Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is the largest national park in the lower 48 states covering over 2.2 million acres. This equals 3,472 square miles. The scenic drive from Yellowstone's east entrance to Cody is roughly 1 hour in length and showcases one of the most beautiful canyons and topographies to be found anywhere in America.

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest Park in the United States Park System having been established in 1872. The largest portion of Yellowstone National Park is located in the State of Wyoming with smaller portions along the north and west borders lying in the states of Idaho and Montana.

There are five entrances to Yellowstone National Park and each is associated with a particular community outside the Park boundaries. Cody, Wyoming is noted for being the closed community of any size after you exit Yellowstone National Park through the East Entrance. The drive between the East Entrance and the community of Cody takes approximately one hour.

Each year, over three million visitors travel to Yellowstone National Park to explore the Park's unique geology and to observe the grizzly bears, black bears, gray wolves, moose, deer, elk and vast herds of buffalo. Various other animals also make the Park their home.

Some visitors come just to experience fishing in the legendary trout streams including the Madison River and the Yellowstone River. Many of these visitors travel through Cody on their way to or from Yellowstone National Park.

So as not to be overwhelmed by Yellowstone and the vast tracts of national forest land that surround it, it is wise to plan your excursions into the Park. Visiting Yellowstone National Park is like enjoying a several course meal. Enjoy it one course or attraction at a time. It is impossible to take it all in, all at one time. Pick a section of the Park and then explore it – taking the time to enjoy all the sights and sounds in that particular location.

Yellowstone National Park is the home to numerous geothermal features including mud pots, hot springs and geysers. Old Faithful, the most popular geyser in the world, is found in the Park and each day thousands of visitors wait and watch in anticipation of its eruption.

The terraced wonders of Mammoth Hot Springs, the overwhelming size and hues of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the wild beauty of Yellowstone Lake are exceptional sights. Be on the lookout for bears and wolves, elk and buffalo in the Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Explore Fort Yellowstone and learn about Yellowstone National Park's history. In addition, you can hike, fish, camp, examine exhibits, view films and attend Ranger-led programs.

Before you go, it is wise to investigate the park's operating hours for each season. Check out lodging and dining options and park fees. And perhaps, most importantly, remember that travel through the Park can be slow as a result of –

• the lower speed limit (45 mph in most places and lowering to 35 mph or 25 mph in some places)
• the condition of the road (paved, narrow winding, two-way roadways)
• the number of other visitors in the Park
• and the potential for up front and personal interaction of the traffic with the wildlife. If you are suddenly surrounded by a huge herd of buffalo, simply sit back and enjoy the experience, because your vehicle is not going to be able to move until the herd moves on!