Yellowstone, the country’s oldest National Park, saw 4 million visitors in 2019. 1.4 million of those visitors were RVers. Were you one of them?
The park, which spans over 3,450 square miles, is over 2 million acres. There are 900 miles of hiking trails and 67 species of mammals. The park is also home to more than 500 active geysers, which accounts for more than half the world’s geysers. Wow!
When was the last time you visited Yellowstone? Are you planning on going back soon? Will you plan on camping in the park, or will you stay outside the park? Please tell us by voting in the poll then leaving a comment below.
My truck, (’99 F-250 w/camper) broke down coming in from the East entrance – It took 2 different towing companies,, thanks to the license agreements, to get me to Jackson – Total cost: $1500+.
I live 90 miles north of the Park. I used to go several times a year. There are too many rude tourists, lately. I haven’t gone for a couple of years.
I visited Yellowstone in the late 70’s on a bicycle trip – and it was a zoo then! Bumper to bumper traffic even then. I’m glad I was able to see it. You couldn’t pay me to go there now.
Once a year
I have never been to Yellowstone.
On wife’s bucket list, not mine.
We just spent 2 weeks there this past summer. due to COVID it was not as crowded as many have said in the past. No busses and foreign tourists to deal with and the parks hotels were at very limited capacity with the old house side of the Old Faithful Inn closed 😩however most RV parks were full. The only issues we had were with road closures, the west road from Old Faithful Inn to the thumb was closed due to fires and just after that opened the road just north of the east entrance closed due to a fuel truck overturning spilling it’s load. Also the road to Lamar Valley was closed all season. Other than a few inconveniences and constantly having the thought of COVID in your mind it was a good time to be at the park!
We have been to Yellowstone every year for the last 5 years and are already planning for next summer! We just love the animals…
havent been there yet, but it is on the bucket list of places to see!!
Ahhhhhh Yellowstone. God’s piece of Paradise on earth. We loved our four days in the park. The majestic vistas and the wildlife will take us back there again. We stayed outside the park last time but will try to secure a campsite in the park next time , hopefully in 2021.
Wife and I spent 3 weeks in West Yellowstone, RV park this September. RV park was full. We entered the Park each morning about daylight and missed ‘most’ of the crowd. Second trip in 4 years. We, for the most part, are able to ignore the few ill-mannered folks. Still amazed at the people who are inclined to stand close to a 1500 lb. buffalo with their children. Could easily go back again this year but doubtful.
We just left Yellowstone and we loved that park. We worked there for 3 months. Had 3 days off each week to explore and still did not see all this park has to offer! We are blessed to have so many beautiful national parks here in America. Get out and enjoy this great land and your eyes will be opened up!
Lived near Cody for 9 years and was in Yellowstone very frequently. Miss it greatly and will return next year. Impossible to see all.
Yes, at the near end of the season. Had some snow on the ground. Love the way the tour buses come in,stop unloaded their passengers,they run over to Old Faithful,snap a few pictures and are gone . Travel all that way for a half hour in the park.
Wall to wall ppl. Prefer a bit of open space.
Tough to visit from the East Coast but we did it twice. Once for a week on our way back from Alaska in 2009 and again in 2012 for 2 weeks when we spent about three months out West visiting all the National Parks on the East side of the Rockies. Also did the Air Force Academy, Olympic Training Center, Coors Brewery, Celestial Tea Factory, Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Frontier Days and the Rodeo, Needles Park, Bad Lands, Sturgis, Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, Cody WY and the Museum, the Terry Bison Ranch and so much more. We took our time to plan our visits and where to stay and back then it worked out for us and the weather cooperated. Stay Well, Stay Safe.
At the risk of sounding grumpy, we went a few years ago and will not return. Driving a Class A through the park is a challenge and finding a RV park opening was nearly impossible. We way overpaid for two days … which is all the time any park had. We did the typical tourist scouting and saw some beautiful scenery and many stupid people taunting the buffalo. Old Faithful was having a ‘flaccid’ day and left us disappointed, not too mention hoards of people. We did however really enjoy the Black Hills, especially Mt Rushmore. Not overcrowded and many RV parks that didn’t scalp.
Last visit was in July of 2000. Will go back– probably in 2023. Loved it but we didn’t have the RV then. Can’ t wait.
We visited the park in 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and stayed in West Yellowstone every year. Last four times with our camping trailer. Prices keep going up. 🙁 We have a reservation at a campground inside the park for next July. Yes, there are a lot of people but with time and patience it’s still worthwhile. The Lamar valley is much less crowded if you want a break and a more relaxing day without geysers or popular hot springs.
We have visited 5 times in 20 years. Latest was in 2017, first time with our motorhome. We arrived on July 4 weekend, bad timing. We did score a small spot, just our size 28 ft. which was the last in West Yellowstone. We had no toad then, and could not find a rental that weekend, so we just drove the motorhome all over the park, including Mount Washington!! Being West Virginians, it did not daunt us as much as most other drivers.
We had (what we think) was a funny experience. As we drove around Yellowstone, we couldn’t find any Bison…. Seriously. Back and forth through the roads we drove, no Bison. When we made that comment to a Park Ranger, they were (of course) in shock. How our timing was so off as to be in the opposite place at the wrong time is probably one of those one in a million shots?
I remember, as a kid when we went to Yellowstone, we fed the bears from our car. Thank goodness that’s not allowed anymore. You’re lucky to even see one these days.
Was there in 1979 for my first time, I was 21 and backpacked in the back country. What beauty! Then explored it just about 10 years ago (coincidentally), and was shocked at the destruction of the 1988 fire. It was still very impressive though. Needless to say, I didn’t backpack this time. Heh.
Spent a day in the Old Faithful area in July 2018, staying with relatives outside West Yellowstone. Parking lots were crowded, people parking along roads, but we enjoyed the walkways around the thermal features.
First visited the Park in 1963. Returned in ’76 for some backpacking. Followed up with several winter x-c ski trips between ’76 and ’79 (one a return trip from viewing the Solar Eclipse in Central Montana). Worked as a Wilderness Ranger in ’79 out of Cody, WY, and did several Spring and Fall visits when few people were around. Also visited Fall 2005 on my Lewis & Clark Bi-Centennial re-creation trek from Seaside, OR to Ft. Mandan. And finally, a couple of years ago on a Fall “geology field trip” in the camper van with my partner as she had never been. So, I’ve experienced the Park during several seasons over many years. Oh my how things have changed…and not necessarily for the better in terms of visitor experience. But then again, I think it was John Steinbeck in Travels With Charley, that stated more-or-less that National Parks are freaks of nature. Thus, the reason folks visit. That, and wolves, why even Lamar Valley now crowded in winter!
God’s country. Breath taking. Magnificent. Awe inspiring. Been several times. As early as childhood, some in between, the last 10 years ago. Decided on the spur of the moment & scored a canceled slot in Fishing Bridge RV Park. It was my husband’s 65th birthday. First part of June. Coming from the east at the summit, while it was snowing, fuel filter decided to go. Husband changed it. That was fun. Got to RV park, weather nice, put out awning. Woke up next morning to 3 or so inches of snow! The awning…it collapsed. Husband had to fix that. It was Sunday, I’m a NASCAR & Dale Jr fan. Husband went up on roof to clear snow from sat dish so I could record race while we were touring the park. What a guy! Touring park with the dusting of snow was spectacular. Husband fished the Fire River. Just so beautiful. June/Sept probably best months. Kids in school. Early/late snow storms are a risk. Would never go in summer time.
We used to live in Bozeman in the early 80’s. Yellowstone was great and I even crossed country skied there in -10 weather. Our trip in 2015~ traffic Jams, crazy busy but the views were great. My cousin was a Ranger and we met up with her a few times. To get a camping spot even then was tough but we camped near fishing village and it was OK but pretty expensive. Not sure if we will rush back. Things change
Forgot to mention my Dad drove one of the buses in the 50’s and my Mom worked at Mammoth around then too but they did not meet there. They had many photo’s of feeding the bears.
First visit was in 1982. Love this park, went every year up thru 1989. Yes, I was in the park as it burned in August of ’88 and again to see it rise up from many ashes in ’89. As a flyfisher it was one the premier destinations (think Madison, Yellowstone, Lamar, the big three). Last visit was in ’96. Never RV’d but camped, as well as lodged at Old Faithful, Roosevelt, Mammoth Definately want to go again. It is a truly magical place.
Wont be going back, was very disappointed with the park in August 2020.
Go back in early June and wait until 2022 or 2023. The road to Mt Washburn will be back open as well as Fishing Bridge. August this year was one of the highest for visitors to date.
Any specifics?
What disappointed you? Can you elaborate? We went in July 2020.it was great. No traffic jams, All WEEK! Mammoth Hot Springs sukd but it always does in dry season so no big deal. Great time. Stayed in Cody, WY at Buffalo Bill SP (nice and close). Plus a rodeo every night in Cody! Cmon. Mad about the lack of cell service? What?
There is something AWESOME about driving around inside an active volcano…Besides the Beauty & Animals & Fishing.. Been there several times, being born in Casper Wyoming
We went a few years ago, after visiting there we went to visit my mom and we’re talking about the trip and she said how each and every time she smells sulfur it took her back to trip her and my dad took there on their honeymoon in 1939 as part of a cross country road trip..
Starting going with as a kid with my family since 1962 every year until as an adult I went every 3rd year. Married and we went every summer until this year.
Was there in September of 2020, will go back soon to see even more.
We were workcampers an RV Park in West Yellowstone during the summer of 2020. In about 6 months we saw most of the park. Will be going back to see the rest of the park next year.
Went for several days in mid-Sept 2019 as part of multi-week trip to Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. Quiet time of the year which we really enjoyed. Can’t imagine being there in high season. Great part of Yellowstone is its various separate areas to visit. We saw Bison, Elk and other wildlife but, disappointedly, no Bison herds. We loved the Grand Prismatic and drive from there to West Yellowstone. The park is amazingly large and wide open.
Yes In July of 2019. Stayed at the Harvest Host Grand Teton Distillery in Driggs Idaho and made the day loop tour. Through the Tetons and Yellowstone Nat. Park.
We haven’t traveled west of here (NY).
We visited the park in September of 2019 and had a great time although we stayed at an RV park outside of Yellowstone.
Our favorite N.P. We were there this past summer for the second time. Just so much to see and do, especially if you like to hike.
Been there once and was stampeded by busloads of foreign people. Didn’t get to enjoy it like we wanted. Will try to re-visit one of these days.
It was great this summer (2020) because tour buses of foreigners were non-existent. They were not allowed due to COVID. Plenty of space to move around and no crowds.
Went once in 2013. Was there for 7 days. Spent 4 of the seven days looking for a parking spot at the different locations. Made the reservations a year in advance. Not worth going back due to the crowds.