Yellowstone National Park Tips | 5 Things to Know Before You Go! 

You might mention the speed limit in the park. That would also help people understand that you can’t get from one place to another quickly.

I think it's insane to have to book inside the park lodging 13 months in advance. So many people can't know ehat they're going to do and need that far in advance

Thanks for this video it is very helpful. I have spent the last 3 years working and living in Yellowstone. First the speed limit is mostly 35mph and goes down to 25mph near all of the built-up areas. 2nd avoid driving around the park at night and it is very dark. This is a time when very large animals are on the road, and they won't move for you. This is their home. We are just visiting. Also, there is always road construction (May-Oct) which slows down traffic even more. Bring your own food if possible. Buying food in the park is limited and very expensive. There are a number of day use areas which are good for a picnic. Have Bear Spray with you and know how to use it. You can buy this in the park or in a number of stores outside the park. If you do any hiking, you may need it. Always hike in groups of 3 or more and make noise so the wildlife will know you are there. Remember everything in Yellowstone is very $$$$ and there are lots of people so don't get upset if you can't get the parking spot you want. Most important Follow the Rules! They are there for your safety. Enjoy your visit.

Great video, especially about the different times of the year. If I had to give one piece of advice to first-time visitors to the park is to pack a cooler full of sandwiches and snacks. You are not going to find a lot of restaurants in the park. Definitely no fast food. And depending on when you visit, the few restaurants there are may not be open. Also, be sure to bring a paper map as there is little to no cell service in the park, so GPS is not always an option!

Yosemite is my favorite NP but Yellowstone is right up there.

You said it on that last tip! The place is ALIVE! You are right about the energy and vibe there, that park kicks it up a knotch

Thank you so much for posting about your experiences in Yellowstone! Tammy and I will look into your website to study more as we prepare to plan our trip in 2024.

This video is informative! A pity that such information technology of the World Wide Web didn't exist back in the 1980s when I was planning a _motorcycle trip_ to Yellowstone. As it was, I was going to travel there near clueless about the realities of the Park; where I planned to camp there the entire time. I never made the trip, as a back injury had me canceling the plans I had made for that August 1982. The lingering effects of the back injury was such that I never made the trip in the future. But, from what I found out afterwards, that injury preventing me for motorcycle travel was a blessing. I phoned the ranger station in September of '82 [as email technology didn't exist] to ask a ranger what the August weather was like. She informed me they had afternoon rain showers on most days. Other aspects that I benefited from that canceled trip: The distance of the trip would have physically hammered me. It's one thing to cruise around 75 miles on a motorcycle for a single day's ride, but a completely different reality [as I found out years later] of doing several hundred miles of travel on consecutive days; as motorcycling riding, with its noise, wind, and vibrations, is physically hard when compared to driving a car on long distances. Driving oneself to physical soreness and exhaustion is not what vacation time is all about. Lastly, I never considered the aspect of wildlife in Yellowstone. Thanks to YT videos, I have a better awareness nowadays of the herds of bison and other large four-legged wildlife in the park, it would have made motorcycle travel a hazardous endeavor. As bummed out as I was in that year when I canceled my motorcycle trip to Yellowstone, in hindsight, there must have been a guardian angel looking after me to prevent that trip.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and guidance. It has been 39 years since we visited Yellowstone (our daughter was 2 1/2), and that was just for a couple days en route to Alaska in our old VW bus. It was early September and we drove north from the Park in a blizzard. This June we are planning a week in Yellowstone and hope to spend most of it out of the car. I'll be prepared not to be frustrated by traffic, aiming to start our days early, before the mass of people, and finishing late.

I was there 11 years ago for 4 days and definitely not enough times to explore the park. Don't even think about staying at a hotel outside of a park because it is too far to drive back and forth. I stayed at 3 different cabins to save time during the trip. At the end of the day, I just drove to the next cabin (about an hour drive) and moved on to the next site in the morning. It was below freezing at night time during the early September month so be prepared for it. It was such an amazing place.

Great video - thanks for posting! Hope to go go next year.

Thank you for letting me know!😊

Can you ride bikes in Yellowstone to get around. We'll be in an RV and would rather not back up daily?

If you want to see parts of the park when few people are about, the best time is in Winter, on a snowcoach or snowmobile tour. It is an all day tour. West Yellowstone and Jackson are the main bases for these tours and you don't have to worry about parking jams. The bison are often on or next to the road. The thermal features are extra steamy and hardly anyone else is going to be close to your tour group. I have gone into the park with a snowmobile tour group several times and I went in on a snowcoach last February with my sister and handicapped nephew. All of those trips have been wonderful.

Seems like you'll need about a week just to see everything.

How many nights is too many to camp in Yellowstone? What’s your advice? We are bringing 2 children but we all love to camp.

Thank you for the advice of calculating average time by 2. I'm planning on visiting the week after Memorial weekend (Monday, Sept 9th 2024). My plan is to visit a week after Memorial weekend when most visitors and/or their kids go back to school. Is that a reasonable plan, or am I likely to swap overcrowding of one demographic for another?

One thing I would add to the driving time is it can take you 30 minutes to go a half mile like it did me and my wife. We were traveling to West Yellowstone from Old Faithful and traffic was at a near standstill about 5 miles east of West Yellowstone due to a herd of bison on the highway. You don't honk at a Bison or tail gate it if you're smart.😊

more of a question actually...web site states that it is not recommended to hike places like avalanche peak in sept due to bear activity... its one of the places id love hike... how bad of an idea would this be? your videos are great.. thanks for any info.

So nice! Very picturesque views. Btw I am watching you from Russia!

😊 thanks for sharing this , I have also some questions about it. 1. What kind of things you can bring in your backpack? I don't what a 🐻 chasing me for an apple 😂. 2. Best time to visit the park? 3. Blisters 😮 How can you avoid it? What kind of shoes do you wear usually? 😊 Any other advice that you can provide me? I'm from Costa Rica. Thank you for your help.

Appreciate your advice. If we have a week planned, would it be best to fly into Bozeman and work our way down through the park and then hit Grand Teton before flying out of Jackson Hole? And if we could stay in 2 different places outside the park, which 2 to divide up the driving?

So, today is July 16. I want to camp during the last two weeks of August. With my dog. I'm getting the feeling that's not gonna work?

Booked my end of August stay at Grant Village just 2 weeks ago. Lucky I guess... :)

Is it possible to visit Yellowstone this April 9-14?

Went there when I was 4 years old. I just turned 46 today, and I’ll be going back soon in October. Good video, God bless.✝️😎👍🏻

Do you have any insights into which campgrounds will be open this summer? Right now it is listing most as closed due to the flood damage from last summer.

I’m going in May for just a couple days and will be also visiting Grand Teton. I plan on staying in Livingston Mt and waking up early morning of May 15 I believe to see Lamar valley sunrise. Which side of Yellowstone takes longer to traverse and see - because I plan on driving down to Grand Teton and staying a night in Jackson and then the next day heading back up through Yellowstone (I was thinking the west side where Old faithful is since it seems like there is a little less to see compared to the east side which has the Grand Canyon, Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley etc.) what do you recommend?

Visiting at the end of May. Are the roads usually cleared out by then? I drive a prius so snow on the roads is a major issue. Maybe I should wait.

My parents are here in Canada, we want to visit Yellowstone next weekend 5-6 april 😢 so sad yo ear that

I just came back from Yellowstone a week ago and it was great! You are right about all tips you mentioned. I stayed in Gardiner and that was done on purpose since I flew into Bozeman. I think it would have been nice to have change of stay on the west entrance you mentioned (maybe next time). Saw a lot of Buffalo and deer, unfortunately no bears :( Like any popular touristy spot, all of the shops and eateries are on the pricey side (i.e. 15-25 for a sandwich) so be sure to take that into account when planning your budget. I think if you enjoy nature and want to see some cool geysers, definitely go to Yellowstone (at least once).

Thanks for this excellent video! I’m staying in Mammoth Springs second week of October and will plan for many different scenarios - especially weather related - thanks to your video! Coming in from the southern part of the park and hoping hoping hoping for a moose sighting on the way in or out. No matter what, the wildlife will be amazing, I’m sure! Thanks again!

Yellowstone is a beautiful place and a dangerous

Has anyone been to Yellowstone in late October. Sometime around the 20th? Just wondering if the weather is typically bad by then

We are from Tasmania, and thinking maybe October? Is your itinerary suitable for October?

We camp on a tents, many of the sites allowed one 12x12, or two 8x8, we have two, 10x10, do you think it's possible to accommodate those? Thanks for your video

Thank you for sharing! My plan is to go next summer. I have a truck camper, do you have a video for truck camping and spots to go too?

What about car camping? Would that be okay? Is there a designated area to explore in a 4x4? Thanks in advance.

Hello I am visiting Yellowstone national park in September what are the chances that it will snow in the middle part of September because I hear it’s a good month to go to Yellowstone if it doesn’t snow

Are the campgrounds (tents/campers) also that competitive?? 4:30

Can anyone suggest a good town to airbanb near the park. We are comming from Colorado thru Wyoming side.

Thk you so much

Shockingly, in July 2022, there were no crowds or traffic jams on the roads at least on certain days. But the park is notorious for crowds during the peak season, absolutely!

AWSOME. Thinking of going in September but it seems like May be better as for hotel prices. Any thoughts? I subscribe to you channel. Outstanding presentation

Two KOAs that were awesome out the west side. Close to entrance and mid park!

i just reserved 1 day at Mammoth and 2 days Lake Yellowstone 1 month out.

Norris campground has been closed for several years- and has no schedule to re-open

Is it a good idea to visit park in December? I think visiting Yellowstone in summer and winter is completely different experience. But is summer better than winter? If I go in December will I miss out on anything?

The best time to visit Yellowstone is thirty years ago. Today, it is as much fun as visiting the LA freeway at rush hour. We were driving through the park when we spotted a bear and cubs about 150 yards from the road. Within two or three minutes there were 100 cars stopped. Traffic was backed up for miles. People were out of their cars. Cameras lined the road. Within another few minutes the rangers showed up, told everyone to get back in their cars AND LEAVE. Everyone had to leave. Many were parked along the side of the road, and I can understand that, but we were well off the road in our car (never got out), in a paved turnout on the opposite side of the road from the bear who never got closer to the road. Didn't matter. Had to leave. Immediately. Even though the big ranger truck was parked (half in the road) in such a way that we couldn't see to pull out safely. I asked for help to pull out and was ignored. No where to back up until the vehicle behind me left, but who knew where the driver was? A minute later the ranger came stomping back over like I was in trouble when I pointed at his truck. I was told, "Back up!" I said, "No where to back up!" Then finally helped guide me out. Some folks were still out of their cars taking pictures, and illegally parked, but I seemed the priority even though legally parked in a turnout! I guess because I was in my car! Next thing I know they are crackershelling that poor bear and cubs who were interested in nothing more than the sweet grass in the meadow. KA-BAM! KA-BAM! The bears are running in a panic over the hill. They were never much closer than 150 yards! As I drove away some folks were still out of their cars having ignored multiple instructions to get in them and leave.

Just start the video at 6:07

Should you be worried about the caldera thats due for a eruption

Where do you suggest staying? Lodging in the park is very expensive. Around 300 dollars a night. We are in North Carolina and just starting to put prices together. With airfare, rental car, lodging, food, gas etc, we are at 4000 dollars for a week out there. We can go to Europe for that.

Great video - thanks for posting! Hope to go go next year.

Good presentation. We will purchase an itinerary.

Also don't pet the fluffy cows...

So helpful video!!!!! Thank you 🙏 ❤

Very informative. Thanks for the video. Planning to go this month.

Hey sorry i know this is old post and good video! As a Canadian citizen do you know what a person “needs” to fish in Yellowstone by chance? It’s very tough to find online and to find what you need exactly…

Great video really helpful 👍

How many days should be enough to visit Yellowstone?

Nice video. When did you work in Yellowstone?

I talked to one of my friends this afternoon on the phone. He wants to go to Yellow Stone in August. He asked me if I wanted to go. I told him it would be my first time out of the state of Colorado since 1998. But hearing you say that you have to book 13 months in advance and spending over half of your vacation in the car, doesn't look like a vacation I want to take. Plus my friend said this wasn't official yet. So I'm not sure if I want to go.

Have you been to Grand Tetons - do people move between the two?

Great tips, thanks!

Is it a bad idea to commute to and tour Yellowstone on a motorcycle?

Great talk on Yellowstone, we learned a lot.

those bison look very friendly! i want to pet one!

Hi.. thank you for your tips! I’m planning to go there and spend about a day… I also plan to stay at Bozeman and start to the park early morning (like at 7.30am)… I also plan to see the major spots (old faithful, artist point, mammoth springs)… do you think it’s a good idea? Thanks!

EXCELLENT!

❤

Well, I thought I wanted to go. But it sounds like a money suck surrounded by what I don't want to see. People.