Evaluate which season would be the best for your trip to Yellowstone. While the park is open year-round, facilities within it are not. Certain entrances may be closed in November and March for road clearing. During the winter, roads within the park are open only to over-snow vehicles, such as snowmobiles. Most visitor centers close in late fall; the park's new Old Faithful Visitor Center, which opened in August 2010, is open through early November. Check the National Park Service's website for current hours and dates of operation.
Make a list of which activities you want to do or sights you want to see. Yellowstone boasts a myriad of unique features, including thermal pools, mud pots and geysers like Old Faithful. It's also home to abundant wildlife, including elk, deer, grizzly and black bear, moose, eagles and scores of buffalo. The dramatic Yellowstone Canyon contains the iconic Upper and Lower Falls, while Yellowstone Lake offers pristine views. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted in the park. Each of these activities are easily accessed by driving along main roads that are dotted with historic lodges, restaurants and gift shops.
Reserve a hotel room or cabin. Yellowstone features both historic and modern accommodations. The Mammoth Hot Springs area began to be developed in the late 1800s, while the Old Faithful Snow Lodge was built in 1999. Hotels within the park include Canyon Lodge; Grant Village; Lake Hotel and Lodge; Mammoth Hotel; Old Faithful Inn, Lodge, and Snow Lodge; and Roosevelt Lodge. Lodging within the park is managed by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. For reservations, call 1-866-439-7375 or visit yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.
Book a campground. For RV travelers and campers, Yellowstone offers a place to park or pitch a tent. Of the 11 campgrounds in Yellowstone, four, with more than 1,400 individual sites, can be reserved through Xterra. The campgrounds for which it takes reservations include Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant and Madison campgrounds, as well as Fishing Bridge RV Park. The National Park Service operates Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek and Tower Fall campgrounds. The Park Service offers a virtual tour of each location on its website. Backcountry camping also is available.
