Land of Wonder; Preserve for All

On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders. People from around the world have been drawn to Yellowstone to witness these wonders for themselves. Now, millions of people come to Yellowstone each year.

Two girls stand in front of a large Yellowstone National Park sign while their dad photographs them

Plan Your Visit

Yellowstone is seasonal. Plan your visit by learning about current conditions, seasons, road conditions, services, activities, and more.

Visitors taking a safe selfie with Lower Falls of Grand Canyon in background

Take the Yellowstone Pledge

Take the pledge. Tell a friend. Protect the park.

An entrance employee talks with a visitor in a vehicle.

Fees & Passes

Learn about the fees and passes that are available.

Safe distances for safe wildlife watching are 25 yards for bison, elk, and other wildlife, and 100 yards for bears and wolves. — Enjoy watching Yellowstone's animals but STAY SAFE. They are WILD and DANGEROUS. Know your distance.

Experience Your Yellowstone

Please check the current conditions, operating seasons and hours, road conditions, and lodging and eating options to help plan your visit.

A lone person standing on a boardwalk and takes a picture of steaming hot springs.

Things To Do

Explore all the different things there are to do in the park.

Park Roads

Check the park roads statuses, road construction closures, and delays. Temporary closures are always possible.

Four people sitting in campsite in front of a fire laughing and smiling.

Camp in a Campground

Most campgrounds are reserved and full. Learn more about Yellowstone's campgrounds or make a reservation for a future visit.

Smart phones showing NPS app home screen

NPS Yellowstone Apps

Two official free apps that can help plan and enrich your trip to Yellowstone.

View from the top of a building shows visitors standing in a wide arc around a steaming geyser.

Webcams

Watch Old Faithful erupt or see the Upper Geyser Basin, Mount Washburn, Yellowstone Lake, and some of the park entrances.

Map of Norris Geyser Basin showing a brief description and image of Steamboat Geyser.

Virtual Tours

Virtual explore different parks of the park through interactive maps.

Child wearing a winter hat and coat looking out across a deep, aqua-green hot spring.

Kids & Youth

What fascinates you about Yellowstone? Personalize your online adventure of the world's first national park.

Understand Yellowstone

Yellowstone is as wondrous as it is complex. The park is at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, where nature and culture abound. Here are just a few highlights for you to learn about the park, the park's strategic priorities, and substantial successes and challenges over the past two years in the State of the Park report.

Bee gathering pollen from within a bright yellow Nuttall's sunflower

Wildflowers

Wildflowers can grow under the forest canopy, but the most conspicuous displays occur in open meadows and sagebrush-steppe.

Grasses and other plants next to orange sinter formation around Silex Spring

Hydrothermal Plant Communities

Fascinating and unique plant communities have developed in the expanses of thermally heated ground.

Branches and limbs cluster around a growing conifer on a windswept mountain top.

Plants

More than 1,300 plant taxa occur in Yellowstone National Park.

Wildlife

Learn about the park's abundant and diverse species—67 mammals, 330 birds, 16 fish, 5 amphibians, and 6 reptiles.

A dark blue hot spring with a white crested edge rimmed by orange water.

Life in Extreme Heat

Hydrothermal features are habitats for microscopic organisms called thermophiles: "thermo" for heat, "phile" for lover.

Preserve Yellowstone

The National Park Service works to preserve Yellowstone for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of all people. We are not alone in this endeavor—park partners, volunteers, and visitors all help. Learn how to get involved.