Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
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Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Sandy W
    Phoenix, Arizona489 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just fantastic and awe inspiring.
    Words cannot describe the beauty of this park - we entered by the West Yellowstone Gate, and only managed to do the lower loop but we saw so much. The waterfalls, of which there are many, are beautiful, not to mention the scenery. Of course the hot water bubbling out of hundreds of holes in the ground is mind boggling, and the strong smell of sulphur. The different colours of the pools alongside each other just gorgeous. The walkways and lookouots are very well done, and well kept. The highlight of course was seeing Old Faithfull-incredible. There were some rude people just pushing in to see it, but they are everywhere. We saw a few bison on the road, they are enormous animals-not bothered by the traffic. The Old Faithful Visitor Centre is very interesting with lots of information. Will definitely visit this Park again to see other parts. Accommodation in the Park is astronomical, even West Yellowstone accommodation is way beyond our budget, so we stayed in Cabin Village a short drive from West Yellowstone.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 4, 2023
  • Donna B
    Sapphire, North Carolina97 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you’re going off season call ahead
    The park is magnificent, stupendous and every other adjective that means “superlative.” Unfortunately some of the facilities are not. Woefully inadequate parking particularly at the Grand Prismatic Spring…and this was off season. Food service was also somewhere between disappointing and unavailable. The web sites said most facilities would be open until late October but they were closing on 10/8 and apparently all the staff could think about was not having to work tomorrow. Totally unhelpful/uncaring.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 8, 2023
  • CeeCee P
    Wilmington, Delaware34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A MUST see!!
    This was a bucket list trip and was beyond our expectations. Highly recommend the lower loop. It was magnificent. The upper loop was worth a visit but if you are short on time, I would spend it on the lower loop. Be sure to visit Old Faithful and the 3 mile loop around it to see other geysers. We stopped everywhere and there is nothing I would miss.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 10, 2023
  • MAP12
    New Orleans, Louisiana632 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A favorite
    I have traveled many places (50 states, 5 provinces, 42 countries) and STILL consider this the most unique place I've seen. It's got wildlife, mountains, valleys, waterfalls, geothermal energy sources (and the associated wonders), hikes, walks, drives, etc. Growing up (in Montana) I didn't quite appreciate it as much as I do now that I have to travel to get there. Each visit is worth it!!
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 12, 2023
  • AmeliavdBerg
    Auckland, New Zealand539 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yellowstone
    Yellowstone National park is a huge park , stunning scenery around every corner . There was lots of road work whilst we were there , didn’t influence our experience . Lost of stops with great views . Lots of wild life to be spotted . Amazing park to explore
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 30, 2023
  • fira2007
    Vancouver, Canada499 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommended!
    We went in the first week of October, and the weather was actually pretty good, not too cold. The park is huge! We drove the Upper and Lower loops and each took a full day. The views are amazing!! People only talk about Old Faithful, but there's so much more!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 30, 2023
  • clarkey61
    Rochester, New York97 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Winter in Yellowstone NP
    Experiencing Yellowstone NP in winter is a MUST do. We booked directly with the Yellowstone concessioner, Xanterra. Everything from the bus pickup at our Bozeman hotel to meal reservations, day tours and Yellowstone hotels were handled in a professional way. The staff and guides are passionate and their training is top notch. I would highly recommend booking directly with Xanterra for this bucket list trip. Visiting in the winter is a quiet time. No crowds, as you must use a snow coach to travel around the park. There is so much to do if you enjoy being outdoors in the winter. Just bring lots of layers to stay warm.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 14, 2024
  • Susanne T
    North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina1,917 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Always amazing!
    Yellowstone has become our favorite NP over the last few years and we always try to make it a point going and exploring new places on our drives from NC to WA and back every year. So many beautiful places to see and so many things to do. Study the map you get at the entrance and have fun. If you can, be in Lamar Valley around early evening; the bison are coming to the river. We have seen elk, Moose, Grizzlies, black bear, Bison, wolves and coyote over the years. Mammoth Hot Springs is a must! Plan on plenty of time...like days, if you can and be prepared for lots of traffic.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 30, 2024
  • Loveocean003
    Montreal, Canada35 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mama Grizzly bear and cubs in front of the Grand prismatic Spring and so much more to see
    This NP is THE most famous NP for many reasons. You can't visit just in one day. So much to see and to do. The Grand Prismatic Spring is stunning. I stayed 6 days in this parc to cover most of the interests.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written April 8, 2024
  • jehenson81
    Washington DC, District of Columbia25,381 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Utterly Amazing
    Going to Yellowstone National Park is something I’ve always wanted to do, so when I was nearby in Montana for work, I arranged to stay for a few extra days in order to visit the park. It turned out two things worked in my favor for this visit. It was the first Saturday of the season the road to Old Faithful was open, which is the one thing I desperately wanted to see. And it was the first day of National Park Week so the entrance fee was waived. I got to the park extra early and was able to see a few things without a crowd. I saw numerous geysers all over the park and even got stuck in two Bison jams when moving from location to location. I will state I didn’t go to see every geyser at every stop, just the more popular ones, especially as the day was winding down. I spent all day there and was able to see almost everything I wanted to (a few roads were closed, so I was unable to access a handful of them). It was an awesome experience. I even saw a wild Turkey, a snowshoe hare, lots of bison (one was six feet from my car, which I stayed in) and as I was leaving the park, a bunch of juvenile moose. Can’t recommend it enough.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written April 20, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles1,911 reviews
Excellent
1,658
Very good
158
Average
61
Poor
22
Terrible
12

Patty W
Ogden, UT951 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2020
This is a general review about the park during Covid 19. I have been to the park many, many, times and this is a totally different experience. That being said I want to give my general impression about our experience. It is not your typical experience in the park. All service are very limited. Expect huge crowds at old Faithful, and the geyser area. Not all peopLe are wearing masks. The old faithful inn, the Lake Hotel, all sit down restaurants, and the visitor centers are closed. The options for food are limited, it is all take away, and the lines are long. August is always one of the busiest months in the park, and with so many things closed it makes it a little more challenging. The beauty of the park is the same and some of the less popular areas are not crowded at all. I love staying in the park when things are normal BUT during Covid I would recommend either staying in Gardner, Montana or West Yellowstone where the food options are much better. I would recommend bringing your lunch I to the park and avoid the food service. I think it will be less crowded in September or the first few weeks in October. If you want the true Yellowstone experience I would wait until Covid is under control so you can get the full experience of this wonderful park.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aquasoul
Minnesota107 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
My husband, daughter, son-in-law and my 7 and 11 year old grandchildren joined me to spend a magical Christmas in Yellowstone. This winter destination is not for everyone. It can be extremely cold, windy and snowy. Planning isn't easy and making sure children will enjoy the experience is paramount; I'm hoping this review will be helpful to others. Reservations open in mid March for the following winter so plan early. When you get lodging, sign up for the snowcoach transfers and make dinner reservations for all nights to avoid standing in long lines or eating far too late!

Everyone needs extra warm clothes to enjoy this trip. Think layers including a down sweater under a ski coat with hood to go over hat, neck gaitor, balaklava, snow pants, very warm boots and mittens. If you are older or cautious about ice, bring something like YakTrax for your boots. The kids also need functional clothing for extreme weather to keep them safe as well as able and excited to go outside. There is not much to do inside. It is well worth searching for warm children's boots and mittens and bringing mitten liners too. Many people take a snowcoach tour each day but the coaches are not fully heated and the guide makes frequent stops to get out and see the sights so warm clothes are also needed on tours. Our children are very good skiers (up and down as they say) so we chose to ski and or snowshoe each day to see the sights.

We flew into Bozeman and rented a car after deciding that an available shuttle to and from Mammoth wasn't worth the scheduling hassles. If it hadn't been Christmas Day, we would have stopped at a grocery store in Gardiner for breakfast items and snacks to avoid 3 restaurant meals. Mammoth's general store did have enough for us to get by. We spent 3 nights at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, renting a room and a cabin with a hot tub which we all enjoyed each evening. The car was parked in this area for the entire week. The rental shop can get everyone outfitted and give information on trails. We didn't feel the need to use the ski shuttles.

The Snowcoach takes 4 hours each way between the 2 lodges. There are stops along the way for scenicstops and a restroom break. Dress warmly and consider motion sickness medication as it can be very bumpy.

We stayed at the Snow Lodge for 5 nights as there is much more to see there.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveling Tourist
Murfreesboro, TN16 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Couples
Yellow Stone NP is much larger than I envisioned. Grand Loop takes you through and by most of the “must see” stops and even then you barely scratching the surface the park.

The only complaint I have would be how Yellow Stone handled the sharing of crucial news (as in they didn’t share at all). My husband and I were staying in Cody, WY and the only road in or out of Yellow Stone to Cody is 14/16/20. The East Entrance Road is 27 miles long, up a mountain. There was a forest fire off of 14 near Wapiti, WY. Due to this the East Entrance to the park was closed to any who were trying to use it to exit the park. Instead of communicating this at the base of the Mountain (and prior to drive the 27 miles) they let numerous cars, trucks, RVs, 5th Wheels, etc make the trek to the East Entrance exit and then had them turn around to drive the 27 miles down the Mountain and then drive half the loop to get to the NE entrance of the park.

The real cynical person in me thinks that was so tourist had to pay the $2.70 per gallon of gas at their gas station.

In all seriousness, Yellow Stone is beautiful and if you’re in the area then a must see. There just needed to be a way to communicate gate closures.
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ar B
Somewhere Usa82 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
The animals loved the park closure. Two days driving through the park and we saw over 30 animal species! It was the most animals we've seen on any of our trips to National Parks. Day one the social distancing was decent on the trails. All the visitors' centers were closed. On the second day, the park had tons of people and very few even tried to follow social distancing, and even less were wearing masks. The stores did have an employee at the designated entrance to only allow limited customers in the stores at a time. Tower to Canyon on the main loop is closed for construction and Fishing Bridge construction continues making for delays. Some parts of the park were still closed off due to COVID 19 restrictions but we were not disappointed in what was available to see. We had a great (but sunburnt) time.
Written June 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jared J
Seattle, WA62 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
We just spent a week at Yellowstone NP in the Grant Village campground again for a week and what a disappointment. The second day we were there we asked the person at the desk at the Grant Village Campground how showers work this year at the park. The gal at the desk said there where no showers avaiable at any of the campgrounds in the park. She recommended bathing in the lake. At no point were we notified in the reservation or confirmation process that showers were not available. She said it was due to staff shortages. We also went to several visitor centers and NONE of the exhibits were open, but ALL of the gift shops. The ranger behind a piece of glass said it was due to staff shortages. I asked if it had anything to do with Covid. He said, "Well, that too." So riddle me this, I can be back to back with people crammed in a gift shop to buy a shot glass with a bison on it, but I can't see any of the exhibits in the SAME building. Wow. National Park Service, you let us down.
Written August 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wildorchid99
Alta Loma, CA301 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
I finally was able to visit YNP. We visited on their first week of opening in June 2020. The hotels and lodges were still close so we stayed at an air bnb in Island Park, ID which is about 30 minutes from the west gate. The park was not crowded so it was a nice experience. We entered the west gate for 2 days and from the Jackson Hole entrance on the third day after visiting Jackson Hole. Our drive from Jackson Hole was great since we saw Bear and a cub and most of the Bisons and deers are most active since it getting dark at that time.
Written July 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

EmmaSeattle
Seattle376 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Nothing to add in regard to the astounding sights others have detailed, but just warnings to newcomers: there is one main road that circles the park like a figure 8 and it is a 2-lane, generally well below 35 mph. It takes about an hour to get from the top of the park to the south end if you drive straight through without stopping and it might take much longer depending on the wildlife. Visitors cause traffic jams by slowing down in the road despite signage everywhere telling you not to do so, just to stare at animals. Most pull off to do their admiring of the wild bison, elk, wolves, bears and massive massive ravens that can unzip backpacks, but a good third just slow down while driving. If that doesn’t congest traffic, the animals can do it themselves: we had several incidents of having to stop to allow various mammals to saunter across the road and once, there was a bison and her adolescent calf walking along the oncoming lane, IN the oncoming lane. The cars behind were stacked up at least 75 deep with more coming every minute so there was a probably 100-car backup before the bison eventually left the tarmac for a side meadow. So plan ahead!
As for the park itself, the sights are mostly amazing. When we visited, the ‘est items were the least so: Grand Prismatic Pool is hard to see since the boardwalk is level with the pool and the steam masks the rest so that was underwhelming. The biggest geyser is right next to it and it is only steaming. The tallest geyser is very unpredictable (Steamboat Geyser) so it mostly just blooped a few feet of water while we were there. But the sulphur cauldron and mud volcano areas were great, the Ledge Geyser in Norris basin was spectacular, huffing constant thick steam like a paper mill funnel, and the Fountain Mud Pots area was very active, with a red spouter constantly going strong and several geysers going while we were there. So there is always something going on, even if it's not the biggest/highest/whateverest.
Restrooms are located at most stops but there were lines at nearly all of them even in this slow off season time. Food is limited to what the various restaurants sell, but there are Yellowstone General Stores at all the big corners and they include a comprehensive grocery, besides gifts and camping gear. Of course prices are rather higher than outside in the world but you’re supporting the park when you buy things in the park.
Because of COVID restrictions, none of the visitors centers or museums were open during this trip except for bathrooms if no others were available for guests on the site.
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cornwall15
Durham, NC228 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This is a place of more facets than you might image. Yes, they haev geysers here, and many different types of them, but they also have gorgeous meadows, enticing rivers, a massive lake that looks like a sea, incredible waterfalls, majestic valleys, herds of bison, elk and deer, and just about any wild creature you can imagine. Expect to face traffic jams as tourists crawl past the wildlife (but DON'T feed them) on the many, many miles or road in the park. Do not come for less than 3 days, and if possible make reservations FAR ahead of time to stay in the park. It was worth the exorbitant cost of staying in an on-site hotel.
Written September 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Benjamin R
Rexburg, ID619 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
Yellowstone was as beautiful as ever. This visit I noticed an absence of large tour bus groups, but an increase in RV's and traffic. Restroom facilities were limited in some areas, with longer waiting in lines. On the up side, the geysers perform as beautifully as ever, and the more you stay away from the popular venues, the more likely you are to enjoy the visit. Grand Prismatic Pool was very crowded, but otherwise we were able to drive around and walk through many beautiful geyser basins. Face masks were worn by the majority of visitors, especially near Old Faithful where it was much more crowded. Take along some extra hand sanitizer, and bring water and food, as the eating venues are not open at present.
Written August 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LAW64
Tonbridge, UK1,781 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
You will need a couple of days to be able to travel to North, South, East and West of the Park. The distances are huge. We visited mid September and it was possible to do this in 2 days as the traffic was not too bad but it was busier on the weekend. Queues build up unexpectedly when people spot an animal and then park up on the road instead of in the lay-bys and there is no way of getting past them. We arrived from Cody to the East and it is quite a long journey before you even get to the park entrance. We bought a America Beautiful pass which covers you for all the national parks for a year and means that you can join a different queue at the entry point - available online by post or on entry to some of the parks. Day one we did the East and North and then day two we did the West and South of the park. My favourite part was the grand prismatic spring. Bring your own food and eat in designated picnic areas as there are not many places to buy food - but plenty of loos! A wonderful experience.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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