Early Fall is my favorite time to visit Yellowstone National Park. Most of the tourists are gone and I feel as though I have the park to myself. Unlike the summer chaos, Yellowstone National Park is peaceful. I have time to reflect when walking the trails.
Fall colors are just starting to pop and the elk have begun mating season. Because there are fewer tourists in the park after Labor Day, you don’t have to deal with the traffic in the more popular areas such as Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. I can stop my car to watch the occasional wolf or bear without having 40 cars surround me.
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful place to hike in the fall. Normally the air is crisp in the morning, and it does not get too hot in the afternoon. And there is something magical about hiking in Yellowstone National Park during a brief snowstorm.
Where to Stay at Yellowstone National Park
Most of the lodges are open until the first week of October. And yes, there is still room at many of them. You can choose from lodges, inns, cabins, and camping sites. Many close in early September but The Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Old Faithful Inn and Cabins, Lake Hotel and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins are open until the first week of October.
I always try to stay at the Old Faithful Inn for at least one night when I’m at the park. It is considered the world’s largest log structure and is truly awe inspiring. There is a path from the Inn down to Old Faithful and the Firehole River where you can see smaller geysers and mud pots erupt. Or you can sit on the porch and watch Old Faithful Geyser erupt. It is also a favorite spot for elk. Just give them space!
Another of my favorite places to stay is the Lake Hotel which sits on the bank of Yellowstone Lake. It first opened in 1891 and was remodeled in 2012-2014. You can sit in the restaurant in the morning drinking your coffee and watching the steam rise off the lake. There are trails down to the lake as well as a few small geysers on the shore. Elk and bison occasionally wander around the hotel.
I try to stay at the cabins by the Mammoth Hot Springs during my stay as well. This gives me access to the north end of the park and Lamar Valley where you can see herds of bison as well as the occasional wolf. I prefer to stay in the cabins rather than the hotel because it is more rustic. It is just a short walk to the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel which has a dining room and snack bar. Each cabin has a small porch which is perfect for watching the night sky. I’ve seen elk around the cabins in the morning.
There are many dining options from fine dining to casual dining. Fine dining can be found at the Old Faithful Inn, Lake Hotel and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. I always make a reservation just to be sure I have a table. Snack bars, casual dining and convenience stores are located at these three locations as well as the Roosevelt and Canyon Lodges. However, the Roosevelt Lodge closes in August.
Yellowstone National Park Lodges offers a few packages as well. These packages include lodging at one of the Park’s Hotels or Lodges plus some meals and personal time with one of the Park’s Field Educators. There are options for everyone with packages including more adventurous hiking trails to guided park tours.
You can book a room or a package through Yellowstone Park Lodges.
Getting to Yellowstone
You can get to Yellowstone National Park by flying into either Boseman, Montana or Jackson Hole, Wyoming and renting a car to drive to the park. Airports a bit farther away are in Billings, Montana (230 miles away) or Salt Lake City, Utah (320 miles away). I’ve always preferred to fly into Boseman and drive down the scenic Gallatin River Valley.
Entrance Fees
The entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park is $35.00 and is valid for 7 days so you can easily drive in and out of the park during your stay. If you think you will visit other National Parks during the calendar year, purchase the Annual Pass for $80.00. The Annual Pass for US citizens aged 62+ is only $20.00. Those currently in or have been in the military can obtain a free annual pass.
There is also the America the Beautiful Pass as well as a LIFETIME Senior Pass for US Citizens aged 62+. Both passes are $80.00. This pass can be used at over 1,000 National Parks and Recreational sites including sites.
Check out all the options at the National Park Service site: National Park Service Park Passes
I hope that this has inspired you to visit Yellowstone National Park in the fall either this year or next year. Please reach out if you have any questions about lodging, flights, or rental cars. I am more than happy to help you plan your trip.
