Yellowstone National Park is an amazing place for RVers to visit. If your next RV trip takes you near Wyoming or Montana, I highly recommend making time to see America’s first national park. The scenery and terrain are breathtaking and include dramatic canyons, rushing rivers, steamy colorful hot springs, and gushing geysers just to name a few. It is also home to a large variety of mammals such as wolves, bison, bear, and elk. It’s the ultimate RV destination for those with or without kids.
The months of May to October are the best times to visit Yellowstone, although the summertime will have more crowds. I would definitely recommend that you make RV campground reservations WAY ahead of the time you would like to visit as campsites book up very quickly. Once there, going to the park very early each day will get you the best vantage points and parking spots with the least crowding. Here are some tips for the best places to visit while you are there.
Guest Post by Robin Buck
Old Faithful
You can’t visit Yellowstone without seeing its most popular attraction. Of the park’s 500 geysers, Old Faithful is the most famous and was so named because of its history of faithfully erupting at predictable times (about every 90 minutes). There is even a schedule so you can plan your visit time. You can view Old Faithful expelling its 8,000 gallons of boiling water high into the air from ground level, or you might choose to hike the 1-mile path to the Observation Point and see it from above. This area also has a visitor center, a beautiful lodge, and several shops.
Upper Geyser Basin
Right adjacent to Old Faithful is the Upper Geyser Basin, which has the largest concentration of geysers in the world. There are several miles of easy walking trails situated among the different types and sizes of geysers and hot springs located here. The route to Biscuit Basin, Black Sand Basin, and Geyser Hill will lead you past many spectacular geysers and brilliantly colored pools. It is easy to spend a full day in the area around Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin.
Grand Prismatic Spring
I think the Grand Prismatic Spring was my favorite sight at Yellowstone. This thermal pool is the largest hot spring not only in the park but also in the whole United States. The vibrant colors are mesmerizing as you look at the giant pool with its deep blue center surrounded by rings of bright green, yellow, orange, and red. Each color of algae is specific to a particular temperature in the spring, which ranges from 149 to 189 degrees. You can view the Grand Prismatic Spring on the short boardwalk trail from the parking lot or take the hike to the overlook for a postcard perfect picture.
Mammoth Hot Springs
In the northern section of the park, you will find the beautiful travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. These stairstep-like formations are formed from deposits left after hot water rises to the surface. The soft white and beige terraces look like frozen waterfalls in a winter wonderland (even in the summer!). You can walk along the boardwalk pathways, tour historic Fort Yellowstone, or visit the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel shops in the area.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
One of the most photographed views in the park is at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. From a place called Artist Point you will see water plunging 300 feet over the Lower Falls and then roaring down the 20 mile long, 1000-foot-deep canyon. We did several hikes along the north and south rim trails where overlooks provide an up-close look at the powerful rush of water at the falls. These were moderate hikes because of the terrain, but well worth it!
So Much to See
These are just a few of the amazing sights at Yellowstone National Park. In addition to the hundreds of geysers and hot springs, don’t miss Lamar Valley for great wildlife viewing or Yellowstone Lake for fishing in the largest high-elevation lake in North America. There are also hiking trails for exploring and lots of waterfalls to see. With 2.2 million acres to discover, you will make incredible memories and want to visit Yellowstone again and again. Looking for an RV to get you there? Check out our inventory today at La Mesa.
Robin and her husband, Mike, are Air Force veterans and empty nesters who travel full-time in their Entegra Anthem motorhome. Always ready to explore, they love nature and wildlife, meeting new friends, and discovering America’s many hidden gems. Robin chronicles their adventures and experiences on her travel blog RVing with Robin.
