What many consider to be the epitome of the “Wild West”, Yellowstone National Park sits right on the edge of Montana and expands 2.2 million acres into Wyoming. Being the United States’ first national park, its history feels as big as the park itself, and over three million tourists visit each year.
I first visited Yellowstone when I was ten years old with my parents, then returned eleven years later to work as a wrangler. As a wrangler, I led horseback tours through the park as well as cared for the horses. Fresh out of college, this job really put the “blood, sweat, and tears” into a job description, but I look back on my time there with nothing by incredible memories and gratitude for the once in a lifetime experience.
After living in the park (and dodging the occasional bison on a Tuesday outside my cabin), I’ve compiled my top tips, activities, and locations to visit during your time at Yellowstone.
What to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone
Best Time of the Year to Visit
Yellowstone National Park is a seasonal park, with a majority of the area being closed between September and May due to snow that makes road passage nearly impossible. If you want a winter retreat, the only part of the park open year-round is Mammoth Hot Springs, which sits right on the border of Montana. Mammoth Hot Springs offers housing, dining, and a walking tour of hot springs that the area is named for.
If you’d like to visit all areas of the park, the only time to visit is between June to August. Because of such a short season with so many tourists visiting, you want to start planning your trip up to a year in advance. This will give you the best chance of reserving everything you’d like to do.
Amount of Time in Yellowstone
I believe one week to ten days is the ideal time to spend in Yellowstone, if you’d like to experience as much of the park as possible since it’s not just down the street for many people. I would also suggest visiting Grand Teton National Park for a day or two during your trip, since they share the southern border of the park.
How to Get to Yellowstone
You will need a car to visit Yellowstone. There is no public transportation within the park, as well as no airport within or “nearby” (i.e. less than an hour away aside from tiny West Yellowstone airport). If you are flying, make sure you have a rental car reserved at the airport. There are four entrances into Yellowstone: north, south, east and west.
North Entrance: Bozeman Yellowstone International Park (BZN) in Bozeman, MT. The biggest of the nearby airports, this is where you will find the most flight options. It is about a two hour drive to Yellowstone’s North Entrance.
South Entrance: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson Hole, WY. This airport is inside Grand Teton National Park, which would give you the option to visit the Tetons on your way to Yellowstone. It is an hour to Yellowstone’s South Entrance, which it shared with Grand Teton.
East Entrance: Yellowstone Regional Park (COD) in Cody, WY. Cody is a town rich with Wild West history (its namesake is Buffalo Bill Cody) and hosts historical reenactments and rodeos. It is an hour to Yellowstone’s East Entrance.
West Entrance: Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in West Yellowstone, MT. While this is the closest airport to Yellowstone and only ten minutes away from the West Entrance, it is the smallest airport and will provide you less options if you choose to fly in here.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel
Built in 1936, the hotel offers standard rooms but are within walking distance to the mammoth hot springs next to the hotel. With expansive grassy lawns, its a favorite area for elk to gather and lounge, so you can get a first hand (safe distance) view of these beautiful animals. There is also a dining room within the hotel which gives you meal options, as well as a famous ice cream store nearby.
Roosevelt Lodge
Where I worked and lived during my time at Yellowstone, it is for people who want a more “off the grid” feel to their vacation. There is not a hotel, but personal cabins for each guest with a working wood stove to keep you warm during chilly nights. Keep in mind, there are no bathrooms in the cabins and you share bathrooms and showers with other cabins nearby. There is also a restaurant in the main lodge, as well as horseback tours at their onsite corrals.
Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins
One of the most elegant lodging options in the park, Lake Yellowstone Hotel offers both standard rooms and cabins, with a stunning view of Lake Yellowstone right out front. The hotel has a dining room and bar, with nightly entertainment from a grand piano, as well as a more casual deli.
Old Faithful Inn
If you are to stay in any of the lodgings the park has to offer, I strongly encourage you to try and reserve at room as the famous Old Faithful Inn. The most well-known and spectacular hotel in Yellowstone, it was built in 1903 with local logs and is the largest log structure in the world. Just to stay at the Inn is a dream, and you can curl up in one of the many leather chairs throughout the hotel, order a coffee, or sit on the deck and watch Old Faithful geyser erupt every 91 minutes.
Things to Do in Yellowstone
Cowboy Cookout at Roosevelt Lodge
The most popular activity at Roosevelt Lodge, choose to take a one-hour horseback ride, two-hour horseback ride, or a horse-drawn wagon into the heart of pleasant valley. You’ll enjoy a steak meal cooked by chefs in the valley as you listen to live country music before you ride back out after dinner during sunset. This activity leads you where no car can go, and gives you a personal view of the Yellowstone wilderness.
Go Boating on Lake Yellowstone
Lake Yellowstone is so big it almost looks like an ocean, and one of the best water activities is to rent a boat and cruise around. You’ll be able to see hot springs rising in the distance, the surrounding mountains that make up the basin, and a beautiful view of the hotel from the water.
Tour the Other Hot Springs near Old Faithful
While Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in Yellowstone, there are hundreds of surrounding hot springs right next to it. You can take a stroll down any of the boardwalks that loop you around other beautiful hot springs, such as the Morning Glory.
Drive Through the Beartooth Mountains
While you can’t have a non-scenic drive in Yellowstone, driving through the Beartooth Mountains is by far my favorite. Wind your way up mountains, with a chance to spot mountain goats and even have snowball fight at the peak in July. As you make your way into the basin that is Yellowstone, you’ll be surrounded by the geological features that shaped the park and a pristine view of why it started the initiative of national parks.
Visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Just as impressive as the other Grand Canyon, you can stop as several different points to have a variety of views of the massive waterfall that shapes the canyon. For hikers, there are several short loops and hikes you can walk at your leisure.
Look for Wolves in Lamar Valley
Wildlife watching is one of the best opportunities that the park provides, and you will have the chance to see bison, bears (black and grizzly), moose, elk, pronghorn, coyotes, and wolves. Wolves are one of the rarest animals to see in the park, but there are areas where they are well known to be spotted. Stake out at dawn or dusk on the side of the road in Lamar Valley, and have a chance to see (and hear) the pack of wolves that has made it their home. Of course, always be respectful of the wildlife and keep a safe distance from all animals (50 yards or more).
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