How to Beat the Yellowstone Crowds During the Busy Summer Months

Tips and tricks about managing the overwhelming crowds that summertime brings

Our time in Yellowstone National Park was short and sweet due to crowds we weren’t entirely prepared for. We hope this will give you more of a sense of what to expect during your time in the big YNP.

Yellowstone is located directly eight miles north of The Grand Teton National Park, so many people tend to hit both parks on the same trip, just like we did. While we didn’t really feel overcrowded in the Tetons, we definitely felt the extreme amount of people in Yellowstone. This could be due to the fact there is only one road with no turn outs that link all of Yellowstone’s varied features throughout the park, or the fact that this particular National Park attracts millions of visitors each year, with most visiting in the warmer months.

Disclaimer: We only traveled the southern loop within the park due to our overwhelmed experience of people and cars. The follow tips are from our experience in the busiest parts of YNP. We hope to come back to properly visit Yellowstone in it’s best time of Fall or Spring.

Yellowstone: Why bother?

This National Park is the park of parks. Declared a National Park in 1872, it’s the first area of land that was deemed a protected place by the U.S. government, with over 3,400 square miles to explore. If that doesn’t peak your interest, then it should. Vast miles of terrain are dotted with countless attractions and sights of geysers, geothermal features, canyons, valleys, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers, and it’s also home to many variations of wildlife including the Big Five (bison, grizzly bear, wolves, moose and mountain lions). There’s plenty to see and explore whether you are driving through or staying for several days, so make sure you see the main attractions but also make time for the smaller, overlooked sights. All are unique, interesting and cause you to question how on earth such features came to be.

Getting Into the Park:

Lines may be long getting into the park after 10am, so set that alarm and don’t hit snooze if you are staying outside the gates. We were told by one family that the lines mid-day to get in at the South Entrance went on for roughly 4 miles, and we know you don’t want to get stuck in that. On both days we entered the park, we were in line for one mile around the 1pm mark on day one, and half that on day two at roughly 10:30am. Also, if you are planning to hit other National Parks this year, or are looking to enter the park for several days, we recommend purchasing the ‘America The Beautiful’ Pass, an $80 investment that gets you into all National Parks and Monument Preserves throughout the country. We purchased ours from REI, but you can also purchase ones at the gates of any National Park. Please look into this purchase before you hit those lines though, so that you can get in faster and don’t have to be ‘that person’ who holds up the mile long line.

Fun Fact: Roughly 3.5 million people visit Yellowstone National Park each year, which is more than the visiting rate of the first 60 years of the park’s existence.

Time of Year is Everything:

We hit Yellowstone at it’s peak visiting time, and it obviously showed. We were told that the weeks between the end of June to the middle of July are the busiest time of the whole year, meaning thousands of people are cycling through the park each day. If you are traveling to Yellowstone at this time, know that most visitors are exploring the park midday, so early mornings and late nights are your friend. If you are able to though, late Spring or early Autumn are said to be the best time of year to experience the park, as the crowds are minimal and the scenery is prime. Winter is also a great time to seek solitude, but know that some of the roads into and around the park are not open due to weather.

Managing the Roads with Wildlife:

Something you need to account for is the extreme amount of wildlife that surrounds not only the park, but the roads as well. With 3,400 square miles of park, you would think that there is enough room for the animals to roam, but sometimes that roaming comes very close to the roads, and people love to stop and admire the wildlife in their true habitat. Animal jams are a REAL THING people. Roads are narrow and windy in most parts of the park, so have patience, allow extra time to travel between each destination, mind the speed limits and follow the direction of park rangers if they are directing traffic (especially around said “animal jams”).

Extra notes for drivers – Animal’s will not ask to cross the road, nor will excited people running with their cameras to capture a shot of the wild. Please be on the lookout for both.

Be Prepared for the Extreme Amount of People at Each Main Attraction:

This was something that we weren’t quite prepared for. Coming directly from the Tetons, crowds were a relative term as we were able to bypass crowds by getting off the beaten path. But in Yellowstone, crowds tend to be an understatement. This is mainly true for the attractions of Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Hot Spring, and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the three main stopping points of the southern loop. Now, don’t get us wrong, you definitely need to stop at these main sites, but just know what you’re getting into.

Old Faithful is obviously the busiest and most known spot in the whole park, drawing roughly 30,000 visitors each day during the summer months. With a name that describes it best, it’s safe to say that most of the day will be buzzing with its visitors, as it erupts every 75 to 90 minutes. But don’t worry, even if you show up a minute before the show, there’s plenty of room for everyone so you will still get a great seat in the house. Ask anyone working around Old Faithful about the time the next ‘eruption’ may take place. Park Rangers, store clerks, even someone at the ice cream counter will know when it’s time to see the next show.

Tip: Get a near private show if you show up before 10:30am to Old Faithful. Extra points go to those who want to experience her at dawn.

The Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is one of great color, and it’s also the largest geothermal feature in the park. Between the tropical blues, rusty oranges, and sunshine yellows, it’s no wonder why it attracts each curious visitor making their rounds. Spend time near the river, mosey around the boardwalk, be amazed by the true and raw colors and make sure to keep ahold of your hat. Winds may blow your favorite headpiece into the hot water and you most likely will be unable to retrieve it. We believe we spotted 8 unfortunate hats who had lost their owners due to strong gusts the day we visited.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is pretty spectacular with it’s deep walls of pink, orange and yellow stone along with the roaring sound of the distant waterfall. It was actually something we didn’t even know was in Yellowstone, but we were glad to have made our way around to it. Artist Point is a sight to see within the area deemed Canyon Village, as the views were on point. Timing may be everything here, so think about going early in the morning or late in the evening to get the best experience and atmosphere. The window between 7pm and sunset would be a very amazing time in this spot, as you may experience color overload when the rock surface blends into an amazing sunset sky.

Experience the Park, Even if the Campsites are Booked Out:

Yellowstone is big, and many of the main sights to see are located on the southern loop. If campsites are full or you are looking to save some money, free campsites are located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, just outside the south entrance, and near your go-to attractions. These sites are first come first serve, located sparsely along the well maintained gravel road, and each site houses its own clean pit toilet. It’s best to claim a spot early in the day before going into the park, as spots fill up quickly. Feel free to leave behind a tent or trailer so others know to keep moving along.

Our experience here: We ended linking up again with the group of Aussies we had the pleasure of meeting back in the Tetons. In a spot meant for one, we were able to fit one full sized camper, one pop up, two decked out vans and three oversized trucks. Nothing can describe that night, as we were all tucked around a huge fire until 1am, laughing so hard that Andrew’s side started hurting and I couldn’t remember laughing that hard in a very long time. Needless to say, it was a fantastic night.

Northern Loop Must See List:

Lamar Valley – An amazing place to see wildlife such as wolves, bears, large birds of prey, etc.
Petrified Tree – People tend to forget about this place so go early and you might be able to see Moose!
Mammoth Hot Springs – The Terraces are cool and often change as the earth changes.
Roosevelt & Mammoth Hot Springs – Both are areas worth stopping for. Make sure to check out the shops and lodges as both come with a lot of history!

Hikes That Should Make It On Your To Do List:

Mount Washburn – Located north of Canyon on your way to Roosevelt near Dunraven Pass. Moderate level of difficulty. 6.4 miles up and back. Amazing views of Hayden Valley and surrounding areas when you reach the top.
Bunsen Peak – Located near Mammoth Hot Springs. Moderate level of difficulty. 4 miles up and back. Once you reach the top, you will see views of Mammoth and the landscape of the northern portion of the park!
Beaver Ponds – Located near Mammoth Hot Springs. Moderate level of difficulty. 5.2 miles loop. You will hike through different terrain (i.e woods, open fields, past ponds, etc.)
Storm Point – Located east of Fishing Bridge. The trail starts at Indian Ponds. Easy level of difficulty. 2.1 miles loop or out and back. You will see a variety of wildlife as you hike out to Yellowstone Lake. Beautiful place at sunset!

Sand Meets Summit Travel Tips for Yellowstone During the Summer Months:

Early is always better. Crowds will start appearing around 10:30am and stay out until 7pm at most features in the park, so plan to visit you top spots early in the morning or just before sunset!
Stay free just outside the park. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway provides awesome sites for trailers and tents alike, and each pull out has a clean pit toilet. Remember your bug spray though! Michelle was eaten alive by mosquitos, even with leggings on. It was brutal.
Want to see a bison? Yellowstone is your place. Hit the east roadway between Lake Village and Canyon Village. We’re sure you’ll see a herd or two.
Look for groups of people with monoscope set-ups. They are likely watching high predator wildlife, such as grizzlies and wolves, from miles away. They would love to chat with you about their trackings!
Know beforehand that people will gawk at the wildlife regardless of how many times they’ve seen the same type. Expect traffic jams when any kind of animal is near and watch for people running with their cameras. Drivers be on high alert!

Sand Meets Summit Must Experience List:

West Thumb Geyser Basin – See the sights of geysers and multicolored pools with Yellowstone Lake in the background.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, specially from Artist Point – Grandness does not quite describe this canyon and waterfall. Read above for tips on how to best experience this spot.
The classics like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Hot Spring – Especially the Hot Spring for it’s color. Read above for tips on how to best experience these spots.
Dragon’s Mouth in Mud Volcano area – This feature is just off the road. Michelle loved the sound and sight of Dragon’s Mouth because it literally was like you were at a Disney attraction. It’s located in between Lake Village and Canyon Village.
Norris Geyser Basin – While this area still attracts people, the amount midday is nothing like other attractions. The small museum has some awesome information and the thermal area is the oldest and hottest in all the park.

Shoutout to my cousin, Kelly, who worked at Yellowstone for a summer and was able to contribute the Northern Loop Must See List, as well as the Must Hike List.