Yellowstone National Park, WY: A Short Travel Guide

Yellowstone National Park is a huge area. It spans almost 3,500 miles or 5,600 km across the state of Wyoming, and extends into parts of both Montana and Idaho. Established in 1872, it’s America’s first national park and to this day it also remains one of the largest and most popular ones in the country. In fact, Yellowstone sits on top of a dormant volcano and is home to more hydrothermal features than anywhere else on earth. On top of that, the park is home to diverse landscapes and activities. From lush valleys with an abundance of wildlife, to spectacular canyons and waterfalls you can hike to, deep lakes, and rivers for fishing. In this travel guide, we share 10 of the best things to do in Yellowstone as well as great places to stay and camp, and travel tips.

Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

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Check out our video about Yellowstone National Park to see the best things to do through our camera!

Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park

• Watch The Famous Old Faithful (Go to go.nps.gov/geysertimes or @GeyserNPS Twitter Feed to check eruption times)

• Drive through Hayden Valley

• Visit Grand Prismatic Spring

• Hike To Grand Prismatic Overlook + The Fairy Falls

• Admire The Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone (Highlights: Grand View, Canyon Lookout Point, Upper Falls View, Artist Point)

• Chase Other Waterfalls (Lewis Falls, Undine Falls, Gibbon Falls, Tower Falls)

• Walk Around Norris Geyser Basin

• Visit Mammoth Hot Springs

• Explore Lesser-Known Geyser Basins (West Thumb Geyser Basin, Black Sand Basin, Lower Geyser Basin, Biscuit Basin)

• Spot Wildlife At Lamar Valley

Download our Google Map with all the places to go, eat, drink, and stay here.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Places To Stay In & Around Yellowstone

• Hotel in West Yellowstone - Crosswinds Inn: is located just a few minutes from the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. This budget hotel offers comfortable rooms, equipped with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, coffee makers, mini-fridges, Wi-Fi access, and private bathrooms.

• Hotel in Jackson - Flat Creek Inn: is situated in Jackson, Wyoming, providing easy access to the natural beauty of both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and equipped with basic amenities like TVs, coffee makers, and private bathrooms.

• Book a campground inside the park: our recommended campgrounds include Canyon, Bridge Bay, and Tower Fall

Mammoth Hot Springs

Travel Tips for Yellowstone National Park

1. Check the National Park Website for closures or road works:

There are 5 entrances to the park (West, North, Northeast, East, South) and we recommend checking the national park website for any closures or road works. The West Entrance is the most popular one near the town of West Yellowstone. This is a great town to spend a night before or after your trip in the park. You can also find a Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center here, which is worth visiting if you didn’t get to see any wolves and bears in the park, or if you want to learn more about these special animals.

2. Stay at least 3 days and combine staying in different places

The park is immense so you should try to stay at least 3 days there if possible. There are lodges and campgrounds scattered around the park and we recommend combining a few different places. For example, spend a night or two at Canyon Village, which is more central, and combine it with a stay at Tower-Roosevelt or Mammoth Hot Springs in the north.

3. Don’t expect any WiFi or mobile reception in the park if you are camping

Some of the lodges have WiFi if you stay there, but none of the shops or campground headquarters had reception when we visited. So make sure to notify your family and friends before you enter. We learned this the hard way and our family got pretty worried!

4. The weather is very unpredictable in this area so be prepared for all seasons:

Bring enough warm clothing as well as a rain jacket. If you’re camping, bring a waterproof tent and some extra warm sleeping bags. We honestly would have preferred to stay in a campervan or RV as you’re more protected from the elements.

Book a campervan

5. Bring binoculars or a good camera with zoom lens for wildlife watching

Also, carry bear spray and a mosquito repellent… you’ll thank us later!

Map Yellowstone National Park

Find all the places to go and stay in and around Yellowstone National Park on Google Maps. To follow and save the list, do the following:

1. Tap on the link to open it (click button below)

2. Tap Follow. This list will now be added to the group of lists you follow.

3. Optional: To unfollow a list someone shared with you, tap the list Saved.

If you follow the list we made, all our saved places of Yellowstone National Park will show up in Your Places. The places will also appear as suggested locations in Google Maps.

Save Google Maps Places

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Use These Websites To Save Money On Your Trip To Yellowstone National Park

• Booking.com for places to stay

• Skyscanner for cheap flights

• GetYourGuide for local tours

• Rentalcars.com for affordable car rentals

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Are you having a hard time planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park? Get our Interactive Travel Planner to keep it all organized.

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Need more travel inspiration? Check out our other destinations and articles about Belgium:

• Grand Teton National Park: a Short Travel Guide

• 5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Leavenworth

• 15 Things To Do In & Around Las Vegas, NV