Park Admission to Yellowstone
 

Six of us are going to Yellowstone in early July 2010. The Yellowstone website describes the admission cost ($25) and not much else. A family friend told us they heard that there are times when the park gets full and if you don't have a reservation you can't enter. Has anyone heard of this? I can't find mention of it anywhere so I suspect this person is misinformed.

I've visited Yellowstone many times and have never encountered the idea of a "reservation" to enter. I do recall that the idea of limiting admissions in some area of some parks, such as Yosemite Valley, where parking is very, very limited, but don't recalll if it ever went anywhere. Yellowstone is so vast, I don't know how they could even determine the park was "full."

I've never heard of people being denied admission to the Park.

Keeping track of how many cars had entered the Park, how many had left, and how many people who were staying inside the Park had cars would - I think - be an almost impossible task.

Is it possible your friend was talking about not being able to find lodging within the Park without a reservation? That is true for certain times of the year and July would be one of those times. If you want to stay inside the Park you need to be calling about that now.

Yellowstone is an awesome place. You'll find a lot of great info in this forum by searching "Yellowstone" and Fodorites are the best about helping with specific questions.

We were there in February and I wish we were lucky enough to be going back this Summer. You're in for a treat.

ezentner:

I don't know your age, but if you are 62 or older, there is a $10 "Interagency Senior Pass. This is a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Pass is available only in-person at entrances or visitor centers. Learn more at the official web site: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisi...servations.htm

Yellowstone is a magic place. Plan on as many days as you can there. It is not something to just "see" as you drive through, of course, because you need to drive around the loops and stop to enjoy many of the sights.

Good luck avoiding the bisons, who often wander into the road and seem to think they can join the traffic!

Do not take any more travel advice from this "family friend" - there is no way Yellowstone can get full. We were there several years ago, mid-summer/peak time - except at Old Faithful, never felt like there were crowds anywhere.

The bisons do not join the traffic - they ARE the traffic - one of the greatest thrills of my life was sitting in my car in an animal jam watching the beasts walk on either side of the car.

I have been going to Yellowstone for well over 20 years and have never seen the park full and admission denied. The lodgings inside the park and the campgrounds are full on a daily basis.

If you are going to any of the other National Parks spend the money and get a America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. You can get one on entering the park or http://store.usgs.gov/pass/index.html.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

Thank you all for your comments! I suspected that the advice was incorrect and you all confirmed that. Thanks again!

Unfortunately, it appears we will only have 3 days in Yellowstone. We plan on entering from the West Entrance and will likely stay our first night in West Yellowstone. At the end of our park trip, we will need to head back to Bozeman, MT for our flight home. With that in mind, does anyone have some thoughts on where to stay in the park for our 2nd and 3rd nights, keeping in mind we have to head back to Bozeman? Thanks for the help!

Mammoth is my least favorite place(as far as the area, not the lodge itself), other people like it. If you can stay @ Old Faithful Inn, it is possible the best place to experience an overnight stay in any Historical Lodge. Lake Hotel is nice and we enjoyed Roosevelt. I have not stayed in Canyon, but that would be good as well.

You need to secure Lodging right now. $25 per car, not per person to enter the park.

With only 3 or 4 days I would probably stay in Yellowstone and not worry about the Tetons, although they are awesome as well. Spend an entire day watching the geysers around Old Faith Inn. My favorites are Castle Geyser and Riverside Geyser. Much different experience than Old Faithful.

My absolutely favorite place inside the park was Old Faithful Inn. You can sit on their 2nd floor deck with a bottle of wine and watch Old Faithful go off. You can walk outside at night and watch Old Faithful go off. And of course, you can get up close and personal. The Snow Lodge would be another choice as it is right beside the Inn.

Thanks, will definitely look into the Old Faithful Inn. Any particular cabins? Are the Frontier cabins decent?