News Release

Yellowstone visitation statistics for May 2021

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Crowding on the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk near Grand Prismatic Spring

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

News Release Date: June 11, 2021
Contact: Morgan Warthin, [phone]

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - The park hosted 483,159 recreation visits in May 2021. This is an 11% increase from May 2019 (434,385 recreation visits) and the park’s most visited May on record.

May 2020 should not be used as a good year-to-year comparison due to the park being closed until May 18. Only two of the park's five entrances were open for the rest of the month.

So far in 2021, the park has hosted 658,513 recreation visits, up 14% from 2019.

The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through May):

2021 –  658,513
2020 –  145,849 *The park was closed May 1 through May 18. Two entrances were open May 18 through May 31.
2019 –  576,776
2018 –  570,823
2017 –  550,486
2016 –  593,755

Summer is Yellowstone’s busiest season. Millions of people visit the park in June, July and August. If you plan to travel to Yellowstone this summer, plan ahead, expect crowding, recreate responsibly and take the Yellowstone Pledge to protect yourself and the park.

More data on park visitation, including how we calculate these numbers, is available on the NPS Stats website.

Tags: yell experience, yell visitor use management

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