Yellowstone is America's First National Park. It has numerous American Icons that brings in millions of tourists each year! For those who have had the pleasure to visit this magnificent park easily understand the importance of this crown jewel and frequently talk about their fond memories and dreams of going back again someday. I hope you enjoy these fun facts about Yellowstone and perhaps inspires you to visit this treasure!
Yellowstone National Park Facts
History
Yellowstone National Park is the oldest official National Park
Yellowstone National Park became a National Park on March 1, 1872
Yellowstone in the second oldest national park in the world
President Ulysses S. Grant established Yellowstone as the United States first National Park
Yellowstone National Park is also a designated World Heritage Site and designated Biosphere Reserve.
More than half of the parks 4 million visitors visit during June, July, and August.
Since 2008, annual visitation in Yellowstone has increased by more than 40 percent
4.1 million visitors came to the park in 2018 making it one of the most visited National Park Sites.
Geography and size
96% of Yellowstone is located in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho
The highest point in Yellowstone is Eagle Peak at 11,358 feet.
The lowest point in Yellowstone is Reese Creek at 5,282 feet
Yellowstone National Park is 3,472 square miles and measures 63 miles north to south and 54 miles east to west.
Yellowstone is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.
There are 5 park entrances and 466 miles of roads.
Yellowstone is 5% covered by water; 15% by grassland; and 80% by forests.
There are more than 15 miles of boardwalk in the park
Approximately 1,000 miles of hiking trails can be found in Yellowstone with 92 trailheads and 301 backcountry campsites
Geothermal features, volcano, waterfalls and more
The water that erupts from Old Faithful is 204 degrees Fahrenheit.
Most Old Faithful eruptions last 1.5 to 5 minutes and shoot 130 feet into the air.
Old Faithful erupts every 92 minutes on average.
Maximum depth of Yellowstone Lake is 430 feet, on average the lake is 140 feet deep and has 141 miles of shoreline
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River has a depth of 900 feet
Yellowstone has 1000 to 3000 earthquakes annually.
Yellowstone River is the longest undammed river in the continental U.S. at 692 miles long.
The only active supervolcano in the world that is located on land is in Yellowstone.
1,000 to 3,000 earthquakes occur annually in Yellowstone
More than 500 active geysers can be found in Yellowstone (more than half the world's geysers)
There are at least 290 waterfalls found in the park.
More than 10,000 hydrothermal features can be found in the park.
Old Faithful Geyser was the first-named geyser in Yellowstone.
The Yellowstone Caldera is roughly 45 miles across at its widest point.
The Yellowstone Volcano is considered to be a supervolcano.
Wildlife and Flora
2 species of bears live in Yellowstone - Black bears and grizzly bears
Yellowstone has the largest, free-roaming herd of bison in the world.
Canadian lynx can be found in the park, which is considered to be threatened species.
67 species of mammals are found in Yellowstone
285 species of birds
16 species of fish
5 species of amphibians
6 species of reptiles
There are 1,000+ species of native flowering species
186 species of lichens can be found in the park
Check out our Yellowstone Wildlife Guide
Weather
Yellowstone's Record High was 99ºF in 2002 (Mammoth Hot Springs)
Yellowstone's Record Low was -66ºF in 1933 (West Entrance, Riverside Station).
The average daily temperature at Mammoth Hot Springs: January: 9ºF and in July: 80ºF
Cultural Resources
There are more than 1,800 known archeological sites in the park.
Nez Perce National Historical Trail travels through the park.
26 Native American Tribes are associated with the park.
25 sites, landmarks, and districts on the National Register of Historic Places currently, many more could be listed
National Park Service
There are 11 visitor centers, museums, and contact stations within the park.
Over 2,000 rooms are available in Yellowstone National Park Lodging within the park.
2,150+ campsites within seven Yellowstone Campgrounds
There are more than 1,500 buildings within the park
There is 1 marina within the park
There are 52 picnic areas in Yellowstone
The park service budget for 2017 was 67.6 million
Fun Yellowstone National Park Tours and Activities
4-Hour Morning Kayak on Yellowstone Lake with Lunch- Admire the tree-fringed banks, beaches, and thermal pools of Yellowstone Lake from the water on this morning tour.
After a kayak lesson and time to familiarize yourself with your kayak, set out to explore the West Thumb with your guide. You will paddle for approximately two miles along the West Thumb Geyser Basin as you look for elk and bear along the lakeshore and marvel at the steaming geysers in this incredible area of the park!
Click here to book your tour for the 4-hour Morning Kayak on Yellowstone Lake with Lunch!
Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch - the lush riverside plains of the Lamar Valley are a wildlife watching hotspot within Yellowstone National Park. With this guided hike, you get to explore the natural landscapes as you venture off-road and seek out little-known spots, increasing your chances of seeing wildlife. Look out for buffalo, wolves, eagles, and other animals along the way and watch them from a safe distance in their natural habitat. Tour includes lunch, bear spray, binoculars, trekking pole, backpack(if necessary), coffee and/or tea.
Click here to book your tour for the Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch.
Yellowstone National Park Private Wildlife Tour - Book your private tour with Yellowstone Exposures to ensure a truly unforgettable day with a local expert. Have your day designed and mapped for you by a local professional so that you can utilize it to the fullest.
With snacks, High-quality spotting scopes and binos. Your guide will take photos and video throughout the day. Included a full picnic lunch, snacks, and refreshments.
Click here to book your tour for the Yellowstone National Park Private Wildlife Tour.
Yellowstone National Park Entrance Fee
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Snowmobile - $30.00 Entry for one driver and one passenger (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.
$20.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons) ($25.00 plus $20.00 per person)
$125.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats
$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
Where to stay when visiting Yellowstone National Park
When planning where to stay while vacationing in Yellowstone you will want to determine which area of the park you are planning to visit.
We suggest if possible staying at a few different lodging options to provide easy access to different portions of the park.
Yellowstone National Park Lodging
There are nine National Park Lodges located within the park offering over 2,000 rooms.
Only two lodges are open during the winter - Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
From late spring through fall all of the lodges are open.
- Canyon Lodge and Cabins: 400+ guest rooms spread across 5 hotel-style lodges, with 100+ cabins being more rustic accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
- Grant Village Lodge: 300 guest rooms spread across 6 two-story, hotel-style lodges. Available to book on Expedia
- Lake Hotel and Cabins: Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
- Lake Lodge Cabins: 186 cabins.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins: Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations.
- Old Faithful Inn: Rustic lodge with hotel room-style accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
- Old Faithful Lodge: Cabin accommodations.
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge: Large lodge that has hotel room-style and cabin accommodations. Available to book on Expedia
- Roosevelt Lodge: Cabin accommodations.
Lodging near Yellowstone NP
Gray Wolf Inn & Suites in West Yellowstone - 3-star hotel. Gray Wolf Inn & Suites is located close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, and provides a firepit, laundry facilities, and a 24-hour gym. Adventurous travelers may like the snowmobiling at this hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a business center are available to all guests.
Stage Coach Inn in West Yellowstone - Yellowstone Park West Entrance is located near Stage Coach Inn, which provides free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a gym and a 24-hour business center.
Yellowstone Westgate Hotel in West Yellowstone - At Yellowstone Westgate Hotel, you can look forward to free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a business center are available to all guests.
Brandin' Iron Inn in West Yellowstone - Brandin' Iron Inn is located close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, and provides free full breakfast, laundry facilities, and a fireplace in the lobby. Skiers and snowboarders can spend time on the slopes at this motel offering ski-in/ski-out access and cross-country skiing. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Kelly Inn West Yellowstone - Close to Yellowstone Park West Entrance, Kelly Inn West Yellowstone provides free continental breakfast, a free roundtrip airport shuttle, and a firepit. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room WIFI is available to all guests, along with laundry facilities and a business center.
Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel near Gardiner, MT- Along with self parking, this campground has coffee/tea in a common area and a microwave in a common area. Free continental breakfast and free Wi-Fi in public areas are also provided. Additionally, concierge services, a garden, and barbecue grills are onsite. All 17 accommodations boast heated floor (bathroom) and offer Wi-Fi and 8 bathrooms. Other amenities available to guests include memory foam beds, premium bedding, and rainfall showerheads. Private bathrooms are not ensuite.
Absaroka Lodge near Gardiner, MT- Absaroka Lodge provides amenities like a terrace and a garden. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Yellowstone Big Rock Inn near Gardiner, MT- Yellowstone Big Rock Inn provides a garden and more. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Super 8 by Wyndham Gardiner near Gardiner, MT- Super 8 by Wyndham Gardiner/Yellowstone Park Area provides dry cleaning/laundry services and more. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.
Yellowstone Gateway Inn near Gardiner, MT- 3-star hotel near Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Gateway Inn provides amenities like a garden and laundry facilities. Treat yourself to a massage or other spa services. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi.
Click on the maps below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near Yellowstone NP.
Additional Yellowstone National Park Resources
Things to do in Yellowstone - All of the top things you don't want to miss during a trip to Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Lodging -Check out all of the lodges you can stay in while visiting Yellowstone NP.
Yellowstone Camping Guide - Check out all of the campgrounds available within the park.
Yellowstone Waterfalls - There are quite a few amazing waterfalls in the park.
Montana National Parks - Check out all of the parks you can visit during your vacation.
Wyoming National Parks - Check out all of the Wyoming parks you can visit.
Free National Park Days - Check out all of the days the National Park Service waives park entrance fees.
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply