12 Things to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park

Home to the greatest concentration of hydrothermal features on Earth, Yellowstone is famous for the sheer fact that it sits on top of an enormous supervolcano. That means it’s easy to witness bubbling mudpots, simmering hot springs, and roaring geysers up close and in person, whether you hike to an off-the-beaten-path feature, like Imperial Geyser, or roll your car right up to Old Faithful. However, there’s much more to Yellowstone than just geothermal activity. The Lamar Valley is home to a steadily rebounding wolf population, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone boasts thundering waterfalls and colorful cliff faces. Plus, the park and its surrounding areas are famed for their incredible opportunities for fly fishing.

Because of its awesome popularity with both domestic and international travelers, there are a handful of adorable gateway communities bordering Yellowstone National Park. Most notably, Jackson Hole sits roughly one hour south of the park and offers awesome lodging, like the Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa, as well as The Cloudveil, both of which are walking distance from the town’s lively historic square. Jackson is also famous for its world-class dining, and whether your national park crew prefers chic, adults-only dining at Hotel Yellowstone or lively French fare at The Bistro, you’ll never go to bed hungry. Seeking more of a cowboy-centric stay? Rough-and-tumble Cody, Wyoming, offers historic digs, like the Chamberlin Inn, and fabulous roasted meats at Bubba’s Bar-B-Que, all within easy driving distance to the park’s eastern entrance station.

Unlike many of America’s national parks, which can easily be seen in 1-2 days, Yellowstone is huge. As such, we’d recommend planning a 5 to 6-day trip to see everything, since it might take one or two hours of driving just to get to certain attractions. For example, Mammoth Hot Springs features incredible terraced hot springs and sincerely gorgeous historic buildings, but it sits roughly 80 minutes away from Old Faithful by car, without traffic. Similarly, if you’re keen on trying to spot wolves and bison in the rolling, verdant hills of Lamar Valley, plan for a full day to comfortably drive there and hike around with your binoculars.

If you’re dreaming of having a “peak” Yellowstone experience, circle June or September on your calendar. June is when the park wakes up—wildflowers explode on the hillsides, waterfalls roar with fresh snowmelt, and rust-colored baby bison hobble through Lamar Valley. Crowds aren’t quite peak-crazy yet, so you can usually snag a good view without having to fight for it. September, on the other hand, is incredible for its cooler temps and lack of crowds. The air is crisp, the fall foliage is beginning to turn, and the summer mobs have thinned out due to the school year starting. It’s also the beginning of rutting season, so you might hear elk bugling like squeaky dinosaurs looking for a mate.

Unlike some of the other big-name national parks, Yellowstone doesn’t require an advance reservation just to drive into the park. You can cruise up to any entrance gate, pay your fee (or flash your annual America the Beautiful Pass), and roll right in. That being said, you’ll definitely want to book campsites and lodging way in advance, as popular park campgrounds often fill up 4 to 6 months out. This same rule goes for guided tours, like horseback riding or backpacking trips.

If you’ve never been to Yellowstone and you only have 24 hours, you’ll absolutely want to set an alarm and wake up early to make the most of your time and avoid long lines at the entrance stations. Plan on driving into the park before 8 AM and making a beeline for Old Faithful, before the mid-morning throngs arrive. After that, take a stroll around the accessible (and kid-friendly) boardwalks at Upper Geyser Basin, which feature cerulean blue hot springs and other sizzling hydrothermal features. From there, drive north to check out the positively psychedelic colors of Grand Prismatic Spring before pulling over for a snack break at roaring Gibbon Falls. Pull off to stretch your legs on a quick 1-mile stroll at Artists Paintpots, then top it all off with an epic photo opp at Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Nearby, you could also grab dinner at the historic Mammoth Hotel Dining Room.

Thankfully for most of us, a simple trip to Yellowstone won’t break the bank just to get through the gates. Entrance fees are $35 per vehicle, good for seven days of exploring geysers, canyons, and snow-capped peaks. If you enter on a motorcycle, it’s only $30. Meandering on foot, by bike, or by horseback? It’s just $20. If you’re planning to hit more than a couple of parks this year, the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass pays for itself quickly. Even though the entrance fee for Yellowstone is surprisingly affordable, it’s important to keep in mind that hiking snacks, restaurants, gas, and lodging can add up quickly. Simple car camping within the park itself is $20 to $39, plus taxes.

Visiting Yellowstone is kind of like going on a North American safari. You’ve got loads of charismatic megafauna (really cool mammals), like grizzly bears, bison, moose, black bears, pronghorn antelope, and elk all roaming around the park freely. On top of that, Lamar Valley is often called the Serengeti of America, because it’s one of the best places to spot big herds of bison, plus the occasional wolf pack stalking them. Keep your eyes peeled for small critters, too. Coyotes often trot through meadows at sunset, river otters splash in frigid streams, marmots sunbathe on alpine rocks, and bald eagles perch on towering conifers.

For those trying to save money while visiting America’s first national park, booking an in-park campground months in advance is truly the way to go. Not only will you save money on pricey hotels, but you’ll also save precious drive time hitting up various hikes and sights. Plus, witnessing the area’s otherworldly night skies is best done surrounding a crackling campfire. Hoping for a historic hotel? This park is chock-full of ‘em. The Old Faithful Inn is one of the largest log-style structures in the world, and Canyon Lodge & Cabins offers centrally-located digs and an on-site ice cream shop.  The Greater Yellowstone area also has some fantastic dude ranch-style stays, perfect for the adventurous family. Both Sage Lodge (a Michelin Guide three-key winner) and Elkhorn Ranch offer daily horseback riding and are within easy driving distance of the national park, so you can get your yeehaw on, even when you aren’t geyser gazing.

Yep, Yellowstone has its very own “Grand Canyon,” and it’s a real stunner. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone stretches roughly 20 miles long and was carved by the unimaginable force of the Yellowstone River over millennia. The impressive Lower Falls plunges a staggering 308 feet straight down, though the 109-foot Upper Falls is still well worth a photo stop. What makes this river canyon extra dramatic are its jaw-droppingly colorful walls, painted in fiery reds, yellows,

As with any trip to a remote and rugged national park, you want to be sure you have plenty of extra food and water in your vehicle. That being said, Yellowstone does have a bevy of tasty restaurants and snack stands for hungry hikers. Popular stops include the Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria & Bake Shop, 1950s-style Canyon Eatery, and the tasty burger stand at Mammoth Terrace Grill. General stores selling basic supplies and snacks also abound at Fishing Bridge, Canyon Village, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Grant Village, and Lake Yellowstone Hotel. For water, you’ll find potable water spigots at most campgrounds, visitor centers, and lodges. Just be sure to bring your reusable bottle.

The most affordable way to experience Yellowstone is to keep it simple and plan your trip roughly six months ahead. Start with the park entry fee, which is $35 per vehicle for seven days (or you could grab an America the Beautiful Pass for $80, which covers all national parks and federal public lands for a full calendar year). As far as lodging goes, camping is the wallet-friendly winner. Campsites inside the park run about $20 to $39 a night, plus taxes, but they book up well in advance, so reserve early through Yellowstone National Park Lodges or Recreation.gov. Outside of the park, national forests often have cheaper first-come, first-served campsites for visitors who still want to enjoy s’mores by the campfire. HipCamp is also an incredibly useful resource that allows people to post private campsites on their property, sort of like Airbnb, but for camping. Skip expensive restaurants by stocking up on groceries in gateway towns like West Yellowstone or Cody. Gas is typically cheaper in nearby towns, too, so fill up before entering the national park each day. With a nylon tent, a cooler full of ice, and a little extra planning, you can marvel at Yellowstone’s spewing geysers, colorful canyons, and incredible wildlife on a shoestring budget.