Yellowstone National Park
RV Guide

Yellowstone National Park is filled with spectacular geysers and hot springs that are must-see during your RV trip. While Old Faithful is a top hit, there are loads of other stunning geysers and hot spring attractions that are great to explore during the less crowded season. The Grand Prismatic Spring, which is the largest hot spring in the country, is a wondrous sight filled with rainbow colors. The Norris Geyser Basin is another beautiful natural landmark where you can walk on boardwalks over rare acid geysers and geothermal hot spots.

The spring is a great time of year to hire a private company to take a guided hiking tour due to the harsher weather conditions until the weather warms up. Whether you want to take a half-day or multi-day hike you can be led by experts while you wander by gorgeous waterfalls, geysers, lakes, rivers, and wildflower meadows. If you want to get out of your camper and into the wild during the spring, a guided hiking tour is one of the best ways to explore this breathtaking setting.

One of the most unique ways to see the vast majesty of Yellowstone is from the sky. Since the harsh spring climate can make it a difficult time to drive an RV around Yellowstone, why not take a plane or helicopter tour? You can hire a private company to get a bird’s eye view of the jaw-dropping peaks of the Grand Tetons and the natural wonder of Yellowstone’s waterfalls, geysers, and hot springs.

A spring RV getaway to Yellowstone is an incredible time for wildlife viewing, when bears come out of hibernation and snow melts into blooming wildflower meadows. If you get your binoculars out of the trailer you can spot moose, pronghorns, bison, and wolves in Lamar Valley or elk at Mammoth Hot Springs. The spring is also a great time to spot bird migrations from raptors to waterfowl.

If you want to explore areas of the park closed to RVs and vehicles in the spring, hop on your bike. Starting in April you can enjoy scenic cycling on open roads such as those near Mammoth Hot Springs, the east side of Sylvan Pass, and the south entrance to West Thumb. Biking to Mammoth Hot Springs would be a highlight of your trip to Yellowstone, where you will see majestic, colorful hot springs bubbling on a hill of travertine.

Even though you cannot take things from any national park, geocaching is allowed. If you are not familiar with this fun treasure hunting activity, it involves following a GPS on your phone to the coordinates you can find on certain geocaching websites. What you will find is typically a waterproof container with a notebook and pencil inside for you to put your name and the date you found it. Sometimes there is a trinket inside like a small toy or token. You can take it and replace it with something of your own if you want, but then make sure you put it all back where you found it so others can find it too.

The summer is the best time of year to beat the heat by getting out onto the water at Yellowstone. With beautiful rivers and lakes that abound, Yellowstone offers limitless opportunities for aquatic activities including boating, canoeing, and kayaking. Yellowstone Lake is one of the best places for fun on the water since it is the largest lake in the park. If you are up for an incredible adventure during your RV vacation to Yellowstone, you can hire a private company to take a guided rafting or paddling tour.

With over two million acres of raw wilderness and 900 miles of hiking trails to explore, Yellowstone is a hiker’s haven during the summer. You can experience it all, from towering snow-capped mountains to enchanting hot springs. If you want to see some amazing lakefront views of majestic peaks and wildflower prairies, you would enjoy the five-mile Riddle Lake Trail. Another amazing adventure is the 10-mile hike along the rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone called the Seven Mile Hole Trail, where you can get a bird’s eye views of the cascading river and rugged, tree-lined canyon walls.

Horseback riding offers a one-of-a-kind way to experience the splendor of Yellowstone. You can hire a private company to take a guided horseback riding tour through wildflower meadows and enchanting forests. These guided tours can last anywhere from two hours to several days. If you are ready to get out of the camper and saddle up, Yellowstone is a prime destination to enjoy a horseback ride in one of the country’s most picturesque landscapes.

Your RV road trip to Yellowstone National Park offers a rare chance to see the most incredible starry night sky. You can experience the wonder of the Milky Way, star clusters, and planets above by taking advantage of the astronomy programs held during the summer. These ranger-led programs allow you to stargaze with telescopes, find constellations, and learn about the thrilling night sky above you.

Whether you are a novice or seasoned angler, Yellowstone is a top fishing destination. The summer is a perfect time of year to get your fishing gear out and bait your hook. You can catch native species such as trout, Arctic grayling, and mountain whitefish. Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone River, and Madison River are popular fishing spots. The Firehole River is a hidden gem for fishing since is flows through three of the biggest geyser basins in the world. If you are looking for a serene, quiet spot to fish, Heart Lake is a perfect location in the backcountry.

Montana is actually known as the treasure state because 150 years ago the hills were crawling with treasure hunters looking for gold. The state is still a fantastic place for treasure hunting because you can still find some awesome gems of your own just digging through the rocks just outside Yellowstone National Park. However, be careful how you search for rocks because you are not allowed to take anything from a national park. However, you can just go a few feet away and search all you want without worry.

Every inch of Yellowstone National Park is filled with spectacular natural beauty to photograph, but the fall is one of the most picturesque times of year as the trees and grasses burst into color. If you pack your camera in your motorhome, there are some key spots to take unforgettable photos. Lamar Valley is a beautiful spot for autumn photos since the tall grasses turn into fields of gold. Pictures of the Lewis River will capture the authentic serenity of a flowing river, ancient evergreens, and bustling geysers.

Offered throughout the autumn season, ranger-led walks are a perfect way to get out of the camper and learn about the incredible natural history of Yellowstone amid a picturesque backdrop. You can take a guided stroll of ancient hot springs at Mammoth Hot Springs or learn about the magical secrets of Norris Geyser Basin.

In the early fall you can hop out of your RV and take a ranger-led boat tour on the tranquil waters of Lake Yellowstone. On this relaxing lake cruise, you can soak in enchanting views of the Absaroka Mountains and lush pine forests. During this one-hour cruise you will learn about the natural history and wildlife of the country’s oldest national park.

If you want to check an item off your bucket list during your RV vacation to Yellowstone, a visit to Old Faithful is a must. As the most famous of the park’s 500 geysers, Old Faithful erupts every one to two hours, shooting as much as 8,400 gallons of water up to 185 feet in the air. The fall is a perfect time of year to see this incredible spectacle with your own eyes when the park is less crowded.

You will not want to miss the chance to explore the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone during your fall RV trip to the nation’s oldest national park. The canyon is a fantastic sight as the Yellowstone River rushes through the colorful jagged rocks of the canyon walls. You can take a scenic auto tour by driving along the North or South Rim. You can also explore this amazing canyon on foot at several different scenic hikes on the North and South Rim.

There are a lot of places to climb in Yellowstone National Park. Some of the most popular are the Carcass Crag, which has 20 different routes ranging from a V3 to a V10 or the Mid-Mountain climbing spot with boulders of all shapes and sizes to climb. These range from V0 to V6, so this one is good for beginners and those with some experience. Chicken Out Ridge, Face Value, and 7-mm Hole are also good climbs, which can all be found in east Yellowstone on the glacial boulders. Whether you are an active sport climber or a newbie who is just starting out, make sure you pack your climbing gear in the camper before heading to the park.

If you want to learn about the magical natural wonders and cultural history of Yellowstone, you can attend one of the park’s ranger-led evening programs. Regularly scheduled during the winter, you can hear exciting tales of adventure and fascinating facts about Yellowstone from the experts. You can park your trailer and head to the Yellowstone Forever building or the visitor center at Old Faithful to get the inside scoop from the rangers.

Another great way to explore the serenity of nature during your winter RV trip to Yellowstone is by snowshoeing. You can snowshoe along groomed trails or the untamed backcountry. If you want to snowshoe amidst scenic views of frozen rivers and forest-lined hills, you might enjoy the eight-mile Garnet Hill Loop. If you are looking for an easy, short snowshoe hike you will love Indian Creek Loop Ski Trail near Mammoth Hot Springs. For those looking for a challenge, Avalanche Peak Trail is a strenuous trek, which features stunning panoramic views on the summit.

If you want to explore Yellowstone during the winter in the comfort of a heated vehicle you can hire a private company to take a snowcoach tour. These high-powered buses with special snow tires can take you all over Yellowstone, whether you want to see Old Faithful or explore Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. This is a great way to experience magic of winter during your RV escape to Yellowstone National Park.

One of the best modes of transportation during the winter at Yellowstone is on a snowmobile. In fact, the only way to get close to Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone during the winter when the roads are closed is by snowmobile. You can bring your own machine, rent one from a private company, or take a guided tour. Once you park your camper and hit the trail, you can cruise around this winter wonderland with ease.

One of the best ways to explore the winter wonderland at Yellowstone is to grab your skis out of your camper. Whether you want to head out on your own or hire a private company for a guided tour, cross-country skiing allows you to glide across freshly fallen snow amidst frozen lakes and snow-capped mountains. Popular trails include the Roller Coaster Ski Trails, Fern Cascades Trail, and Yellowstone Canyon Rim Trail. You are welcome to ski along groomed trails and unplowed roads and trails in the backcountry.

Pack the sled or tube in the RV before heading to Yellowstone because there are plenty of opportunities to do some sledding here. If you do not want to do solo sledding or you have some canine kids that need to play too, try dog sledding. Mushing through the snow-packed terrain of Yellowstone National Park with your four-legged friends can be even more fun than sledding down a hill on your own.