Quick facts
Budget breakdown
| Category | Budget | Midrange |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $20–32 | $150–280 |
| Food | $15–30 | $40–70 |
| Transport | $10–20 | $30–50 |
| Activities | $0–15 | $20–50 |
| Park Entry | $5–10 | $5–10 |
| Daily Total | $50–107 | $245–460 |
Daily per-person estimates. Costs vary by season and travel style.
Practical info
Entry & Access
- Park entry is $35/vehicle (7 days), $20/person on foot or bike. The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers all US national parks for a year
- Five entrances: West (most popular), North (Gardiner), Northeast (Cooke City), East (Cody), South (Grand Teton). West entrance is closest to Old Faithful
- The park is massive — 150km across. Driving the Grand Loop takes a full day without stops. Plan your route to minimise backtracking
Health & Safety
- Bear spray is mandatory for hiking — buy a canister ($50) at any park store or gateway town. Know how to use it before you need it
- Stay on boardwalks at thermal areas — the ground is thin crust over boiling water. People have died falling through. No exceptions, no shortcuts
- Altitude ranges from 1,700–2,700m. Drink extra water, expect shortness of breath, and pace yourself on hikes if coming from sea level
Getting Around
- A car is essential — there is no public transport inside the park. Rent in Bozeman, Jackson, or West Yellowstone. Fill up whenever you see a gas station
- Construction delays and bison jams can add 30–90 minutes to drives. Leave early and budget extra time for everything
- Speed limit is 45mph on main roads, 25mph near developments. Rangers ticket aggressively and wildlife can appear on any road at any time
Connectivity
- Cell service is extremely limited — works at Old Faithful, Canyon, and Mammoth only. Most of the park has zero signal
- Download offline maps, the NPS Yellowstone app, and geyser predictions before entering the park. WiFi is available at some lodges
- Bring physical maps as backup. The park newspaper (free at entrances) has a good map and current road/trail conditions
Money
- Cards accepted at all park lodges, restaurants, and stores. Cash useful for campground firewood, laundry, and tipping
- No ATMs inside the park except at Old Faithful, Canyon, Lake, and Mammoth general stores. Withdraw cash in gateway towns
- Tip guides 15–20%, lodge housekeeping $3–5/night, and restaurant servers 15–20%. Camp hosts appreciate small tips for help
Packing Tips
- Layers are essential — summer temperatures range from 0°C at dawn to 27°C by afternoon. Bring a warm fleece and rain jacket year-round
- Bear spray, binoculars, and a reusable water bottle are the three most important items after clothing. Sunscreen and a hat for high-altitude UV
- Sturdy hiking boots for trails, water shoes for Firehole River swimming, and sandals for camp. Bring a headlamp for campground nights
Cultural tips
Wildlife Distance Rules
Stay 100 yards (90m) from bears and wolves, 25 yards (23m) from bison and elk. These distances are law, not suggestions. Bison injure more visitors than any other animal — they are fast, aggressive, and weigh 900kg.
Thermal Feature Respect
Never throw anything into hot springs, walk off boardwalks at thermal areas, or swim in thermal features. The crust is often only centimetres thick over boiling water. People have died. Take only photos.
Leave No Trace
Pack out all rubbish, stay on trails, and store food in bear-proof containers or car trunks. Yellowstone is pristine because visitors respect it. Food left out attracts bears and can result in the animal being euthanised.
Wolf Watching Etiquette
The Lamar Valley wolf-watching community is passionate and generous with spotting scopes. Be quiet, patient, and respectful. Never approach wolves on foot. The best sightings come from staying in your car and scanning with binoculars.
Indigenous Heritage
Yellowstone has been home to Indigenous peoples for over 11,000 years. The park sits on the ancestral lands of the Crow, Blackfeet, Bannock, Shoshone, and Nez Perce. Learn about this history at the visitor centres and respect sacred sites.
Dark Sky Preservation
Yellowstone has some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 states. Minimise artificial light at campgrounds, use red headlamp mode, and give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust. The Milky Way on a clear night is genuinely life-changing.
