I’ve been to 37 U.S. National Parks, and there’s only one that I tell people to avoid.
Yellowstone National Park – the crown jewel of the national park system, the first one ever created, and supposedly one of the most beautiful – was by far my worst experience at a national park.
Between sky-high prices, inconsiderate tourists, and underwhelming sights and hikes, Yellowstone felt less like a nature escape and more like rush hours with some geysers and bison.
Hotels That Bleed You Dry
I visited in June 2024, and stayed around Yellowstone for 3 days.
The hotels and motels near Yellowstone were shockingly expensive, even for the most basic and poorly rated options. The hotels in reasonable distance to the park (30 min to an hour) cost $350+ USD at the low end.
Overhyped Attractions
People always talk about the incredible natural wonders of Yellowstone – But for me, they were a huge letdown.
- Old Faithful: It’s just another geyser. It shoots water, for a couple minutes. That’s it – It’s not life-changing, and it’s pretty much the same as watching it on livestream, except on livestream, you’re not shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other people.
- Grand Prismatic Spring: The colors are nice, but at the end of the day, it’s just a colorful hole in the ground.
In a vacuum, these attractions might be interesting. But they certainly aren’t worth the price, or the crowds, or the long flight over.
Lackluster Hikes
I love hiking. I plan my trips around cool trails that lead to amazing views. Yellowstone? Not a great park for that.
Most of the attractions are a 0.1-mile shuffle from the parking lot to a crowded boardwalk. There are longer hikes, but very few seem to offer anything new or exciting compared to the view at the boardwalk.
Compared to the incredible trails at Grand Teton National Park nearby, Yellowstone’s trails felt limited and uninspiring.
Terrible Crowds: The Worst Part
When you visit a national park, you always expect some level of crowds. But Yellowstone’s crowds were a special breed of awful and incompetent. It’s like these people have never gone outside before.
- People stopping their cars in the middle of single-lane roads to take blurry pictures of bison (which are as common as squirrels in Yellowstone), causing hours of traffic because no one can grasp the concept of pulling over when you’re taking a picture.
- Viewpoints packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
It was literally like being in Disneyland, and you can’t even leave because there’s traffic everywhere, including exiting the park. This happened multiple times every day, to the point where it wasn’t a just minor annoyance, it defined the entire trip.
The Only Highlight: Lamar Valley
The one part of Yellowstone I actually enjoyed was Lamar Valley.
At sunrise and sunset, this wide-open valley is quiet, scenic, and full of wildlife, including grizzlies, coyotes, elk, pronghorns, bison, and even the occasional wolf or mountain lion.
The best part: people visiting Lamar Valley actually respect other people’s time. Cars only stop when there’s something truly special to see, and used the shoulder / pullouts whenever they were available. It felt like a completely different place from the rest of Yellowstone.
Lodging Tip: Where Not to Stay
If you do decide to visit Yellowstone, I avoid the Wagon Wheel Hotel in West Yellowstone at all costs. The owner and staff are rude, condescending, and inconsiderate, and the hotel is dirty and in poor condition. I had a terrible experience there, and it added unnecessary stress to an already frustrating trip.
Final Thoughts
Yellowstone might be iconic, but for me, it was all hype with a miserable payoff. Between the outrageous prices, lackluster hikes, and the most inconsiderate crowds I’ve ever encountered in a national park, I wouldn’t go back unless someone paid me, and even then, I’d think twice.
If you’re planning a national park trip, there are so many better options out there. Glacier National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, etc. will actually deliver on everything Yellowstone promises.
ADJENTURING 