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Yellowstone National Park

World's first national park, geysers and wildlife

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park Plan a trip around United States

Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Currency: USD
Time zone: UTC-6
Country: United States

Photo: Jim Peaco, National Park Service, Public domain

Yellowstone is the world's first national park, a vast volcanic landscape in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho with more than half of the planet's geysers and hot springs. Visitors come for Old Faithful, colourful thermal basins, canyons and waterfalls, and the best chance in the lower 48 states to see bison, elk, bears and wolves.

Largest cities

New York
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Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Population of United States: 340M
Country area: 9,833,520 km²
Official language: English
Currency: US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
Time zone: UTC-6
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	-6°	-5°	0°	4°	10°	17°	23°	21°	17°	9°	0°	-3°
Low	-15°	-14°	-11°	-9°	-3°	2°	7°	8°	4°	-2°	-9°	-11°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$100
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$215
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$495

Plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park

Top things to do

Free
Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Watch the famous geyser erupt roughly every 90 minutes and walk the boardwalk past dozens of other geysers and hot springs; check the predicted eruption time at the visitor centre first.
- Half day
- Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
- Good for kids
Free
Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin
See the largest hot spring in the park with its rainbow bacterial rings from the boardwalk, or climb the short overlook trail for the full view; parking fills by mid-morning in summer.
- Half day
- Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
- Good for kids
Free
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
Walk the travertine terraces of steaming white and orange rock just above park headquarters, where elk often graze on the lawns; the lower terraces are the easiest to reach.
- Half day
- Mammoth Hot Springs and North Entrance
- Good for kids
Free
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
View the 94 m Lower Falls from Artist Point and walk the rim trails along the yellow-walled canyon; go early or late for the best light and smaller crowds.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Good for kids
Free
Yellowstone Lake and Fishing Bridge
Stroll the shore of one of North America's largest high-elevation lakes and watch for bison and waterbirds at sunset; the water stays cold all year, so swimming is not an option.
- Half day
- Yellowstone Lake and Lake Village
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Lamar Valley Wildlife Watching
Scan the open valley at dawn or dusk for wolves, bison, pronghorn and bears, often with other visitors' scopes to share; bring binoculars and keep your distance.
- Half day
- Lamar Valley and Northeast Entrance
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Hayden Valley Bison Herds
Drive or pull over along the Yellowstone River through Hayden Valley, where large bison herds and sometimes bears are visible from the road in the evening; expect traffic jams caused by animals.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Beartooth Highway Day Trip
Drive US Route 212 from the Northeast Entrance over the Beartooth Pass for alpine lakes and switchbacks above the treeline; the road past Cooke City is closed in winter from mid-October to late May.
- Full day
- Lamar Valley and Northeast Entrance

Before you go

Entry and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), the largest airport in Wyoming, about an hour's drive from the South Entrance, or into Bozeman (BZN), Cody (COD), Idaho Falls (IDA) or seasonal West Yellowstone (WYS). From any of these gateway towns it is a 1 to 2 hour drive to the nearest park entrance, and a rental car is the practical way in.

Getting around

There is no public transport inside the park, so a car is needed to cover the Grand Loop Road between the thermal basins, canyon and lake, with short walks at each stop.

Local tips

Keep at least 25 yards (23 m) from bison and elk and 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves; they are wild and fast.
Stay on boardwalks and marked trails in thermal areas; the ground is thin and scalding water is just below.
Weather changes fast at 2,000+ m altitude: bring layers, rain gear and a warm jacket even in July, and expect snow any month.
Most park roads and entrances close in winter (November to April/May); check road status before driving and carry cash or card for the entrance fee.