Yellowstone is one of the most popular national parks in the world. Year after year, visitors flock to the location to take in the grand trees, the majestic mountains, and the serene hiking trails. If you want to visit Yellowstone, it might be tricky to know where to start. There are far too many conflicting ideas online.
Read on to learn how to make your trip to Yellowstone National Park the best it can be. If you are familiar with the ins and outs of Yellowstone from a visitor’s perspective, you can maximize your trip and get as much as you can out of this place. Read more to know Where to fly into for Yellowstone guide.
Table of Contents
What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone?
Understanding the best time of year to visit Yellowstone is the first step to enjoying your time. There are generally three items you will need to consider when picking a time of year, as these can impact what you can do while you are in the national park.
The three things you should keep in mind when determining the best time of year to visit Yellowstone include:
- Crowd levels
- Weather
- Road closures
These factors can impact what you can do and how long you can stay at the park.
When considering these items, the best times to go to Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May and September through early October. This time of the year is generally less crowded than other months. The weather is milder, and fewer roads are closed. You should have free reign of the park and see all you want to during your trip.
How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone?
Yellowstone is a massive park that spans miles and miles. There are many attractions and things to do within this park that make it necessary to stay for multiple days no matter what you intend to see. You might wonder how many days you need in Yellowstone National Park to get the entire experience.
To fully explore Yellowstone National Park, you need at least three days. This time will allow you to:
- See the sites
- Explore the trails
- Visit museums
You will need a few days to cover all of these.
The longer you can stay in Yellowstone, the better. You need at least three days, but many visitors recommend remaining in the park for at least five. With two million acres of land and five park entrances, you want to give yourself as much opportunity as possible.
The Top 5 Attractions in Yellowstone National Park
When visiting Yellowstone National Park, it is vital to plan for what you want to see. There is an abundance of natural wonders in the park. If you do not know what to expect, you might be stuck wandering. We will go over five of the top attractions in Yellowstone National Park that you should try to see.
These attractions include:
- Old Faithful
- Yellowstone Lake
- Hayden Valley
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
- Mammoth Valley Hot Springs
Each of these is wonderful in its ways.
Keep reading to learn more about these natural sites and why tourists flock to them every year. If you see something on this list that looks interesting to you, you can add it to your itinerary to make your trip to Yellowstone National Park all the more special.
Old Faithful
Old Faithful is a center point of Yellowstone that has been around for a long, long time. This geyser is famous for its sporadic eruptions, spewing liquid almost 200 feet into the air. People from all around the world flock to Yellowstone National Park to see this creation in action.
Old Faithful has grown so popular because:
- It erupts to matter what
- It is unlike many have seen anywhere else
- It’s massive
These are all the characteristics that make Old Faithful so popular.
If an exploding geyser sounds like something that would appeal to you, think about checking out Old Faithful. This natural wonder lies in Yellowstone’s Upper Geyser Basin and erupts about twenty-one times a day. You are sure to get a show, no matter what time of the week you decide to visit.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the next natural wonder on this list. This giant body of water lies more than 7000 feet above sea level. It’s twenty miles long and fourteen miles wide, remaining cold throughout the year. It’s so frigid that the predicted survival time inside the lake is only around twenty to thirty minutes.
Visitors gather at this location because:
- It’s a high-elevation lake
- It makes for a beautiful picture
- You can boat on it
All of these reasons make Yellowstone Lake perfect for a national park visit.
If a day on the lake with stunning views sounds like a great option, be sure to add this to your list. Yellowstone Lake is a massive body of water that you will not regret making the journey to see during your time in the park.
Hayden Valley
The third wonder you should see on your visit is Hayden Valley. This pristine and wide valley provides a way to see all kinds of wildlife that call Yellowstone their home. If you want to view animals, this is the place to go.
Some examples of animals you might see in Hayden Valley include:
- Bears
- Bison
- Wolves
- Antelope
You can see these, and so much more, in the valley.
Seeing Hayden Valley requires a whole day in itself. If you like grand adventures, heading to this location is something you should take on with your family. Bring binoculars, a good pair of hiking shoes, and your sense of wonder for the best experience.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is the fourth attraction on this list. This location is the first canyon downstream of Yellowstone Falls, about twenty-four miles long and 1000 feet deep. It is quite the sight to behold.
Viewers enjoy visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone because:
- It’s majestic to behold
- It has a magnificent history
- It has many unique trails
All of these are reasons why you might enjoy a visit to this location in Yellowstone National Park.
If you like canyons that take your breath away, this place is a must on your list. Like some of the other locations, this one might take an entire day. Ensure you give yourself enough time to enjoy all that the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone has to offer.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Last on our list is the Mammoth Hot Springs, a series of watery terraces heated by natural sources underneath the earth. This location is accessible by car all year long. You can walk on boardwalks above the water itself or drive around them with a vehicle.
Visitors love to see the Mammoth Hot Springs because of:
- The unique steaming features
- The beautiful hike up to the springs
- The unique history that lies near the hot springs
All of these are reasons why the Mammoth Hot Springs are so favored.
If you like history and the beauty of steam in the crisp mountain air, the Mammoth Hot Springs is a must-see. However you get to them, you are sure to enjoy what they offer.
How Much Does Yellowstone Cost?
If you are visiting Yellowstone National Park, you should know about a few expenses that you might have to pay when entering the place. It is low cost, but you will still need to pull money out of your pockets for a few things when in the park.
A few examples of prices you might have to pay include:
- Parking, which is $35 for a regular car
- Food, which ranges around $15 for a café meal
- Lodging, which is about $100 for a hotel and $20 for a campsite
These are just a few of the costs you may need to pay in Yellowstone.
It is ideal to budget before you go on your trip to Yellowstone. Decide if you will be buying food in the park or bringing yours inside. Determine where you will be staying. Note the cost of parking your car. Once you add all of these up, you shouldn’t be taken by surprise when expenses appear.
How Long Does It Take to Drive the Loop in Yellowstone?
The Grand Loop is a long road that goes all the way around the park. It takes visitors right to all the most critical spots in Yellowstone National Park and then some. You can drive on it in your car or be adventurous and take your bike. However, a vehicle will allow you to see everything in a sufficient amount of time. You might be curious how long this loop takes to drive.
On average, it takes between four to seven hours to complete the entirety of the Grand Loop. Some factors that impact the length of your drive include:
- The number of people on the road
- The wildlife that is active on the road
- The weather conditions
All of these might make your drive longer or shorter depending on the extremity of each condition.
If you prefer to take a driving trip than camp, the Grand Loop is a great option. You don’t need to leave your vehicle to see everything that Yellowstone National Park has to offer.
What is the Best Way to Tour Yellowstone?
There are so many ways you can tour Yellowstone National Park. You can ride a bus, drive your car, and take a boat. You can visit museums, or you can look at the park on a bike. However, there is one way that is the best to tour Yellowstone National Park. This method is on foot, hiking on trails.
Hiking reigns supreme as a way to tour Yellowstone for a few reasons. This reasoning is because:
- You can get up close and personal with nature
- You can access places cars can’t
- You are fully immersed in the world
If you are staying in Yellowstone, ensure that you hike a couple of trails while you are there. This way, you can see as many details as possible right up close. Hiking is how nature should make itself visible to us.
Exploring the natural beauty and diverse landscapes, National Parks are in the U.S., providing a plethora of outdoor adventures and breathtaking scenery for all types of travelers.
Outro
Yellowstone National Park is a fantastic place that brings in millions of people every single year. If you plan a trip to the park, it can be tricky to figure out what to do. There is so much inside Yellowstone, and too much information online can make research almost impossible to accomplish.
By understanding items like the best time of year to visit and the price you could be paying, you can prepare your trip to Yellowstone National Park before you get there. There are many beautiful locations you should see. Enough time will permit you to get a good look at everything. With these steps, your trip should go smoothly. One can also consider Yosemite for a fantastic trip into the nature, Checkout the guide explaiing where to fly into Yosemite.