1. Plan, plan, plan-I cannot reiterate this enough (and I am not a planner). Make a plan, map out an itinerary, go to the library and get a good book on Yellowstone. We didn't start planning until we left our house but I had 18 hours to read about it and we entered that park with a map, a written itinerary and lists and I am so glad that we did. We would have missed out on so much had I not taken the time to do my research.
2. Binoculars-If you pack one extra item, make sure it is binoculars. There is so much wildlife in Yellowstone but much of it is at a distance and you won't see it well without binoculars. The bear that we saw was very hard to see without binoculars and a kind woman was letting anyone who was interested to look through her telescope at the bears.
 |
The wildlife and the fauna are incredible! Get ready to see them better with binoculars. |
3. Bear Spray-If you are planning on leaving your car and walking off the beaten path, purchase bear spray. Read how to use the bear spray (you don't want to spray yourself in the face). We went on several hikes and carried it with us at all times. The closer you get to Yellowstone, the more expensive bear spray is to purchase. Did we see a bear? Yes, we did! We saw a mother bear and her cub. We were parked with several other cars on the side of the road looking (at a safe distance) at her cub and her through binoculars.
4. Plan on Down Time-Yellowstone is wonderful but exhausting. You are in the car for 3-4 hours a day and then you are walking/hiking for 3-4 hours a day. Your children will be tired and cranky. You will be tired and cranky. We ended each day at 5:00 PM and we were back at the hotel to swim, watch a movie and just hang out. By the end of our trip my son cheered when he saw a bench on the trail (instead of the beautiful sights on the trail).
 |
This stunning view is at Lake Yellowstone on the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Between the water and the sun, you will need sunscreen. |
5. Early morning-The best time to see animals is in the early morning or at dusk. If you want a good chance at seeing a moose, you will need to get everyone in the car and out the door very early. (Like before sunrise early.)
6. Camping Chairs-Our motto was "off the beaten path" and we spent time sitting by rivers, lakes and in a beautiful meadow...on the hard ground. About halfway into Day 1 my husband said, "We should have packed camping chairs."
 |
Our absolute favorite finds at Yellowstone were places that we found away from the main attractions like this river. |
7. Layers-Anyone who has ever gone to Yellowstone will tell you-pack layers! This is because you will go into the park at 7:00 AM and it will be 40 degrees, then at noon it is 78 degrees and at 2:00 PM there will be a rain storm. It rains very often at Yellowstone, make sure to have ponchos or a raincoat. We had extra socks in our car and jackets that could be tied around our waists.
 |
We started the day in jackets and pants at the Norris Geyser Basin and by the end of the day we were in shorts and tees. |
8. Eat While Driving-This tip was given to us by a couple of friends who had gone earlier in the summer. One thing you'll find out about Yellowstone once you arrive is that you drive a lot which is hard because you have already driven 18 hours to get there! Yellowstone is so big that you have to drive everywhere to get to the next destination. The speed limit is slow and there can be a lot of traffic which slows you down as well. We packed our food the night before and we ate all of our meals while on the road between destinations. And while you are at it-pack a lot of food!
9. Avoid the Summer Months-From mid June to the end of August, Yellowstone is packed. I'm talking Disney World during Christmas vacation packed. You will be in traffic jams on the main roads, you will be shoulder-to-shoulder at Old Faithful. I have been to Yellowstone and Jackson during May when no one is there and in July when everyoen is there. If you can avoid those summer months and get there in late May/early June (you get to see all the animal babies!) or early September, that is better. But if you are like us and can't go then, it is ok. There are ways to see the park without feeling like all of humanity is hiking with you. We went during July with our kids and had a fantastic time.
 |
This photo is of Old Faithful and the crowd waiting to see it blow. We luckily arrived early and were able to find a seat. |
10. Off the Beaten Path-You can "see" Yellowstone from your car and at the major destinations like Old Faithful. You will only see 1/1000th of the park that way and if you go during the mid June-August months you will be thousands of other people. Want to escape the masses? Go off the beaten path. Bring a book or get a detailed map and find a good path. Most of the side roads in Yellowstone are not accessible by RV. We had our minivan in Yellowstone and we were able to go on the side roads and see so many beautiful sights and then find hiking trails where we wouldn't see another soul. I can't recommend this enough.
We were the only people on this walkway. It was right next to a very crowded major attraction. |
Want to learn more about visiting Yellowstone? Click on one of our articles.
| Our 3-4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary for Families | Driving to Yellowstone: Good Stops Along the Way | |
 |  |  |
