Yellowstone is one of the largest and most unique parks in the United States, with about 4 million visitors last year. It is easy to see why a visit to Yellowstone is a popular choice for classic family road trips. With such a concentrated wildlife population, crazy features like Old Faithful, and tons of hikes, it does not disappoint.
We have been a few times for short visits and each time, we’ve discovered a new part of the park. I wanted to share a few of our tips so that your visit can be incredible (and safe).
Tips for a Successful Yellowstone Visit
Follow the Rules
Yes, it’s true. A woman was killed by a bison this year. You are not at a zoo, and there are no fences. Seeing the wildlife is the most incredible part of visiting this national park, but you must follow the rules. They have posted signs everywhere reminding you of the distance you should keep from all wildlife.
Along those lines, follow the speed limits as well. The animals don’t look both ways before crossing the street, so it’s good to move slowly around bends and stay under the speed limit. Who wants to fly through the park anyway?
Off Peak Dates are Best
We are HUGE advocates of shoulder seasons when traveling. I know it isn’t always possible, but you’ll be rewarded if you can make it work. When I visited in June, we were stuck in traffic jams near the lake and battling to get a view of the geysers. Our most recent visit was in the second week of October, and there were very few people there. Fall is also when the leaves change colors and animals are prepping for winter (if you haven’t heard of Fat Bear Week, click here immediately).
Avoid the Busy Times of the Day
No matter what time of year you are visiting, the best times to be out exploring are early in the morning and late afternoon through dusk. Avoid the lunch hour and early afternoon because most people are out during those times and it’s busy. I love exploring early in the morning because the animals are active and the people are not.
Get the Annual Park Pass
If you aren’t a current owner of this magical pass, you need to before your trip. For $80, you get into all national parks, monuments, and land for an entire year plus the month you buy the pass. A 7-day pass in Yellowstone is $35. If you visit Grand Tetons, it’s an additional $35. You can visit those two parks and many more by purchasing the annual pass. I’ve included for you a complete map of all locations here.
Buy your pass here and get your adventure started.
Don’t Rush, You Might Miss Something Good
There are a few popular destinations in the park, but that doesn’t mean that you should rush between them. You can take advantage of the many turn-offs. We found some great spots to stop and have a snack along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. You never know when you’ll see an animal wander down for a drink.
Come Prepared
We visited in the middle of the pandemic, so we masked up. It’s a great lesson, regardless of the state of things. These rural areas are beautiful, but the price you pay for quiet nature is less infrastructure, which means it’s harder to access hospitals. Bring along a First Aid Kit with some basic supplies you might need if you’re camping or doing a day hike. REI has some great options for every kind of adventure, and you’ll feel better getting out to explore.
Don’t Skip the Surrounding Area
The Grand Tetons are a short drive south of Yellowstone. If you’ve traveled all the way there, you should definitely get your eyes on that famous mountain range. It’s absolutely gorgeous and can make for a wonderful day trip. Big Sky, Montana, is another great day trip with a huge ski resort and tons of hiking options.
Know Whose Land You Are On
Educate yourself on the land you are visiting. Using this website (which also has an app) can give you lots of information on the indigenous people whose land this is. It’s essential to have an awareness of the history of the park and how the land was acquired. We must learn from our history, and this is a simple step.
2 Places Not to Miss on your Yellowstone Visit
So you’ve probably seen the pictures of Yellowstone Lake and Old Faithful, but we have two spots that should be high on your list.
Artist’s Point and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone was new for me this trip. How did I miss this on my past visits? It was incredibly breathtaking. We took in the views from a few different points and Artist’s Point was our favorite. It’s a short walk from the parking lot to the view point. You can also hike between different view points which I will definitely be doing more of on our next visit.
The waterfall you see in the photos below is the highest in Yellowstone and it cannot be missed.
The Geothermal Areas
Geysers are one feature, but I prefer the crazy colorful springs throughout the park. You will find most of them on the west side near Old Faithful and they have incredible accessible boardwalks to explore. It reminded us of so many places in Iceland.
Get your Yellowstone Visit planned for next year.
Purchase your national park pass and get your campsites reserved for next year. Let me know if you have any questions about visiting Yellowstone.
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