics are all sorted for you! Here are some amazing tour options:

• 4 Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Nature Tour
• Private 2-Day Tour of Yellowstone National Park
• Yellowstone National Park – Full-Day Lower Loop Tour
• Yellowstone Private Fishing Trip
• Yellowstone Lake Guided Sea Kayak Tour

Where to stay

Guests have a range of options for accommodation during their visit to Yellowstone National Park. You will have the choice to stay in Anything from camping in a tent to a stay at the historic Old Faithful Inn,

Yellowstone hotels

• Old Faithful Inn : historic lodge located in the most popular part of the park. Walking distance to Old Faithful Geyser, as well as many others on the Upper Geyser Basin Loop. Also features a beautiful dining hall, cafeteria, gift shop, and coffee cart. Lodge rooms and suites available.
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins : famous hotel located near the Mammoth Hot Springs. Options for hotel rooms, suites, or cabins. Walking distance to Mammoth Hot Springs area and nearby dining hall, general store, and gift shop. One of two accommodations open in the winter, and the only accessible by car in winter.
• Canyon Lodge & Cabins : Largest hotel in the park, featuring more than 500 rooms, restaurants, and a gift shop. Options for cabins, suites or standard lodge rooms.
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins : beautifully located right next to the Old Faithful Geyser. One of only two accommodation options in the park in winter, and only accessible by snow cat in winter. Has a dining room, grill, and gift shop. Other options include Lodge Lake Cabins , Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins , Lake Yellowstone Hotel , Roosevelt Lodge and Grant Village .

Yellowstone camping

• Twelve campgrounds located in the park. Five can be reserved through  here  (options to tent camp or stay in a camper van/RV), rest are first-come, first-served.
• Nearby dispersed camping can be found through  freecampsites.net ,  Campendium , and   iOverlander
• Alternatively use The Dyrt to find your campsite, use my code reneeroaming for a free 30 day trial.

Stay outside of the park

There are a range of options outside the park , but the closest are in the towns of West Yellowstone (MT), Cooke City (MT), and Gardiner (MT). Here are a few of my recommendations:

• Crosswinds Inn : comfortable and affordable hotel that is walking distance from West Yellowstone restaurants, and a 3 minute drive from the west entrance station.
• Under Canvas Yellowstone : try out glamping and be located just 10 minutes from Yellowstone’s west entrance.
• Travelodge by Wyndham Gardiner :  affordable accommodation just a few miles from the north entrance station.
• Alpine Motel of Cooke Cit y : basic accommodation in the heart of beautiful Cooke City. Great base for wildlife viewing at the Lamar Valley.

Nearby vacation rentals

Below are some suggested vacation rentals close to Yellowstone National Park, including near the west, north and east entrances:

• Trapper Cabin : adorable cabin in West Yellowstone with covered porch.
• Kozy Cabin : larger cabin option also in West Yellowstone with views over Denny’s Creek
• The F ishing Shack : located on the Madison River this spacious cabin sleeps up to 8 people and is in beautiful peaceful setting
• Denny Creek Cabin : basic newly built cabin in West Yellowstone with gorgeous wooden rustic beds
• Yellowstone Beauty Loft House : as the name suggests this beautiful loft house is an amazing place to stay in Gardiner
• Rigler’s River Rest : Riverside cabin with beautiful deck and firepit for cosy evenings near North Yellowstone entrance
• Riverfront Cabin : Spacious cabin with incredible views to the north entrance
• Carbella Cabin : Beautiful A-Frame cabin with huge windows and wonderful views across the park.

Best things to do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a huge park, with so many stops along the way to keep visitors busy. As such, below you will find each area broken down into it’s own section along with my top recommendations.

Old Faithful / Upper Geyser Basin

Upper Geyser Basin is the busiest area of the park, and for good reason! Here there is ample parking, a gas station, lodging, a variety of food options, and access to many hiking trails. It is also home to the famous Old Faithful Geyser , which was first discovered in 1872 and named for its long history of predictable eruptions. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the park, and can get very busy. I recommend visiting it in the early morning or later in the evening when it will be a little quieter. You can see the estimated time of the next eruption on the board at the nearby visitor center..

This area is also home to the most densely populated geyser basin in the world, the Upper Geyser Basin. It can be seen via an easy 3 mile loop , and is one of my absolute favorite things to do in Yellowstone National Park. It’s hard to go wrong on any of the hikes in this area (they’re all spectacular!) but you can join a guided hike if you want to get a little more local knowledge while you explore.

Many of these geysers along this walk go off at regular, predictable intervals, so be sure to check in at the Old Faithful Visitor Center before beginning your hike to help you plan when to see the eruptions. Some of the must see stops are Castle Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Grotto Geyser, and Morning Glory Pool. Beehive Geyser is incredible if you can catch it going off!

While you are in the area, I also suggest you going inside the Old Faithful Inn , even if you are not staying there.

Built in 1903 using local wood and stone, this is considered the largest log construction in the world and is absolutely stunning. The dining hall food is also quite delicious if you’re feeling hungry! If you are after something a little faster and cheaper, the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria on the other side of Old Faithful geyser has some great options.

Biscuit Basin

Just north of the Old Faithful is another beautiful part of the Upper Geyser Basin, Biscuit Basin . The best way to explore Biscuit Basin is via its short loop trail (0.65 miles). Along the way you will see geysers and colorful hot pools, including Black Opal Pool, Jewel Geyser, Sapphire Pool, Shell Spring, Mustard Spring, Avoca Spring, and Black Pearl Geyser.

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring is possibly the most recognizable feature in all of Yellowstone. Due to its popularity, I recommend getting here early in the morning or later in the afternoon so it’s a little quieter in terms of crowds. If you don’t want to plan all your stops yourself, consider taking a guided tour! This full-day tour includes Grand Prismatic as one of the highlighted stops.

There are two ways to see the spring. The first way is to park at the Grand Prismatic Spring Parking Lot and take a short boardwalk loop trail that goes right by the spring. This is beautiful, but if you will also want to see that famous postcard viewpoint from. To do this you will need to park at the Fairy Falls Trail Parking Lot and hike a short 1 mile round-trip trail to the overlook . Be aware there is a short but relatively steep uphill section, so those with difficulties walking may want to stick to the boardwalk mentioned previously.

Norris Geyser Basin

The Norris Geyser Basin is one of the most impressive geyser viewing areas of the park. It is home to the hottest and oldest of the geysers in the park, with some thermal features in the area dating back at least 115,000 years. It is also the home of Steamboat Geyser , the tallest geyser in the world, which can erupt up to 400 (120m) feet high! Unfortunately Steamboat’s eruptions are not on a predictable schedule, but you might just get lucky! There are two sections to explore in the Norris Geyser Basin, one being the Porcelain Basin (3/4 mile, 1.2km), and the other being the Back Basin (1.5 miles, 2.4km). I recommend checking both out as they are relatively short walks and both have some really unique features worth seeing. If you only have time for one, Porcelain Basin would be my pick.

Mammoth Hot Springs

The travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs are a unique and beautiful sight within Yellowstone National Park. The soft, earthy tones here and so pleasing to the eye, and there are some really amazing textures throughout the landscape which are always really cool to see. The area has a few different parking lots that you can use to park for exploring these terraces, just pick one that has space and walk as far as you like. There’s a nice boardwalk that takes you from the parking lots to all of the features, but do be aware there are quite a few stairs. Mammoth Hot Springs is a popular stop on any visit to Yellowstone, so you can always explore this area with the help of a tour. This 2-day guided exploration of Yellowstone and this 4-day tour both include stops to explore here.

If you’re a history buff, you can also check out the historic Fort Yellowstone . In the early days of the national park US soldiers were sent into Yellowstone by the Secretary of Interior after issues with poaching, vandalism, etc. Their living quarters remain to this day and tours are available through the park. In this area is also the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel , as well as a gas station, public restrooms, cafeteria, dining hall, gift shop, and general store.

Lamar Valley

America’s Serengeti – this is a name often used to describe Lamar Valley . This is probably my favorite part of the whole national park, and one that I spend a lot of time in with each visit. The Lamar Valley is a large river valley surrounded by mountains and filled to the brim with wildlife. It is home to the famous Junction Butte and Lamar Canyon wolf packs , as well as huge herds of bison, pronghorn, grizzly bears, badgers, bald eagles, and more. What I love about the Lamar Valley is that you are always bound to see something exciting. Whether it’s being held up by a large herd of bison crossing the road , a lucky encounter with one of the wolf packs, or getting to see a grizzly bear cross the Lamar River, I’ve always been left in awe by this place. Your best chance at these special sightings is getting there very early in the morning , or staying out close to sunset as the animals are more active during these times. Remember to bring binoculars! IT is also a really fun experience to visit Lamar Valley with a naturalist guide. You can book a tour that will provide all the scopes and binoculars you need, too.

There are no hotels in the Lamar Valley, but there are a couple of small primitive campgrounds (Slough Creek and Pebble Creek). These are first-come first-served, and are definitely hard to secure with their limited availability, so plan to get there very early if you want to snag a site. Another option is to stay in nearby Cooke City . One of my favorite things to do in Yellowstone is to head to the Lamar Valley in the late afternoon , drive up and down watching wildlife until sunset, and then finish up the day by driving north-east out of the park to Cooke City (MT) and getting a delicious pizza at the Miner’s Saloon … SO GOOD!

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the most dramatic views in Yellowstone National Park. I remember the first time I saw it I was blown away. The powerful Lower Falls drop into a gigantic canyon, which is accented by steaming thermal features and colorful walls.

Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon can be viewed from many viewpoints, but the classic view is from Artist Point . Another of my favorite viewpoints is from Uncle Tom’s Point which requires you to walk down 328 stairs down (and subsequentially back up) and 500 feet of elevation to the overlook. The payout is a really close view of the impressive lower falls, and on a sunny day, you will probably even get a beautiful rainbow! This is one of the highlighted stops on one of my most recommended guided full-day West Yellowstone tours .

West Thumb Geyser Basin

West Thumb Geyser Basin is the first large geyser basin that visitors coming up from the south will encounter. Although in my opinion there are more impressive geyser basins in other areas of the park, West Thumb is unique in that it sits right next to the gigantic Yellowstone Lake which provides some pretty epic views. The two most beautiful and impressive features in West Thumb Geyser Basin are the Abyss Pool , Black Pool , Collapsing Pool , and Fishing Cone , so make sure to check these out!

Fun fact – Fishing Cone was named in the old days when visitors would catch a fish from the lake, then cook it while still on the hook over the geyser. This is now prohibited and actually has been found to be unhealthy, so please don’t try to replicate this haha.

Hiking trails in Yellowstone

Yellowstone, although a very beautiful national park, is not one that’s famous for its hiking trails. Due to the geothermal activity in the area and abundance of wildlife, trails are kept to a minimum in the park. In saying that, there are still some really great options for those wanting to get out and move their legs. Here are a few hiking trails I recommend:

Dunraven Pass to Mount Washburn

Dunraven Pass to Mount Washburn is 6.5 miles (10.4km) roundtrip and has 1400 feet of elevation gain. One of the most famous in the park, this hike takes you to an old fire lookout at the summit of Mount Washburn. Keep an eye out for Bighorn Sheep that are known to frequent the area!

Bunsen Peak out-and-back

Bunsen Peak out-and-back is 4.6 miles (7.4km) roundtrip and has 1285 feet of elevation gain. This hike has great 360 degree views at the top including the Gallatin Range and Mammoth Hot Springs area.

Trout Lake is 1.2 miles (1.9km) and located near the north-east entrance. This hike is an short loop trail that takes you to a picturesque lake that has plentiful wildflowers surrounding it in the summer. Not surprisingly, this is also a great lake to fish for trout (make sure to have the right permit!).

Avalanche Peak

Avalanche Peak is 4.7 miles (7.5km) round-trip and has 2073 feet of elevation gain. It’s a fun, steep hike up to Avalanche peak which features epic views down to Yellowstone Lake and beyond.

Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls is 4.9 miles (7.8km) and has 216 feet of elevation gain. This is a classic Yellowstone hike that is mostly flat and a great one to get out and see the park by foot. Fairy Falls at the end is also a pretty great payoff for the exercise.

Yellowstone photography tips

Yellowstone National park is famous for its wildlife viewing and photography . Large game roam free throughout the valleys and mountains here, and you are guaranteed to come across something cool on your visit here. Not only that, but the vibrant springs and dramatic geysers also make for great photography subjects. Below you will find tips to help you capture images you will be proud of during your visit to Yellowstone!

My tops tips for Yellowstone photography

• Bring a zoom lens . Something like a 100-400mm will be great for capturing wildlife while still staying at a safe distance. A 70-200mm lens can work for animals like bison and elk where you only need to keep a distance of 25 yards (25ish meters), but most likely won’t be enough for bears/wolves.
• A teleconverter can help to give your current lens some extra range. I use a 1.4x teleconverter often when photographing wildlife and it definitely helps me capture some images I otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
• Always have your camera set up and ready to go. Wildlife can appear at the most unexpected times, so having your camera ready to go will help you capture those fleeting moments instead of having you miss them while you fumble through your camera bag.
• Explore Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley for the golden hours just after sunrise, and just before sunset. The light during these times is beautifully dramatic and golden, much better for photography than the harsh light in the middle of a sunny day.
• Try using a wide aperture to create separation between the animal and the background. This will help create better photos in busy scenes and also has the benefit of helping to draw the viewers eye to the subject.
• Pack a wide angle lens (like a 16-35mm ) so you can also capture images of the various hot springs and geysers.
• Bring a circular polarizer (like this one ). These are fantastic at cutting annoying glare that you might get on the springs, helping you see deeper into them and assisting to bring out more of the natural colors. It also often helps bring some more definition to the eruptions from the geysers.

Getting around the park

Yellowstone is a big park (the largest of the national parks in the lower 48 states to be exact!) and it can be confusing to navigate. Below you will find all the insiders tips for getting around!

Get a Yellowstone pass

Firstly, to enter Yellowstone National Park you will need to purchase a 7 day Yellowstone pass which will cost $35 for a private vehicle, or an annual Yellowstone pass for $70. Alternatively, you can use the America The Beautiful pass which covers you for all National Parks (+ other places) for a year. These can be purchased for $80, and is the best option if you plan to visit a variety of national parks in a 12 month period. Read this blog post for tips on how to plan your trip .

Driving around the park

Yellowstone is an easy National Park to drive around from May-October . Depending on the season, most/all roads should be open during these months, and they are all well maintained. Parking lots can fill up and be pretty crazy during the busiest months of June-August , so I recommend getting to the most popular areas such as Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Winter travel

As I spoke about earlier, it is much more difficult to travel around Yellowstone in the winter once the snow settles in. All roads are closed to private vehicles, except the one up north between Gardiner (MT) and Cooke City (MT). To visit any other parts of the park during this time, you will need to take a tour on one of the snow cats , or have your own cross-snow travel vehicle.

Bison traffic jams

Something unique to Yellowstone is the “ bison jam “. Sometimes you may come across a herd of bison that just decided to cross the road when you arrived. Give them space, snap a few photos, but be sure to move on as soon as it is safe to go around them so you don’t hold up traffic . Please also make life easier on the rangers (and fellow visitors) by pulling completely off the road whenever you want to stop, and only doing so in purpose built pull-outs. Just because you see something cool doesn’t give you the right to block traffic, find a safe spot to pull off and walk back if necessary.

Be sure to check for and observe all road closure before your visit to Yellowstone National Park.

Take a tour

If you prefer a guide there are a lot of amazing tours available, this Yellowstone Tour with Local Guide is a great way to get the locals perspective as you explore the park. If you go in the snowy months this Snowmobile Tour avoids any road issues, as does the Private Snowcoach Tour . For anyone interested in wildlife spotting it can be really helpful to go with someone who knows the patterns of the animals habits, this Wildlife Watching Tour or the Winter Wolf and Wildlife Tour are great options for optimal wildlife spotting. For longer guides this Full Day Lower Loop Tour will cover all the bases in one day or take the Self Guided Audio Tour . Another great option to think about is the Old Faithful and Hot Springs Tour .

Yellowstone National Park itinerary

There are numerous itineraries you could take for exploring Yellowstone National Park. In my opinion three nights / four days is the perfect amount of time to explore the park, so that is the itinerary I have created for you below! This itinerary is perfect for spring through fall when the park roads and accommodations are open.

3 night / 4 day Yellowstone itinerary

Keep in mind that I chose West Yellowstone as a starting point because it is the most popular entrance to the park. In saying that, you can tailor the itinerary to suit wherever you are coming from.

Enter Yellowstone National Park via the west entrance station . You can get to West Yellowstone by driving or flying and I suggest arriving as early in the day as possible.

Your first stop will be Lower Geyser Basin where you will take the Fountain Paint Pot Trail . Spend about 30 minutes strolling past hot pools, mudpots, steaming fumaroles, and erupting geysers.

Next stop by Midway Geyser Basin to explore Grand Prismatic Spring. I suggest stopping at both the main boardwalk and also take the hike up the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail (via the Fairy Falls Parking Lot). I would allow at least one hour to explore both these areas, but you may want longer.

A quick stop to walk the Biscuit Basin Loop will be the next thing on your list. This short boardwalk trail will take approximately 15 minutes and you will see plenty of colorful hot springs and spurting geysers.

Your last stop of the day will be at Old Faithful Inn , where you will stay the night. Check into your accommodation, make a dinner reservation, and check the lobby for predicted geyser eruption times. Then spend the last remaining hours of the day viewing Old Faithful Geyser and walking as much of the Upper Geyser Basin Loop (3 miles) as possible. I highly recommend viewing Castle Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Grotto Geyser, and Morning Glory Pool.

Set your alarm early because today will be busy! If you didn’t get a chance to properly explore Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin, be sure to do that this morning. Then check out of the Inn and start driving east.

Your first stop will be West Thumb Geyser Basin . Take a short walk around the area (about 30 minutes) and be sure to stop by Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Collapsing Pool, and Fishing Cone.

Jump back in the car and start heading north to the Canyon area of the park. On the way you will see beautiful views of Yellowstone Lake and the Hayden Valley . Be sure to look out for wildlife!

Next up you will be exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone . I suggest viewing the canyon via Artist Point . If you are feeling adventurous then also take the short walk to Uncle Tom’s Point (keep in mind that it requires walking up/down 328 stairs).

The day isn’t over yet! Get back in the car and start driving northeast towards the Lamar Valley . On the way you should definitely look out for wildlife as we have spotted numerous bears between the Canyon and Tower Roosevelt areas.

You will want to arrive in the Lamar Valley at least a couple of hours before sunset. Take your time driving around valley as you take in the beautiful landscapes and wildlife . You are almost guaranteed to see bison and may very well also see moose, antelope, wolves, and bears.

After sunset make your way out of the northeast entrance and stay the night in Cooke City . I suggest having dinner at the Miner’s Saloon .

Wake up early so you can be driving back through the Lamar Valley at sunrise or just after. That will give you the highest chances for wildlife watching and enjoy the valley with beautiful golden light.

Once you are done exploring the Lamar Valley you can start heading west towards Mammoth Hot Springs. This is a great time to get a Yellowstone hike in. Some suggestions are Trout Lake (1.2 miles) or the Dunraven Pass – Mount Washburn Trail (6 miles).

Make your way over to Mammoth Hot Springs and spend the rest of your day exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces . Walk as far or as little as you want and if you’re a history buff you can also check out nearby historic Fort Yellowstone . Stay the night in Mammoth Hot Springs or Gardiner.

Your first stop today will be Norris Geyser Basin . There are two sections to explore in this area, one being the Porcelain Basin (3/4 mile, 1.2km), and the other being the Back Basin (1.5 miles, 2.4km). I recommend checking both out as they are relatively short walks and both have some really unique features worth seeing. If you only have time for one, Porcelain Basin would be my pick.

Next up you will have some time to explore anything you missed on day 1 (e.g. Lower Geyser Basin or Grand Prismatic Spring) before driving back out to West Yellowstone.

You could also join an organised multi-day tour to take the planning out of your hands. These are great options with different meeting points.

• 2-Day Guided Tour
• From Jackson: Grand Teton and Yellowstone Winter 4-day Tour
• From Salt Lake City: Grand Teton and Yellowstone 4-day Tour
• 4-Day Tour with Lodging
• From Bozeman: 4-day Winter Tour

Map of itinerary

How to stay safe

Yellowstone National Park hosts some of the most breathtaking, but also some of the most dangerous natural sights on the planet. As such, it is vital to follow the National Park Service’s rules when visiting the park.

Stay on trail

Firstly, never stray from the path . Yellowstone’s geothermal activity spreads all throughout the park, and falling through what looks to be safe ground into a boiling hot spring is not a nice way to go. Many people have died or become disfigured as a result of this, so for the safety of yourself and the protection of these areas, stick to the trail.

Keep your distance from wildlife

Secondly, give wildlife space . They are called WILDlife for a reason, and these animals are unpredictable. They may look cute, but if you get too close and they feel threatened, they may threaten your life in retaliation. The national park recommendations are to keep a distance of 100 yards (90m) from bears and wolves, and 25 yards (23m) from bison and other animals. If you get too close and an animal attacks, not only are you in trouble, but the animal is likely to be destroyed in response. Give them space.

Bear safety

It is important to note that Yellowstone is home to some large predators, including grizzly bears . You shouldn’t need to worry too much in busy geyser basin areas, but if you are planning on hiking less busy trails it is recommended you hike in groups of three or more, and carry bear spray with you at all times. Bears should not be feared, but you do need to take extra caution when hiking through a region like this with such a high population of them. Check our my bear safety blog post for more in-depth information.

What to bring

What you should pack for a trip to Yellowstone will depend on the time of year you visit and the activities you have planned. Below you will some general items that everyone should consider bringing on their trip.

It’s a good idea to bring a pair of binoculars to Yellowstone. These will allow you to see wildlife from a safe distance and zoom in on the interesting geothermal landscapes. Invest in a pair ( like these ) or rent them once you arrive at the park.

Reusable water bottle

There are free water bottle refill stations almost everywhere in Yellowstone, so be kind to the environment and bring a reusable water bottle on your trip. Some of my favorites include those by Hydroflask , Nalgene , and Stanley .

Walking shoes

Even if you don’t plan to hike, you will be wanting a pair of walking shoes when exploring Yellowstone. The boardwalks can sometimes get slippery and some trails may be muddy, so a waterproof and grippy pair of shoes will be ideal. I also have a blog post all about the best hiking shoes for men and women to help you choose what is best for your needs.

What you pack for layers and outerwear will heavily depend on what time of year you visit. During the summer months I would recommend a lightweight windbreaker or light down jacket . For the spring and fall I would suggest a warmer insulated jacket as the temperatures can get down to freezing. For winter I would recommend a heavy insulated parka .

Sun protection

Even winter can bring sunny (but cold) days in Yellowstone and sun protection should be a consideration year round. I would suggest packing sunglasses , a sun hat , and sunscreen .

You will definitely want to pack your phone or a camera to capture pictures in Yellowstone! Click here to read all about what’s in my camera bag .

Nearby places to explore

Yellowstone is located relatively close to many other incredible destinations. These are some of my top recommendations for nearby places to explore :

• Grand Teton National Park ( read my in-depth park guide )
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming
• Glacier National Park
• Yellowstone Hot Springs
• Big Sky, Montana
• Cody, Wyoming
• Stanley, Idaho

PIN for later planning

Related guides.

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Discovering the Best Things To Do in Punta Gorda: Florida’s Hidden Gem

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10 comments

Hi i am planning a five days four nights trip from salt lake city to yellowstone this June. Kindly help me routing my trip.

René muchas gracias por esta guía está maravillosa! Super facil y guiada, es la mejor guía de todo internet! Estaba estresada por estar leyendo y buscando en otros sitios, entoces me dije, pero yo sigo a René, ella debe de tener algo en su sitio web, y bingo! Lo tienes todo!

How do I save your my google maps so I can edit it to make it work for me?

I visited Yellowstone National Park when I was 6, I don’t remember much but I do remember it was beautiful and Old Faithful was amazing to me at the time. I hope to go back in the next couple of years so I can see it again and take more time to explore some of the sites you’re recommended and appreciate the wildlife more. Thanks for sharing.

I agree with Idalis above. I have researched and read and read and just got more and more overwhelmed. Your blog is wonderful. Just what I needed. Thank you.

Great guide. Road tripping this summer from PA. Thanks heaps Renee. Cheers, Erik

This is literally the best guide ever. I have seen so many and they all ended up confusing me more. Thank you!

I’m planning a trip for my sister’s family this June. They will be staying in Island Park, they will have 4 kids, 4 adults, and 2 seniors in their party. Im looking at your 4 day itinerary, can you provide me with which color is for each day and would this itinerary fit their family and place they are staying?

Awesome blog – very helpful – Thank you !

I was lucky enough to visit Yellowstone a few years back and it was one of my most memorable trips. Reading your blog and seeing your photos brought back so many wonderful memories. Thankyou Renee.

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The Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide

It isn't just the astounding geological wonders that give our country's first national park its allure, from 500 geysers that erupt up to 400 feet into the air to deep glacier-carved valleys and fossil forests. The vibrant megafauna and endless backcountry terrain make it one of the wildest areas in the country. And if you know where to go, you can avoid the crowds.

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Yellowstone is a trippy place . Its 2.2 million acres are dotted with bubbling mud pots, steaming hot pools of concentric rainbow hues, and some 500 geysers that spew water—and, occasionally,  cinderblocks and decades-old pacifiers . Among it all are elk, bighorn sheep, and 1,000-pound bison that would just as soon toss you 10 feet in the air as look at you.

The people are just as strange. More than 4 million pour in from around the globe every year, causing mile-long bear jams on the park’s two-lane roads, in addition to  petting bison , challenging bison to fights , loading them into their cars, and peeing directly into Old Faithful . (Luckily, the park has its own jail.) Yellowstone visitors have been boiled to death in thermal pools, drowned while searching for hidden treasure , and, of course, eaten by grizzlies.

Personally, I find the mayhem fascinating (apart from people throwing garbage into geysers—honestly, what the hell?) and indicative of just how wild the landscape is. When president Ulysses S. Grant designated the area the country’s first park in 1872, Yellowstone took hold in the modern imagination as the quintessential portrait of the American West and, despite its recent news coverage, has largely remained that way. Spanning the northwest corner of Wyoming and extending into parts of Montana and Idaho, the park’s sheer magnitude means that, with the right planning, you can have the unspoiled experience that made our forefathers awestruck enough to preserve it.

Along with containing the largest concentration of geothermal features in the world, Yellowstone is one of the most ecologically diverse parks. Its most famous residents are its wolves, which have thrived since their 1995 reintroduction, helped revive the ecosystem , and have become a major tourist attraction in their own right. The park offers exceptional fishing and paddling on vast windswept lakes. It’s threaded with more than 900 miles of trails winding over mountain ridges, past thundering waterfalls, and into remote geyser basins where you won’t see another soul—after all, the common Yellowstone maxim is that fewer than 10 percent of all tourists make it more than one mile from the paved parking lots.

What You Need to Know Before Visiting

Bring a spotting scope, or at least some good binoculars. Yellowstone has been called America’s Serengeti for the vast herds of bison and elk and the constellations of other charismatic megafauna that inhabit the park. Don’t want to spring for a $400 spotting scope or a $1,000 telephoto camera lens? You can rent them by the day or week from camera stores in West Yellowstone or Gardiner, Montana (from $25 a day). Barring that, it’s easy to borrow a look from the crowds of wildlife watchers and guides who line the roadways. A bit of advice on etiquette: Don’t just roll up and demand to know what people are looking at from the window of your idling vehicle. Park safely off the road, stroll up to a group clustered around a spotting scope, and ask polite questions. They’ll usually be delighted to share what they are seeing and what they know, and they’ll most likely offer you a look through their lens.

Expect crowds in the summer. Around 43 percent of Yellowstone’s visitors—some 1.78 million people— cram into the park in July and August. They’re all jockeying for parking spaces, and crowds four people deep are watching Old Faithful erupt. Plan to visit popular spots like Old Faithful and the West Thumb and Norris Geyser Basins early in the morning; midday, head to the backcountry, where crowds thin quickly. The east shore of Yellowstone Lake, via the Thorofare Trail, is a great place to escape people.

Plan your hikes around the park’s thermal features. Yellowstone became the world’s first national park because of its thermal features, and they remain its prime attraction. Despite the crowds at Old Faithful, the Upper Geyser Basin is absolutely worth a look, especially if you can catch Grand Geyser, with its 200-foot-high plume (erupts every six to seven hours), and Riverside, which throws an arch of water 75 feet into the Firehole River every five or so hours, in the same visit. The park posts estimated eruption times  online and on a board in the visitor’s center. Steamboat Geyser, in the Norris Geyser Basin, features the world’s tallest plume at 300 to 400 feet and has become exceptionally active lately. It was dormant for 50 years until an uptick of eruptions in the 1960s and has erupted record 38 times in 2019. Catching Steamboat is a matter of luck, but one indicator can help: If touring Norris, keep an eye out for Geyser Gazers , members of a 300-strong volunteer association who record observations for the park via two-way radios. If you spot someone running toward Steamboat yelling into a radio, you’d be wise to follow.

How to Get There

Yellowstone is fully in the grip of the automotive industrial complex—there is no public transportation to or inside the park. You can drive into Yellowstone via one of the five entrances: West Yellowstone, Montana;  Grand Teton National Park to the south; Cody, Wyoming, to the east; Cook City, Montana, to the northeast; and Gardiner to the north. The closest major airports are Bozeman, Montana, to the north, and Jackson, Wyoming, to the south, both less than 1.5-hour drives to the park and stocked with cars for rent. Yellowstone’s 466 miles of roads are all paved, so high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles aren’t necessary.

When Is the Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone?

Winter:  Most of the park’s roads are closed from late fall to late spring due to snow and subzero temperatures. Park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs  (near the north entrance) and Highway 212 from Mammoth to Cooke City (at the east entrance) are open year-round. Highway 212 traverses the Lamar Valley , where you’ll find some of the park’s finest wildlife watching. The remainder of the park opens in mid-December for oversnow travel by skis or snowshoes, snowmobile, or snowcoach—vehicles with tank-like tracks in lieu of wheels. For lodging, only two hotels,  Old Faithful Snow Lodge  and  Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins , are open, though visitors are welcome to camp with a backcountry permit , which are free in winter. (One advantage to sleeping on the snow: the grizzlies are hibernating.) Wolf watchers prefer winter, when deep snow makes for good tracking and easy visibility against the snow.

Spring: March and April are best for seeing the bears that have stumbled hungry from their hibernation dens. Bison and elk can be seen calving. In May, the wolf pups finally emerge from their dens. I have friends who plan a “baby animals” weekend in the spring to see the numerous newly born critters. Many park roads open around April 20, conditions depending, though many facilities like stores and hotels may not open until May, and some higher-elevation roads and campgrounds may not open until June. Check the park’s hours page for details. In spring, expect few crowds, but plan for snow and temperatures between 30 and 60 degrees during the day and as low as single digits at night.

Summer: Especially in summer, don’t expect to just snag a room at one of the park’s nine hotels. Plan ahead—most rooms are booked a year in advance, as are many campgrounds. Some 70 percent of Yellowstone’s more than 300 backcountry campsites are reservable by mail beginning on April 1 . Applications cost $25 and ask for first, second, and third choices per night. The remaining 90 sites, apportioned equitably across the park, are left open each day to be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis, reservable up to 48 hours in advance of the night you plan to camp ($3 to $15 per person). Even if latecomers can’t get their first-choice sites, they should be able to get a spot nearby. Temperatures average 70 degrees, and afternoon thunderstorms are frequent.

Fall: Fall is the ideal time to visit Yellowstone. The crowds and mosquitoes are gone; animals are more active (even fighting!) because of the rut and are fattening up for winter. September features crisp weather; October can bring snow, with temperatures that fall in the same range as spring.

Where to Stay in Yellowstone

Outside Inc.’s National Park Trips offers a free Yellowstone Trip Planner filled with a complete itinerary, beautiful photography, a park map, and everything else you need to plan your dream vacation.

In the Park

Yellowstone’s nine hotels offer more than 2,000 rooms and cabins and are booked through concessionaire Xanterra . The bright-yellow, 153-room Lake Yellowstone Hotel (from $217) is the park’s oldest and most upscale. It was renovated in 2014 with expanded and modernized rooms, as well as restoration of the famously spacious dining room, lobby, and sunroom that features nightly piano or string quartet performances. The 327-room Old Faithful Inn (from $99) shares a spot on the National Historic Register with the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Built entirely from local materials, it is considered the largest log structure in the world. Even if you don’t stay at the Old Faithful Inn, its lobby is worth a visit. Seemingly random windows spread around the cavernous, 65-foot-high room are meant to mimic the way light falls through a forest canopy. The observation deck on the lobby’s roof was closed to the public after an earthquake in 1959, but the inn allows eight people to attend the flag-lowering ceremony there each day at dusk. To make a reservation, call the hotel’s bell desk at 307-344-7311 starting on May 8.

Car campers can claim one of 2,178 campsites ($15 to $30) spread across 12 campgrounds within the park. Five of the campgrounds are administered by Xanterra and take reservations. The other seven are first-come, first-served, including the more intimate 27-site Pebble Creek and 16-site Slough Creek campgrounds in the Lamar Valley, which are optimally located for early and late wildlife watching. Check availability here.

Beyond the Park 

Opened in 2018, the four-star, 50-guestroom Sage Lodge (from $259) offers a more stylish alternative to Yellowstone’s massive hotels. A 35-minute drive north from the park and set on a 1,200-acre ranch overlooking the Yellowstone River , Sage specializes in fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking outings, as well as culinary experiences like dry-aged beef tastings. Sage is pet-friendly (unlike Yellowstone’s hotels) and has a full-service spa.

What to Do While You’re There

Just 1.2 miles round-trip, the Grand Prismatic Springs Overlook Trail gets you a far better view of the world-famous multihued hot spring than the boardwalk running along its edge. Park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead, just off the west side of Grand Loop Road, and climb 105 feet to an observation spot for Instagram gold. From the path, which is within the park’s Midway Geyser Basin, you’ll also be able to see Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, and Opal Pool.

The 20.6-mile route to 10,969-foot Electric Peak makes for a good trail run or overnight hike (be sure to get a backcountry camping permit ). Start at Glen Creek Trailhead, south of Mammoth Hot Springs, and head east through the open grasslands. The area is frequented by bison and grizzly, so stay heads-up and carry bear spray . Campsites 1G3 or 1G4, six miles from the trailhead, are closest to the pyramid-shaped peak.

The 32-mile Bechler River Trail , in Yellowstone’s southwest corner, is a stone-cold classic. To do the four-day route between Lone Star Trailhead and the Bechler River ranger station, you’ll have to ascend a moderate grade up the waterfall-studded Bechler River, through forests largely missed by Yellowstone’s infamous 1988 fires. This trail also passes Lone Star Geyser, which erupts every three hours, and Mr. Bubbles hot springs , one of Yellowstone’s few thermal features that are legal (and cool enough) to swim in. Go in August or September to avoid mosquitoes and crowds and for more moderate river crossings.

My favorite way to see Yellowstone is to cycle its roads in spring, when they’ve been plowed but are not yet open to cars. From the third week of March to April 20, depending on conditions, Highway 20 from West Yellowstone connecting to Highway 89 to Mammoth Hot Springs opens to human-powered traffic only—a pedal of 49 miles. Cycle between snowbanks and past bison herds, and visit the Norris Geyser basin. Overnight at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Gardiner, 16 miles farther on, and then return the next day. Rent road bikes at West Yellowstone’s Freeheel and Wheel (from $40), which also makes the town’s best espresso.

The 24-mile round-trip paddle to Shoshone Lake Geyser Basin is usually done as a three-day excursion, which includes spending a few hours exploring the 40-geyser thermal area on the west shore of Shoshone Lake . Put in at the Lewis Lake boat dock and head for the Lewis River Channel , a three-mile-long river connecting the two lakes. In late summer, you’ll need to walk your boats through shallower sections. Snag campsite 8Q4 or 8R1 on Shoshone Lake if you can—both have black-gravel beaches for easy landing and good sunrise and sunset views. Start early—Yellowstone’s lakes are notorious for ferocious afternoon winds. Rendezvous River Sports offers Shoshone Lake expeditions as soon as the ice melts in late spring (from $1,125).

Horseback Riding

While visitors are allowed to bring stock into the site (abide by stock-packing regulation s ), the park has dozens of private outfitters offering day trips and guided overnight backcountry trips that include stops for hiking and fly-fishing. Its nine hotels lead one-to-two-hour trips at Canyon and Roosevelt.

Wildlife Viewing

Yellowstone Forever , a nonprofit that supports park research and facilities, offers excellent wildlife guiding, educational programs, and expeditions year-round. Its winter Lamar Valley Wolf Week programs (from $780), which include lodging at a historic biology field station, generally sell out a year in advance. Consider reading Decade of the Wolf , written by the park service biologist who led the effort to reintroduce the animals to Yellowstone and, in the process, restored the health of the entire ecosystem.

The Best Places to Eat and Drink Around Yellowstone

Catering to 4 million visitors a year, Yellowstone’s eateries are more focused on quantity than quality. The good news is that Xanterra, the concessionaire that runs the park’s catering, says that in 2018, 60 percent of their food purchases included at least one sustainable attribute , including regional production, eco-certification, or responsibly harvested products. Inside the park, the most upscale options are found at the Lake Hotel dining room , which serves steakhouse-style dishes. Early morning Lamar Valley wildlife-watching outings often end at the Roosevelt Cabins (open May to September) for a hearty late breakfast. Order the eggs and ham steak, sourced from Yoder, Wyoming. The park’s best drinking establishment is in the lobby of the Old Faithful Inn, which features seating on two separate balconies ringing the main floor. Or grab a pint of Grand Teton Brewing’s Old Faithful Ale (obviously), and people-watch as crowds stream through the lobby on one of the inn’s historical tours , which happen four times daily.

Outside the park boundary, the Grill at Sage Lodge specializes in fish and meat, like bison filet and chicken-fried rabbit, cooked over a wood fire. In Gardiner, where many of the park guides reside, the Wonderland Café serves upscale comfort food like baked elk chili mac, as well as good vegetarian fare. For drinks, the Iron Horse Bar and Grille is a friendly institution featuring bric-a-brac decor. Grab a Montana microbrew and catch the sun’s last rays on the huge deck overhanging the Yellowstone River.

If You Have Time for a Detour

Chico Hot Springs , in the Paradise Valley, an hour north of the park, opened in 1900 and remains a celebrated piece of authentic Americana. The resort features a pair of geothermically heated mineral pools, a hotel, a dining room known for its steak, and a funky saloon with live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.

It’s worth stopping by  Grand Teton National Park  (from $20), which lies just 6.9 miles to the south. Grand Teton is an adventure playground, featuring iconic mountaineering and backpacking routes, as well as world-class fishing and boating on Jackson Lake and the Snake River. At Grand Teton’s doorstep is the town of Jackson, renowned for fly-fishing, whitewater boating, mountain biking, and a bustling arts and culinary scene.

The Beartooth Highway, at Yellowstone’s northeast corner, between Cooke City-Silver Gate and Red Lodge, is one of the country’s most spectacular drives. This National Scenic Byway swings through the Absaroka and Beartooth mountains at elevations up to 12,000 feet and includes views of glaciers, granite peaks, and high alpine lakes. It also includes summer skiing at Beartooth Basin , which opens as soon as the road does in June (usually around June 15).

How to Be Conscious

The most popular book in the park’s gift shops is Death in Yellowstone , and for good reason—it’s chock-full of accounts of unusual fatalities, from being mauled by grizzly bears to boiling to death in 212-degree pools. Don’t add your name to the list, because, to to paraphrase Keanu , those who love you will miss you, and because your passing will likely impact Yellowstone’s delicate ecosystem. If you’re killed by a bear, that bear will likely be put down. The aforementioned bison stashed in the hatchback? Also put down. Letting your boiled bones settle to the bottom of a hot pool may affect its plumbing . Less dramatically, even stepping on the surface of thermal features can mar them forever. It’s also illegal and can get you jailed and barred from federal lands, as three Canadian bloggers famously discovered in 2017. The park has a lengthy web page devoted to protecting yourself and the park, including guidelines on safe distances from which to view wildlife, how to store food in bear country, and warnings about lightning, drowning, falling trees, hypothermia, and insect bites.

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Yellowstone National Park   Travel Guide

Courtesy of Different_Brian | Getty Images

Why Go To Yellowstone National Park

With dramatic peaks and pristine lakes, Yellowstone National Park is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Multicolored pools swirl around hot springs; verdant forests weave past expansive meadows; and volatile geysers launch streams of steaming water toward the sky. With so much unspoiled natural beauty, it's no wonder why everyone suspected John Colter (a scout for explorers Lewis and Clark) was embellishing when he first described Yellowstone's geothermal curiosities in 1807. Nowadays, there's no doubt that the park is indeed extraordinary. While you traverse its 3,000-plus square miles of mountains, canyons, geysers and waterfalls, be prepared to share the trails with permanent residents like buffalo, elk and sometimes even grizzlies. 

Although Yellowstone attracts more than 4 million visitors every year, chances are – unless you spend your entire trip at  Old Faithful  – you won't see much of them. Yellowstone's 2.2 million acres creep from the northwest corner of Wyoming into the edges of Idaho and Montana, offering plenty of untouched territory to explore. Carve out a day or two to take in the view at Yellowstone Lake and Mammoth Hot Springs . But save some time for the trails through lesser-known regions, like the hot springs of the West Thumb Geyser Basin and the untamed wildlife dotting the Lewis River Channel and Dogshead Loop. While the sheer number of trails and wildlife-watching opportunities may seem daunting at first, remember: You can always come back.

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• # 1 in Best Adventure Vacations in the U.S.
• # 1 in Top 19 Cheap Family Vacations
• # 1 in Best Summer Family Vacations

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Best of Yellowstone National Park

Best hotels in yellowstone national park.

• in The Cody Hotel
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• # 1 in Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
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Yellowstone National Park Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May as well as September through early October. These shoulder months offer mild weather, fewer crowds and little to no road closures. July and August are the most popular months to visit: The kids are out of school, and the weather is warm enough to sleep outside. However, this park is no stranger to the cold. Temperatures have been known to drop into the 30s during the summer in the higher elevation areas of the park. During the winter, expect a wide range of temps, spanning from subzero digits to the high 20s. Don't let that stop you: There's nothing quite like seeing plumes of steam rise from beneath a thick blanket of snow and ice.

Weather in Yellowstone National Park

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

Beware of bears All of Yellowstone is a bear habitat. To avoid an attack, make plenty of noise when hiking to avoid surprise encounters, bring bear spray and secure any food items before calling it a night.

In winter, services are limited  Except for those found at the park's headquarters near  Mammoth Hot Springs , the majority of Yellowstone's facilities and roads close during the winter.

Don't forget your permit If you are looking to camp outside the designated camping areas, you will need to obtain a permit from one of the visitor centers or ranger stations.

There's an entrance fee  Entry to Yellowstone costs $20 for visitors who enter on foot or by bike, $30 for those arriving by motorcycle and $35 for travelers with a car. All park passes are valid for seven consecutive days.

How to Save Money in Yellowstone National Park

BYOB Bring your own bed. A space in a campground is much cheaper than a room at one of the park's lodges. Plus, many campgrounds come equipped with showers, flushing toilets and even laundry facilities.

Skip the summer Because summer witnesses the largest influx of tourists, hotel  rates tend to rise. You'll spend less if you visit during the offseason.

Do your own cooking Yellowstone does feature several sit-down restaurants, but they can end up putting quite a dent in your savings. Consider bringing your own food.

What to Eat

Compared to other national parks around the country, Yellowstone has a lot of dining options. Inside the park, you'll find general stores, canteens, snack shops and even bars. Yellowstone is also home to a handful of sit-down restaurants, most of which are located by popular attractions such as  Mammoth Hot Springs , Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake . In-park canteens tend to serve casual fare like sandwiches, while high-end restaurants like the Lake Hotel Dining Room  and the Mammoth Hotel Dining Room provide selections of game meats (including bison, elk and trout).

Although there are a handful of dining options within the borders of Yellowstone National Park, consider bringing along a cooler with lunch items and snacks so you don't have to worry about staying near one of the park's more developed areas. Remember, it could take hours to get from one attraction to the other in Yellowstone. Other eateries can be found in the small towns surrounding the park. In Cody, Wyoming, previous visitors suggested dining at The Local and The Cody Cattle Company , while past travelers who visited West Yellowstone, Montana, raved about the dishes served at Wild West Pizzeria  and Running Bear Pancake House .

Safety hazards in Yellowstone range from headaches to severe hazards, such as animal attacks. Headaches may come as a result of the change in altitude. Yellowstone's elevation ranges from 5,282 to 11,358 feet above sea level. Although altitude sickness tends to occur after exposure to environments above 8,000 feet, any sudden, major change in altitude can result in one feeling sick, with symptoms including headaches, tiredness, dizziness and more. Even if you aren't planning to go to higher elevation areas in the park, or do a lot of hiking, or both, consider taking it easy for 24 hours to adjust to the environment.

When sightseeing in the park, keep in mind that many of the geothermal attractions, such as the geysers and mud pots, are dangerous due to their extremely hot temperatures. Likewise, you should stay a safe distance from animals at all times. The National Park Service suggests putting at least 100 yards between you and wolves and bears, and about 25 yards or more between you and all other wildlife. Most of the park's established campsites generally are not at risk for animal attacks, but campers must keep all food and garbage out of reach from bears and other critters. Animals who have access to food and garbage from humans often become dependent and then aggressive towards humans to get it, and as a result, may have to be put down. 

If you can help it, avoid wandering off on your own: 91% of bear attacks in Yellowstone were from visitors who went hiking by themeslves (remember that the entirety of Yellowstone is considered bear country). Regardless of whether you are by yourself or with others, make plenty of noise (the NPS recommends periodic yelling) to warn animals of your presence. Carrying a can of bear spray (a repellent used to ward off charging bears) is highly recommended. If you do encounter a bear on the trails, do not run, as it will trigger a chase response in the bear. Instead, back away slowly and don't make any noise as not to startle the bear. To find out more about how to protect yourself from bears, visit NPS' Bear Safety  page . For more information on how to respond to other animals in the park, visit Yellowstone's Safety page . 

Getting Around Yellowstone National Park

The best way to get around Yellowstone National Park is by car; there is no public transportation system in the park. You can rent a car at any of the nearby airports, including Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) in Cody, Wyoming; Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson, Wyoming; Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in West Yellowstone, Montana; and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Bozeman, Montana. Parking is available throughout the park but depending on the time of year and day, it can be a challenge to secure. Guided tours of the park are also available.

People who have gotten too close to geysers, mineral pools and more have suffered severe to fatal burns. Stay on marked pathways at all times.

Explore More of Yellowstone National Park

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9 Tips to Visit Yellowstone on a Budget

Wondering whether to fly or drive where to stay to save money here’s everything you need to know to plan an affordable vacation to yellowstone without sacrificing fun..

Planning a budget friendly Yellowstone vacation isn’t as easy as it might seem. Tucked in the northwest corner of Wyoming and southern edges of Montana, Yellowstone’s remote location has, no doubt, helped preserve its natural wonders. But being so far from a metropolitan area can drive up lodging, flights, gas and food costs. After years of visiting Yellowstone, we’ve learned how to enjoy the park and not break the bank. Here are nine insider tips to save money on your next Yellowstone vacation.

Weigh Whether Driving or Flying to Yellowstone Is More Affordable

Everyone planning a Yellowstone vacation has to decide whether they will drive or fly. If you’re a family of five traveling from Chicago to Yellowstone , it may be most cost-effective to drive. You won’t spend money on airline tickets or a rental car. And while you’ll need to pay for hotels, food and gas along the way, those costs are manageable. To save on food costs, stay at inexpensive hotels where breakfast is included, pack snacks and stock your cooler with lunch foods. Better yet, if you’re a camper, pack your tent and camp stove and stay at campgrounds along the way.

If you have airline miles or limited time, it may be cheaper to fly and rent a car at the airport. Yellowstone visitors fly into a mix of regional and international airports, all with pros and cons.

Know the Cheapest Places to Fly into Yellowstone

To be clear, there’s no airport right next to the park. Regional airports within an hour’s drive of the park include Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming, and Jackson Hole Airport , which sits in Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming. Just under a two-hour drive are Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and Idaho Falls Regional Airport . It’s worth checking flight prices to all four airports on various airlines using a tool like Google Flights. If you really want to hone in on deals, Airfarewatchdog.com can alert you when prices drop.

While farther from Yellowstone, Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah , and Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, offer what the small airports don’t: choice. With more flights and airlines to choose from, you may find cheaper prices. It’s a five-hour drive to Yellowstone from Salt Lake City and an 8.5-hour drive from Denver . While flying into these airports eats up time you could be spending in the park, it may also save you a lot of money.

When you’re pricing your flights, be sure to price rental cars, too. Rental car prices can vary wildly, and an overpriced vehicle can erase all the savings you got for your flights. Wherever you fly into, reserve your rental car way in advance.

Be Aware that the Cheapest Gas in Yellowstone Is Outside the Park

Whether you fly or drive there, you need a car to tour Yellowstone. The park’s vastness and its lack of a public transportation system force visitors to be completely dependent on their vehicles to explore any of the park’s gems.

While there are seven gas stations in Yellowstone, the gas in the park is more expensive than outside the park. Save money by fueling up in West Yellowstone , Gardiner and Cooke City in Montana. Because the park is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined, be strategic and scout out your fuel stops in advance. If you’re going to visit Mammoth Hot Springs, fuel up in the town of Gardiner, which is several minutes away. If you’re staying in West Yellowstone, fuel up there before venturing to Old Faithful. No matter where you explore, keep your eyes on your gas tank. Running out of gas in Yellowstone is no picnic, especially with all those grizzly bears roaming around.

Use These Hacks to Find the Best Hotel Deals in Yellowstone

If you have your heart set on staying in the park, there are some essentials you need to know. First, you’re battling with literally thousands of others to stay in the park, so to get the cheapest rates, book your rooms as early as possible. Yellowstone National Park Lodges, the company that runs the park’s hotels, releases rooms 13 months in advance, so be ready to book the instant rooms are released for your dates.

Second, seek out the more affordable properties. Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Old Faithful Inn are two of Yellowstone’s finest hotels, but both properties have cabins a stone’s throw away that are much cheaper. Instead of staying at Lake Yellowstone Hotel, stay at Lake Lodge Cabins . Pass on the Old Faithful Inn, and opt for Old Faithful Lodge Cabins . If you book a cabin with a communal bathroom, the price drops more.

Roosevelt Lodge Cabins are another affordable option with shared or private bathrooms. Like many things in life, as the price drops, amenities tend to disappear. If you book a Rough Rider cabin, you won’t find a bathroom, TV, internet or a coffee maker in your room. But you’ll have a cozy bed in the heart of the park.

For the best hotel rates, sign up for the park’s hotel newsletter as it often offers special promotions and book directly through Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

If you like to camp, the cheapest way to stay in Yellowstone is in your tent or RV at one of the park’s 12 campgrounds . All but Mammoth Campground in Gardiner requires advanced reservations. Book as early as possible for a night stay that could cost you the equivalent of three trips to Starbucks. Remember, camping is only allowed in designated campgrounds inside the park.

Stay in the Most Affordable Places Outside of Yellowstone

Lodging outside of Yellowstone is often more affordable. The farther you have to drive, the cheaper the prices. For instance, for the price of a no-frills cabin in Yellowstone, you may be able to reserve an amenity-filled hotel room outside the park. But pricing often depends on where and when you book. In Montana, West Yellowstone and Gardiner both sit right on the park’s boundary and Silver Gate/Cooke City are just minutes from the boundary. These towns have a mix of affordable lodging and restaurants, which means you can save money and access the park quickly. Thirty minutes from the West Entrance, you may find more bargains in Island Park, Idaho .

Even farther, Cody, Wyoming , is 55 miles east of the park’s East Entrance and Jackson, Wyoming is 57 miles from the park’s South Entrance. Both towns offer world-class museums and restaurants, and lodging for a variety of budgets. However, you’ll spend more time in the car and more money on gas driving to and from the park. While Cody offers affordable lodging, Jackson tends to offer higher-end prices in the summer. If you stay outside the park, choose a town that puts you closest to the attractions you want to see. For the cheapest options outside the park consider camping. There’s a variety of national forest and BLM campgrounds as well as privately run campgrounds and RV parks nearby that offer affordable ways to spend the night.

Make Reservations for Yellowstone’s Cheapest Time of Year

Yellowstone’s high season is June through August, but even September has become a popular time to visit, so finding good deals in summer means looking way in advance. You’ll find the highest hotel rates during peak season.

Almost all park roads close in the winter, leaving only Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge open, so adventurous travelers have to take a snowcoach to get to Old Faithful. While you’ll discover a snowy, uncrowded Yellowstone, it’s not the cheapest season because you have limited lodging and dining options and need to arrange tours into the heart of the park.

Hotel rates fall most during spring and fall in and out of the park. The park roads open in late April, and between then and early June, you’ll find some hotel rates will be between 30-50% lower than high season. The same goes for the fall season from late September to late October before park roads close for the season.

If you have flexibility with your dates, find the best deals by visiting Yellowstone National Park Lodges’ website. Select the flexible calendar option to see the lowest rates for any Yellowstone hotel on any day.

Save Money in Yellowstone by Preparing Your Own Food

Yellowstone has a variety of eateries from delis to sit-down service. While they vary in price, eating every meal in the park will empty your wallet quickly. Even Yellowstone’s convenience stores are expensive and lack a large selection of food.

For the really budget conscious, pack dishes, a camp stove, pans and a picnic blanket before you leave home. Preparing your own meals at Yellowstone’s designated picnic areas will save you a ton of money. You’ll save even more by buying your food at a grocery store outside of the park. If you’re coming from the south, Jackson has both a large Albertson’s and a Smith’s grocery store. Heading west toward the park, Cody, has an Albertson’s and a Walmart Supercenter. Heading east into the park, West Yellowstone is home to Food Roundup Supermarket and Market Place.

Whether you prepare all your meals or just some, scout out the park’s designated picnic areas to plan where to dine. Each picnic area has tables and vaulted toilets.

Dine at Yellowstone’s Budget Friendly Restaurants

If you’re an avid restaurant-goer, consider dining outside the park for lower prices and more variety . Or check out Yellowstone’s dining establishments to see what might fit your budget. Similar to lodging, there are less expensive grab-and-go options alongside pricier sit-down locales. For instance, Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli offers counter service with deli style items whereas Old Faithful Inn Dining Room requires dinner reservations and offers a pricier experience with waitstaff.

The silver lining of preparing some of your own meals is you may free up some money to splurge on a special meal like dinner at Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Hall where large windows showcase stunning views of Yellowstone Lake. There’s also the Old West Dinner Cookout where you ride in a covered wagon to a cookout replete with steaks, cornbread muffins, coleslaw and cowboys singing by the campfire.

Cut Costs in Yellowstone by Buying an All-Parks Pass

Everyone has to pay a fee at the park’s entrance station. Yellowstone park passes are good for seven days and cost $35. But if you plan on visiting other federal recreation sites within the year, buy the America the Beautiful Pass. It costs $80 but gives you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for 12 months. It’s especially handy if you’re headed to Grand Teton National Park or Glacier National Park right after Yellowstone.

While planning a budget-friendly Yellowstone vacation requires some effort, you’ll find it was all worth it as you watch a wolf loping through the Lamar Valley, bison grazing along the road to Tower Fall and the iconic Old Faithful shooting up toward the clear blue sky.

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Epic Guide to Yellowstone National Park

C omplete guide to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Everything you need to know to plan an epic trip to this amazing national park including lodging, camping, things to do, history, wildlife, and information on the local area. 

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was created by the United States Congress and President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872. Yellowstone is located in the United States, mainly in the state of Wyoming, although it extends through Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone, the first national park in the United States,  is also widely considered the oldest national park in the world.

About Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is located above the caldera of the largest volcano in America, very alive but without an eruption since 640 000 years ago. Because of that, it has numerous geothermal phenomena, especially the Old Faithful geyser , one of its most popular attractions. It is famous for its diversity in fauna, due to the fact that hunting of any kind has been prohibited for over  150 years.

The main road in the park is the 142-mile Grand Loop Drive, with upper and lower loops, forming a rough figure eight in the center of the park. On the undulating Yellowstone Plateau, you cross the Continental Divide twice, both with signs showing the elevation at the Continental Divide 8391 feet and 8262 feet.

On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses Grant signed into existence Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. This 2.2 million acres of wilderness covers three states including Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, and was set aside“For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.”

Today, you can see these famous words as they are written on the Roosevelt Arch, the rock arch entrance as you enter from the north in Garnier, Montana. 

There is just a special feeling driving through the arch as you read these words. You know that you have entered a special place, a place of unspoiled beauty, iconic western scenery, and the birthplace of something truly special, the U.S. National Park System. Perhaps America's best idea yet.

Is Yellowstone National Park worth visiting?

Yes! Yes! Yes! How many times can I say yes? 

At nearly 12,000 square miles, it has an amazing variety of sights to offer, whatever your interests.

Where else in the world can you find geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and other signs of hot geothermal activity, with snow-capped mountain peaks close by, huge meadows dotted with bison, elk, and mule deer, rivers steaming as hot springs empty into them, waterfalls and a canyon, all in one park?

History of Yellowstone National Park

The Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field resulted from three volcanic eruptions that spanned two million years.

The first cycle occurred over two million years ago and it created the Island Park Caldera. The second cycle happened approximately one million years later and it formed the Henry’s Ford caldera situated west of the first caldera.

The third cycle, which occurred 640,000 years ago, shifted to the Yellowstone Plateau and formed the caldera which is present today.

In Yellowstone, traces of human presence have been found, dating back at least 11,000 years. In the 1950s, construction work on the Gardiner Post Office uncovered a projectile from the Clovis culture.

In 1806, John Colter, who was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition, left his fellow travelers to join with a group of trappers led by Manuel Lisa. Under his orders, Colter was sent to explore the upper reaches of the Yellowstone River.

He was probably the first European to have visited this region and come into contact with the Amerindian tribes.

In 1869, the Folsom expedition ascended the Yellowstone River to Yellowstone Lake. It was the first to provide a detailed description of the Yellowstone region.

In 1870,  Montana  residents also organized an expedition (the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition ), led by surveyor Henry Washburn and involving Nathaniel P. Langford and an army detachment, commanded by Lieutenant Gustavus Doane.

For a month, they studied the region, collected numerous specimens, and christened several places. Cornelius Hedges, a writer, and lawyer from Montana participated in the Washburn expedition. Between 1870 and 1871, the newspaper Helena Herald published several articles that detailed his observations.

He was one of the first, with the governor of Montana, Thomas Francis Meagher, to propose making the Yellowstone a protected national park.

In a letter of 1871, addressed to Ferdinand Hayden by Jay Cooke, the latter claimed that his friend, Senator William D. Kelley had suggested creating a law that would make Yellowstone a public park.

Hayden led a second and more important expedition, financed this time by the Government. He wrote a full report on Yellowstone, illustrated with photographs by William Henry Jackson, 33, and illustrations by Thomas Morgan, which made the US Congress protect this region.

On March 1, 1872, US President Ulysses Grant signed the decree creating the "Yellowstone National Park" in order to create a place "free of commercial exploitation, dedicated to the satisfaction of the people." The Hayden Valley takes its name from this geologist.

In order to mitigate the insufficiency of means to protect the national park, between 1886 and 1918 its administration was entrusted to the Army but On October 31, 1918, the Army ceded control of Yellowstone to the National Park Service.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a 146 miles road with an "8" shape was built connecting the most interesting points of the park.

Between 1933 and 1941, the Civil Conservation Corps built the tourist information centers, the campsites, and most of the current roads.

In 1959, a powerful earthquake struck west of Yellowstone on Hebgen Lake and damaged the roads and facilities of the national park.

On October 26, 1976, Yellowstone Park was declared an international biosphere reserve alter on September 8, 1978, it was integrated into the  UNESCO world heritage .

But in 1995, this Committee placed it on the list of endangered world heritage areas. The poor quality of the water, the tourist crowds, and the use of snowmobiles were other reasons for concern.

Following the efforts of the federal government, the situation has improved and in July 2003 the park was removed from the list of endangered areas.

During the dry summer of 1988, some fires caused by lightning devastated 36% of the surface of the park, 783,880 acres, and the most affected part was North Fork.

Today, the National Park Service intentionally causes fires, circumscribed to certain areas already studied in advance, to prevent a catastrophe like the one of 1988.

Things to know before your visit to Yellowstone National Park

The park is open year-round but many features are closed in the winter. 

Entrance fee  

A fee is charged for entry to the park, with a 7-day permit available. The permit provides access to all areas of Yellowstone National Park, as well as nearby Grand Teton National Park

Yellowstone Entrance Fee - Private Vehicle - $35

Yellowstone Entrance Fee - Motorcycle - $30

Yellowstone Entrance Fee - Hiker/Biker - $20

Yellowstone Annual Pass - $70

Planning a National Park vacation? America the Beautiful/National Park Pass covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per vehicle sites and for up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy on  REI.com  and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Free Entrance Days - Check out the 5 days during the year that entrance fees are waived. 

Learn more about  National Parks Passes !

Time Zone  

MST- Mountain Standard Time

Pets  

Pets are allowed in Yellowstone NP but they must be on a leash at all time.

Please remember that there is a ton of wildlife in Yellowstone and they may be attracted to your pet.

Keeping your pet on a leash helps to keep them safe during your visit.

Leashes cannot be longer than 6 feet in length. You are responsible for cleaning up after your pet.

Pets are not allowed on any park trails or in the park backcountry. Pets are not considered pack animals.

Cell Service

We have had fairly good service in the park especially on the main roads. There are definitely parts of the park where cell phone service is not available or there may be a intermittent cell signal. 

The park remains open year-round, with the operating hours for the visitor centers depending on the time of the year.

Wi-Fi may be available at the park visitor centers. 

Insect Repellent

It is always a good idea to bring insect repellent with you. We use permethrin bug spray that can be applied to your clothes before you leave for your trip.  

Water Bottle  

Make sure to bring your own water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

There are large parking lots available near Old Faithful. 

Other attractions in the park have smaller parking lots and can be difficult to find parking.

If you are planning to visit Midway Geyser Basin to explore Grand Prismatic Spring you can almost guarantee having to wait for a parking spot.

Food/Restaurants

There are multiple restaurants and fast service counters within Yellowstone.

Canyon Lodge -  Eatery, Falls Café, Ice Creamery, M66 Grill 

Canyon General Store - 60s-style burger counter and ice cream counter

Washburn Lodge - Washburn Lookout (snacks and drinks)

 Grant Village Lodge - Dining Room, Lake House at Grant 

Grant Village General Store - Snack bar and ice cream counter

Lake Hotel and Cabins - Lake Hotel Dining Room, Lake Hotel Deli, and alcohol bar

Lake Lodge and Cabins - Cafeteria

Lake General Store - Snack bar and ice cream counter

Fishing Bridge General Store - Snack bar and ice cream counter

Bridge Bay Marina Store - Snack bar

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins -  Mammoth Hotel Dining Room, Terrace Grill,  Map Room Bar

Mammoth General Store - Snack bar and ice cream counter

Old Faithful Inn - Old Faithful Inn Dining Room, Bear Paw Deli, Bear Pit Lounge

Old Faithful Snow Lodge - Obsidian Dining Room, Geyser Grill, Coffee counter, 

Old Faithful Lodge -  Cafeteria, Bake Shop, Lobby Snack Shops, Ice cream counter

General Stores (Upper and Lower) - Store Soda Fountain

Roosevelt Lodge - Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room, Old West Dinner cookout

Tower Fall General Store - Snack bar and ice cream counter

There are gas stations located near Old Faithful, Grand Village, Fishing Bridge, Canyon, Tower/Roosevelt Junction, and Mammoth Hot Springs.

National Park Passport Stamps

National Park Passport stamps can be found in the visitor center.

Make sure to bring your  National Park Passport Book  with you or we like to pack these  circle stickers  so we don't have to bring our entire book with us. 

Yellowstone NP is part of the 2022 Passport Stamp Set , was the national stamp in the 1989 Passport Stamp Set , and in the 1988 Passport Stamp Set as part of a collage of parks. 

Large Vehicles

There are several large parking lots at the main attractions but will prove difficult on many other roads and smaller parking lots. 

Electric Vehicle Charging

Public EV charging stations are now available in a number of park locations.

The stations are Level 2, and provide 208/240 volt electric service. Charging takes about 4 hours from empty to full. 

Yellowstone Forever , the park’s official nonprofit partner, installed one of the public charging stations at their headquarters and retail store at 308 E Park St. Gardiner, Montana 59030.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges, the authorized concessioner operating the park’s hotels, has installed public charging stations near several of the park hotels:

Mammoth Hot Springs : In front of the Haynes PhotoShop; and behind the Northwest corner of the Mammoth Hotel.

Old Faithful: At the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins (Lower Loop), outside of Shower house 1.

Canyon Village:  In front of both Rhyolite and Washburn lodges.

Lake Village:  In front of Teal employee dorm.

West Entrance/ West Yellowstone MT:  The Gray Wolf Inn and Suites, 250 S Canyon St., and the Holiday Inn, 315 W Yellowstone Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Tesla stations are also located in West Yellowstone.

Details about Yellowstone National Park

Size - 2,219,790 Acres

Yellowstone NP is currently ranked at 8 out of 63 National Parks by Size . 

The Yellowstone National Park covers an area of 2,219,790 acres that includes lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges, Yellowstone Lake being the largest mountain lake in North America.

Date Established  

Yellowstone National Park was created by the United States Congress and President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872.

Visitation  

In 2020, Yellowstone NP had 3,806,306 park visitors.

In 2019, Yellowstone NP had 4,020,288 park visitors. 

Yellowstone is one of the top ten most visited National Parks in the United States. 

Yellowstone National Park Address

2 Officers Row

Yellowstone National Park Headquarters

Yellowstone National Park, WY.82190

Yellowstone National Park Map

If you want to check out a detailed map of the park you can purchase a trails illustrated map which highlights 1,000 miles of mapped trails and the main attractions within the park. 

They also sell a Yellowstone map pack that includes:

• Map 302 :: Old Faithful: Yellowstone National Park SW
• Map 303 :: Mammoth Hot Springs: Yellowstone National Park NW
• Map 304 :: Tower, Canyon: Yellowstone National Park NE
• Map 305 :: Yellowstone Lake: Yellowstone National Park SE

Every Trails Illustrated map is printed on "Backcountry Tough" waterproof, tear-resistant paper. 

Where is Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is about a seven-hour drive north of Salt Lake City, three hours from Jackson, and very close to the town of West Yellowstone.

Estimated distance from major cities nearby

Gardiner, MT - Borders the north entrance of Yellowstone

West Yellowstone - Borders the west entrance of Yellowstone

Idaho Falls, ID - 108 miles, 1 hour and 45 minutes

Bozeman, MT - 78 miles, 1 hour and 25 minutes

Casper, WY - 267 miles, 4 hours and 40 minutes

Salt Lake City, UT - 320 miles, 4 hours, and 50 minutes

Boise, ID -  340 miles, 5 hours and 10 minutes

Estimated Distance from nearby National Park

The road through Yellowstone is closed for the winter. 

Grand Teton National Park - 65 miles

Glacier National Park - 366 miles

Arches National Park - 557 miles

Canyonlands National Park - 563 miles

Bryce Canyon National Park - 587 miles

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park - 541 miles 

Where are the Yellowstone National Park Visitor Centers?

Albright visitor center.

Location - Located in the northern part of the park near Mammoth Hot Springs

Canyon Visitor Education Center

Location - Location near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. 

Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum

Location - The Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center is located one mile off the Grand Loop Road on the East Entrance Road. 

Flagg Ranch Information Station

Location - The Flagg Ranch Information Station is located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway

Grant Visitor Center

Location - The Grant Visitor Center is located on the western shore of Yellowstone Lake, a short distance south of the West Thumb Geyser Basin. 

Madison Information Center and Trailside Museum

Location - halfway between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone

Museum of the National Park Ranger

Location -  The Museum of the National Park Ranger is located off the Grand Loop Road at the entrance to the Norris Campground.

Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Center

Location - On the trail within Norris Geyser Basin. 

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center

Location - Near Old Faithful Geyser

This large visitor education center has a great windowed view of the geyser. There is a nice park store, natural wonders of Yellowstone exhibit hall, restrooms, and rangers available to answer questions. 

West Thumb Information Center

Location - West Thumb Geyser Basin

West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center

Location - Located in West Yellowstone near the entrance to the park.

This visitor center includes NPS Park Rangers who can answer questions specific to the park. There are also staff members for the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce who can answer questions about lodging and information on West Yellowstone.

Getting to Yellowstone National Park

Cody and Jackson, WY; Bozeman and Billings, MT, and Idaho Falls, ID are close airports that are open year-round. The West Yellowstone, MT airport is serviced from June to early September from Salt Lake City, UT.

The Jackson, Wyoming airport is great! You can rent a car on-site and be in the park pretty quickly. On your way back home you can enjoy comfy leather couches, fireplaces, and a relaxing airport before flying out.

Commercial airlines serve the following airports near Yellowstone National Park all year: Cody and Jackson, WY; Bozeman and Billings, MT, and Idaho Falls, ID.

Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

Located in West Yellowstone just outside of the park. This airport is open from early May to mid-October from Salt Lake City, UT.

Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD)

Located in Cody, Wyoming. Delta and United offer year-round flights to this airport. One thing to know is the east entrance to the park closes in the winter. 

When making a reservation make sure to confirm if you are flying into Yellowstone Airport or Yellowstone Regional Airport. 

Jackson Hole Airport - JAC

Jackson Hole Airport is located within Grand Teton National Park just south of Yellowstone.

Alaska, American, Delta, and United Airlines all offer year-round flights to and from Jackson Hole. 

Allegiant, Frontier, and Sun Country Airlines offer direct flights between Jackson Hole and Denver in the summer months only.

International Airports

Salt Lake City International Airport - SLC

Regional Airports

Idaho Falls Regional Airport - IDA

Cody, Wyoming

Bozeman, Montana

Billings, Montana

There are five main entrances to the park. These are open depending on weather conditions.

Be prepared that your GPS may not work correctly within the park. Bring a paper map and pick up current maps from the visitor center when you arrive at the park.

For current road conditions call (307) 344-2117

Entrances to Yellowstone National Park

West entrance .

The West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is open during the summer only from Mid-April to early November. 

Winter access is only open by a commercially guided snow coach or snowmobile.

Closest City - West Yellowstone 

Closest Airport - West Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

The West Yellowstone Airport is located one mile north of West Yellowstone. It is open from Mid-May to early October and served by SkyWest Airlines (Delta Connection).

Bozeman Airport is 90 miles north of the west entrance.

Idaho Falls Airport is 110 miles south of the west entrance. 

North Entrance

Closest City - Gardiner, Montana

Closest Airport - Bozeman (BZN)

Northeast Entrance

Closest City - Cooke City, Montana

Closest airport - Billings-Logan International Airport (BIL)

The northeast entrance is not only the gateway to Yellowstone but also on the most scenic drive in America the Beartooth Highway.

Traveling the Beartooth Highway takes you through the Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains

Closest Bus Station to Yellowstone

Bus service from Bozeman, MT to West Yellowstone, MT via Highway 191 is available all year.

Bus service directly from Idaho to West Yellowstone is limited to the summer months.

Commercial transportation from Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT is available during the winter and summer seasons.

Commercial transportation to the park from Cody and Jackson, WY is available during the summer season. 

Closest Train Station to Yellowstone

Train service is not available to Yellowstone National Park.

The nearest train depots are in southeast Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah, and northern Montana.

Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park

The best time to visit Yellowstone is any time you can make it to the park. Every season in the park brings the opportunity to see something amazing.

Yellowstone National Park Weather and Seasons

During spring the roads start to open to visitors starting the third Friday of April.

Spring visitors to Yellowstone can enjoy wildlife viewing including bison calves, black bears emerging from their dens, spring birds, and wildflowers breaking through any remaining snow.

Visitation increases as the days move closer to Memorial Day. All roads within the park are open most years by Memorial Day weekend.

Summer is by far the busiest visitation within Yellowstone NP. More than half of the annual visitors visit the park between June, July, and August.

Starting from Memorial Day weekend visitation increases for the remainder of the summer.

The highlight of visiting during the summer is all of the roads are open and services are available including all of the lodges and campgrounds.

Early in the summer bears are visible as they are enjoying roadside meadows and emerging from dens. Later in the summer, they will start to move to higher elevations.

Bison Rut starts in July and can be seen in Lamar and Hayden Valleys. 

One thing to know about late summer is there is a chance of wildfire smoke obscuring views and making it hard to see anything. 

Visiting Yellowstone during the summer takes planning and a lot of patience! You want to plan to arrive to the park entrances as early as you can! 

By 9 am you could be in a long line just trying to get into the park. 

One benefit of visiting in the summer is the longer days. Plan to stay late to avoid crowds. A lot of visitors will head out to West Yellowstone and surrounding areas for dinner leaving the park easier to explore.

From 10 am to 3 pm the main park attractions of Old Faithful , Grand Prismatic Springs , Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Norris Geyser Basin are crowded and then some!

Plan to visit other attractions like Black Sand Basin , Biscuit Basin , Mud Volcano , and Firehole Lake Drive during the busiest parts of the day. This is also a great time to enjoy a picnic in the park.

Autumn/Fall

Starting in September campgrounds will start to close and some roads may experience temporary weather closures.

Elk are in rut during the Fall which is amazing to see. Listening to an elk bugle is a true National Park bucket list moment.

By October many park roads will begin closing for the winter season. This date can change based on the weather.

Both Dunraven Pass and Beartooth Highway normally close by mid-October. 

By November the park has started winter travel restrictions for all areas except Mammoth. 

During the winter most of the roads within Yellowstone are closed to automobiles.

The roads are open to limited snowmobile and snow coach travel from mid-December through mid-March.

The only road that is open for visitors to drive their own vehicles is between the North and Northeast entrance through Lamar Valley.

Most park facilities are closed in the winter. The only lodging open is Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge and Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

The only campground in the park open year-round is in Mammoth Hot Springs, located 5 miles south of the park's North Entrance.

Visitors in the winter can enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow coach tours, wildlife watching, and a winter wonderland.

Visitation is low during the winter making it feel like you have the park to yourself. 

Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

It is physically impossible to see all of Yellowstone in a day! In fact, a week will go by fast in this amazing park with so many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Remember the size of the park, throw in over 200 miles of roads, 900 miles of trails, and fight to get to attractions as Yellowstone has more annual visitors than the population of 24 of the 50 states in America. 

The most visited areas of the park include Old Faithful Geyser, Midway Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Norris Geyser Basin , Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,  West Thumb Geyser Basin, the standing trunk of a petrified redwood tree, about 50 million years old, Mammoth Hot Springs, Fountain Paint Pots , and Morning Glory Pool.

Millions of park visitors come to Yellowstone each year, the number one thing on their bucket list to do is go to the Upper Geyser Basin and see Old Faithful erupt in a predictable fashion.

Of course, Yellowstone is filled with geysers and people explore all through the Upper Geyser Basin plus Biscuit Basin, Black  Sand Basin, midway geyser basin, Norris Geyser Basin, and West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Yellowstone is America's Serengeti. It is here that you will see one of America's healthiest ecosystems with incredible wildlife viewing opportunities. Some of the best places to view wildlife include Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley . With that being said we always suggest keeping your camera in your lap because you never know what wildlife you will see as you drive through the park. 

Bring your patience when visiting Yellowstone. What draws visitors to the park-like yourself, is the outstanding wildlife viewing opportunities which include Elk, Bison, wolves, Grizzly, and Black Bears. With wildlife this abundant, it is guaranteed to create traffic jams going from one location to another. Remember that for most park visitors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event and they are just as excited as you are. 

Yellowstone is the core of one of the last, nearly intact, natural ecosystems in the Earth’s temperate zone.

Picturesque Mammoth Hot Springs is located just south of the north entrance of the park. Make sure to take time and walk through the boardwalks and get close to this amazing feature! Wildlife is often seen hanging out in the lawn areas including elk and bison.

Just remember to enjoy these animals from a distance as they are still wild animals.

Take advantage of the park's 900 miles of trails! Besides nothing is better than stretching your legs after a long road trip.

Make sure to stay on designated footpaths as these geysers, pools, mud pots, and vents are heated water and can cause severe injuries and even death.

Remember that Yellowstone is an active volcano, some call it a supervolcano! The 1000-3000 earthquakes a year, active ground deformation, and the 10,000+ thermal features are all evidence of its activity.

There are many beautiful waterfalls within Yellowstone but nothing more famous than Yellowstone Falls. Not only are the falls huge but so is this canyon!  I found myself just staring in amazement.

What are you waiting for, start planning that trip to Yellowstone! It is the one you and your family will always remember.

There is so much to see and do and a week is not enough to see it all. You also have the Grand Teton National Park just South of Yellowstone which is just as spectacular and has just as many recreational opportunities! 

Junior Ranger Program 

The Junior Ranger Program can be picked up at the park visitor centers. This program is a fantastic way for visitors of all ages to learn more about the park. 

There is a special snowflake patch for completing the winter Junior Ranger program. 

Yellowstone allows bicycles and e-bikes on established public roads, parking areas, and designated bike routes. 

All bikes are subject to the same traffic rules as automobiles. Bikes are prohibited on backcountry trails, boardwalks, and over snow routes in Yellowstone.

If you don't want to haul your bike with you to the park you can rent them at Old Faithful. 

During the spring visitors can ride 49 miles between the West Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs. The park plows the road but it is not open to motorized vehicles for a limited time. 

Check the  Spring and Fall Bicycling  page for road segment status.

There are designated bike trails within the park including the Abandoned Railroad Bed Bike trail, Bunsen Peak Loop Bike Trail, The Old Gardiner Road Bike Trail, Fountain Freight Road Bike Trail, Lone Star Geyser Bike Trail, and Natural Bridge Bike trail.

Bike trails range from 1-6 hours in duration. 

Guided Tours

From West Yellowstone - Park Tour with a local guide

Discover the stunning natural beauty the flora and fauna in Yellowstone National Park with this tour from West Yellowstone. See sights like Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon waterfalls, and Artist Point.

From West Yellowstone - Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour by Van

See the wildlife of the Lamar Valley with a naturalist guide. Watch wildlife with high-powered spotting scopes and binoculars from the comfort of a van.

From West Yellowstone - Lower Loop Active Van Tour

See Yellowstone's hot spots by van with a naturalist guide. Visit Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Lake half day guided kayak tour - Enjoy a relaxed morning with a guided kayaking tour along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Look for local wildlife as you make your way over sparkling waters towards the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Guided sunset lake kayaking tour - Paddle the glassy waters of Yellowstone Lake and see the awash in sunset tones on this guided kayak tour.

From Jackson - Day tour with entrance fee included

Join a local guide for an amazing day in the world's first national park, home of grizzly bears, elk, bison, wolves, eagles, foxes, and 60% of the world's geothermal features. Stop at Old Faithful, Grand Canyon waterfalls, and other geyser areas.

From Jackson - Park and Wildlife Viewing Tour

Explore Yellowstone National Park on a guided day tour. Visit Old Faithful, the Lower Falls of Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and enjoy opportunities for wildlife viewing throughout the day.

From Jackson - Full Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour

Spend a day exploring Yellowstone's Lower Loop, departing and returning from Jackson. Visit the Old Faithful Area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, and more.

From Gardner - Yellowstone River Whitewater Rafting Trip

Feel the rush as you raft through rapids, crash over waves and conquer the Yellowstone River. Travel in a raft with a certified safety guide.

From Cody - Full day park tour

Experience the beauty of Yellowstone on this tour from Cody. Visit top sights like the historic Fishing Bridge, the bubbling Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, Artist’s Point, and Old Faithful.

Hiking at Yellowstone National Park

There are more than 900 miles of hiking trails within Yellowstone National Park. 

Heading out on a day hike does not require a permit. You do want to make sure you have the ten essentials and someone knows where you are headed.

One thing to always remember when planning to hike in Yellowstone is the park is 7,000 feet above sea level. 

Many areas of the park will still have snow until late May and into early June. 

Make sure to check with a visitor center for current trail conditions and closures. Many areas of the park can be closed for bear management.

Hiking in Yellowstone is hiking in bear country! Bringing bear spray with you is always a good idea. 

Wildlife in Yellowstone

Yellowstone is home to numerous species of mammals including the gray wolf (reintroduced species), and the grizzly (threatened species). Other mammals include bison, black bear, mountain lion, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope, mountain goat, and Bighorn Sheep.

The park has well over 1000 native plants in Yellowstone including wildflowers, trees, shrubs, and plants. 

How to beat the crowds in Yellowstone National Park?

The majority of visitors come to Yellowstone from June through August. Holidays and weekends in the Spring and fall are offer very full as well. Winter has far fewer visitors. Try going on weekdays in the spring and fall and if possible, visit in the early morning or late afternoon, when there are fewer tour buses.

On peak days, in July and August, as many as 25,000 people wait for the famous geyser, Old Faithful, to erupt.

Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park

When planning where to stay while vacationing in Yellowstone you will want to determine which area of the park you are planning to visit.

We suggest if possible staying at a few different lodging options to provide easy access to different portions of the park. 

Yellowstone National Park Lodging

There are nine National Park Lodges located within the park offering over 2,000 rooms. 

Only two lodges are open during the winter - Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

From late spring through fall all of the lodges are open. 

• Canyon Lodge and Cabins : 400+ guest rooms spread across 5 hotel-style lodges, with 100+ cabins being more rustic accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
• Grant Village Lodge: 300 guest rooms spread across 6 two-story, hotel-style lodges. Available to book on Expedia
• Lake Hotel and Cabins : Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
• Lake Lodge Cabins :  186 cabins.
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins :  Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations.
• Old Faithful Inn : Rustic lodge with hotel room-style accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
• Old Faithful Lodge :  Cabin accommodations.
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge : Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
• Roosevelt Lodge:  Cabin accommodations.

Lodging near Yellowstone NP

Gray Wolf Inn & Suites in West Yellowstone - 3-star hotel. Gray Wolf Inn & Suites is located close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, and provides a firepit, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour gym. Adventurous travelers may like the snowmobiling at this hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a business center are available to all guests.

Stage Coach Inn in West Yellowstone - Yellowstone Park West Entrance is located near Stage Coach Inn, which provides free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a 24-hour business center.

Yellowstone Westgate Hotel in West Yellowstone - At Yellowstone Westgate Hotel, you can look forward to free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a business center are available to all guests.

Brandin' Iron Inn in West Yellowstone - Brandin' Iron Inn is located close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, and provides free full breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. Skiers and snowboarders can spend time on the slopes at this motel offering ski-in/ski-out access and cross-country skiing. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Kelly Inn West Yellowstone - Close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, Kelly Inn West Yellowstone provides free continental breakfast, a free roundtrip airport shuttle, and a firepit. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room WIFI is available to all guests, along with laundry facilities and a business center.

Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel near Gardiner, MT- Along with self parking, this campground has coffee/tea in a common area and a microwave in a common area. Free continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi in public areas are also provided. Additionally, concierge services, a garden, and barbecue grills are onsite. All 17 accommodations boast heated floor (bathroom) and offer Wi-Fi and 8 bathrooms. Other amenities available to guests include memory foam beds, premium bedding, and rainfall showerheads. Private bathrooms are not ensuite.

Absaroka Lodge near Gardiner, MT- Absaroka Lodge provides amenities like a terrace and a garden. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.

Yellowstone Big Rock Inn near Gardiner, MT- Yellowstone Big Rock Inn provides a garden and more. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.

Super 8 by Wyndham Gardiner near Gardiner, MT- Super 8 by Wyndham Gardiner/Yellowstone Park Area provides dry cleaning/laundry services and more. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Yellowstone Gateway Inn near Gardiner, MT- 3-star hotel near Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Gateway Inn provides amenities like a garden and laundry facilities. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa services. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.

Yellowstone National Park Camping

There are over 2,000 campsites within Yellowstone spread among 12 campgrounds. 

The only campground that is open year-round is Mammoth Campground. 

The majority of campgrounds within the park open in May and close in late fall. 

Five of these campgrounds are managed by the concessionaire who manages the Yellowstone Lodges. Reservations are handled through the concessionaire. 

• Bridge Bay Campground
• Canyon Campground
• Fishing Bridge RV Park
• Grant Village Campground
• Madison Campground

The National Park Service managed seven of the campgrounds. Reservations are handled through Recreation.gov

• Mammoth Campground (Reservable)
• Norris Campground
• Slough Creek Campground (Reservable)
• Pebble Creek Campground (Sites 1-16 Reservable)
• Tower Fall Campground
• Indian Creek Campground
• Lewis Lake Campground

Backcountry Camping

The process for reserving backcountry campsites and obtaining backcountry permits has changed for 2022.

Early Access Lottery - Reservation applications will be accepted beginning in March 1 to the 20th, 2022 on Recreation.gov

Advanced Reservations - On April 26, remaining permits for open campsites will be available on Recreation.gov . Reservations must be made at least 3-days prior to the start date of a trip.

Walk-Up Permits - Walk-up backcountry permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis in person at a Yellowstone Backcountry Office. Hikers can obtain these permits up to 2-days prior to the start date of your trip.

Walk-up Permits cannot be issued over the phone or online through Recreation.gov.

Back Country Permit Fees

Early Access Lottery Application Fee:  $10 non-refundable. The application fee is charged for all applications to the Early Access Lottery regardless of success.

Recreation Fee:  $5 per person, per night plus a $10 reservation fee. The recreation fee is charged year-round for permits secured through Recreation.gov or in-person at a backcountry office.

The $10 reservation fee is charged for all permits except those acquired during the Early Access Lottery.

Permits are required year-round for all overnight stays in Yellowstone's backcountry. A backcountry permit allows the permit holder and group members to camp in a designated location.

Yellowstone maintains 293 designated backcountry campsites. 

Each designated campsite has a maximum limit for the number of people and stock allowed per night.

The maximum stay per campsite varies from 1 to 3 nights per trip.

A list and map of campsites can be found in the  Backcountry Trip Planner  and the online  Backcountry Trails and Campsites map .

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans . These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss! 

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Orlando

Travel Tips

Be prepared for CROWDS!!!

Have a hit list and plan of attack for what you want to see in the park. There is a lot of driving and construction in Yellowstone

Know your game plan and have a backup plan for weather, construction, too many people

Download the Geyser App for Yellowstone so you know Old Faithfu l times and don't miss it by a few minutes and have to wait an hour

Pack snacks and water

Dress in layers

If you want to stay at a Yellowstone lodge make your reservations as far in advance as you can. Many dates sell out a year in advance.

Know you will see more Bison than you can imagine. Don't worry about getting the perfect shot when you see the first one.

Be careful! Be aware of your surroundings.

Be bear aware, practice bear safety

Ask people what they are looking at when you see them pulled over or standing staring in one direction. It will make it a lot easier to see great wildlife.

Use the bathroom when you see it. The park is huge and it can take time to get to the next bathroom.

Go early in the morning and stay late in the evening to decrease the crowds you have to deal with.

Have a full tank of gas when you enter the park.

The park is a high elevation park. Be prepared for weather changes

Check weather and road conditions before you head into the park. Check for updates on Facebook and Twitter from the park and also on the website.

Be prepared to wait in road construction. I know we said it already but really be prepared! You could spend 20-40 minutes staring at the back of an RV or looking at the same trees.

Give yourself as much time as possible to explore the park! While you can drive the entire park in a day it will be a long day and you may not see as much as you want too.

Research the times for Old Faithful during your visit. This will help prevent having to wait for an hour or more to see Old Faithful

If you plan on visiting Yellowstone Falls try and get there early in the day. During the afternoon, the sun is directly behind the falls making it really hard to photograph.

Keep your camera ready during your drive through the park. You never know when a bear or other wildlife will appear.

If you are vegetarian the black bean burger at the grills inside the park is great.

Pack extra camera batteries and smart cards. You will take more pictures than you plan on

Be careful pulling off on the side of the road. In some areas, the dips are a lot bigger than you expect them to be. In the Lamar Valley , there can be quite a drop on the side of the road. If you have a low clearance vehicle be very careful.

Be prepared for road construction while driving through the park. You can be delayed for a few minutes to a lot longer.

Check your gas tank while near the few gas stations in the park. The gas stations are pretty spread out so make sure you have enough gas to get from one area of the park to the next.

Bug spray is your friend! Make sure you have some with you.

Yellowstone National Park information

How did yellowstone get its name.

Yellowstone National Park is named after the Yellowstone River which runs through the park. 

The river was named by the Minnetaree Indians who called it Mi tse a-da-zi, or Yellow Rock River. 

This name was passed on to French trappers who called it Roche Jaune and then later changed by American trappers to Yellow Stone. 

For those who enjoy spirits, the gift stores in Yellowstone carry a Bourbon that is only sold in their stores. It is Roche Jaune Whiskey. This is a very good bourbon, in fact, I get emails from visitors every year asking how they can get another bottle. Make sure to check out my article  Spirits inspired by the National Parks . 

How big is Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!

The park covers 3, 472 miles including 1,000 miles of trails, 52 picnic areas, 900 historic buildings, and 290 waterfalls. 

Is Yellowstone the largest National Park?

No! Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska is the largest park unit with over 13 million acres. 

What is the highest peak in Yellowstone?

The highest peak in the park is Eagle Peak in the southeastern part of the park at 11,358 feet.

Can you swim in Yellowstone rivers, lakes, or hydrothermal?

Swimming is not really recommended in the lakes or streams because they are COLD!

Firehole Canyon near Madison Junction has a popular swimming area in the summer.

Soaking in any thermal features is illegal and really dangerous!

The only exception to this is the Boiling River north of Mammoth Hot Springs where a large hot spring enters the Gardner River. This area has a mixing of hot and cool waters that make it comfortable to soak in.

How many Geysers are in Yellowstone?

There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in the park. Of these hydrothermal, there are 500 geysers with 300 active geysers. 

Over half of all the world's geysers are found in Yellowstone.

When does Old Faithful erupt?

Each eruption prediction is based on the last eruption so times vary by the day.

The average eruption is every 92 minutes. 

Yellowstone National Park Facts

Size - 3,472 square miles

Trails - over 1,000 miles of trails

Picnic areas - 52

Historic buildings - 900

Waterfalls - 290

Hydrothermal Features - 10,000

Geysers - 500, 300 of them are active 

National Parks near Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Craters of the Moon National Monument 

Timpanogos Cave National Monument  

Fossil Butte National Monument

Golden Spikes National Historic Site  

City of Rocks National Reserve

Check out all of the great  National Parks in Wyoming  along with neighboring  Colorado National Parks ,  Idaho National Parks ,  National Parks in Utah ,  Nevada National Parks ,  Arizona National Parks , and  New Mexico National Parks . 

Pick Your Path

Your yellowstone adventure starts in west yellowstone, montana.

Discover the beauty of Yellowstone National Park, just minutes from West Yellowstone. With easy access to the park’s west entrance, you’ll be able to explore iconic attractions like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Immerse yourself in the park’s natural wonders, spanning 2.2 million acres, from hiking trails that wind through stunning landscapes to opportunities to spot diverse wildlife like bison, elk, and grizzly bears.

Whether you want to explore the area on foot, bike, or something wilder, cast your line and see what you catch, or experience wildlife up close, an adventure is waiting for you. Discover all there is to do in West Yellowstone.

Snowmobiling

Unique Adventures

Horseback Riding

Recreate Responsibly – Love It Like It’s Your Own

Yellowstone national park.

Download your park map and experience the world’s first National park.

Explore the Park

Discover the best lodging, dining, and special offers in West Yellowstone to make your stay comfortable, delicious, and budget-friendly. Find the perfect accommodations and restaurants to complement your Yellowstone adventure.

Discover the perfect lodging for your Yellowstone adventure. Our hand-picked selection of hotels, motels, and lodges offer comfortable accommodations just steps from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Whether you’re seeking rustic charm or modern amenities, you’ll find the ideal place to stay in this vibrant gateway to Yellowstone National Park.

VIEW HOTELS

Restaurants

Savor the flavors of the American West at West Yellowstone’s diverse dining establishments. From hearty breakfasts to fuel your park explorations to satisfying dinners after a day of hiking or sightseeing, our local restaurants offer something for every taste and budget. Indulge in regional specialties like bison burgers, elk steaks, and huckleberry desserts while soaking up the authentic Montana atmosphere.

VIEW RESTAURANTS

West Yellowstone offers a full range of services to ensure a comfortable, safe, and memorable visit to Yellowstone National Park. Whether you require a shuttle to the park, emergency medical attention, or recommendations for the best local restaurants, West Yellowstone’s service providers are ready to assist you throughout your stay in this stunning gateway to America’s first national park.

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Key Attractions

• Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
• Rendezvous Ski Trail System
• Yellowstone National Park
• Custer-Gallatin National Forest
• Hebgen Lake
• Caribou-Targhee National Forest
• Red Rocks Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
• TransAmerica Cycling Trail
• Continental Divide Walking Trail

Yellowstone Shortline Trail

The Yellowstone Shortline Trail follows the historic route that was once taken by travelers aboard the Yellowstone Special and the Yellowstone Express. This breathtaking route spans 9 miles, winding from West Yellowstone through the Custer Gallatin National Forest to Reas Pass at the Montana-Idaho border. This unique path offers you a glimpse of what was often passengers' first views of Montana while on their way to visit Yellowstone National Park.

Plan Your Trip

Make planning a breeze with our travel tips and resources. From excursion ideas to seasonal packing lists and transportation guides, we make preparing for your trip to West Yellowstone easy, so you can focus on having fun.

TRAVEL INFO

West Yellowstone Road and Weather Updates

Sunday – Saturday April 21, 2024 – April 27, 2024 Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 54F and a low of 23F. Monday: Mostly sunny with a high near…

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West Yellowstone Foundation Public Transit Bus

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Road and Weather Updates

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Trail Reports    Trail Cam

Which path will you take? Discover the perfect travel guide for your trip to West Yellowstone.

©2024 West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Visitor Information Center 30 Yellowstone Avenue | PO Box 458 West Yellowstone, MT 59758

Phone: 406.646.7701 Fax: 406.646.9691

Explore Idaho’s Gateway to Yellowstone National Park

Sara Sheehy worked in partnership with Visit Idaho to create this Travel Tip.

It’s no secret that the volcanic hotspot under Yellowstone National Park has created, and continues to create, a stunning landscape that draws visitors from around the world. What is less known, perhaps, is the natural beauty that lies just over Yellowstone’s western border in Island Park, Idaho.

Island Park’s beautiful forests and stunning rivers sit in the largest caldera in the world. This nearly 50-mile hollow was formed 2.1 million years ago during the eruption of a supervolcano. This unique landscape serves as a home for wildlife like moose, elk, deer, pronghorn, and wolves, alongside a small population of year-round residents who stay for the spectacular summers and adventure-filled winters.

Located only 20 minutes away from the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Island Park is the perfect place to get away from the crowds while reveling in the area’s natural wonders.

Where to Stay

One of my favorite places to stay in Island Park is Henry’s Lake State Park . Located on the shores of 6,000-acre Henry’s Lake, this state park features 44 serviced campsites and three cabins in the heart of Island Park. It’s a popular spot with fishermen and families, both of whom will find plenty to do right within the park borders.

If camping or cabin life isn’t for you, don’t fret. The area has a variety of hotels and specialty lodging options , including riverside and lakefront accommodations.

Explore by Water

Island Park is a town defined by its water. From Henry’s Lake down to Island Park Reservoir, and from the Buffalo River to the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, it’s a haven for watersport lovers and fishermen.

The Henrys Fork is known as one of the best fly-fishing rivers in the country. Living in its clear waters you’ll find rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish. Anglers can wade, float, or cast a line from the bank in spots like Box Canyon and Harriman State Park.

Boating is a beloved pastime on Henry’s Lake, for both pleasure cruisers and anglers. Powerboating, waterskiing, and swimming are rare on the lake due to its relatively shallow depth and aquatic vegetation, though all three are allowed. Kayak rentals are available from Henry’s Lake State Park, and you’ll find many paddle boarders and canoers on the water, as well.

There’s no better place to cool off on a hot summer’s day than on a tube, float, or paddle down the Henry’s Fork. The cold, clear, slow-moving water is ideal for a lazy day of relaxation. Macks Inn Resort offers shuttle service and float rentals, so all you need to think about is looking for bald eagles on the bank and making shapes out of the clouds overhead.

Explore on Foot

Hiking and sightseeing are popular activities in and around Island Park. Make your way to beautiful Harriman State Park to hike on their 20-plus miles of trails and check out the remains of the historic Railroad Ranch. “The Ranch,” as it’s locally known, was once owned by such illustrious families as the Guggenheims and the Harrimans, who were Union Pacific Railroad tycoons. Eight miles of the Henrys Fork meander through the park.

Just south of Island Park lies Upper Mesa Falls , a ten-story waterfall that plunges over the edge of the caldera. The scenic drive to the falls includes glimpses at the towering Tetons in the distance.

No trip to Island Park would be complete without a stop at Big Springs , where you can watch the 120 million gallons of crystal-clear water that flow out of the ground each day to form the headwaters of the Henrys Fork. Trout glide gracefully just under the surface of the water and can be easily viewed from the bridge near the parking area.

Explore by Wheel

If you prefer to do your adventuring by ATV, dirt bike, or side-by-side, you’ll find no shortage of backcountry routes in and around Island Park. Bring your own off-highway vehicle (OHV) or stop at one of the many rental businesses that line Route 20. Escape into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest on the Railroad Right-of-Way trail , or to get some elevation, ride to the top of 9,884-foot Sawtell Peak for views across the caldera and down into Montana’s Centennial Valley.

Those who like to pedal under their own power can hop on the Continental Divide Trail , which runs for 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. The bike-friendly 30-plus mile section that curves around Island Park is particularly beautiful. For a ride that’s a little less intense, the unpaved Island Park Community Trail runs for 23 miles between Henry’s Lake and Harriman State Parks.

Feature image credited to Sara Sheehy.

Sara Sheehy  is a writer and photographer who travels the world seeking wild places and great stories. When she’s not on the road, Sara spends her time exploring the mountains around her home base of Sun Valley, Idaho.

Published on September 1, 2020

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Yellowstone's Luke Grimes Shared His Thoughts About Kevin Costner's Exit

The actor opened up about the final season, the show's ties to Succession , and why he never watches his own performances.

In a new interview with the Independent , Luke Grimes, who plays the youngest Dutton son , Kayce, on the show, opened up a bit about his feelings on the series, and the behind the scenes drama that has plagued the show's final season.

Perhaps the biggest source of speculation among Yellowstone fans for the last year has been the unceremonious exit star Kevin Costner (who plays John, the father of Grimes's Kayce). The cast has largely remained quiet on the issue since Costner announced his departure from the series last May, however when asked, Grimes did offer a few thoughts. "Whatever happened there is unfortunate if it’s changed anything about how the show was going to unfold. I know [Costner] got busy with his movies that were like passion projects," he said, apparently alluding to Costner's upcoming duo of films Horizon: An America Saga . "At a certain point, you gotta do what you gotta do, man; you gotta do what you love."

As for the show's much-discussed political divide, Grimes waved off the impression that the show caters to one party or another, pointing to parallels with the now-ended HBO hit Succession . "I think a lot of people see a cowboy hat and a horse and they think, ‘Oh, that’s not for me, those people believe differently.’ And it’s almost like they take these flawed characters in the show and chalk it up to some sort of weird belief that they’ve put on them," he said. "Meanwhile, you can have a terrible person like [ Succession ’s] Logan Roy, who lives in an apartment in Manhattan, and that’s fine. That guy’s a total piece of s***! But that’s OK." He added, "I just don’t understand why that has to immediately equal some political belief. And I don’t think it does."

In fact, when it comes to the show itself, Grimes himself admits he wouldn't know—his role of Kayce is so important to him that he refuses to watch the series. "I’m so scared that I’m gonna watch it and not like what I did," he said.

Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.

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Breaking news, ‘yellowstone’ star ian bohen teases ‘best season finale in history,’ promises fans it’s ‘worth the wait’.

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“Yellowstone” star Ian Bohen didn’t hold back while hyping up the hit show’s highly-anticipated series finale.

The 47-year-old actor, who stars as Ryan in “Yellowstone,” assured fans that their expectations will be exceeded when the Paramount Network series airs its long-awaited fifth and final season.

“The fans are going to get the [best] conclusion that could possibly be written,” Bohen told Entertainment Tonight ahead of “Yellowstone’s” Stagecoach pop-up event.

He continued, “Everything will land in a way that is perfectly set. A lot of shows just kind of finish… and they don’t satisfy you. This will be completed in a way that it will make sense.”

“I don’t know that any show has finished this strongly ever,” the “Teen Wolf” alum said.

“We’re expecting to have the best series finale in history. Overconfident maybe, but I think that’s what it’s going to be. We thank everyone for their patience… It’ll be worth the wait, I promise.”

Led by Kevin Costner, the Taylor Sheridan-created show also stars Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille and Gil Birmingham. 

“Yellowstone” aired the first half of the fifth and final season in November 2022.

The second half was expected last November but the episodes were postponed due to the Hollywood actors and writers’ strikes.

The final half of “Yellowstone’s” final season is now slated to begin airing in November 2024.

While speaking with ET, Bohen shared his thoughts on bonding with the “Yellowstone” cast over the years since the show premiered in 2018.

“It’s like having brothers and sisters where you go through life moments, and you’re with your family. When something really neat happens, you look to your left and to your right to see who’s with you that’s smiling the same way that you are,” he said.

“It’s looking sideways to see who’s standing next to you and they feeling the same stuff. It’s a family… It’s never going to go away.”

Bohen also reflected on how he finds it “so grounding” to interact with “Yellowstone” fans at in-person events including the Stagecoach pop-up.

“When people talk about what the show means to them, it makes you feel like you’re part of something much bigger than just an entertainment product,” the actor told ET.

“It touches people in a way that is different than just something that they’re fans of. It’s a cultural phenomenon.” 

It makes you feel like the work that you’re doing is more important than you ever thought it would be.”

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E-bike tour guide pedals Yellowstone, Gardiner rides

BILLINGS – In the winter, Jay O’Connor used to feed 55 horses that in the summer provided horseback rides for fishing or hunting guests.

Now O’Connor owns 40 e-bikes that he parks in the garage for the winter and ignores.

As the owner of Big Sky Ebike Tours and Rentals in Gardiner since 2020, O’Connor said he’s “living the dream” guiding cycling tours in and around Yellowstone National Park. After all, where else can cyclists possibly see bison, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, foxes, coyotes, deer and a variety of hot pools, fumaroles and geysers in one trip, not to mention spectacular views of the surrounding mountains?

O’Connor’s guided rides inside Yellowstone include a 17-mile trip around the base of Bunsen Peak on a gravel service road closed to public vehicles. From Old Faithful, his Geyser Basin Tour pedals to Morning Glory Pool along the Firehole River and then on to Biscuit Basin. Shuttling the bikes he can then skip on to Firehole Lake Drive and ride Fountain Freight Road to Grand Prismatic Spring.

“I don’t do anything on the roads at all,” he said, instead focusing on getting his guests away from crowds.

Last weekend, with the 50 miles of highway from Mammoth Hot Springs to West Yellowstone open to bicycle traffic only, O’Connor was leading tours from Mammoth to Norris Geyser Basin, a 38-mile round trip.

Outside the park, one of his most popular tours travels down the Old Yellowstone Trail to the red-colored rock uplift of Devils Slide and on to Yankee Jim Canyon where the Yellowstone River is forced into a narrow gorge. The return ride stops at Yellowstone Hot Springs for a soothing soak.

“That’s a really popular ride for us because there is so much wildlife in the basin,” O’Connor said.

Costs range from $175 for the Bunsen Peak ride to $275 for the Geyser Basin tour. Four people is the minimum for a tour, otherwise an additional fee is tacked on. Bike rentals are $50 an hour to $100 for a full day.

Up and down

Much like the trails and roads he rides, O’Connor’s business has seen some ups and downs since it was launched.

Opening during the COVID pandemic was a “kick in the teeth,” but then participation in outdoor activities grew because indoor venues were closed. That inaugural year was followed by a solid summer of growth before the historic 2022 flood. The raging waters of the Gardner and Yellowstone rivers washed out the nearby North Entrance road to Yellowstone. Gardiner businesses were suddenly isolated at a dead end. Last year, tours rebounded after the route was reopened, and so far this year O’Connor is quickly filling his summer tours.

“My primary demographic is families and people over the age of 40,” he said.

Feeling young again

E-bikes are also a personal choice for O’Connor. He had a hip replacement last year and was still able to pedal 20 miles a day with the motorized assistance the cycles provide. His first ride on an e-bike made him feel like he was 20 again, propelling him to start the tour and rental service.

“This business wouldn’t work with a traditional bike,” he said.

That’s because when touring, he uses a microphone that connects to earbuds each rider wears. This way he can tell his tour group what power level of assistance he’s at and what gear the cycle is in, so everyone stays at relatively the same pace.

On traditional bicycles, the group would likely be more spread out depending on the rider’s ability, or lack thereof.

Most of O’Connor’s tours are under 25 miles, so the bikes’ batteries last for the entire ride. On longer trips, like in the spring when he goes from Mammoth to Norris and back, he carries an extra battery.

On one of those spring rides into the park, O’Connor came around a corner to find a newly awakened black bear only 10 feet off the road.

“He was groggy,” he said. “He must have just crawled out of hibernation.”

Rather than fleeing from the pack of riders, the bear ambled over to a boulder and curled up for a nap. That’s not something most bike riders will encounter, providing a charge unlike the one e-bikers may typically need.

With climate change, is hydropower still a renewable energy resource?

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