How Crowded Is Yellowstone?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The second-most visited national park in the country has always drawn a crowd, but Yellowstone National Park recently set new records with its busiest summer on record, including the most recreational visitors ever at the park in one month—over one million in July—and

more than 920,000 recreational visits in August

.

What are the crowds like in Yellowstone?

Crowds at Yellowstone

during the year


Many of the hiking trails are still snowed in

. Visitation increases when the weather warms up. July and August are the busiest months, great for hiking and camping, though animals may be hard to find on hot days.

Is Yellowstone always crowded?

Yellowstone National Park

(The park was closed for much of May last year.) At Midway Geyser Basin, above, the last of the evening’s visitors walk on a crowded boardwalk next to the Grand Prismatic Spring.

June, July and August are typically the busiest months at Yellowstone

.

How do you avoid crowds in Yellowstone?

The best way to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone is to

get out early

. With most visitors having breakfast in their hotel, the roads are pretty quiet from dawn until 9:30 am. Wildlife is far more active at dawn than at midday as wildlife tend to take advantage of the cool temperatures.

Is 3 days enough for Yellowstone?

Yellowstone National Park is HUGE and there is so much to see and do. It’s best to have at least 4 days in Yellowstone, but

if you are short on time (like I was) you can still see a lot of the highlights in 2-3 days

. Keep reading to plan your trip with my 3-day Yellowstone itinerary!

When should you not visit Yellowstone?

Unless you’re planning on skiing, winter may be one of the most uncomfortable times to visit Yellowstone,

when the highs rarely exceed 20 degrees Fahrenheit

.

Is Yellowstone less crowded this year?

9 Jun 2021

Yellowstone National Park can get very crowded during peak season (June, July, and August).

The best months to visit Yellowstone are April, September, and October

. These “off season” months provide more chances to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife and enjoy thinner crowds.

Is Yellowstone based on a true story?


No, Yellowstone is an entirely fictional series

created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Even though Yellowstone does exist in real life, this show is entirely fictional!

Which entrance to Yellowstone is least crowded?

Finally, if you’re heading from Eastern Wyoming, Eastern Montana, or Western South Dakota, the

East Entrance

ought to serve as the easiest access to Yellowstone.

What is the busiest Yellowstone entrance?

Yellowstone has five entrances, but the

West Entrance

is the busiest during the summer. Coming in from the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, the West Entrance is closest to off-site lodging, restaurants and entertainment.

What is the busiest time at Yellowstone?

The months

between June and September

are the busiest in Yellowstone, with July and August being the most popular months to travel, the Yellowstone peak season.

Is Grand Teton crowded?


Crowds Are Late To Rise And Early To Set

Grand Teton draws a high number of visitors each year. Consequently, it’s difficult to find parking in the park during peak hours. To avoid crowds and increase your chances of finding parking spaces, rangers suggest arriving at the park either before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

Can you drive through Yellowstone at night?


Yes, you can drive the park 24/7

. You need to be careful as there are often big dark animals on the roadside or in the road. The posted speed most areas in the park is 45, I go slower if I am driving at night. You will pay one entry fee and that will allow you to re-enter for 7 days.

How many days do you need to see Yellowstone?

You need

a minimum of three full days

to see the top sights in Yellowstone. Since Yellowstone is so large, you will potentially spend several hours each day driving from sight to sight. Add in extra time for wildlife sightings, animal traffic jams, and maybe even circling the parking lots midday for an empty space.

Does it cost to see Old Faithful?

To see Old Faithful, you need to pay

$35 for a Yellowstone entrance pass

. The fee is the same for autos or RVs and is $30 for motorcycles. The pass is good for seven days after you’ve entered, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the rest of the park.

How long does it take to drive through Yellowstone?

During the summer season, cars are the best option for taking a trip around Yellowstone unless you are riding with a bus tour or concessionaire that provides transportation. The Grand Loop takes

between 4 to 7 hours

to drive in full.

Is Yellowstone worth the trip?


This park is absolutely amazing

. I’ve never seen so much beauty in one place – and so much diverse beauty. Parts of the park looked like the forest, parts looked like Tahiti (Yellowstone Lake), parts looked like the prairie (Lamar Valley), parts looked like the moon (Mud Volcano), etc.

Can I drive through Yellowstone right now?

Roads Open


Only a part of Yellowstone is open all year

. The North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana is Open Year Round. The road from Gardiner to Mammoth Hot Springs and from Mammoth to Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana is maintained for winter vehicle travel.

Which is better Grand Tetons or Yellowstone?

Mountaineering, hiking, and backcountry camping. Grand Teton National Park may share a border with Yellowstone, but the two parks might as well be worlds apart. Yellowstone is known for its geothermal natural wonders, but

Grand Teton offers a more peaceful experience

.

Which side of Yellowstone is best?


West Yellowstone, MT

, offers the greatest number of options for lodging and activities, and the west side of the park is more jam-packed with attractions, comparatively.

Which airport do you fly into for Yellowstone?

The airport closest to Yellowstone National Park is

West Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

, located in Montana. Arriving here gives you a birds-eye view of the park before landing. A trip in a rental car is about 35 mi from a park entrance.

Is Yellowstone June 2021 Crowded?

If it has seemed crowded in Yellowstone National Park this summer, it has: NPS officials have recorded

1,587,998 visits

though June. June 2021 Yellowstone visitation bests the record set in June 2016 (838,316 visits), then awarded the busiest month on record in Yellowstone. The 2021 total is up 17% from 2019 as well.

Is May too early for Yellowstone?


The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May

as well as September through early October. These shoulder months offer mild weather, fewer crowds and little to no road closures.

What is the best day of the week to visit Yellowstone?

The

mornings (dawn until 11 a.m.) and evenings (6 p.m. until dusk)

are perfect window times for beating the tour groups and family wagons and securing a spot with an uninterrupted view. If you prefer the morning, all you need is a trusty alarm clock, maybe a strong cup of coffee and an early start to the day.

Is Yellowstone about King ranch?

John Dutton and his ranch have some real-life counterparts


The Dutton Ranch’s current real-life counterpart is the King Ranch in Texas

. It’s actually the largest ranch in the United States, and it covers a whopping 825,000 acres. Texas ranching legend W.T.

Does Yellowstone ranch really exist?

As Town & Country reported,

the real Dutton Ranch is located in Darby, Montana

, and it’s just as glorious as you’d expect. It also happens to have cabins available for rental.

How much is the Yellowstone ranch worth?

In another early episode, Willa Hayes and her firm Market Equities express interest in purchasing some of John Dutton’s land, offering $10,000 per acre for 50,000 acres. Assuming that price per acre is maintained across all 750,000, you’re looking at a cool

$7.5 BILLION

for the fictional ranch.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.