Are you planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park and starting your research? You’ve come to the right place!
Yellowstone was the first national park in the world and it’s such a fantastic place to visit. I completely fell in love with it and can’t wait to share all my tips with you.
But while Yellowstone is truly magical, there are quite a few things to know before planning a trip there.
In this article, you will find all the things I wished I had known before visiting Yellowstone and some tips to make the best of your trip.
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1. It’s a lot bigger than you think
Yellowstone is a huge national park. It’s 3,468.4 sq miles which is almost 3 times the size of the state of Rhode Island.
If you drive around the entire loop, it will take you 4 hours and that’s without stopping!
So when you plan your trip to Yellowstone, make sure you take that into consideration. You will need time!
If you only have one day, you definitely won’t be able to see much but don’t worry, you can still see some of the highlights.
2. You need to be well researched
There are so many things to do in Yellowstone. Between the geysers, scenic drives, hikes and activities, you will be spoiled for choice!
It’s important you do a bit of research about it so you can choose the spots and activities that interest you the most.
No matter what, you won’t be able to see it all so the better you plan your trip, the better the trip will be.
3. The Guide Along App is worth it
Guide Along is an app that provides an audio commentary while you’re driving. It’s very easy to use, you can buy the map here and download the app.
Once the app is on your phone, you simply need to open it and the commentary will start. It’s based on your GPS location so the commentary starts when you reach certain points.
It’s so interesting and the guide will give you so many tips. It’s well worth it and will enhance your experience in Yellowstone.
Get the Guide Along App here.
4. You need to book your accommodation early
Accommodation in Yellowstone is limited as well as very expensive. Whether you choose to camp or stay in a lodge, you need to make sure you book in advance. The earlier the better.
There are a lot of visitors in Yellowstone and they can’t all fit in so don’t wait until the last minute.
If you want to have more options (and cheaper options) you should also look at accommodation in West Yellowstone or Gardiner.
That having been said, even if it’s outside the park, it’s still very expensive and limited since they are small towns so it’s better to book in advance.
5. It can be hot and it can be cold
The climate in Yellowstone varies a lot depending on the season and the location within the park.
The mountain area, with Mount Washburn for example, tend to be quite cold. Even if you visit in summer, there will still be some snow.
On the contrary, the lower areas with the geyser basins or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone tend to be quite hot.
For this reason, it’s important to wear layers and even have a change of clothes in your car. You can go through the 4 seasons within a day in Yellowstone.
If you are visiting in winter, make sure to pack very warm clothes since there is a lot of snow and it’s very cold.
6. It’s very busy in summer
Summer is the most popular time of the year for visitors because all the roads are open and of course most people are on vacation.
For this reason, it gets very very busy. You will need to be patient since there can be some traffic jams and it’s not always easy to park in popular spots.
To avoid the issue, I recommend visiting in June or September so you still get the perks of the summer season without having to deal with the crowds.
Another option is to get up very early and beat the crowds to the popular spots.
7. You need to get up early if you want to make the best of your time
Whether you are visiting in summer or not, I highly recommend getting up early so you can enjoy the park without the crowds.
If you want to visit one of the popular spots such as Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, it will definitely be best.
You’ll find more spaces in the parking lots and can enjoy the sites without the crowds.
Another reason to get up early is to see the wildlife. Animals are like us, they don’t like crowds or the heat so they tend to roam around more early in the morning.
Remember that Yellowstone is open 24/7 so you can go as early as you wish!
8. The visitor centers are excellent and so are the park ranger led activities
While Yellowstone is famous for its natural landmarks, don’t forget to visit the visitor centers.
You’ll find several of them, mainly in Old Faithful, Canyon Village or Mammoth Hot Springs.
They are incredibly interesting because they all have small museums and exhibitions.
You will also find the park rangers that can answer all your questions there.
Finally, make sure to check out the schedule for ranger led activities because they are all fantastic and they are worth setting some time aside.
9. It’s very easy to visit
If there is one thing I have to say about Yellowstone, it’s that it’s very easy to visit. Everything was done to make it easy for visitors.
The roads are very well maintained, the signage is good and there are parking lots at every important spot.
You’ll also find boardwalks in most places. While these were mainly built for safety reasons, they still provide a high comfort level for visitors.
Finally, since the main road in Yellowstone is made of two loops, you can’t get lost.
10. You can see all the highlights by car
The national park service really made sure that all the highlights and main viewpoints were accessible to all.
You will find parking lots at all the best spots and while there are some fantastic hikes in the park, you don’t have to walk if you don’t want to.
Most parking lots are located within 5 minutes of the viewpoints or boardwalks.
This is particularly nice for elderly visitors and families.
11. It’s home to fantastic hikes
Now it’s not because you can do most things by car that you shouldn’t go out and explore.
Yellowstone is home to some of the best hikes in the country so make sure to check them out.
You’ll notice that the hiking paths are not busy at all, even during the peak season so it’s a great way to avoid the crowds and discover more fantastic viewpoints.
12. You need to know about the wildlife
Wildlife is everywhere in Yellowstone. It’s actually one of the main reasons to visit this fantastic national park and while it’s very exciting to see bison and bears in their natural habitat, there are some things you need to be aware of.
Firstly, wildlife can be anywhere so you should always keep an eye out for animals.
Secondly, you need to act responsibly. This includes never feeding an animal as well as respecting the safety distances of 100 yards for bears and wolves and 25 yards for any other animal.
Please remember that we are visitors in their home, not the other way round.
Also, animals will defend themselves if they feel threatened so don’t make them feel in danger. If you see a bear, that’s exciting and you should definitely take photos but stay in your car and at a distance.
13. You should carry bear spray
There are a lot of bears in Yellowstone and if you’re driving around, you can stay in your car and be safe. However, it’s always reassuring to carry bear spray just in case.
If you are planning on going hiking, you should definitely carry bear spray. Even if you will probably not use it, this will reassure you.
Bear spray can be bought in any outfitters near the park and if you don’t know how to use it, one of the park rangers will be more than happy to show you.
I hope this article was helpful and you have a better idea of what to expect while visiting Yellowstone National Park.
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