Answers to top Yellowstone National Park FAQ: best times to visit, accommodations, must-see attractions, and optimal durations for a memorable experience.
Yellowstone National Park is one of the most popular and awe-inspiring places in America. With mountains, canyons, rivers, lakes, forests and meadows all in one location, it’s no wonder that millions of visitors flock to Yellowstone every year.
Whether you’re going on a vacation with your family or just taking a day trip from Salt Lake City Utah (about 180 miles away), there are many things to see at this national park—and we’ve got some suggestions on how long it will take you!
When is the Best time to Visit Yellowstone National Park?
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is May through September. The weather is best, crowds are milder, and there’s less chance of snow.
For the most part, you’ll find that temperatures in Yellowstone start warming up in March and rise into the 70s by April.
They remain relatively stable until July when they drop back down into the 50s at night and 60s during the day before rising once more in August and September as you approach fall (which starts around September 21st each year).
Where is the best place to stay in Yellowstone?
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful place to visit and experience. There are many ways to explore this amazing wilderness, but one of the best ways is to stay in one of the many hotels that are located throughout the park.
The choice of where you stay will depend on your budget and what activities you will be doing while visiting Yellowstone. If you want to be close to all the main attractions, then staying in the North or South entrance areas is probably your best option. But if you want more privacy and space, then there are plenty of options just outside the park boundaries where you can escape from the crowds for a bit.
Wherever you stay in Yellowstone, make sure it’s close enough so that you don’t have too much driving around to get everywhere else!
The best place to stay in Yellowstone is on the park’s north end. You’ll be closest to Old Faithful, geysers and other attractions, and it’s easier to get there from the airport.
The Lodge at Old Faithful is the most deluxe hotel in the park. It’s located between Old Faithful and a handful of other geysers. The hotel offers rooms with views of the geyser and its visitor center, plus a spa and fitness center. It’s also home to The Bistro at Old Faithful, one of the most famous restaurants in Yellowstone.
Glacier Park Lodge is another top choice, located near Lake Village and several hikes. Rooms are spacious, with mountain views; some have balconies overlooking the lake. There’s a heated indoor pool, full-service spa and several dining options, including The Grill restaurant — where you can dine al fresco on deck under bright yellow umbrellas (when there isn’t snow on the ground).
The Lake Yellowstone Hotel has fewer amenities than other properties but still offers great views of Lake Yellowstone from some rooms and a free shuttle service around Jackson Hole Airport.
If you want to stay near Old Faithful Geyser, try one of the cabins at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. These cabins are located along Firehole Lake Drive between Madison Junction and Old Faithful.
How much time do you need at Yellowstone National Park?
4 days is a minimum for seeing the park. You may only have time for three days, or you may be able to extend your stay.
3 days is enough time if you plan to stay close to the park entrance and focus on just one area of Yellowstone.
2 days can work if you’re willing to drive long distances between the North Entrance and West Entrance (or vice versa). With two days, we recommend spending at least half your time in each part of the park: east/west (near Mammoth Hot Springs) and north/south (near Fishing Bridge).
1 day could be enough if all you want is an overview of what’s available at Yellowstone National Park—however, this approach means that most of your visit will be spent driving from place to place instead of taking advantage of everything that Yellowstone has to offer!
What are the must-see attractions in Yellowstone?
You will have to visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which stretches for 87 miles from north to south. The canyon is 2,000 feet deep at its deepest point and 6,000 feet wide at its widest.
You can also visit the Grand Prismatic Spring, a hot spring that looks like a rainbow of colors! It’s one of the most photographed features in all of Yellowstone National Park.
If you want to see something more active than just gazing at nature’s beauty, you can watch Old Faithful erupt every hour on the hour (give or take) during peak season. This geyser shoots water out up to 200 feet high—a pretty impressive sight!
Another must-see attraction is Tower Fall, where waterfalls pour down into a pool below them.
Here is an article we wrote on what you can do when visiting Yellowstone. Its an in depth guide which will help you tremendously!
To prepare you for your trip to Yellowstone, we have written down 10 things you should know about Yellowstone.
Both these Guides will get you the best out of your trip!
You can see a lot of Yellowstone in 3 days, but we recommend 4 days or more if you’re able.
You can see a lot of Yellowstone in 3 days, but we recommend 4 days or more if you’re able.
The reason for this is that the park is so large that it takes time to get around, especially if you’re not driving an RV or campervan. You’ll need at least 2 days to cross into Grand Teton National Park and enjoy its majestic landscapes, as well as to explore Jackson Hole and its charming town center.
Additionally, if you have time on your trip, visiting the North Entrance Area (it’s off-the-beaten path) will allow you access to Hayden Valley—one of the most beautiful areas in all of the park—and roadways like Mammoth Hot Springs Road (a scenic drive) where you can stop along the way for photo opportunities.
It’s also worth noting that Yellowstone has more than one entrance; there are five total entrances into this national treasure!
We recommend getting out on foot as much as possible because hiking allows for deeper exploration beyond what most people see from their cars as they cruise down roads throughout each part of the park.
Hiking also gives visitors an opportunity to take advantage of some amazing views when traveling through areas like Artist Point Trailhead near Cody Wyoming where beautiful views await hikers looking for them. We have curate a visual treat for those looking for the best hiking trails in Yellowstone.
Conclusion
We hope we’ve given you some good ideas for how to spend your time at Yellowstone.
The most important thing to remember is that you won’t find an ideal Yellowstone itinerary that fits everyone. One person’s dream trip of a lifetime may be another person’s idea of torture. That being said, I would recommend that you spend at least four days in Yellowstone National Park.
A reasonable amount of time to see the sights, learn more about the geysers and other attractions, and be able to relax in Jackson Hole at the end of your stay. Hope this helps!
