Yosemite vs. Yellowstone
 

I'm wondering which park us better, Yosemite or Yellowstone? I'd really love to hear your opinions and why you feel either way. Thanks everyone.

I prefer Yellowstone. To be fair, I went to Yosemite in April when the valley was the only part that was open ( snow had upper roads closed) and the waterfalls were very nice, half dome was lovely etc. The crowds were horrible, parking a challenge, busses overloaded.

Yellowstone is unbelievable with fantastic geologic features and a great abundance and diversity of wild life. We were there in late June and there were hundreds of baby bison and elk as well as moose, bear, many birds etc. The thermal features, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, all performed wonderfully.

I could easily spend a week in Yellowstone, if my experience in Yosemite is typical then maybe a day or two to see the part we missed.

We do easy to moderate hikes so climbing half dome holds no interest.

Of these 2, I like Yosemite, and prefer to go off-season. My last visit was around Thanksgiving week a few years ago, next visit will be this September. My last visit to Yellowstone was about 10yrs ago, and during the peak summer season when there were crowds galore.

I agree with emalloy about the crowds, and do whatever I can to avoid them.

1. Stay in the valley (Yosemite falls lodge or Curry village cabin)

2. I prefer strenuous hikes (10-20mi+...), which means I am able to get away from the crowds in the valley. Half Dome not on my to-do list.

3. Use bike to get around - on the valley trail which is surprisingly not crowded given all the road traffic.

4. Rise early, enjoy the early morning calm, pack a picnic lunch.

Plus, I like the proximity to northern CA where I have family to visit and business travel, so it's easy to get to the park without a big trip.

Of all the NP I've been to, I love Zion and Grand Canyon the most. Zion, for it's accessibility, Grand Canyon for the total remoteness & beauty of a 2 week rafting trip.

That is like asking which of your children you love more. Or 'should I go to London or New York'?

They are totally unique and there is a reason they are two of the very first US National parks.

Both should be bucket list-type destinations. There are better times to visit either park whether it being accessibility, crowds, whatever. But one is not 'better' than the other

Janis really said it for me too!!

And of course, with Yellowstone you can get the Grand Tetons also.

What do you like better - apple or orange? The only similarity is they are both round. Same for the parks. Neither can be better.

I'm an avid wildlife watcher so prefer Yellowstone even though I live 4 hours from Yosemite. My stays in Yellowstone have been longer than my stays in Yosemite as there's more in Yellowstone that holds particular interest for me. I've been to Yellowstone in winter and spring and am returning this fall. I've never been in summer but I don't visit any national parks in summer. I will only go to Yosemite in off season any more due to crowding (which to be fair greatly affects all bucket list parks) but that also means running the risk of not being able to access the higher elevation areas. My visit last November was blissfully peaceful.

In my decades of travel I've been to 61 national parks*. Yellowstone & Yosemite are both definitely in my top five of all time, which should give you some idea of how high I rate them. I can only repeat what others have said: unless & until you specify what you mean by "better," any answer you get from us will be pretty meaningless. Other than that, just go to one & then the other the next year, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed with either.

* Yes, PARKS. I've also been to scores of national monuments, memorials, forests, wildlife refuges, lake shores, sea shores, etc, etc.