Plan Your Visit

Duration:

12 minutes, 7 seconds

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

 

People visit Yellowstone and discover an amazing variety of experiences and destinations. We hope you'll have fun, make lifelong memories, and enjoy this special place.

Top Things To Know

1. Be patient and flexible
   Hundreds of thousands of people visit Yellowstone during the months of June, July, and August. It's also a big place: traffic and road construction often make drive times longer than expected.
2. Cell service and bandwidth are limited
   Don't be surprised if you can't receive calls or texts, even in the few areas you have cell reception.
3. Digital guide to enhance your experience
   Download the free NPS Yellowstone app (and offline content) before you arrive.
4. Plan ahead
   Campgrounds and lodges fill early, so finding a place to sleep at the last minute is unlikely.
5. Drive responsibly
   Observe posted speed limits and use pullouts to watch wildlife, take pictures, and let other cars pass.
6. Stay on boardwalks
   Hot springs have injured more people than any other natural feature (including animals).
7. Bears inhabit the entire park
   Bears are not just the backcountry, so learn how to travel safely in bear country.
8. Practice safe selfies
   Never approach animals to take pictures and alway be aware of your surroundings.
9. Early (and late) birds avoid crowds and traffic
   Visit the park during nonpeak hours—before 9 am and after 3 pm. Check out the list of seasonal highlights.
10. Explore beyond our borders
    The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem includes much more than the park. Plan your trip to take in the vibrant communities, public lands, and natural wonders throughout this area.

 

NPS Yellowstone App Free digital guide to the park