Travel Budget for Yellowstone National Park

Wyoming, United States of America

How much does it cost to travel to Yellowstone National Park?

How much money will you need for your trip to Yellowstone National Park? You should plan to spend around $118 per day on your vacation in Yellowstone National Park, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $37 on meals for one day and $30 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Yellowstone National Park for a couple is $118. So, a trip to Yellowstone National Park for two people for one week costs on average $1,646. All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
  • One Week Per person
  • 2 Weeks Per person
  • One Month Per person
  • One Week For a couple
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
  • One Month For a couple

A vacation to Yellowstone National Park for one week usually costs around $823 for one person. So, a trip to Yellowstone National Park for two people costs around $1,646 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs $3,292 in Yellowstone National Park. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Yellowstone National Park can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

How expensive is Yellowstone National Park? How much money do I need for Yellowstone National Park?

How much does a trip to Yellowstone National Park cost? Is Yellowstone National Park expensive? The average Yellowstone National Park trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Yellowstone National Park prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Yellowstone National Park
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price for one person for accommodation in Yellowstone National Park is $59. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price for a hotel room in Yellowstone National Park is $118.

  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room

Featured Properties

Vacation Rental Prices in Yellowstone National Park

How much do vacation rentals cost in Yellowstone National Park? Prices vary by location, date, size of the place, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best vacation rental for your travel style.


Transportation Budget in Yellowstone National Park
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in Yellowstone National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $30 per person, per day, on local transportation in Yellowstone National Park.

  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Flights to Yellowstone National Park
How much does it cost to go to Yellowstone National Park? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in Yellowstone National Park
The price of renting a car in Yellowstone National Park will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.

Food Budget in Yellowstone National Park
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in Yellowstone National Park can vary, the average cost of food in Yellowstone National Park is $37 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Yellowstone National Park should cost around $15 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Yellowstone National Park is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

  • Food2 Meals for one day

Entertainment Budget in Yellowstone National Park
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in Yellowstone National Park typically cost an average of $27 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Featured Activities

Alcohol Budget in Yellowstone National Park
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $16 on alcoholic beverages in Yellowstone National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day

Last Updated: Aug 26, 2021
Yellowstone National Park On a Budget
Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park
The world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. The area is famous for its many geysers, hot springs, and thermal areas. It also has a wide diversity of wildlife and stunning beauty, making it one of the most impressive places you can visit in the United States. The national park takes up an area of about 3,472 square miles and is mostly located within the state of Wyoming. It also touches the states of Idaho and Montana.

If you're planning to stay in the park it is absolutely critical that you make reservations well in advance, as almost all of the lodging fills up, particularly during the peak summer months. The same can be said for the area's campgrounds.

The temperature within the park is highly variable. It's best to prepare for all weather types during your visit. The summer months can be pleasant with temperatures around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights can be much cooler, even in the summer. Spring and fall temperatures can range between freezing and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow is not uncommon and night time temperatures can be quite cold. Winter temperatures range from 0 tp 20 degrees Fahrenheit and can drop even colder during the night time hours.
Some of the most famous sights within the park include Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Old Faithful, and Monument Geyser Basin, but there are countless more things to see and do in Yellowstone. The park is famous for its natural beauty and stunning landscape. There are many geothermal features spread throughout the park and it's possible to see more than 300 different geysers. Wildlife that can be seen within the park includes grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk.
Yellowstone can be divided into several major regions. Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge, and Yellowstone Lake are all great areas for boating, fishing, and seeing the parks thermal features. West Thumb and Grant Village are the two villages found on the western side of the lake. They also offer fishing, boating, and hot springs. Old Faithful is perhaps the most famous landmark in the park. It's located near the Old Faithful Inn and is surrounded by geysers and hot springs. Madison is found halfway between Old Faithful and the Norris Geyser basin, and Norris is located south of Mammoth. Mammoth is where you'll find the park headquarters. Tower-Roosevelt is a more rugged area with plenty of wildlife. Canyon Village has impressive natural beauty and recreational opportunities. Because it's so large, you might need a 2-day itinerary to see Yellowstone to make sure that you take it all in.

Yellowstone covers a vast area and there are countless activities that you can enjoy while you're visiting the park. There are some interesting educational programs that are organized by the park service. Stop by the visitor information center on your way into the park and ask for some information. In particular, if you're traveling with children, this can be a fun way to learn about the area's history and geology.

Hiking and wildlife viewing are the most obvious activities within the park. The park information center can provide you with trail maps and suggest trails that are most appropriate for your skill level and interest set.

Other activities within the park include horseback riding, photography, fishing, swimming, and boating.
Food and Dining
You can pick up food supplies in most of the villages throughout the park. There are also snack bars, restaurants and cafeterias in various locations. Prices can be high for the quality of food though, so planning ahead and traveling with your own food is always recommended.

Dining options in the park include dining rooms, cafeterias, and delis in most villages. Dining rooms are upscale restaurants in lodges that usually have breakfast, lunch and dinner available. Cafeterias are a more budget friendly option and usually have sandwiches, wraps, and soup. Delis offer snacks and sandwiches for a relatively cheap price.

While there are a handful of other transportation options within the park, you really do need a private vehicle to fully explore and appreciate Yellowstone National Park (car rental prices here). The area is vast and there is no public transportation near the park. You do have the option to take tours offered by some of the nearby hotels. Xanterra Resorts offers bus tours of the park during the summer months. You can choose between the Lower Loop Tour which covers the southern sections of the park and the Upper Loop Tour which covers the northern portion. There's also a Grand Loop Tour which covers most of the park. There are tours available on a limited basis during the winter months.

Another option that is growing in popularity is to bicycle through the park. You do need to plan ahead to make sure you'll have access to accommodation every night, but this can be a very rewarding way to experience the park.


1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.

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Travel Tips


By Bryan in Accommodation
The best way to stay in the park is by camping. A multitude of park campgrounds with lots of campsites are available for $15 to $25 per site, per night. You can book ahead on the park's reservations website. Also, back country camping is available, but you must first get a permit. There are quotas on the number of people let into different back country areas to help preserve the land and wildlife. Even in the back country, designated spots are used because of fire hazards and bears. Bear poles and boxes are provided as well as fire rings and pits.
