How Much Does a Trip to Yellowstone Cost? 4-Day Budgets

A four-day trip to Yellowstone for two people costs roughly $800 to $3,200 before flights, as of November 2026: about $800 if you camp and cook, about $1,900 with a gateway-town motel and a rental car, and $3,000 or more with in-park lodges and guided tours. The park itself is cheap: the entrance fee is $35 per vehicle for seven days. Lodging and the rental car decide the total.

The lodging, food and rental figures below are planning estimates based on typical summer price levels, not quotes. Fees and booking rules come from the National Park Service and the park’s lodging concessioner.

How much is the Yellowstone entrance fee?

Yellowstone charges $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 per person on foot or by bike, each valid for seven consecutive days, as of November 2026. A Yellowstone-only annual pass costs $70. Grand Teton National Park, just south, charges its own separate $35 vehicle fee.

• If you visit both parks, the $80 America the Beautiful pass costs only $10 more than two gate fees and covers every other national park for a year.
• Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older pay an extra $100 each at Yellowstone and at Grand Teton, unless they hold an annual pass. The $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass covers both fees for the whole vehicle.
• Yellowstone has no timed-entry reservation for cars in 2026. You need reservations only for lodging, camping and tours.

Check the park’s fees and passes page before you go.

Should you fly or drive to Yellowstone?

Drive if you live within a day or two of the park; fly if you are farther away and can rent a car on arrival. Yellowstone has five entrances, and the closest airports sit outside them at very different distances.

Fares and rental rates at the small regional airports tend to be higher in summer, and cars sell out. Compare a cheaper flight into Salt Lake City with the cost of an extra driving day and a night on the road. Plan on a rental of roughly $70–$150 a day in July and August.

Where should you stay, and what does it cost?

You can stay inside the park, in a gateway town, or at a campground. Inside is the most convenient and the hardest to book; gateway towns offer the most choice; campgrounds are the cheapest.

All nine lodging options inside Yellowstone are run by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, the park’s concessioner. It opens bookings on the 5th of each month for the same month one year later, asks for a first-night deposit, and refunds the deposit in full only with 30 days’ notice. Rooms have heat but no air conditioning, and most have no TV. Read our guide to booking national park lodges before opening day.

West Yellowstone sits at the West Entrance, closest to Old Faithful and the geyser basins. Gardiner is at the North Entrance near Mammoth Hot Springs and the only road open to cars all year. Cody is about an hour’s drive east of the East Entrance, and Jackson works well if you are also seeing Grand Teton. Starting with the 2027 summer season, the concessioner-run campgrounds (Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant, Madison and Fishing Bridge RV Park) move to Recreation.gov, with bookings opening about six months ahead.

How much does food cost in Yellowstone?

Plan on about $35–$50 per person per day if you buy groceries and picnic, and $70–$110 per person per day if you eat most meals at park restaurants or in gateway towns. Restaurants and general stores inside the park are spread far apart, so packing lunch saves money and driving time. Bring a cooler and stock up in a gateway town before you enter.

What do tours and activities cost?

Most of Yellowstone’s highlights cost nothing beyond the entrance fee. Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalks, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone overlooks and the drive through Lamar Valley at dawn are all free. Paid options include:

• Guided bus tours and lake cruises run by the park concessioner.
• Summer horseback and stagecoach rides offered by the concessioner.
• Private wildlife-watching tours from Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson.
• Winter snowcoach and snowmobile tours, which run on groomed roads from mid-December to mid-March.

As a planning figure, set aside $50–$200 per person for each guided activity. Check current prices with the operator when you book.

What does a 4-day Yellowstone trip cost?

The estimates below are for two people, four days and three nights, in summer, excluding flights. Gas assumes about 500 miles of driving in a 25-mpg car at roughly $4.20 a gallon, the EIA Rocky Mountain average for the week of November 2, 2026.

If you drive your own car, take the car line off and add gas for the trip there and back. Nonresident visitors should add $100 per adult at each surcharge park, or $250 for the nonresident pass.

When is Yellowstone cheapest to visit?

Late May, early June, September and early October usually bring lower gateway-town rates than July and August, with most roads open. Yellowstone’s projected 2027 dates open the West Entrance to Old Faithful on April 16 and close most roads to regular cars after October 31, 2027; the road from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance stays open all year. As of November 2026, most park roads are closed to cars for the winter, with snowcoach and snowmobile travel scheduled from December 15, 2026. Our guide to the best time to visit Yellowstone compares weather, crowds and wildlife month by month, and the park’s road status page has the current dates.

Bottom line

For two people, budget about $800 for four days of camping and cooking, about $1,900 for motels and a rental car, and about $3,200 for in-park lodges and tours, plus flights. Book in-park rooms 13 months ahead, fly into Bozeman or Jackson if you can find cars, and pair the trip with Grand Teton using the $80 pass, as in our 5-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary.

FAQ

Is it cheaper to stay inside Yellowstone or outside?

Basic in-park cabins can cost about the same as gateway motels, but most in-park rooms cost more and sell out early. Staying outside gives more choice and lower rates, at the cost of longer drives to the geyser basins.

Do I need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?

No. Yellowstone does not use timed-entry reservations for vehicles in 2026. You only need reservations for lodging, campsites and tours.

Is Grand Teton included in the Yellowstone fee?

No. Grand Teton charges a separate $35 vehicle fee as of November 2026. The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers both parks and is cheaper than paying both gates plus any third park.

How many days do you need in Yellowstone?

Four days lets most visitors see the geyser basins, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley without rushing. Add a day or two for Grand Teton or longer hikes.