What is the Entrance Fee to Yellowstone National Park? UPDATED for 2022!

With around 4 million folks visiting Yellowstone each year it takes a lot of resources and finances to help ensure that park visitors have an enjoyable experience and that the natural wonders of Yellowstone are protected for future generations. An annual budget of approximately $70 million helps fund many of the park’s needs.

Entrance Fees to Yellowstone National Park are Available in the Following:

Seven-Day Passes:

· $35 – private, non-commercial vehicle

· $30 – motorcycle or snowmobile

· $20/person – by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.

Annual Pass: $70 – good for one year covering everyone in your vehicle through the month of purchase.

America the Beautiful Annual Senior Pass: $20 (plus $10 handling fee) – this pass is valid for one full year from the from month of purchase (through last day of that month).

America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass: $80 – this lifetime senior pass (eligible to purchase at age 62) provides entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites covering entrance fees at national parks and national wildlife refuges as well as standard fees at national forests and grasslands.

Access Pass: Free – a lifetime admission and discount pass for US citizens or permanent residents with documentation of permanent disability.

Nearly $9 million is generated from park entrance fees each year and 80% of these fees is returned directly to Yellowstone National Park and helps with funding for roads, campgrounds, accessibility features, native fish restoration projects, facilities improvements, and other infrastructure projects.

Free entrance to Yellowstone during these 5 days in 2022. Those dates are:

· January 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

· April 16: First day of National Park Week

· August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act

· September 24: National Public Lands Day

· November 11: Veteran’s Day

Cost of Lodging (Hotels and Cabins) in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park has nine lodging facilities with over 2,000 rooms. Of course, the cost of rooms depends on the hotel or cabin in which you stay. Most hotel rooms cost between $150 - $300 per night. To learn more about lodging policies, hotel or cabin costs, and to make reservations call directly at 307-344-7311 or email: reserve-ynp@xanterra.com.

For the 2022 Season:

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins: Opens April 29 - Closes November 27

Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins: Opens June 3 - Closes September 5

Canyon Lodge & Cabins: Opens May 20 - Closes October 10

Old Faithful Inn: Opens May 6 - Closes October 10

Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins: Opens May 13 - Closes October 2

Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins: Opens April 29 - Closes October 30

Grant Village: Opens May 27 - Closes October 2

Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins: Opens May 13 - Closes October 2

Lake Lodge Cabins: Opens June 10 - Closes October 2

Cost of Camping in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park has 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 sites, providing you the visitor with a real outdoor experience of sleeping under the stars. Eight (8) campgrounds take reservations, and Four (4) are first-come, first-serve. To make reservations visit recreation.gov , call directly at 307-344-7311 or email: reserve-ynp@xanterra.com.

Campgrounds that take reservations - 2022 Season:

Bridge Bay: Opens May 20 - Closes September 5 Nightly Fee: $27.00

Canyon: Opens May 27 - Closes September 18 Nightly Fee: $32.00

Fishing Bridge RV Park: Open May 20 - Closes Oct 8 Nightly Fee: $50.00

Grant Village: Opens June 03 - Closes September 11 Nightly Fee: $32.00

Madison: TBA Nightly Fee: $29.00

Mammoth: Open Year-Round Nightly Fee: $25

Pebble Creek: Opens June 15 - Closes August 25 Nightly Fee: $20

Slough Creek: Opens June 15 - Closes October 10 Nightly Fee: $20

Campgrounds that are first-come, first served - 2022 Season

Indian Creek: TBA Nightly Fee: $20

Lewis Lake: TBA Nightly Fee: $20

Norris: TBA Nightly Fee: $20

Tower Fall: TBA Nightly Fee: $20

Campground General Regulations & Helpful Information

1. Nightly fee rate does not include tax or utility pass-through.

2. Dates are subject to change depending on weather and other factors.

3. During peak season, first-come, first-served campgrounds usually fill by early morning.

4. Campsite occupancy is limited to six people per site.

5. Camping is limited to 14 days July 1-Labor Day, and to 30 days the rest of the year; no limit to Fishing Bridge.

6. All campgrounds offer discounts for Senior Passes except Fishing Bridge RV Park.

7. Campfires are prohibited in the Fishing Bridge RV Park. Wood and charcoal fires are permitted in all other campgrounds (unless fire danger requires special restrictions).

Cost of Fishing in Yellowstone

Anglers age 16 and older must have a YNP fishing permit to fish in the park. Those 15 years and younger can fish without a permit if they are fishing under the direction supervision of an adult with a valid park fishing permit.

· $40 – 3-day permit

· $55 – 7-day permit

· $75 – season permit

There are good fishing locations along each of Yellowstone’s 14 road sections. For specific fly fishing information along each of these road sections, including the recommended flies to use, click on the specific road section below.

West Entrance to Madison

Madison to Old Faithful

Old Faithful to West Thumb

West Thumb to South Entrance

Madison to Norris

Norris to Mammoth Hot Springs

North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt

Tower-Roosevelt to Northeast Entrance

Tower-Roosevelt to Canyon Village

Norris to Canyon Village

Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge

West Thumb to Lake Village

Fishing Bridge to East Entrance

Cost of Eating in Yellowstone

This is a loaded question as there is a wide variety of eating venues in the park, including high-end restaurants, cafeterias, deli’s, fountains and grills, etc. As with similar eating places in the cities form which a traveler may be coming, food prices vary widely according to the type of dining experience.

If you prefer to pack a cooler and eat at campgrounds and picnic areas, then the great outdoors is your dining ambiance, and the price to do so is, well, if you ask me, priceless.

There are also Yellowstone General Stores located throughout the park who offer Grab-N-Go options for the family or individual on the go. In addition, some of the Sinclair Service Station and Store locations in the park carry Grab-N-Go items including F’reals, tasty shakes made automatically by equipment in the store. Yeah, we mention them here as they are a favorite of our family members, and a refreshing and cold treat after a day of exploration and adventure.

Out side of the park in any of the Entrance Gateway Towns to Yellowstone are a variety of eating establishments that cook up some good food for park visitors.