Yellowstone is bigger than two U.S. states.The vast majority of its territory is situated in Wyoming, but it also creeps into neighboring Montana and Idaho.
Towns & Cities Near Yellowstone National Park
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 68.4 mi / 1 hour 32 mins.
- Jackson, WY. 78.0 mi / 1 hour 46 mins.
- Island Park, ID. 177 mi / 3 hours 41 mins.
- West Yellowstone, MT. 205 mi / 4 hours 10 mins.
- Cody, WY. 315 mi / 5 hours 33 mins.
- Gardiner, MT. 370 mi / 7 hours 8 mins.
- Cooke City-Silver Gate, MT. 426 mi / 8 hours 43 mins.
Even though Yellowstone isn't available for streaming on Netflix, Hulu, or AppleTV+, Paramount Network signed an exclusive deal with NBCUniversal's new streaming service, Peacock. Comcast Xfinity customers can now stream the show on NBC's brand-new streaming service, Peacock Premium, at no extra cost.
My Streets and Trips suggests that it is about an 8 1/2 hour drive. We did that trip last August except travelled from east Glacier area to Yellowstone and yes it was a long day. If you travel along the eastern front of the Rockies you will find beautiful ranch land for miles and miles and miles.
A vacation to Yellowstone National Park for one week usually costs around $622 for one person. So, a trip to Yellowstone National Park for two people costs around $1,243 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs $2,486 in Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone National Park is open 24 hours a day when open (see spring opening, fall closing dates above).
Yellowstone began Phase 1 of its three-phase reopening plan on May 18, 2020. Initially, only the Wyoming entrances (East and South) of the park were open. This national park also has land in Montana and Idaho. The Montana park gates have been open since June 1, 2020, with Montana Governor Bullock's permission.
The North Entrance is open 24/7 365 days a year, but there may be temporary closures due to weather or other conditions. Also of note, you cannot travel east of Cooke City, Montana until late spring when the road east of Cooke City is plowed open for vehicle travel.
Fire danger in the park is low. Fire danger is MODERATE in Yellowstone. Closures affecting park trails and trailheads will be listed on the backcountry situation report. Please call 307-344-7102 for regular recorded updates.
Yellowstone National Park is open after a brief closure due to COVID-19 this past spring. But before you head to the park, know that things may feel a bit different. The park is putting the necessary precautions in place to ensure visitors and staff stay safe, healthy and distanced!
If another large, caldera-forming eruption were to occur at Yellowstone, its effects would be worldwide. Such a giant eruption would have regional effects such as falling ash and short-term (years to decades) changes to global climate.
Where is Yellowstone National Park? The majority of Yellowstone National Park (96 percent) is located within Wyoming. Visitors can access the park from two entrances in Wyoming: the south entrance, located north of Jackson and Grand Teton National Park, and the east entrance near Cody.
13 Must-See Places To Visit In Yellowstone National Park
- Grand Prismatic Spring (GPS) Save.
- Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook At Fairy Falls Trail. Save.
- Old Faithful Geyser. Save.
- Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone (Artist Point) Save.
- Point Sublime Trail. Save.
- Mammoth Hot Springs. Save.
- Great Fountain Geyser.
- Calcite Spring Overlook.
There are several accommodation options and towns to stay near Yellowstone National Park: West Yellowstone has the best location for staying outside the park.
When you visit Yellowstone National Park, follow these insider tips to make the most of your vacation.
- See Old Faithful in the early morning or in the evening.
- Visit Yellowstone Lake in the afternoon.
- Take a hike.
- Look for wildlife at the right times.
- Explore Lamar Valley.
- Stop at the Visitor Centers.
- Look at the stars.
The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from April to May and between September and October. These shoulder months offer mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are the most popular months to visit: The kids are out of school, and the weather is warm enough to sleep outside.
Yellowstone offers very limited opportunities to swim or soak. High-elevation lakes and rivers swollen with snowmelt make for cold water where hypothermia always presents a risk. On the other end of the temperature spectrum, the water in park hot springs often reaches the boiling point.
The first area you can swim in Yellowstone is at Boiling River near Mammoth. There's a section of the Gardiner River where hot springs well up, and by adjusting the rocks you can mix the hot and cold water for a pleasant soak. The only other sanctioned swimming spot within the park is on the Firehole River.
Yellowstone National Park One-Day Lower Loop Sightseeing
- Starting Point: Jackson to Yellowstone Entrance.
- Stop #1: West Thumb Geyser Basin (22 miles from the South Entrance)
- Stop #2: Old Faithful Geyser Basin (17 miles from West Thumb)
- Stop #3: Midway Geyser Basin (8 miles from Old Faithful)
- Stop #4: Firehole Lake Drive.
Old Faithful geyser is the main attraction of Yellowstone! Together with the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Old Faithful is one of the most popular attractions of Yellowstone. However, I suggest that you plan at least 2-3 hours for a visit to this area (see the Upper Geyser Basin section below for more information).
Yellowstone National Park Hotels and Places to Stay
- Old Faithful Inn. View Hotel.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins. View Hotel.
- Lake Lodge Cabins. View Hotel.
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins. View Hotel.
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. View Hotel.
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel And Cottages.
- Roosevelt Lodge Cabins.
- Old Faithful Lodge Cabins.
Anyway, Glacier has the edge for hiking spectacular alpine scenery; Yellowstone, in addition to the unique thermal features has some really nice scenery of its own, and is probably the single best place to view wildlife in North America. You decide. If you can only see one park, see Yellowstone.
The best way to get from West Yellowstone to Glacier National Park without a car is to bus and train which takes 19h and costs $200 - $290.
You can see aurora borealis any time of year in Glacier National Park, of course. But in the spring, the nights are a bit longer and darker, and so it is prime time to catch an incredible light show! The foot of Lake McDonald, near Apgar, is a great spot to watch for northern lights in the spring.
If you must choose between the two national parks, some things you should consider are: Yosemite is only a 3-hour drive from San Fransisco, and is much more accessible than Yellowstone. Yellowstone is vast and serene with more wildlife. Yosemite has more waterfalls and a stunningly rugged landscape.
Yellowstone is known for its geothermal natural wonders, but Grand Teton offers a more peaceful experience. -The park itself isn't huge, it's only 484 square miles (compared to Yellowstone's 3.5 thousand square miles), but the area around it is also worth exploring.
- Old Faithful Inn. 3,224 reviews.
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins. 1,789 reviews.
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins. 1,886 reviews.
- Lake Lodge Cabins. 894 reviews.
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel And Cottages. 1,565 reviews.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins. 2,359 reviews.
- Roosevelt Lodge Cabins. 433 reviews.
- Old Faithful Lodge Cabins. 642 reviews.
