Yellowstone Tips - What You Need To Know Before You Go!

If Yellowstone National Park is on your bucket list, you’re not alone. This is the crown jewel of the national park system, famous around the world for its geysers, abundant wildlife, and stunning landscapes. But what a lot of first-time visitors don’t realize is that Yellowstone is also one of the most complicated parks to plan for. It’s a massive park, seasonal, and wildly popular.

With these Yellowstone tips, we’re diving into five essential tips to help you plan a successful trip. From lodging reservations to bison traffic jams, here’s everything you need to know before you go!

Podcast Episode Overview

Alright, Yellowstone fans! We’re diving deep into the park we all know and love (almost as much as Ash loves scoring Savannah Bananas tickets!)

Today, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty information you’ll want to know before you go. Forget the fluffy stuff; we’re talking real-deal tips and sticky situations to avoid so you can make sure your trip is epic and not a total bison-traffic jam disaster.

Get ready for the inside scoop on how to actually ENJOY Yellowstone, even when it’s bursting with visitors, by learning:

The shocking reality of Yellowstone’s size and why your “quick drive” is probably a multi-hour adventure
Why booking your lodging 13 months in advance is the golden ticket to staying in the park (and how to snag those glorious cancellations!)
How to ditch the crowds and experience Yellowstone’s magic without feeling like you’re at a crowded rock concert
Why timing is everything in Yellowstone, and how to avoid the “mushy” in-between seasons
An important reminder about the wildlife in this park

We hope you’re ready to tackle Yellowstone like a pro! If you want some additional help planning your trip to this incredible national park, check out our Yellowstone National Park itinerary!

Your task for today: We know our community is a wealth of knowledge, so if you have any tips or advice for visiting Yellowstone that we didn’t discuss today, please share! Head over to our Facebook or Instagram pages at Dirt In My Shoes and share your wisdom with us!

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

Listen here.

1. Yellowstone is huge, and that matters more than you think

Let’s start with the basics. Yellowstone is enormous. At 2.2 million acres, it’s one of the largest national parks in the United States. For comparison, it’s over 3,400 square miles, which makes it bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

This sheer size means it takes a long time to get from one place to another. Even short-looking drives can eat up a lot of your day. Going from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful is about 30 miles, but plan on it taking a full hour. And that’s without wildlife sightings, construction, or congestion near geyser basins.

If you try to see the whole park from the wrong base camp, you’ll end up spending more time driving than exploring. This is one of the most common mistakes people make, especially if they visit both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Staying somewhere in the middle of Yellowstone can help, or you might break your stay into two parts. Spend some time near the south entrance and some near the north entrance.

West Yellowstone works well, too, thanks to its proximity to the west entrance. But don’t plan your whole Yellowstone vacation from towns like Cody, charming as they are. It’s a long haul from there to places like Canyon Village or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

If the logistics feel tricky, we offer a detailed Yellowstone itinerary that helps take out the guesswork and makes your days flow more smoothly. If you’re planning to head to Grand Teton, you’ll want that itinerary, too!

2. Book your lodging 13 months in advance

Yes, 13 months! That’s how far out you need to plan if you want to snag one of the coveted spots at Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Lodging and campgrounds run by the park concessionaire open up on a rolling basis. They open 13 months ahead of your planned stay, at midnight on the 5th of each month.

For example, if you want to go in July next year, be ready to book on the 5th of this July this year. It fills up fast! The National Park Service manages some other campgrounds, and those open about six months out, sometimes holding back a few sites for release two weeks ahead of time.

If you miss your chance, there’s still hope. Cancellations happen all the time. Book something outside the park with a good cancellation policy, such as Baker’s Hole near West Yellowstone, and keep checking for openings. You might get lucky and find a room at places like Lake Yellowstone Hotel or Old Faithful Inn. Snagging a last-minute cancellation is one of the best ways to stay inside the park.

Planning a trip to Yellowstone can be overwhelming.

How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?

You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.

If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Yellowstone Itinerary.

You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!

3. Crowds are manageable if you come with a plan

There’s no entrance reservation system at Yellowstone. That’s rare for a park that is this popular! It also means you need a good plan, especially during the high season. If your visit feels wall-to-wall crowded, there’s a good chance you’re just doing it the hard way.

Yellowstone has more than 2 million acres and hundreds of miles of trails. If you’re standing elbow-to-elbow in a parking lot, chances are you haven’t wandered far enough. Just walking a half mile down a trail in places like Norris Geyser Basin, Upper Geyser Basin, or West Thumb Geyser Basin can get you away from the crowds. The early morning hours offer the best chance at peace and quiet.

Because Yellowstone draws people from across North America and the world, many visitors are new to national parks. That’s part of what makes this place so special, but it also means basic etiquette sometimes gets overlooked. Crowding around geothermal features, ignoring speed limits, and causing traffic jams while watching wildlife are common. Planning helps you avoid the worst of it!

4. Yellowstone is extremely seasonal

This park has two distinct seasons: summer and winter. Summer is when most people come, and for good reason. It’s the best time for hiking, road access, and spotting animals like bighorn sheep, bears, or elk. The summer months are also when all the main roads are open.

Winter in Yellowstone is magical in a completely different way. Snow blankets the park, and select visitor centers, like the one at Mammoth, stay open. You can visit Old Faithful Snow Lodge or take a snow coach ride through the frozen landscape. Wildlife like wolves is easier to spot, and many of the park’s most popular places are far less crowded.

The worst time to go is during the shoulder seasons in April and November. These in-between times often mean road closures and minimal access. Lodging options are limited, visitor centers close, and storms can come through suddenly.

Always check the latest updates from the park rangers, and be aware that snow can hit as early as September. It’s smart to give yourself some extra time and flexibility.

5. The wildlife in Yellowstone is wild

There’s a reason this is the best place for wildlife viewing in the country. Yellowstone is full of animals, from elk to grizzly bears, and they’re often right near the road. But this isn’t a zoo. These are wild animals, so you need to treat them accordingly.

Every summer, there are stories about people who got too close, taking selfies with bison, trying to feed them, even attempting to pet them. That never ends well. Keep a safe distance: 25 yards from most animals, 100 yards from bears and wolves. If you get closer than that, you’re risking your safety and theirs.

If you’re exploring bear country, bring bear spray and know how to use it. Stay on marked trails and don’t approach wildlife. Even animals that seem calm can become aggressive, especially during the rut or when they feel threatened.

It’s amazing to see a wolf in the Lamar Valley or a herd of bison crossing the Yellowstone River. But keep it safe and respectful so you don’t become the next headline. If you want more inspiration to be safe in the national parks, check out our podcast episode on stupid national park behavior.

If you’re excited about seeing as much wildlife as possible on your trip, listen to our podcast episode on the best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.

Want more Yellowstone tips?

This was just the start! Grab one of our full itineraries to help you pick the best places to visit and avoid the crowds. You’ll get suggestions on where to go, what to see, and how to make the most of your time.

Already been to Yellowstone? Share your favorite tips on Instagram or Facebook. Whether it’s a trail near Canyon Village or a peaceful picnic spot off the Grand Loop Road, your experience could help someone else!

Pack your camera, bring your sense of adventure, and get some Yellowstone dirt in your shoes!

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

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Yellowstone Tips – What You Need To Know Before You Go!