All About Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Idaho, & Montana
Visit America’s first National Park that spans three states in the United States. Yellowstone is a wonder of geothermal areas, forests, and diverse animal life.
What to do at Yellowstone National Park
The Best Trails and Hikes at Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park has over 900 miles of trail all at 7,000 feet in elevation or higher. Many areas will still have some snow or ice into late May or early June, so make sure to prepare for the elevation and colder weather. With such a massive size, the day hikes are broken up by location. These are some of the best and most popular hikes in each area.
Clearwater Springs
Grand Prismatic Spring
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mud Volcano
Norris Geyser Basin
Trout Lake
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Mammoth Area
- Beaver Ponds Trail
- Bunsen Peak Trail
- Forces of the Northern Range
- Lava Creek Trail
- Mammoth Hot Springs Trail
- Osprey Falls Trail
- Wraith Falls Trail
Old Faithful Geyser Area
- Fairy Falls Trail
- Howard Eaton Trail
- Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail
- Mallard Lake Trail
- Mystic Falls Trail
- Observation Point Trail
Lake and Fishing Bridge Area
- Avalanche Peak Trail
- Mud Volcano Trail
- Natural Bridge Trail
- Storm Point Trail
- Pelican Creek Nature Trail
Canyon Area
- Cascade Lake Trail
- Grebe Lake Trail
- Ribbon Lake Trail
- Seven Mile Hole Trail
Tower and Northeast Area
- Lost Lake Trail
- Slough Creek Trail
- Trout Lake Trail
- Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Grant and West Thumb Area
- Duck Lake Trail
- DeLacy Creek Trail
- West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail
- Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Norris Area
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Artists’ Paintpots
- Clearwater Springs
Madison Area
- Harlequin Lake Trail
- Purple Mountain Trail
Things to do at Yellowstone National Park
- Visit in the winter months to ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, or do some winter camping in the backcountry
- Explore the many geothermal features and basins throughout the park
- Go for a bike tour through the park or on a horseback ride
- Visit Lamar Valley for the best wildlife viewing, just make sure to keep a safe distance
- Become a Junior Ranger or attend a park ranger program
- Swim in one of the few open swimming holes
- Catch a fish or go for a boat ride
- Stop by the Old Faithful Inn
- Take one of the numerous scenic drives in Yellowstone National Park
What to see at Yellowstone National Park
Points of Interest
Yellowstone Visitor Centers
Five visitor centers are located within the many acres of public land at Big Bend National Park. You can try to make it to all of them for a Passport Book stamp, but it will take a lot of driving time.
Grant Visitor Center
The Grant Visitor Center focuses on education about wildfires and how they are an important, natural occurrence in the ecosystems in Yellowstone National Park. At this visitor center, you can purchase a fishing, boating, or backcountry permit. There’s a Passport Book stamp available here as well as rangers to speak to about the park.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Canyon Visitor Education Center
Learn about the park’s geology and the Yellowstone volcano at the Canyon Visitor Center. Speak to a park ranger, pick up a souvenir, get a Junior Ranger book, add a stamp to your Passport Book, and join a ranger program. The restrooms here are available 24/7.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum
While the Fishing Bridge was built with stone and logs, the Madison Information Station was built with a different “parkitecture” to make it reflect the surrounding ecosystem. In this center, you’ll find knowledgeable park rangers, a gift shop, a Passport Book stamp, and fishing permits for sale.
Passport Book Stamp Location
West Thumb Information Station
West Thumb is an example of historic ranger station architecture that was built in 1925. This is located at the start of the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalks and houses a souvenir shop, park ranger information station, and a Passport Book stamp.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Museum of the National Park Ranger
The Museum of the National Park Ranger was built in 1908 as a US Army outpost. As the name suggests, this building has exhibits that celebrate the park ranger profession and its history. The staff are all retired park rangers who volunteer their time to educate future rangers.
Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station
This was originally built in 1930 as a “trailside museum” for those traveling through to get information about the park. It is still a great place to stop and learn about Yellowstone from the park rangers, get information, put another stamp in your Passport Book, and use the restrooms in the parking lot.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Albright Visitor Center
The Albright Visitor Center is near the North Entrance of the park. This is a great place to speak with a park ranger as you enter the park to get information about trail and road status, learn more about the park and explore the exhibits, visit the park bookstore and gift shop, join a ranger program, get a fishing permit, and get a Passport Book stamp. This visitor center also offers free wi-fi, a water bottle-filling station, and restrooms.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum
The architecture of the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center, a building made from stone and logs, was one of several prototypes for park buildings around the country. Learn about the ecology of the park with a focus on the birds at this building. You can purchase a fishing permit from this location as well as speak to the rangers, get a Junior Ranger book and a Passport Book stamp, and join a ranger program.
Passport Book Stamp Location
Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
One of the most popular visitor centers in Yellowstone National Park is the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. People come from around the world to watch Old Faithful erupt every day. The tall windows in the building allow for viewing of the geyser, and you can view the natural wonders of Yellowstone in the many exhibits here. Park rangers are available with information for those seeking trail or road status or who want to join a ranger program. Visit the park store for gifts and souvenirs as well as a Passport Book stamp.
Passport Book Stamp Location
West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center
The only visitor center outside of the park’s boundaries is the West Yellowstone building in West Yellowstone, Montana. It is staffed by National Park Service rangers only in the winter and summer for backcountry permits. There’s a second desk that’s staffed year-round by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce.
Passport Book Stamp Location
National Park Passport Book Stamp Locations
- Albright Visitor Center
- Canyon Visitor Education Center
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum
- Grant Visitor Center
- Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
- West Thumb Information Station
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center
Yellowstone National Park Basics
2 Officers Row, Yellowstone National Park Headquarters,
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
$35 per vehicle
Valid for 7 days
Mountain Time Zone
1872
Location, Phone Number, and Address
Yellowstone, as the second largest park in the contiguous United States, actually spans 3 different states. A majority of the park is in the northwest corner of Wyoming. About 3% of the park is in southwest Montana and 1% is in eastern Idaho.
The park headquarters is in the Mammoth Hot Springs area in the northwest corner of the park. The address there is 2 Officers Row, Yellowstone National Park Headquarters, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. You can reach the park by phone at 307-344-7381.
What are the Entrance Fees for Yellowstone?
Yellowstone National Park charges an entrance fee, like most parks, based on the size of the vehicle entering the park. A standard pass will cover you for up to 7 days from the date of purchase.
- Private Vehicle: $35 per vehicle
- Motorcycle or Snowmobile: $30 per vehicle
- Bicycle or Walking: $20 per person
An annual pass for the park runs at $70 per year or an interagency annual pass is $80.
Note: If you are going to Yellowstone National Park via the South Entrance, you will be first driving through Grand Teton National Park. Each park has its own entrance fee, so if you know you will be going through this way, the America the Beautiful interagency pass will likely be worth the cost.
Current as of July 2024
What Time Zone is Yellowstone National Park in?
Yellowstone National Park is located in the Mountain Time Zone in the United States.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
Even though the summer months are peak season for Yellowstone National Park, the park is open year-round and has activities for visitors no matter what time of year you want to visit. There is typically more to do in the summer months after the snow has melted because so many of the roads and trails are closed in the winter.
When did Yellowstone become a National Park?
Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first national park and the oldest in North America. It was established on March 1, 1872. Some say that Hot Springs is older, but that was a national reserve area at the time and wasn’t a national park until 1921.
How Big is Yellowstone National Park?
Before Death Valley became a national park in 1994, Yellowstone National Park was the largest park in the Lower 48 at 2,221,766 acres or 3,472 square miles. The park is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined!
Park Website
Always check the official park site for the most up-to-date information, hours, prices, and conditions.
Travel Tips for Yellowstone National Park
Driving Through Yellowstone National Park
There are miles and miles of roadways through Yellowstone National Park, and everywhere you look, the scenery changes as you drive through. Some of the roads, though, are either off of the Grand Loop or go to other areas of the park that may be less visited.
North Entrance Station to Northeast Entrance Station
Driving from the North Entrance Station in Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance Station in Cooke City, Montana, is one of many scenic trips in Yellowstone National Park. This is also the only road in Yellowstone that is open year-round to private cars and RVs. It’s plowed in the winter months but can be impassable at other times of the year with heavy snowfall. While on this drive, you’ll be able to see Undine Fall, the Petrified Tree, take the detour on Blacktail Plateau Drive, and into Lamar Valley with views of Soda Butte Creek and the Absaroka Mountains.
East Entrance
The road from the East Entrance to Fishing Bridge has many pull-offs and views along the way. As you climb to Sylvan Pass, look for a small parking lot with an overlook to scan the hillsides for bighorn sheep and the waterfalls in the area. As you continue, you’ll pass Sulvan Lake, Eleanor Lake, Lake Butte Road to Lake Butte Overlook, Yellowstone Lake, Steamboat Point, a few fumaroles, and Mary Bay.
West Entrance
West Entrance Road, when driven to Madison Junction, parallels the Madison River and is a great place to see wild animals, especially in the evening. You can often see herds of elk and bison here along with eagles in the trees and smaller mammals hunting by the river.
South Entrance
From the South Entrance to Grant Village and West Thumb, you’ll pass by Lewis River, Lewis Falls, and Lewis Lake.
Upper Grand Loop
The Upper Grand Loop roadway connects Mammoth Hot Springs with Norris Geyser Basin, Canyon Village, and Tower-Roosevelt. Along this route, you can see hoodoos, Terrace Mountain, Golden Gate, Swan Lake Flat, Obsidian Cliff, Roaring Mountain, Twin Lakes, and the Norris Geyser Basin.
Climb to Dunravan Pass while on Upper Grand Loop Road from Canyon Village to Tower Junction. Along the route, you’ll see the lookout for Mt. Washburn, Tower Fall, Calcite Springs, and Tower Junction.
Lower Grand Loop
The Lower Grand Loop Road takes visitors to Madison, Norris, Canyon Village, West Thumb, and Old Faithful. Through this route, you’ll also see the Norris Geyser Basin, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Old Faithful, Gibbon Meadoes, Beryl Spring, and the Artists Paintpots. You will also cross the Continental Divide at two different places while on this drive, as well as see Isa Lake, Craig Pass, and the Upper Geyser Basin. Make sure to also stop at the overlook for Lower Falls and Upper Falls.
The eastern portion of Lower Grand Loop Road, from Fishing Bridge to West Thumb, passes through Hayden Valley and the Yellowstone River. Visitors will also see Mud Volcano, Sulphur Cauldron, LeHardy’s Rapids, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Bridge Bay, Gull Point Drive to the Gull Point Picnic Area, and down to the West Thumb Geyser Basin.
Geyser Basin Tour
Driving the Geyser Basin Tour departs south from the Lower Grand Loop Road through Lower Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pot, Firehole Lake, Great Fountain Geyser, Midway Geyser Basin, Upper Geyser Basin, Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and the Old Faithful complex.
Firehole Canyon Drive
For a short deviation from the main roads, take Firehole Canyon Drive. This is a steep and narrow one-way road that goes to a scenic overlook of the Firehole Falls and 800-foot thick lava flows.
Firehole Lake Drive
Firehole Lake Drive is a one-way short drive just north of Old Faithful. The drive passes by eight thermal features including White Dome Geyser, Great Fountain Geyser, and Firehole Lake.
Fountain Flat Drive
Another short drive is Fountain Flat Drive on the west side of the Grand Loop Road. This drive has the Nez Perce Picnic Area and is a great place to watch wildlife, especially the elk and bison. During the spring, the road is usually closed due to grizzly bears in the area.
Where are the National Park Entrances?
There are 5 entrance stations in Yellowstone National Park, but several close to regular vehicles in the winter, so make sure to check the road status when planning your trip.
North Entrance
The North Entrance is from Highway 89 through Gardiner, Montana, which leads into the Mammoth Hot Springs area. This entrance is open year-round.
Northeast Entrance
The Northeast Entrance is through Cooke City on Highway 212. Visitors drive through Lamar Valley as they enter the park. Both of the northern entrances are open year-round.
East Entrance
Coming through the East Entrance brings you to Yellowstone Lake on Highway 20.
South Entrance
The South Entrance leads up the John D. Rockeleffer, Jr. Memorial Parkway via Grand Teton National Park. This road leads to the southern end of the Lower Grand Loop near West Thumb.
West Entrance
The West Entrance is near West Yellowstone via Highway 20 and it brings visitors to the main geyser area.
What is the Nearest Airport to Yellowstone?
Due to the size of Yellowstone National Park, there are many options for an airport, depending on where you plan to stay in or around the park.
- Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) in Cody, WY
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson Hole, WY
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Bozeman, MT
- Billings-Logan International Airport (BIL) in Billings, MT
- Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) in Idaho Falls, ID
- Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in West Yellowstone, MT (only open seasonally)
What is the Nearest City to Yellowstone?
With the size of Yellowstone National Park, the nearest city is relative to which entrance of the park you plan to use. Some cities to consider outside of the park include:
- Gardiner, MT
- Cooke City, MT
- Cody, WY
- Dubois, WY
- Driggs, ID
- Victor, ID
- West Yellowstone, ID
Itineraries including Yellowstone National Park
Lodging Near Yellowstone National Park
Where to Stay
Yellowstone National Park offers nine lodging options inside the park with a variety of cabins, lodges, and inns. The largest of these is Canyon Lodge and Cabins with over 400 guest rooms.
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins
- Grant Village Lodge
- Lake Hotel and Cabins
- Lake Lodge Cabins
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins
- Old Faithful Inn
- Old Faithful Lodge
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge
- Roosevelt Lodge
In addition to the in-park lodging, there are plenty of options for hotels and rental homes in the many cities just outside the park boundaries.
Campgrounds in the Area
There are 12 campgrounds available for frontcountry reservations within the park. Some are booked through Yellowstone National Park Lodges and the others are made through Recreation.gov.
- Bridge Bay Campground
- Canyon Campground
- Fishing Bridge RV Park
- Grant Village Campground
- Madison Campground
- Indian Creek Campground
- Lewis Lake Campground
- Mammoth Campground
- Norris Campground
- Pebble Creek Campground
- Slough Creek Campground
- Tower Fall Campground
What are the Closest National Parks to Yellowstone National Park?
Facts about Yellowstone National Park
The Plants and Animals of Yellowstone
There are over 69,000 species of plants in Yellowstone National Park. About 80% of the forested areas are Lodgepole Pine Trees. The park also has dozens of flowering plants that mostly bloom between May and September, including the rare Yellowstone sand verbena that is found only in Yellowstone. Some bacteria grow in the hot waters and survive on the sulfur.
Yellowstone Park has some of the most diverse wildlife in the Lower 48. The Yellowstone Park bison herd is the largest public herd of American bison in the country. Other animals include coyotes, lynx, cougars, black bears, grizzly bears, moose, elk, white-tailed deer, mountain goats, pronghorn, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, lake trout, painted turtle, rubber boa, prairie rattlesnake, sagebrush lizard, garter snakes, boreal chorus frogs, tiger salamanders, bald eagles, harlequin ducks, osprey, and peregrine falcons.
What is the Highest Point? What is the Lowest Point?
The highest peak in Yellowstone National Park is Eagle Peak in the southeastern part of the park, sitting at 11,358 feet above sea level.
Reese Creek is the lowest point in the park at 5,282 feet above sea level.
Yellowstone Fun Facts
- Almost half of the world's geysers are located in Yellowstone National Park.
- Yellowstone is one of the top 5 visited parks in the country.
- There are about 750 people who work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone during peak season with about 300 of them as permanent, year-round employees.