Yellowstone 101
Travel Tips for America's First National ParkGateway Communities & Entrances: 5
Miles of road: 466
Miles of boardwalks: 15
Miles of backcountry trails: ~1000
Visitors: 4+ million per year
With so much to see and do in Yellowstone and the surrounding areas, how do you navigate it all and make your vacation the best visit to America’s west?
This section of the website is here to help you. With an insider’s view of the park and gateway communities, you’ll find tips and trip reports ranging from activities to lodging and dining recommendations as well as information on how to get the best out of your vacation while protecting this amazing location.
Recent Blog Posts
When does Yellowstone open and close in 2024?
With the summer season quickly approaching in Yellowstone, it’s time to gather all those dates of when Yellowstone is open or closed for 2024. While technically Yellowstone is open year-round, you can’t always get to Old Faithful or other interior locations. Mammoth...
Grub Steak Expeditions/Tour Yellowstone
You may have noticed that I've started to add in a few select sponsors for this site. Today I'd like to introduce you to Tour Yellowstone. I've worked for them for the past four years in various capacities and highly recommend them. History Grub Steak Expeditions/Tour...
Cody Wyoming as a base camp for a Yellowstone Vacation
What's it like to head to Yellowstone using Cody as your base camp? In this post, I'll share some ways to organize your time to see Yellowstone. [Updated April 7, 2024] Why Cody? Cody, Wyoming is an excellent place to launch your western vacation. The East...
What’s August Like in Yellowstone?
What is it like during August in Yellowstone? When is the best time to see Yellowstone? These questions regularly arise when people plan their vacation to Yellowstone. This post is part of a series that covers what it’s like in the park during different months. Today,...
Life in Grizzly Country: Hiking
Living here in grizzly country, having bear spray is a given. Understanding how to use it is something most everyone here knows. In this post, I want to share with you some tips and many links to help get you ready to visit the greater Yellowstone area and take some...
What’s July like in Yellowstone?
What is it like during July in Yellowstone? When is the best time to see Yellowstone? These questions regularly arise when people plan their vacation to Yellowstone. This post is the part of a series that covers what it’s like in the park during different months....
Top Travel Tips for Yellowstone
1. Give yourself a time buffer
Everything takes longer than you’ll expect. From traveling at a slower pace to wildlife jams to wanting to see it all, you’ll need more time.
2. Know one trip may not be enough
To really “see Yellowstone” you might need multiple trips. For your first trip, just hit the highlights. Then later on, visit again to dive in a bit deeper.
3. Each Gateway Community can be a trip unto itself
Five different entrances each have five uniquely different communities. Each has much to offer. Consider spending a few extra days to explore the areas just outside of Yellowstone as well.
4. Hire a Tour Guide
Consider starting your trip with a guided tour to give you an overview of the park and the gateway community the tour originates from (or within the park itself). Then spend the rest of your trip revisiting what you want to explore further.
5. Get in Shape
Vacations in general require quite a bit of walking. Yellowstone vacations are no exception. The amount of walking you can handle each day will have a direct impact on how much you can see and experience in the greater Yellowstone area.
