-: The world’s first national park, famous for Old Faithful and thousands of other geothermal features, plus abundant wildlife including wolves, bison, and grizzlies.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

2 to 3 days covers the main geothermal areas and overlooks, while 5 or more lets you properly explore the park's wildlife-rich valleys.

There's no general entry reservation, though some backcountry and boating activities require their own permits.

West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and Jackson are the main gateway towns, each accessing a different side of the park.

The entrance fee is $35/vehicle (7-day) — a $100/person nonresident surcharge applies (2026) — or purchase a National Parks Yearly Pass.

Why Visit?:

Yellowstone is the world's first national park, and it remains one of the most geothermally active places on the planet — Old Faithful and thousands of other geysers, hot springs, and mud pots, alongside genuinely exceptional wildlife viewing that includes wolves, bison, and grizzlies. Few parks anywhere combine this much geological spectacle with this much wildlife density.

Because of its size and popularity, a real Yellowstone visit benefits from picking specific regions to focus on (like Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, or Lamar Valley) rather than trying to cover the entire park in a rushed trip.

Things to Do:

Watching Old Faithful erupt, alongside a walk through the surrounding Upper Geyser Basin's boardwalks, is the essential Yellowstone experience. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, with its dramatic waterfalls, offers a completely different but equally iconic sight.

For wildlife, Lamar Valley — often called America's Serengeti — offers some of the best wolf and bison viewing in the Lower 48, especially at dawn and dusk with binoculars in hand.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN), and West Yellowstone Airport (WYS, seasonal) all offer reasonable access depending on which side of the park you're entering from.

Nearby Attractions:

Grand Teton National Park is just an hour south and almost always paired with a Yellowstone visit, and the towns of Jackson and Bozeman both offer fuller dining and lodging options beyond the smaller gateway communities right at the park entrances.