Yellowstone National Park Wyoming, Montana & Idaho
The world's first national park and still one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Yellowstone sits atop one of the largest active supervolcanoes on the planet, and that geologic reality shapes everything here — the geysers, the hot springs, the fumaroles, the mud pots, the brilliant prismatic colors of superheated pools. There is nowhere else like it. Add 2.2 million acres of wilderness, the densest concentration of megafauna in the lower 48, and a Grand Canyon of its own, and you have a park that demands multiple days and still doesn't feel fully seen.
Cost $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycles $30, individuals on foot or bike $20. America the Beautiful Pass accepted. No timed entry required — you drive up and pay. Note: as of 2026, international visitors face an additional $100 per-person surcharge. Entrance lines at peak season can stretch over an hour, so arriving early matters.
Best Times to Visit Summer (June–August) offers full access to all roads and facilities but brings serious crowds and traffic jams — "bison jams" are a real and frequent occurrence. May and September are the sweet spots: most facilities open, far fewer people, and wildlife is exceptional. Fall is particularly stunning with elk rut action and turning aspens. Winter closes most roads to wheeled vehicles but opens a remarkable snowcoach and snowmobile experience — Old Faithful in winter with almost no people is something else entirely.
Cell Service Practically nonexistent throughout the vast majority of the park. Limited Wi-Fi is available at Canyon, Mammoth, and Old Faithful lodges. Download offline maps, check Old Faithful eruption prediction times before entering, and plan to be fully disconnected. This is 2.2 million acres — the scale defeats most cell towers.
Gas & Food Gas is available inside the park at several locations including Canyon, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, and Old Faithful, but expect prices significantly higher than gateway towns. Fill up in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Jackson before entering if you can. Food is available at in-park lodges and cafeterias throughout the Grand Loop. Bring snacks and water regardless — distances between services are long and traffic can be unpredictable.
Lodging — Book as Far Ahead as Possible This cannot be overstated. In-park lodging opens reservations on a rolling 13-month window, and popular dates at Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and Canyon Lodge sell out within hours of becoming available on the 5th of each month. Old Faithful Inn rooms run $250–$400/night, Canyon Lodge $200–$325. Roosevelt Lodge cabins and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel are more affordable at $150–$250. If you miss in-park lodging, gateway towns are your backup: West Yellowstone and Gardiner on the Montana side, Cody to the east, and Jackson to the south all have extensive options.
Don't Miss Old Faithful is the obvious starting point — check eruption prediction times before entering the park and time your visit accordingly. The Grand Prismatic Spring is the most visually stunning thermal feature in the park, and the overlook trail gives you the aerial perspective that photos always show. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its thundering Lower Falls, is jaw-dropping in a way that feels completely separate from the rest of the park. And Lamar Valley in the northeast corner — often called the Serengeti of North America — is the best place in the lower 48 for wolf and grizzly bear sightings, especially at dawn and dusk. Bring binoculars or a spotting scope.
