Important Things to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park

The most affordable way to experience Yellowstone is to keep it simple and plan your trip roughly six months ahead. Start with the park entry fee, which is $35 per vehicle for seven days (or you could grab an America the Beautiful Pass for $80, which covers all national parks and federal public lands for a full calendar year). As far as lodging goes, camping is the wallet-friendly winner. Campsites inside the park run about $20 to $39 a night, plus taxes, but they book up well in advance, so reserve early through Yellowstone National Park Lodges or Recreation.gov. Outside of the park, national forests often have cheaper first-come, first-served campsites for visitors who still want to enjoy s’mores by the campfire. HipCamp is also an incredibly useful resource that allows people to post private campsites on their property, sort of like Airbnb, but for camping. Skip expensive restaurants by stocking up on groceries in gateway towns like West Yellowstone or Cody. Gas is typically cheaper in nearby towns, too, so fill up before entering the national park each day. With a nylon tent, a cooler full of ice, and a little extra planning, you can marvel at Yellowstone’s spewing geysers, colorful canyons, and incredible wildlife on a shoestring budget.