Heres everything you better know before planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park.
So whats all the fuss about?
You could spend years here and still find something new to be awestruck by.
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Unfortunately, many people who visit barely scratch the surface.
I recommend people get out of their vehicles and walk around, go for a walk.
So many people will just drive around and around.
Daniel Ribar/Travel + Leisure
We dont want you to miss the good ones.
Enter: this guide to Yellowstone National Park.
There are separate entrance fees for each park, ranging from $20.00 to $35.00.
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That said, you’ll need to book accommodations and campsites well in advance Yellowstone gets packed fast.
The closest ones will be West Yellowstone and Gardener.
Those are just outside the park entrances.
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Some people will drive in from Jackson or Cody, but those are farther away, Veress said.
Once youre in the park, plan your time wisely.
it’s possible for you to spend a big week out there.
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Most people spend about three days or so, Hunter said.
The upper loop has more wildlife and fewer thermal features, and the lower area has many thermal features.
How to Get There
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Yellowstone has five entrances.
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Youll need a car if youre not on a guided tour.
Consider flying intoBozeman, Montana, or Jackson, Wyoming.
it’s possible for you to also fly into Salt Lake City or Idaho Falls.
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Car rentals are typically cheaper from Idaho Falls or Bozeman than from Jackson.
Most of the parks roads are open during this time, allowing easy access to popular attractions.
To avoid crowds, consider visiting in May or June before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.
These times offer a more peaceful experience with fewer visitors and better rates.
The park is quieter in the colder months, but has limited access.
Access to the parks interior is restricted to these guided tours.
you’ve got the option to stay at the snow lodge at Old Faithful and take ski trips.
Its a different way to see the park, Veress said.
Best Things to Do in the Park
Visit Lower Geyser Basin.
The Fountain Paint Pot Trail is an easy half-mile trail.
See Grand Prismatic Spring.
Grand Prismatic Spring is an iconic sight in Yellowstone.
Ride a snowmobile or snowcoach.
If you visitYellowstone in the winter, you have some exceptionally neat options to explore the park.
If you dont like being cold, you’re free to take the snow coach.
And make your reservations a long time ahead, advised Hunter.
Excursions sell out quickly.
Take a vintage car tour.
Hunter highlighted the unique experience oftouring Yellowstone in vintage vehicleswith retractable canvas roofs and panoramic windows.
These historic yellow buses were initially introduced in the 1920s.
Today, eight vintage White Motor Co. buses can show you the park in style.
Go for a ride.
We have commercially guided outfitters that do either day or overnighthorseback ridesin the park, Verress said.
For a truly memorable trip with another kind of ungulate, look into llama treks.
See Lower Yellowstone Falls.
Lower Yellowstone Falls is a highlight for everybody, he said.
Storm Point Nature Trailtakes you to a beautiful lake lookout (and a colony of yellow-bellied marmots).
A good place to see black bears is in the vicinity of Tower Junction, Hunter said.
There is a five-mile radius right around Tower Junction.
Come September, during the rut when male elk battle for dominance early mornings come alive with elk bugling.
Mammoth, Hayden Valley, and Madison Valley are great spots to see the show.
He elaborates: Thats a cool place to stay.
confirm that you get one of the rooms with the bathroom.
The older rooms dont have ensuite bathrooms; you must go down the hall.
But theyre still an incredible look at how things were in the early 1900s.
Lake Hotel and Cabins
Lake Hotel, constructed in 1895, is another charming historic venue.
Its architecture resembles the colonial style commonly found on the East Coast during that era.
Camping
Getting out into nature is what its all about, right?
Of course, you cant beat a packed lunch picnic.
