🏕️National Park Data
Brilliant blues and greens of a hot spring ringed by oranges, yellows, reds, and browns.
A crowd of people standing along a wooden boardwalk watches a geyser erupt.
A visitor stands on a boardwalk near a hot spring and a lake.
People on a wooden boardwalk watch a geyser erupt.
A wolf howls while standing on a snowy field.
Visitors walk into a rustic, log and stone building.
National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Idaho•Montana•Wyoming

💰
Entrance Fee
$35
🕐
Hours
All Day
📍
Location
Yellowstone National Park, WY
📞
Visitor Center
307-344-7381
⭐

Expert Verdict & Insider Tips

⭐ **My Rating: 4.7/5** **The Vibe**: Geothermal wonderland and wildlife safari, but expect slow driving behind bison. **Insider Advice for Geysers & Wildlife**: * **Grand Prismatic from above**: Don't just walk the boardwalk next to Grand Prismatic Spring—you'll mostly see steam. Hike the **Fairy Falls Trail** for 0.6 miles to the elevated viewing platform. The view of the rainbow colors from above is ten times better. * **Spotting bison and wolves**: The best places to see wildlife are **Lamar Valley** and **Hayden Valley**. Go at dawn (5:30 AM to 7:00 AM) or dusk. Bring binoculars and prepare for 'bison jams'—bison love walking in the middle of the road, and traffic will stop completely. * **Boardwalk Safety**: Stay on the wooden boardwalks. The geothermal crust is thin, and the water underneath is boiling acid. People get seriously burned every year by stepping off the path.

Yellowstone National Park is a wild land of active geysers, bubbling mud pots, and free-roaming wildlife. Walking around Yellowstone feels like visiting another planet. You can watch Old Faithful erupt, stand in awe of the Grand Prismatic Spring's rainbow colors, and spot grizzly bears and bison herds grazing in the valleys. It's a huge park, so expect to drive long distances between sights.

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About Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a national park located in Idaho and Montana and Wyoming. Yellowstone's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, daytime highs can exceed 70°F (21°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. It can snow during any month of the year, and winter lows frequently drop below 0°F (-18°C), especially at night. Bring a range of clothing options, including a warm jacket and rain gear, even in the summer.

Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 3,500 square miles in the northwest corner of Wyoming (3% of the park is in Montana and 1% is in Idaho). Yellowstone has five entrance stations, and several are closed to regular vehicles during winter. It takes many hours to drive between these entrances, so be sure to check the status of roads at the entrance you intend to use while planning your trip and before you arrive.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

The general entrance fee for Yellowstone starts at $20 (which commonly covers entry for a single private vehicle and passengers for up to 7 consecutive days). The park offers several fee options: Entrance - Private Vehicle ($35), Entrance - Non-commercial Groups ($20), Entrance - Motorcycle ($30), Entrance - Snowmobile ($30), Entrance - Per Person ($20), Commercial Entrance - Sedan ($20), Commercial Entrance - Van ($125), Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus ($200), Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach ($300), Nonresident ($100). If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80) is highly cost-effective, as general entry to most parks will quickly offset the pass cost.

Entrance - Private Vehicle$35
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups$20
Entrance - Motorcycle$30
Entrance - Snowmobile$30
Entrance - Per Person$20
Commercial Entrance - Sedan$20
Commercial Entrance - Van$125
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus$200
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach$300
Nonresident$100

🥾 Things to Do

Yellowstone National Park offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Arts and Culture, Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Astronomy, and 49 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.

✅ Arts and Culture
✅ Auto and ATV
✅ Scenic Driving
✅ Astronomy Guide →
✅ Biking
✅ Mountain Biking
✅ Road Biking
✅ Boating
✅ Boat Tour
✅ Camping Guide →✅ Backcountry Camping Guide →✅ Canoe or Kayak Camping Guide →✅ Car or Front Country Camping Guide →✅ Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) Guide →✅ Group Camping Guide →✅ RV Camping Guide →✅ Fishing Guide →✅ Freshwater Fishing Guide →✅ Fly Fishing Guide →
✅ Food
✅ Dining
✅ Picnicking
✅ Guided Tours
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Walking Guide →
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Auto
✅ Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
✅ Boat Tour
✅ Hands-On
✅ Arts and Crafts
✅ Volunteer Vacation
✅ Hiking Guide →✅ Backcountry Hiking Guide →✅ Front-Country Hiking Guide →
✅ Horse Trekking
✅ Horseback Riding
✅ Paddling
✅ Canoeing
✅ Canoe or Kayak Camping Guide →
✅ Kayaking
✅ Junior Ranger Program
✅ Skiing
✅ Cross-Country Skiing
✅ Snow Play
✅ Snowmobiling
✅ Snowshoeing
✅ Swimming
✅ Wildlife Watching Guide →✅ Birdwatching Guide →
✅ Park Film
✅ Museum Exhibits
✅ Shopping
✅ Bookstore and Park Store
✅ Gift Shop and Souvenirs

📦 Recommended Gear & Packing Checklist

Custom items selected for activities at Yellowstone

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🎒 Trail Essentials

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🥾 Activity-Specific Gear

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🧥 Apparel & Layers

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

📋 Visitor Planning Tips for Yellowstone

  • →Beat the Crowds: Arrive at the main gates or trailheads of Yellowstone before 8:00 AM. Parking spaces at popular locations fill up extremely fast, especially during warm peak season weekends.
  • →Monitor Active Alerts: There are currently 4 active alerts for Yellowstone. Keep an eye on the alert notifications at the top of this guide for crucial information regarding closures or safety issues.
  • →Secure Campsites Early: Lodging and developed campgrounds within and surrounding Yellowstone get booked out months in advance. Make reservations on recreation.gov as early as the window opens.
  • →Altitude & Hydration: The thin air and dry heat in this region will dehydrate you quickly. Pack at least 3 to 4 liters of water per person per day and pack electrolyte replacements.
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On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal wonders. Today, millions of people come here each year to camp, hike, and enjoy the majesty of the park.

Seasonal Visitor Guides

🌸
spring Guide
☀️
summer Guide
🍂
fall Guide
❄️
winter Guide

Frequently Asked Questions about Yellowstone

The entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park is $35 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all 474+ NPS sites and pays for itself after just 2-3 park visits.

About the Author

🧗

James R. Mitchell

Founder & Lead Writer — National Park Data

James has visited all 63 designated US national parks and has been writing about outdoor travel for over 12 years. He spent 8 years as a wilderness guide in the Rocky Mountains before founding National Park Data to help visitors plan better, safer, and more enjoyable park trips.

🏔️ 63 Parks Visited✍️ 12 Years Writing🧭 Wilderness GuideFull Bio →
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