Planning a National Park road trip? Before you leave home, check out these best Yellowstone Things to See and Do!

Not only are national parks a totally frugal way to vacation, but they also give us an amazing excuse to get out and explore a new part of our country. And Yellowstone is by far one of the most amazing places you’ll ever visit!
So what are you waiting for? Here’s your chance to explore the best parts of Yellowstone National Park even before you leave home.
Plan your dream vacation to Yellowstone, while staying on budget, with these creative travel tips…
Related:
- The 10 Most Spectacular National Parks you NEED to Visit!
A special thanks to frugal friend Amanda for sharing the beautiful Yellowstone NP photo above!
How To Visit Yellowstone On A Budget:
So You’re Planning a Trip to Yellowstone? To keep your vacation budget-friendly, you’ll need to plan ahead. One of the first things you’ll want to do is start stashing cash away for your ‘Yellowstone Trip Fund’. Need to increase your travel fund stash? One of the easiest ways is to make extra money on the side in your free time! Here’s my favorite trick for ramping up the vacation budget…
Easy Side Hustles to Save Money For Vacation
Yellowstone National Park entrance fees can really add up, so be sure to take advantage of these easy ways to save on your Park Entrance Fees. Then… don’t miss the tips I’ve included that will show you how to score FREE National Park Passes for 4th Graders, Veterans and Disabled!
6 Ways To Score Cheap or FREE National Park Passes!
Now keep reading for all the very best Yellowstone travel tips and things to do shared by myself and your frugal friends…
Best Yellowstone Things to See and Do
AmyRose said: “We got to feed baby bears at a sanctuary. If you see people congregating on a road, there is probably a bear! Always elk by the little chapel. Tons of buffalo everywhere. Food is expensive, pack a lunch. Don’t picnic!! Bring a video camera and rent a scope!”
A special thanks to frugal friend Laura for sharing this beautiful picture above from her recent trip to Yellowstone.
Kourtney said: “Visit Old Faithful and eat at the lodge! Crazy Horse was a sight to see along with Mount Rushmore.”
Lisa said: “Firehole Lake Drive”
Deanna said: “The prismatic pools are gorgeous.”
Jennifer said: “Been 4 times-love it there! The town square is fun and they do a Wild West show every afternoon that’s fun for the kids. We love The Bunnery for breakfast. Yellowstone is magical-so hard to see it all during your trip. Jenny Lake hike is beautiful with several waterfalls. Of course Old Faithful is a must. I would definitely take clothes for cooler temps. It gets cooler at night and mornings. Mammoth Hot Springs is also neat to see in the park. A must is sunscreen even though it’s cooler! Also Pinky G’s Pizzeria is great!”
Michelle said: “Must see is the falls, Old Faithful and the sign when you enter the park. For the best sites, it depends on where you are entering and leaving the park… the Montana part is awesome, the Wyoming is good in certain parts.”
Mary said: “Yellowstone Things to Do and See? Go to the chuck wagon dinner. It makes you feel a little like a cowboy.”
Lauren said: “Do not miss Artists Point.”
Sarah said: “Renting a boat to tool around Lake Yellowstone is a must. Tent camping near the lake is awesome. Yellowstone Falls – beautiful. All the geothermals, especially Azure Spring, Morning Glory Pool, Sapphire Pool, and the Fountain Paint Pots.”
Natalia said: “Swim in the river for sure & stop by the lodge for dinner or lunch.”
Liz said: “Just got back… my kids loved having ice cream in the old lodge by Old Faithful, then watching it from the balcony, visiting the new visitor center, having picnic lunches by the rivers in the designated spots, skipping rocks on the huge Yellowstone lake, having ice cream in Mammoth, taking a little dip on the Boiling River, and of course they love all the stinky smelling guy sets & hot springs.
Dinosaur & Space Museum at Montana State in Bozeman (1 hour north) is a must!!!”
Amanda said: “We were just there a couple of weeks ago – my favorite was animal watching at sunrise in Lamar Valley!”
Andrea said: “Yes, animal watching in Lamar Valley!! LOVED IT!! We also loved Old Faithful and all of the other thermals around it. Get some ice cream, go to the 2nd floor of Old Faithful Inn (which is amazing), and watch Old Faithful from there. We went 2 years ago and we talk about it a lot. Can’t wait to go back!”
Jill said: “Have to go to Lamar Valley at 4 am. Definitely worth seeing the wolves. Also, rent a scope.”
Beth said: “Have breakfast at the Roosevelt Lodge on the northeast side… one of the most peaceful mornings I have ever had! Then you can head out to view the animals in the Lamar Valley from there.”
A special thanks to frugal friend Laura for sharing this fun picture above from her trip to Yellowstone…. check out that Buffalo leading traffic!
Margaret said: “We love West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. So many Yellowstone Things to Do and See! Jenny Lake at Grand Tetons is my favorite spot. We love looking for animals. May and June are great times to go because the animals have had their babies.”
Mal said: “There are 5 entrances to Yellowstone, and Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore are an 8 hour drive east of Yellowstone. The entrance most used is the Grand Teton entrance out of Jackson Hole
Our family has been 3 times – if you can plan early, you can book a night or two at Old Faithful lodge. It is worth it as you do not have to leave the park and re-enter, which takes up a good hour or more a day. You should do a lot of research as there is SO MUCH to see.”
Krizinne said: “Avoid Jackson. Stay in Dubois. There is a cookout with local talent Thursday, a rodeo Friday, then head to the park.”
Donna said: “We just got back from there. We stayed in Big Sky Montana and drove in to Yellowstone daily. You have to visit as many of the basins as you can. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a must. See as many of the falls as you can.”
ToVah said: “If you are coming into Yellowstone from the southwest, through Idaho, there is a little town named Rigby. In Rigby is the most beautiful bed and breakfast. It is called The Blue Heron Inn. It sits right on the Snake River and moose and bald eagles are frequent visitors. I love it there, so peaceful and beautiful.”
Kathy said: “Check out Yellowstone National Park’s Facebook page.”
Colleen said: “Lower Falls is worth the walk/hike, Grand Teton National Park is awesome too.”
Tina said: “Cody, Wyoming is a wonderful small town. Buffalo Bill’s Museum was phenomenal. Really enjoyed stopping in the Badlands and in Custer State Park also.”
Sarah said: “Yellowstone Things to Do and See? I agree that Cody, Wyoming is a wonderful little town with great restaurants and lovely people… great place to stop if you are coming in the Eastern Entrance of Yellowstone.”
Yellowstone National Park Camping Tips:
201 Camping Tips and Tricks
These little-known camping tips and tricks for beginners to pros are about to take your next adventure to the next level!!
60+ Easy Camping Menu Tips
Enjoying a good old fashioned S’mores in the great outdoors tastes amazing!
125+ RV Recipes
Heading to Yellowstone in your RV? After a big day exploring Yellowstone, you’ll be hungry hungry hungry!
Yellowstone Road Trip Tips
Before you head out on the road, don’t leave home without reading these tips:
20 Road Trip Must Haves
How To Save On Gas {20 Genius Hacks}
34 Ways To Entertain Kids On A Trip
More Yellowstone Money Saving Vacation Tips:
20 Ways To Save Money On Rental Cars
35+ Southwest Airlines Hacks! {What To Know Before You Fly}
25 American Airlines Flight Hacks {Tricks To Know Before You Fly}
23 Delta Airlines Travel Hacks
How to Travel for Free or Cheap {18 Brilliant Budget Hacks}
Yellowstone Packing List
–> REI Discounts: Start scoring the best REI Discounts when you use these 10 popular REI money saving tips to help fuel your outdoor adventures!
–> Shop smarter when you use these these clever Cabela’s Sale Hacks {Secrets to Save BIG!}
–> Use a Free Bass Pro Shop Gift Card + these 19 Clever Shopping Hacks to get ready!
–> Take A Paper Map. Cell phone reception can be scarce when you are exploring a national park, so make sure to pack a Paper Yellowstone National Park Map!
–> Bug Repellent to keep all those bugs away. Be extra frugal when you try one of these 17 DIY Bug Repellent Tricks. Having some repellent handy is a must when you stop to have a snack on the trail. You really don’t want your food to make you too popular with the flying insect world!
Now that you know the best Yellowstone Things to See and Do, are you ready to start dreaming of more fabulous trips to the Most Spectacular National Parks?
Check out even more Frugal Travel Tips for your next trip here…
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So now that you’ve scored all of these Yellowstone NP tips, don’t miss out! Get all the latest fun new Frugal Girls Tips, Recipes + more right here…
So… what are your favorite Yellowstone Things to See and Do?
Leave a comment & share!
Christie says
I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone so much! I hope to one day and when I do i’ll be referencing this list Heidi! Thanks for sharing!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Christie! You will absolutely LOVE it!!
Chuck says
Excellent family destination. Took the kids there as the final leg of our vacation back in the “90’S” and the family had a blast. Coming out of the park I came around a corner and a buffalo was standing in road. When I slammed the brakes everything came to the front, took 1/2 hour to put everything back together. We still laugh about it. Rangers were very helpful helping us on our way. Ol faithful was cool.
Confederate Kat says
Yellowstone is where I think God went on the 7th day to rest. He looked around and said “I did good…real good!”.
STEVE GRINSTEAD says
PLEASE SEND ME A LIST OF PLACES TO STAY NEAR YELLOWSTONE.
THANKS, STEVE