Plan your visit with this Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide
Yellowstone National Park is most known for the Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. There is so much more! You will also find geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots, travertine terraces, waterfalls, canyons, forests, and valleys full of wildlife including bison, elk, and wolves. You may also see pronghorn, moose, and grizzly bears while you are visiting.
You are excited to visit Yellowstone National Park and want to know the best time of year to visit, where to stay, what not to miss, and where to eat while there. Researching the best things to do while visiting Yellowstone National Park while working full time is overwhelming and you don’t have hours to spend on the internet. Save time and plan an unforgettable trip full of top activities with this Yellowstone National Park travel blog.
READ Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
Where is Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is 2.2 million acres of land in the north-western portion of Wyoming extending into both Idaho and Montana.
How to Get to Yellowstone National Park
The most convenient way to get to Yellowstone is to fly into Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport and rent a car. The nearest major city is Salt Lake City. From Salt Lake City it is a 4.5-5 hour drive to the West Yellowstone entrance. Idaho Falls and Jackson Hole Airport are alternative options.
There are 5 major entrances to Yellowstone – North, South, Northeast, East, and West. The North entrance’s closest town is Gardiner, MT. It’s full of hotels, souvenir shops, bars, and restaurants. The South Entrance borders Grand Teton National Park, this is an ideal place for you to stay if you’re traveling to both parks in one trip. There are a number of hotels right in between the two parks. The town closest to the West entrance is West Yellowstone and the town you’ll probably want to stay in closest to the East entrance is Cody, WY.
- North Entrance: considered the “gateway” to the park and close to Mammoth Hot Springs
- Northeast Entrance: close to park wildlife areas
- West Entrance: close to Old Faithful with the most dining and hotel options
- South Entrance: entrance used to get to and from Grand Teton National Park
- East Entrance: about 15 miles from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and closest to Yellowstone Lake
The Grand Loop Road is your key to exploring the park’s stunning natural wonders. This 142-mile scenic drive connects the major attractions within the park, including geysers, waterfalls, and wildlife viewing areas. The road is divided into upper (70 miles) and lower (96 miles) loops.
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fees and Park Hours
Yellowstone National Park is open 24 hours every day, year-round. A standard park pass is $35 for 7 days. If you are visiting several parks over the course of a year, consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass for unlimited access to all of the U.S. National Parks. https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/fees.htm#spci_F9162562-D2C2-48D1-B421C187D70674BA
How Many Days Do I Need at Yellowstone National Park
You need at least 2 days to see the highlights of Yellowstone National Park. If you have only one day do not miss Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Add Upper Geyser Basin, Fairy Falls Trail, Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basin, Artist’s Paint Pots, Gibbon Falls, Sulphur Caldron, Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, and Lamar Valley as time allows.
Accommodation near Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone has 9 official campgrounds and over 30 backcountry campsites. All campsites must be reserved beginning in May through the Fall. Camping is limited to 14 days from July 1st through Labor Day. Check the official Yellowstone website to see which are open and make reservations here.
There are nine lodges with over 2,000 rooms in Yellowstone. Lodges are open from late spring through fall, Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the only lodge open during winter.
There are many hotel options nearby in West Yellowstone (MT), Cooke City (MT), and Gardiner (MT). I stayed in West Yellowstone at The Evergreen.
Facts About Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was established as a national park by the US congress in 1872.
This was the first national park in the world.
Yellowstone National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
The Old Faithful Inn was built in 1903 and is the largest log construction in the world.
Yellowstone is that it sits on top of an active supervolcano.
Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the US.
Steamboat Geyser is the tallest geyser in the world and can erupt up to 400 feet high.
The Yellowstone River is the longest undammed river in the US, it runs over 600 miles.
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-elevation lake (above 7,000 feet) in North America.
There are 1,000–3,000 earthquakes in Yellowstone annually.
Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone National Park
June, July, and August are the busiest months with the most crowds. Fire season runs from July through September. Crowds thin in September and early October. Elk rutting season begins in mid-September. Snow can start falling as early as November. In winter, most of the roads in Yellowstone are closed and you can only visit the Old Faithful and the Mammoth Springs areas. All roads to Yellowstone National Park open around Memorial Day weekend. Bears come out of hibernation in April. Spring brings active wildlife, flowing waterfalls, and blooming wildflowers.
Where to eat at Yellowstone National Park
You will have no problem finding restaurants, cafeterias, and snack shops in Yellowstone National Park, especially around the lodges. Expect them to be busy during lunchtime and consider packing a lunch to bring into the park with you.
Things to Do at Yellowstone National Park
Best Viewpoints in Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Artist Point
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
Wildlife in Lamar Valley
Popular Trails and Hikes at Yellowstone National Park
West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail: 1 mile
Artists Paintpots Trail: 1 mile
Fairy Falls: 1.2 miles
Grand Prismatic Hot Spring Overlook Trail: 1.5 miles
Norris Geyser Basin Loop: 1.8 miles
Mammoth Terraces: 2.5 miles
Canyon Rim South Trail to Artist Point: 2.5 miles
Upper Geyser Basin: 3.5 miles
Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and Crystal Falls Trail: 4.1 miles
Two Days at Yellowstone National Park
Day One in Yellowstone National Park: South Loop
7 am Sunrise and wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley
9 am Stop for a short walk to the Tower Falls observation deck on the way to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone River
10 am Take the Canyon’s North scenic drive for views of Lower Falls and the Canyon
11:30 Take the Canyon’s South scenic drive for views of Upper Falls and Artists Point
1 pm Watch for wildlife while driving through Hayden Valley
2 pm Make a brief visit to the Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth Spring
3 pm Take the West Thumb Geysers trail (1-mile loop) past painted pools and springs
4:30 pm View the Kepler Cascades
Day Two in Yellowstone National Park: North Loop
8 am Watch Old Faithful erupt (check the schedule for the exact arrival time)
9 am Hike the 1.6-mile RT trail to Fairy Falls and the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
11 am Explore the Midway Geyser Basin Boardwalk
1 pm Stop at the Gibbon Falls lookout on the way to Norris Porcelain Basin, don’t miss this boardwalk
3 pm Stop for photos of Rustic Falls and the Golden Gate Canyon on the way to Mammoth Hot Springs
4 pm Drive the Mammoth Hot Springs upper terrace and explore the boardwalk. Walk the lower terrace boardwalk before having dinner. Be sure to snap a picture of the Roosevelt Arch as you leave the park.
Note: times may vary depending on traffic and the ability to get a parking spot.
Things to Do Near Yellowstone National Park
Jackson Hole Wyoming
National Elk Refuge
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Tips for Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Check the estimated time of the next eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser on the board at the nearby visitor center.
Grand Prismatic Spring is covered in mist in the morning, visit in the afternoon to see the bright colors.
There are over 1,000 miles of hiking trails, plan your time before you arrive.
Stay on the trails and boardwalks, the ground is geothermal and may look safe, but it is not.
Pets are not allowed on trails or boardwalks.
Don’t rely on cell phone service. Download the park maps from the National Park Service app in advance.
There are gas stations near Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
There is no public transportation within the park.
Bicycles are allowed on public roads; they are prohibited on trails and boardwalks.
Pack sunscreen, a hat, a reusable water bottle, and bug spray for this trip.
Swimming in hot springs is prohibited. Swimming in rivers and lakes is not recommended.
You must have a permit to fish in Yellowstone National Park.
All motorized, nonmotorized, float tubes and paddleboards must be inspected and permitted before launching.
Watch for wildlife at dusk and dawn.
This is bear country; rent or buy bear spray, learn how to use it and always carry it with you.
For safety, stay close to others when hiking alone, groups of 3+ are best.
Wildlife is wild; by law you must stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from all other animals (bison, elk, pronghorns, and moose).
Practice Leave No Trace Principles
Purchase an America the Beautiful Pass and keep exploring National Parks
Check with the National Park Service for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.
Bookmark and Pin Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Booking Resources for Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide Books
Pick up a Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.
Book Your Accommodation in Yellowstone National Park Now
Spending the night? Search Booking.com and VRBO in one place to find the perfect property!
Yellowstone National Park Attractions and Day Tours
The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.
Travel Essentials
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Have a great vacation!