4 Ways to Save on a Trip to Yellowstone (Without Roughing It!)

Yellowstone National Park is the original National Park. It has it all - wildlife, out-of-this-world wonders plus millions of visitors each year.

If you’ve looked into visiting this iconic national park you’ve maybe thought again after seeing the astronomical rate a room goes for in the park! Or, been overwhelmed thinking about the reviews that mention frequent lines of traffic that clog the roads.

Don’t give up hope - there are a few simple things you can do to ensure your trip doesn’t break the bank or your patience.

While some of the delays are unavoidable, it doesn't mean your trip will be ruined! I'm sharing the ways we learned how to save time and money on our July trip to Yellowstone.

Be sure to bookmark this post for your Yellowstone trip!

💲Don’t book lodging within the park

This tip might seem like a no-brainer but many of these places have exorbitant fees for a single night’s stay. Staying outside of the parks gives you an instant discount - though be warned the price for a low-budget chain is still pretty pricy - think $200s!

This was our view of the Yellowstone River from the northern town of Gardiner, MT.

⏰ Switch up your stays

We split up our 3 nights in Yellowstone at stays in the various towns just beyond the entrances to the park. This gave us a different starting point & ending point each day. We made sure to plan our days around attractions near those entrances to minimize driving time.

If you want to learn more on how this helped us maximize our time, check out this post with our full itinerary for our road trip to Yellowstone.

💲 Pack Your Own Snacks

This may seem obvious, but don’t overlook this. Snacks (as with most things) are extremely overpriced in the stores within Yellowstone National Park. When a pang of hunger hits, you and your wallet will be glad you have your car stash. Just be sure you pack in airtight containers to avoid tempting the wildlife.

Our favorites to munch on were these tuna cups (they came with a handy spoon) and Cliff Bars.

⏰ Be unconventional in your timing

I think this tip applies to maximizing your time on any trip, especially at Yellowstone. Don’t expect to stop for lunch at noon and get prompt service.

We found it worked best to get a moderate start to the day (around 9ish) to avoid the early morning crowds. Then using our snacks from the tip above, we could last until late in the day (3-4pm-ish). At that point, we would eat a lunch/dinner combo before getting back to the trails for a few more adventures.

Just a note on the food there. We found the food outside of the park was significantly better than the options within the park. Inside the park, you are limited to mostly burgers and fries. Once you venture out to the North and West entrances there are several more options to choose from.

You never know what wildlife you'll run into! We spotted this mom & baby buffalo moments after entering the park.

Bonus tip: Change your attitude

The motto "pack your patience" is never more necessary for a visit to Yellowstone. If you are typically a 'type A traveler' with an itinerary planned for each hour, maybe don’t do that for this trip.

The magic of this park is that it's ruled by its wildlife and they are, well, wild. If a buffalo wants to hold your vehicle hostage on a road, you're at the mercy of that animal and will be there until they've decided to move along. But, you'll get an interesting story out of it!

If the next attraction on your list is crowded, go to the next one, and circle back later. People, as well as the wildlife, tend to travel in herds in this National Park! :)

Have you made a trip to Yellowstone? What tips do you have for making the most of your time and budget?