Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park

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8000′

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Yellowstone National Park

Home to an incomparable combination of natural beauty, rugged wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife, and the world’s largest concentration of geysers and thermal features, it’s no wonder Yellowstone was named America’s first national park.

From hiking and horseback riding to fishing and scenic wildlife tours, there are plenty of things to do across its 2 million acres. The iconic spots — Old Faithful, Lower Falls and Yellowstone Lake — may be familiar from paintings and photographs, but seeing them in person is a humbling, enthralling experience you can enjoy year-round. When it comes to where to stay in Yellowstone National Park, you have choices, but booking early is key. From inside the park hotels and motels to campgrounds and backcountry camping with the correct permits, there’s a perfect basecamp for your wild and wonderful Yellowstone adventure.

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Map Your Yellowstone Adventure.

Encompassing 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park is the second largest national park in the lower 48. With so much to explore, including over 10,000 hydrothermal features, more than half the world’s geysers, 466 miles of road and over 92 trailheads, you’ll want to decide which features to visit before you arrive. This map highlighting camping and lodging in Yellowstone – plus some of the park’s most popular sights – will help you get started.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

This canyon carved by the Yellowstone River is most famous for its Lower Falls. Here, the river tumbles twice the height of Niagara Falls before striking the canyon floor.

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Bridge Bay at Yellowstone Lake to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 20 miles, 45 minutes
Old Faithful

With approximately 20 eruptions every day, this reliable geyser’s frequency can be predicted with 90 percent accuracy, within about 10 minutes.

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South Entrance to Old Faithful 40 miles, 1 hour
Old Faithful to Mammoth Hot Springs 52 miles, 1 hour 50 minutes
Yellowstone Lake

As the largest alpine lake in North America, Yellowstone Lake beckons to anglers, boaters and others drawn to its vast, scenic beauty.

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East Entrance to Bridge Bay at Yellowstone Lake 17 miles, 40 minutes
Bridge Bay at Yellowstone Lake to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 20 miles, 45 minutes
Grand Prismatic

Grand Prismatic is Yellowstone’s largest single hot spring and the world’s third largest. The hot spring’s vibrant colors are caused by the bacteria that live inside this stunning geothermal feature.

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Mammoth Hot Springs

Heat, water, minerals and limestone combine to create the famous terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. Minerva Terrace is one of the most striking elements here, as it looks like an ornately carved staircase.

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Old Faithful to Mammoth Hot Springs 52 miles, 1 hour 50 minutes
Norris Geyser Basin

Wooden boardwalks in Norris Geyser Basin allow visitors to get up-close views of the geothermal features here. The acidic water lends colorful hues to many of the park’s hot springs and mud pots.

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Fishing Bridge RV Park

This RV park is named after the Fishing Bridge, a wooden bridge that used to provide a fishing platform. Fishing is no longer allowed, but visitors can still use walkways to watch waterfowl. This area has 310 sites designated for hard-sided recreational vehicles.

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Maddison Campground

This campground for tents and RVs sits at an elevation of 6,800’ and is set in a partly wooded area. The area is known for fishing and is located near Old Faithful. Here, you’ll find over 270 individual sites and 3 group sites.

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Grant Village Campground

This campground sits at an elevation of about 7,800 feet in a lodgepole pine forest, just a few miles from the West Thumb Geyser Basin. The campground offers a relaxing setting with easy access to amenities. Choose from over 400 sites, including both RV and tent sites.

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Bridge Bay Campground

Named for its proximity to Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake, this scenic campground offers over 400 regular sites and 4 group sites for both tents and RVs. Sitting at 7,800′ and with Yellowstone Lake in its sight, the campground is popular with boaters and anglers.

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Canyon Campground

One of the most popular campgrounds, Canyon Campground offers over 270 sites — including tent and RV — and is within one mile of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Enjoy a wooded setting in this centrally-located campground.

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Indian Creek Campground

This campground sits near the base of the Gallatin Mountains at an elevation of 7,300′. The area offers easy access to fishing and hiking and provides a quieter, more primitive experience. Here, you’ll find 70 sites.

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Lewis Lake Campground

Sitting at an elevation of 7,800′, this campground is a short walk from Lewis Lake, where canoes, kayaks and motor boats can be enjoyed. A boat ramp is located near the campground information and registration area. Find 85 campsites here.

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Mammoth Campground

The only campground in the park open year-round, this 85-site campground is close to fishing, hiking, and the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound with elk and bison occasionally passing through the area.

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Pebble Creek Campground

This campground features views of the Absaroka Mountains and offers a more isolated camping experience, with only 27 sites available. Day hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing opportunities can all be found nearby.

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Slough Creek Campground

This campground is near some of the best wildlife watching opportunities in the park and offers 16 sites. Located at the end of a two mile dirt road, this campground is best suited for tents and small RVs.

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Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins

Named after nearby Mammoth Hot Springs, this hotel offers lodging in the summer and winter. The hotel was built in 1936 and offers visitors a variety of accommodations, including two restaurants and a bar, as well as the chance to spot elk grazing outside the hotel.

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Canyon Lodge & Cabins

This sprawling facility features the most accommodations in Yellowstone with more than 500 rooms and cabins. The lodge also offers a cafe, grill, eatery and ice creamery for visitors to enjoy.

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Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins

The newest of the park’s hotels, the Snow Lodge is open during the summer and winter months. Exterior log columns and a cedar shingle roof make this lodge a significant example of classic “parkitecture.” Here, visitors can enjoy full-service dining and the quick service Geyser Grill.

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Old Faithful Inn

As a national historic landmark, Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodging facility in the park. Built in 1903-1904 with local logs and stone, the Inn is considered the largest log structure in the world. Here, visitors can enjoy a full-service restaurant and quick deli.

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Old Faithful Lodge Cabins

This historic cabin facility is located near Old Faithful Inn and includes a one-story main lodge built in the 1920s. Tremendous views of the Old Faithful Geyser can be seen from the lobby area, which houses a bakery/snack shop and cafeteria-style food court.

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Lake Lodge Cabins

Lake Lodge Cabins features a main lodge with a large porch offering a spectacular view of Yellowstone Lake. Located behind the lodge are 186 cabins with private baths. Visitors can find dining at Wylie’s Canteen at Lake Lodge.

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Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins

The historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel welcome you to a time of classic, yet casual elegance. The hotel was designated a national historic landmark in 2015 and offers wired internet service, a business center and a deli.

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Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins

Built in 1920 near Yellowstone’s Tower Falls area, the rustic cabins and family-style dining are a favorite of families and anglers alike. A large corral operation offers horseback trail rides, stagecoach adventures and a popular Old West Dinner Cookout.

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Grant Village

Grant Village features 6 two-story buildings each containing 50 rooms; none have elevators. The lodging complex features a full-service restaurant, a lakeside restaurant with a casual menu, lounge and gift store. The village is also nearest to Grand Teton National Park.

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South Entrance (Jackson)

Located just 57 miles south of Yellowstone’s south entrance, Jackson boasts incredible dining, shopping and lodging options for those seeking a fun and relaxing escape to the mountains.

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South Entrance to Old Faithful 40 miles, 1 hour
East Entrance (Cody)

Cody, Wyoming sits 52 miles east of Yellowstone’s east entrance. Founded by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Western attractions such as nightly summer rodeos, cowboy music and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West offer just a few things to do.

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East Entrance to Bridge Bay at Yellowstone Lake 17 miles, 40 minutes
Hayden Valley

Located between Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley is one of Yellowstone’s best places to observe wildlife. Elk, moose, bison and grizzlies are among some of the animals you may see here.

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Hayden Valley to Lamar Valley 73.5 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes
Lamar Valley

Located in the northeast corner of the park, Lamar Valley is famous for its abundance of wildlife, such as elk, moose, wolves, bison and bears. Anglers enjoy the Lamar River’s healthy population of trout.

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Hayden Valley to Lamar Valley 73.5 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes
Wildlife Safety

For the safety of wildlife and visitors, please keep your distance from all animals. It’s recommended to stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from all other wildlife.

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Yellowstone National Park

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FAQ: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a 2.2 million acre section of land in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana that the government set aside to preserve the area’s diverse environment. Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and the second most popular national park in the United States. The area within this national park is known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Within Yellowstone National Park’s borders, you can find geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, wildlife and much more.

Yellowstone National Park covers over 2.2 million acres.

Yellowstone National Park is famous for being the first national park in the world and for featuring the most geysers and hot springs in the world, including Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872.

Yellowstone National Park sits in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Most of Yellowstone National Park—96 percent—is in Wyoming, while the remaining portions are shared between Montana and Idaho.

Yellowstone National Park has nine lodges. All are open from late spring through fall. Two remain open in the winter. If you’re looking to camp, you’ll find 12 campgrounds throughout the park. All sites must be reserved.

We recommend planning your trip to Yellowstone nine months to a year in advance. Most lodging within the park requires reservations and books quickly.

The driving distance between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone is 441 miles or about 8 hours. Glacier is located in northwest Montana, while Yellowstone National Park is in northwest Wyoming.

The closest airport to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming is Yellowstone Regional Airport, located in Cody. Any of Wyoming’s nine airports offer connecting flights from larger international airports like Salt Lake City and Denver. Find more Wyoming airports here.

To see most of the popular destinations in Yellowstone National Park, you should plan for at least 2 to 3 days. If you’re looking for a more in-depth visit to this sprawling national park, plan for about a week. This itinerary highlights a few different ways to explore Yellowstone.

For the best summer weather, you should visit Yellowstone National Park between June and August. For smaller crowds, plan your trip for late April or early September. Since Yellowstone is the second most popular national park, visiting during these less popular times can make for a more enjoyable experience.

Yellowstone National Park is accessible for travelers with disabilities, with features like boardwalks, paved paths, specific backcountry sites, ranger programs and more. Check out this article to learn more about accessibility in Wyoming’s national parks.

Pets are allowed in Yellowstone National Park. However, they must be kept on a leash at all times (unless they’re in a car or crate). Pets may only accompany people in developed areas and are not allowed on hiking trails, with the exception of qualified service animals. Visit the National Park Service website for more information.