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Bubbling geysers spout as if they’re Mother Earth’s pressure valves, the hot springs shimmer in vibrant colors, and the mudpots simmer in the roaring heat, all while wild valleys are blanketed with grasslands that vary in hues by season, and the distant sound of bears, wolves, and bison is unique music to the ears.

Indeed, Yellowstone National Park is one of the most essential American experiences in the U.S. However, due to its popularity, it can become overcrowded, particularly during peak season, when the park endures heavy foot traffic.

Still, Yellowstone’s true magic reveals itself when you try a few tricks to skip the long lines. These little-known hacks will get you to the park’s awe-inspiring features. No need to jostle for photos at Old Faithful or elbow your way to the overlook to see the otherworldly Grand Prismatic Spring. Consider these savvy hacks to skip Yellowstone’s long lines, the reality of which has been rather grim recently, and dodge the big crowds.

9

Enter Through A Lesser-Used Yellowstone Entrance

There are five entrances to Yellowstone, with the West Entrance from West Yellowstone and the South Entrance from Grand Teton being the busiest. To dodge the crowds from these two entrances, you can go to the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, the closest city to Yellowstone National Park. It’s also the only entrance that’s open year-round.

The East Entrance in Cody, Wyoming, is another option, as it connects with scenic Highway 14 and has less traffic. But the most scenic and most peaceful entrance is the Northeast Entrance via Cooke City, Montana, as it gives access to the park’s beautiful Lamar Valley, and the drive along the scenic Beartooth Highway offers incredible views of the Beartooth Mountains.

8

Start Your Day Early — Really Early

The Yellowstone entrances aren’t gated, so you should be able to enter the park at any time of day, seven days a week. Kickstart your day at the park at the earliest possible time, at least before 7:30 a.m., to beat the traffic, crowds, tour buses, and the day-trippers.

• Park Hours: Open 24 hours, year-round
• Number of Visitor and Information Centers: 10
• Visitor Centers Office Hours: Vary by location and seasonal closures

Getting to Yellowstone early gives you a good chance to get to the park’s most popular sites, including Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Norris Geyser Basin. And the best thing about being early in Yellowstone? The wildlife is more active early in the morning!

7

Go Late In The Day

Ever wondered how to get those epic golden skies photos of Yellowstone? Go after 5:00 p.m. Day-trippers have typically dispersed during this time, and you get to snap a photo of the gorgeous open skies, painted in vibrant hues when the sun goes down—no elbows required.

Other popular Yellowstone attractions, including the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, Montana’s most underrated spot, are also quieter around this time later in the day. And if you fancy evening drives in the stunning Lamar Valley, you’ll often find it traffic and crowd-free.

6

Visit During Yellowstone’s Shoulder Seasons

Visiting Yellowstone National Park during the peak season will make you want to drive back home. It’s busy in the summer, particularly from late June to August, when all park facilities are open and when the weather is warm. But if you’re willing to bargain some of the activities and facilities in the park, visit in the shoulder seasons—at least in May, early June, mid-September, and early October.

• Best Months to Visit: May, early June, mid-September, and early October
• Busiest Months in Yellowstone: Late June, July, August, and early September

The weather is cooler during these months, more lodging options, fewer crowds, and less traffic. But services are limited, and facilities might still be closed. However, you’ll have the best Yellowstone experience. It’s still worth it.

5

Go Against The Flow

You’ve surely heard the famous adage, “go with the flow.” But it might not work in Yellowstone National Park, so you may have to “go against the flow.” Most travelers drive clockwise, from the West or South entrances, which mostly have a surge of traffic.

• Best Non-Traffic Flow: From the East or Northeast entrances
• Busiest Traffic Flow: From the West or South entrances

But if you drive counter-clockwise, say from the East or Northeast entrances, you should be able to beat the traffic waves.

4

Hike Away From The Roads

Most Yellowstone visitors never hike more than a mile from the road, or at least from their car, especially since some of the most popular attractions, including the Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and other beautiful vantage points along the Grand Loop Road, are easily accessible by car and require little walking from the road.

However, this also means you have to rub elbows with the crowds, which is no fun. But if you hike a trail that’s at least a short distance from the road, even those short hikes, such as the Mystic Falls Trail or Fairy Falls Trail, you’ll find yourself in solitude, peace, and an amazing communion with Yellowstone’s wild nature… and, of course, away from the big crowds. Plus, some of Yellowstone’s boardwalk paths have “hidden” extensions that aren’t as busy as the roadside attractions.

3

Use Turnouts And Avoid Bison Jams

Wildlife traffic jams are common in Yellowstone as free-roaming animals often cross the roads, particularly near rivers, meadows, and grasslands. Bison jams are mostly expected to happen, as well as other animals, like elk, deer, and pronghorn, as they move to different grazing areas frequently. Wildlife jams can last more than an hour. While this is an amazing experience to see them up close, right from the comfort of your car, it might disrupt your schedule, especially if you don’t have much time. To avoid this, consider using side roads.

Yellowstone’s side roads, such as the Firehole Lake Drive, are fairly uncrowded with breathtaking views of geothermal features. Consider driving early or late in the afternoon to dodge the wildlife jams.

2

Download The Yellowstone App

The National Park Service has its own official app for a comprehensive experience. You may download the app ahead of your visit to Yellowstone for real-time updates on geyser predictions, interactive maps, road closures, and parking availability, among others. This will be a huge help in your park exploration, especially since there’s minimal cell signal in parts of Yellowstone.

Make sure to download offline content, such as maps and guides. With real-time updates, you get to plan ahead of your visit to dodge traffic jams and long lines.

1

Skip Midday Parking Fights

Parking is often an issue in Yellowstone National Park, and you can already imagine that the parking areas fill up quickly by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m., especially in the Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin, and Canyon Village parking areas. If you want to be there first, as mentioned earlier, go before 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. or late in the afternoon to get a good spot to park your vehicle.

In the instance that you’re at the park during these times, you can use your time to make a stop at lesser-known spots, like Blacktail Plateau Drive, Artists Paintpots, and Firehole River. Yellowstone is huge, so there are plenty of scenic areas for you to check out, other than scorching through the parking areas at midday.