Yellowstone National Park covers 2,219,791 acres in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It became a national park on March 1, 1872, making it the first national park in the world. It recorded 4,762,988 recreation visits in 2025, the 3rd most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Yellowstone
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Albright Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $35 per vehicle. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Visitors who are not U.S. residents pay a $100 nonresident fee per person age 16 and older here, on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold the $250 nonresident annual pass. Yellowstone is one of the 11 parks that charge it. See nonresident fees.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Yellowstone: May, June, August and September. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 972,400 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.2 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: November (20,621 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Yellowstone, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: a ready-made day
- Things to do: 55 hikes and 33 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 12 campgrounds, 10 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Canyon Visitor Education Center: Canyon Village, 0.1 miles away. Closest airport Yellowstone Airport (29 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (1 to 2 Hours): Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.
- Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail (2 to 3 Hours): Follow the rim of the Yellowstone River valley, enjoying views of bighorn sheep, the Narrows of the Yellowstone, Overhanging Cliff, and the towers of Tower Falls.
- Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail (1 to 3 Hours): Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the distant Absaroka Mountains.
- West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail (30 to 60 Minutes): Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake.
- Trout Lake Trail (1 to 2 Hours): Enjoy a short hill climb through Douglas-fir forest to Trout Lake.
Webcams
- Mount Washburn - Northeastern View
- North Entrance - Electric Peak
- North Entrance - Out of the Park
- West Entrance - Out of the Park
- West Entrance - Into the Park
- Mammoth Hot Springs - Travertine Terraces
- Mount Washburn - Southern View
- East Entrance - Out of Park
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Yellowstone's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, daytime highs can exceed 70°F (21°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. It can snow during any month of the year, and winter lows frequently drop below 0°F (-18°C), especially at night. Bring a range of clothing options, including a warm jacket and rain gear, even in the summer.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Grand Teton (Wyoming): about 1 h 40 min by car (57 miles)
- Glacier (Montana): about 7 h 35 min by car (385 miles)
- Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota): about 7 h 55 min by car (456 miles)
- Wind Cave (South Dakota): about 9 h 45 min by car (457 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $35 per vehicle. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less. Non-U.S. residents also pay a $100 per person nonresident fee unless they have the $250 nonresident annual pass.
What state is Yellowstone National Park in?
Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
When did Yellowstone become a national park?
March 1, 1872.
How many people visit Yellowstone?
4,762,988 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
May, June, August and September. July is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
