Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderland of geothermal activity, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife. Steam hisses out of the ground along walking trails, bison stop cars in their tracks on the main park road, and technicolor hot springs never fail to amaze even the most seasoned traveler.
Yellowstone is the second largest national park outside of Alaska. With over two million acres of land, five park entrances, numerous geyser basins to visit, scenic drives, and miles of hiking trails, there is a lot to do here.
Every time we visit Yellowstone, it amazes us even more. The sheer size of this park, with the landscapes and the animals that it protects, is astonishing. Colorful hot springs, herds of bison and elk, geysers and bubbling mud pits, waterfalls and canyons…this is a spectacular park.
Yellowstone National Park Stats
Founded: March 1, 1872
Annual Visitors: 4.5 million in 2023, making it the 4th most visited park this year.
Size: 2.2 million acres. This is the second largest national park in the United States outside of Alaska.
Location: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, with most of its land located in Wyoming.
Entrance Fee: $35
Notable Facts: Yellowstone is not only the first national park in the United States, it is the first national park in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve.
Top Experiences in Yellowstone
Old Faithful. Old Faithful is the world’s most famous geyser. Grab a front-row seat on the boardwalk, climb Observation Hill, or go to the upper terrace at the Old Faithful Inn to watch the eruption.
Grand Prismatic Spring. This is the largest hot spring in the United States. The vibrant colors are the result of microbial life along the edges of the hot spring. Get up close to the Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk trail at Midway Geyser Basin. For the best view, visit the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This is one of Yellowstone’s iconic sights. You can drive or walk to the viewpoints on both the north and south rims. Go to Artist Point for the best view. For a little more adventure, and exercise, hike to the Brink of the Lower Falls and Uncle Tom’s Trail.
Wildlife Sightings. Bison, elk, black bear, grizzly bear, moose, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and wolves all call Yellowstone home. Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley are the best spots for wildlife sightings and spending the afternoon and evening here is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone.
Upper Geyser Basin. Within 1 square mile, there are over 150 geothermal features, making this one of best places in the park to see hot springs, geysers, and thermal pools. Old Faithful is the main attraction but there are more great things to see and do here.
Mt. Washburn. For panoramic views of Yellowstone National Park, hike to the peak of Mt. Washburn. This is one of the most popular day hikes in the park.
Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs that is located in north Yellowstone. Hot, steaming water spills out over travertine terraces, making this one of the most unique geothermal areas in the park.
Norris Geyser Basin. This is another fairly large collection of geothermal features. A visit here consists of seeing two basins: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. If you are lucky, you can watch an eruption of Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser.
ULTIMATE ADVENTURE
For the ultimate adventure in Yellowstone, venture into the backcountry on an overnight backpacking trip. Trips can be as short as one night, but the farther you travel from Grand Loop Road, the more remote you will be.
Learn More About Yellowstone
Yellowstone Bucket List: 18 Epic Things to Do in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderland of geothermal activity, stunning landscapes, and abundant wildlife. Steam hisses out of the ground along walking trails, bison stop cars in their tracks on the main park road, and technicolor hot springs never fail to amaze even the most seasoned traveler. In this post, learn about the best things […]
One Day in Yellowstone: 6 Epic Road Trip Itineraries
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Grand Prismatic Spring and the Fairy Falls Hike, Yellowstone National Park
The Grand Prismatic Spring is Yellowstone’s most colorful hot spring. Fairy Falls is one of Yellowstone’s tallest waterfalls. If you want to see both, it’s easy to combine the hike to Fairy Falls with the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. In this article, learn how to visit the Grand Prismatic Spring and how to combine the […]
Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Plan an Epic Trip to Yellowstone
If you are planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park, this is a great place to start. There are many different ways to plan the “perfect Yellowstone itinerary,” depending on your interests and how much time you have. Yellowstone is the second largest national park outside of Alaska. With over two million acres of land, […]
Best Geyser Basins in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park has the highest concentration of geothermal features of anywhere else on earth. The land literally smokes, bubbles and hisses. Numerous geysers erupt on a regular basis, including the most famous geyser in the world, Old Faithful. In this post, learn how to visit the geyser basins in Yellowstone National Park and which […]
Yellowstone’s Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience
What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name “Yellowstone?” For many people, that answer would be Old Faithful. Old Faithful is one of the most popular sights in Yellowstone National Park. If this is your first time in Yellowstone, then most likely, Old Faithful is at the top of your […]
Where to Stay in Yellowstone in 2025: Best Hotels and Locations
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The Perfect Yellowstone Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park
If you are in Grand Teton National Park and have an extra day to spare, why not day trip to Yellowstone National Park? With one day, you have just enough time to hit the highlights…Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the wildlife in Hayden Valley. In this post, learn how […]
Exactly How to Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of Yellowstone National Park’s top attractions. With two rims to visit, multiple viewpoints, and several hiking trails, there is a lot to do here. In this guide, we share the best things to do at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with tips to help you plan […]
Did You Know?
Most of Yellowstone sits atop a supervolcano. This supervolcano powers the geothermal activity in the park. A supervolcano is a volcanic field that can produce a massive eruption.
Yellowstone has the highest concentration of geothermal features of anywhere else on earth. The land literally smokes, bubbles, and hisses. Numerous geysers erupt on a daily basis, including the most famous geyser in the world, Old Faithful.
Scenic Drives Near Yellowstone
Beartooth Highway: Things to Do, Map, Photos & Travel Tips
Beartooth Highway is a 68-mile road that runs along the border of Montana and Wyoming, connecting the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City. It is one of the most scenic drives in the USA.
In this guide to Beartooth Highway, learn how to plan your visit, what to do along the drive, when to go, and how to add this to your Yellowstone itinerary.
How to Drive between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone
Two scenic drives cut through the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming: Bighorn Scenic Byway and Cloud Peak Skyway.
If your road trip from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is point to point, you will have to choose which one to drive. In this guide, we have lots of photos and information to help you make the best choice.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Yellowstone?
You need a minimum of three full days to visit the top sights in Yellowstone. Even then, you won’t get to everything. For the best experience, plan on spending four to five days in the park.
We have sample itineraries for Yellowstone, whether you have just a day or two, or much longer.
One Day in Yellowstone
With one day in Yellowstone, you have just enough time to visit the highlights: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and the wildlife in Hayden or Lamar Valleys. Read our One Day Itinerary post for more information.
When To Visit Yellowstone National Park
The best time to visit Yellowstone is from June through October. From early November through mid-May, many of the park roads will be closed due to snowfall. It’s still possible to visit the park in the winter, but you will get around by snowmobile or snow coach, which of course will be a much different experience than the summer months.
With that being said, you should know that crowds are huge during the summer months (especially July and August). In 2021, Yellowstone was the 3rd most visited park in the USA, receiving almost 5 million visitors. Expect major difficulties finding a parking space midday and be prepared to share walking trails with many other visitors.
Early autumn is a gorgeous time to visit Yellowstone. The days are shorter and the temperatures are cooler, but the lower crowds and beautiful fall colors make this a great time to visit Yellowstone. Mid-September through early October is a great time to visit Yellowstone if you want to see fall colors and have a less crowded experience.
Yellowstone National Park appears in our Best US National Parks Month-By-Month series as a great park to visit in June, August, September, and October.
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Yellowstone National Park Map
Yellowstone National Park Photos
US National Parks List
In our US National Parks List, get information on all of the US national parks, including interesting facts, the most and least visited national parks, and a FREE printable national parks checklist with map.
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