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.