Wyoming Official Travel Guide - 2025 Wyoming Official Travel Guide

GETTING THERE

Yellowstone Regional Airport (flyyra.com) is about 3 miles outside Cody near Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance and offers service from Salt Lake City, Denver and Chicago. Jackson Hole Airport (jacksonholeairport.com) is about 60 miles south of Yellowstone and found within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park. Car rentals and shuttle services to lodges inside the parks, nearby towns and hotels are available from both airports.

ARRIVE EARLY (OR LATE)

Getting an early start maximizes your chances of finding parking, quieter trails and clear waters. During the peak season, there’s often daylight until 9 p.m. or later, and many portions of the park clear out substantially by 4 or 5 p.m.

BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PUP

Dogs are not permitted on trails, pathways and boardwalks, inside visitor centers or in any park waters or thermal areas. Want a good rule of thumb? A pet may go anywhere a car can go, including roads, campgrounds, picnic areas and parking lots. Always pick up after your pets and keep them on a 6-foot leash or shorter everywhere you go.

PLAN AHEAD

With more than 2.2 million acres at Yellowstone and 310,000 acres at Grand Teton, the parks make up a sprawling destination, so you probably won’t get to see everything in one trip. Make your must-see list before arriving and plan on a return trip (or two or three).

Keep up to date on the status of park roads and conditions by visiting nps.gov. And be sure to book your campsite or lodge well in advance — these fill quickly, especially during peak season. It’s $35 per vehicle to visit Yellowstone or Grand Teton for one to seven days. Accessibility information can be found for Grand Teton at travelwy.com/nps-teton-access and for Yellowstone at travelwy.com/nps-yell-access.

BE WEATHER AWARE

Temperatures not only vary by season — they vary by elevation. Dress in layers, stay hydrated and be prepared for anything from warm summer temperatures to snow as late as June.

AVOID THE CROWDS

Late June through late August is the parks’ peak visitation season. Visit during the shoulder season in early June and September for a quieter retreat.

GIVE OUR GEYSERS SOME SPACE

Yellowstone’s geysers, not to be confused with hot-springs pools, aren’t for swimming and soaking. Keep your distance from the steaming water — it’s likely to be boiling hot and sometimes dangerously acidic — and stick to the trails, boardwalks and designated paths.

PRACTICE WILDLIFE SAFETY

Turn to p. 65 for wildlife-safety tips, like what to do if you see a bear or if you’re stuck in a wildlife jam. Heading off the beaten path? Consider renting bear spray to keep your adventure group safe and sound: travelwy.com/nps-bear-spray.

PLAN ON DISCONNECTING

Cell service, Wi-Fi and even television can be hard to come by when you’re traveling around Yellowstone and Grand Teton (though there’s now better service in some of Teton’s more developed areas). Be prepared to disconnect for the duration of your visit — and don’t be surprised if sending and receiving texts becomes a challenge.