Have you ever wanted to have a Yellowstone National Park Vacation, but you weren’t sure where to start? This national park is one of the best ones out there, which results in thousands of visitors every year. If you’re going to visit, you don’t want to miss out on precious time! There are things you can do to help make your experience even more awesome.
6 Must Know Yellowstone National Park Vacation Hacks
Get to the Park Early
Anytime you get to the park early, you are getting an advantage over the rest of the crowds. As sad as it is to say there are crowds in a National Park, it’s true.
Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are two very popular natural attractions in the park. Set your alarm and drag the family out of bed early.
By lunchtime these locations are packed. It’s important to get to the park early so that you can sightsee!
Layer Your Clothes
It’s no secret that Yellowstone National Park can be warm and then cold. One Yellowstone National Park vacation hack is to layer your clothing. You don’t know when the weather will change or how you will feel.
Many times it can be cold then you get into a geyser area like West Thumb Geyser Basin and because of the steam let off
As you go through the park, the weather can change. You can be prepared for anything that comes by weather-wise.
Pack a Lunch
Sometimes you get stuck in traffic because bison show up on the side of the road or they lay down in the middle of the road. It happens, and because it does you may not be near food when lunchtime rolls around so it’s best to have your lunch with you.
Related: Breathtaking Yellowstone Scenic Drives
See the bison in the photo above? There were about 8 of them standing right on the edge of the road. You can tell, they are right next to my car there. This was a lesser populated area of Yellowstone so the traffic jam was minimal but it happens!
Check Out the Visitor Centers
If it’s a bit crowded or the weather isn’t cooperating, then checking out the visitor centers is a good idea. There are a couple of visitor centers that can help you stop and get the information that you need.
These are only 3 of the visitor centers found in the park, but there is ten total. You can step inside the park and talk to a ranger, which can be really cool for kids and adults.
You can also see exhibits, ask questions, and even get to know the park better.
Have Transportation
Yellowstone is the size of a small state so you will want to have transportation. This is going to be the best way to get around and see everything you want to do.
Related: Scenic Beartooth Highway – What You Need To Know
I do suggest having your own car to drive but you can always do a shuttle tour as well. But when you have your own car you can make unexpected stops like the one above. This is a small stop along the Yellowstone River!
If you are driving your self make sure to fill up each time you pass a gas station in the park. There are a few but they aren’t everywhere and with how big the park is you don’t want to run out of gas.
Get off the beaten path
Everyone wants to see the famous spots of Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and the others that get so busy. Of course, they are something to see but make sure you get off the beaten path and see the smaller things to do as well.
I spent a few hours at the West Thumb Geyser Basin which was just as stunning as the Old Faithful Geyser Basin but right on Yellowstone Lake. The picture above is of the Black Pool there and the colors are mesmerizing!
I hope these Yellowstone National Park Vacation Hacks help you find your way around the park a lot better. What hacks would you add to this list?