Travel in county Yellowstone

Yellowstone. The name alone conjures images of grizzly bears, bubbling moonscapes and the frontiers of the Old West. But in the face of surging visitor numbers – a record 4.25 million in 2016 – you’re now just as likely to see crowds.

Outdoor enthusiasts looking to save on their next trip national park trip need to look no further.A new report from flight price tracking service Going reveals that some parks are cheaper to fly to than others due to their location and surrounding airports. The cheapest National Park to fly to is Indiana Dunes National Park, which has four nearby airports that travelers can choose to fly into, including Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway, and Indianas' South Bend Regional Airport, and Gary/Chicago International Airport.

Having guided extensively in the American West for the past 15 years, Andrew Roberts knows his national parks. He can pinpoint the best trails in Yellowstone and the prettiest vistas in Zion, and he's fluent in the logistics of getting visitors into and out of the parks. He also knows how difficult it can be to find the right lodging. Campgrounds inside the parks have amazing access, but they tend to be filled with RVs, noisy generators, and crowds, not to mention the fact that park campsites and lodges can easily book up a year in advance or have limited availability.

There’s a surge in interest in one-of-a-kind travel experiences. Data reveals that Google searches for ‘natural phenomena’ have increased by 600%, while search trends for‘rare sky phenomenon’have increased by 133% in the past year alone.

Millions flock to the national parks every year to witness spectacular fall color light up the Great Smoky Mountains or to see the otherworldly geothermal pools in Yellowstone. Last year, in particular, was a banner year for national park visitation, according to newly released figures from the park service: The parks welcomed 325.5 million visitors to the more than 400 national park sites. The visitation numbers are up 4% from 2022, though not a full rebound from the years leading up to the pandemic when the parks saw nearly 330 million visitors.

Each property will feature elements of the brand’s latest refreshed prototype, where guests can now choose from three different room types containing varying exercise amenities – ranging from yoga mats to interactive spin bikes.

A federal grand jury indicted a California man accused of stealing a Yosemite National Park ranger's vehicle and leading a "high-speed chase" before driving off a cliff.

United Airlines is bringing more adventure to travelers, with an additional 100+ flights being added to the summer flight schedule. Flyers can visit more destinations across the United States and Canada, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a picturesque outdoor adventure.

When people plan trips to national parks and protected areas across the United States, they hope to see the wolves of Yellowstone or the alligators of the Everglades. But talk to any bug scientist, and they’ll tell you that the best things come in small packages.

As national parks look for ways to better serve travelers with disabilities, here are the top parks doing it right.

Balancing on a narrow ledge at the top of Lone Mountain Peak, I peer down one of North America’s steepest and most challenging ski runs, the Big Couloir — a triple black diamond-graded gully ranging from 40 to 50 degrees over an intense 460 vertical meters. I’m going to ski down alone, with just the voice of legendary extreme skier Dan Egan cheering me on from behind. It’s the last day of Big Sky’s Steep and Deep camp, led by Egan, and this is the crux moment. 

A dream road trip requires not only cool destinations but inspiring travel along the way. Ask dedicated skiers and snowboarders what their dream trip looks like and you’re bound to hear the phrase “Powder Highway” come up more than once. The 630-mile stretch runs along Route 95A through British Columbia and into Alberta, with dozens of ski resorts and even more options for backcountry touring en route. South of the border, the US has a similar stretch of road – albeit one that runs north to south without nearly as much fanfare: US Highways 191 and 89 from Bozeman, Montana, to Ogden, Utah.

New Year, new national park to check off your must-visit list? Mark your calendars: The park system just announced a half dozen “free days” for 2024 that are spread throughout the year, beginning with Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, 2024.

An earthen circle large enough to contain the Empire State Building on its side. An octagonal earthwork capable of holding four Roman Coliseums. A vast hilltop enclosure overlooking a dramatic river gorge.

“My favorite state has not yet been invented. It will be called Montana, and it will be perfect.” Abraham Lincoln said this shortly after Montana became a United States territory, but about 25 years before it became a state. It is also one of the things that stayed with Senior Video Producer Matt Paco well after his weeklong trip to Montana to film the video for this year’s Best in Travel. 

Summer trips through the USA’s national parks are a rite of passage. But what if someone told you they’re at their best a couple of months later?

Bison in Yellowstone, grizzlies at Katmai, gators in the Everglades. Without doubt, national parks are among the best places to see America’s iconic animals in the wild.

It’s that time of year when the night air cools, pumpkins appear on doorsteps and apples are ripe for the picking — sure signs that leaf-peeping season is on the horizon. If you’re hoping to spend a weekend marveling at fall foliage but haven’t yet booked a place to stay, the time is now. To help you on your way, here are five new properties for autumn adventures, including a pair of boutique hotels in Asheville, N.C., amid the Blue Ridge Mountains; a former textile mill turned hotel in Southern Maine; a reopened haven in Yellowstone National Park; and a luxury hotel in Boston that makes for a pampered departure point for New England road trips.

Public lands define many Montana vacations, offering a robust selection of free outdoor activities throughout the year.

Some people will just never learn when it comes to interacting with wildlife. 

A collection of tombs from Korea’s ancient Gaya confederacy, a Viking age ring fortress in Denmark, an ancient Thai town and a 2,000-year-old earthworks in Ohio are among the contenders for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List this year.

The National Park Service warned travelers this week to stay away from bull elk in Yellowstone National Park as they enter their fall mating season.