Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park contains a collection of geothermal features, including the world's largest active geyser Steamboat Geyser, and the impressive Grand Prismatic Spring. The park is also home to herds of bison, elk and pronghorn antelope, and a wide variety of fish and bird species. In addition to the park's many natural wonders and wildlife, it also offers a variety of activities for visitors.
When is your trip?
–

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Categories

Restaurants
Attractions
Cafes

Yellowstone National Park on your mind?

Build, organize, and map out your best trip yet.
Need a place to stay?
When
–

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

When
–

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Top searches

Slide 1 of 4
Featured guides
Slide 1 of 7
Picture of Top places for Yellowstone National Park
Top places for Yellowstone National Park
Most often-seen on the web
Site icon
Wanderlog
Picture of Yellowstone National Park Guide
Yellowstone National Park Guide
Popular guide by a Wanderlog community member
Profile picture for tylervlayne
tylervlayne
Picture of Yellowstone Loop Scenic Drive
Genesis Utz's Yellowstone Loop Scenic Drive
Popular guide by a Wanderlog community member
Profile picture for Genesis Utz
Genesis Utz
Picture of Yellowstone to SLC
Schiffs Creek's Yellowstone to SLC
Popular guide by a Wanderlog community member
Profile picture for Schiffs Creek
Schiffs Creek
Picture of Top things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Top things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Tripadvisor Top 20
Site icon
Tripadvisor
Picture of Sights in Yellowstone National Park
Sights in Yellowstone National Park
Fodors Choice
Site icon
Fodors
Picture of Top things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Top things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Lonely Planet's Top Choices
Site icon
Lonely Planet

Multi-city stops

Slide 1 of 30

Top places to visit

1Old Faithful

4.7
(22796)
•
4.5
(5055)
•
Mentioned on 
11 lists 
Nature & Parks
Hot Springs & Geysers
Old Faithful is a renowned geyser in Yellowstone National Park that captivates visitors with its regular eruptions of hot water. It is not the oldest geyser globally, yet its eruptions are awe-inspiring, reaching heights averaging 130 feet and sometimes even soaring to 180 feet.
Slide 1 of 11
Beautiful!!! Amazing!! If you have the opportunity to see old faithful please do. Plenty of seats available, enormous gift shop. This goes off every 90 minutes give or take 15 minutes. There is a schedule inside the gift shop on the screen. It does not last that long, 3 minutes maybe. Worth the wait though. Parking I wouldn't worry about!! It's a must see.
Had a great time, you can also trail or hike if you are into this. The wild animals were not aggressive as said, just need to approach with caution and be sensitive to their habitat. The geyser was awesome, sounds like a jet taking off. I had a wonderful time there. The ticket purchased for 38 dollars at the gate was for 5 days. So you can continue journey from where you left off.
Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park is an absolute must-see, and there's plenty of parking available. However, it tends to fill up quickly, so it's best to arrive early at the location. The geyser is conveniently situated near the parking area, making it easily accessible by a short walk. It erupts with hot water and steam every 30-45 minutes, providing an extraordinary spectacle that is truly awe-inspiring. It's heartwarming to witness everyone patiently waiting for the event, adding to the charm of the experience. The reliability of its eruptions makes it an iconic moment to cherish with friends. To plan your visit accordingly, you can check all the eruption timings on the geyser times mobile app. The area surrounding Old Faithful is perfect for both exploration and relaxation, offering a wonderful setting for spending quality time with friends.
Awesome geysers, hot springs, mud pots. Old Faithful is pretty epic and center, and a guaranteed show, but in the 70 minutes or so between eruptions you can walk around to see lots of other geological wonders, including other geysers that erupt randomly and can be even more fun. Super crowded, but plenty of things to see outside the main attraction, and lots of amenities and easy parking.
This is a beautiful landscape and a unique experience. We had higher expectations for the results but it was still a must see. There is many other cool places to stop in yellowstone. We were only able to go through a small portion of all of what is to see. There is a nice gift shop and other amenities near old faithful. This is a majestic park to go see. It wasn't extreme busy being that it is winter and that was really nice.
Check visitor center for estimated times of eruption, all 3 we saw happened within 10 minutes of their estimates. Old faithful seems to be on a 90 minute rotation. Walk the trail to see even more geysers and springs. Very easy. Boardwalk is well maintained. Lots of seats along the way for breaks or just to enjoy the view. Old faithful was cool but I loved the colors of the others, the grotto and riverside toward the end before morning glory (my personal favorite) was amazing. It’s about a 1.5 mile walk from old faithful to morning glory, 3 miles round trip.
Old Faithful stayed true to its name, gracing us with a couple of its signature eruptions during our visit. While it wasn't my top highlight (Yellowstone is brimming with beauties), the build-up and suspense added a fun twist! Definitely worth the wait and watch.
Beautiful in the cold weather. You can hike on the boardwalk without snow shoes. In other areas I recommend renting them. Just $14 at the Snow Lodge. It was as low as -12 when we were there but so beautiful. We saw a river otter and bison.
Drive up as old faithful was blowing, what amazing sight. Make sure you stop by while in Yellowstone. I came at 7pm and there were not many people. The sunset was gorgeous. The cool weather in July made the walk pleasant.
We got there right after it rupted which made the crowds disperse. We got front row seats for the next one will have to wait about an hour but it’s worth getting the best shot to get front row seats. There’s also trails around or you can see other spectacular things if you don’t want to wait.
One of the most popular and famous things to do and a must do in the Yellowstone park when you visit. There are many other geysers that have much more spectacular eruptions than the Old Faithful but the Old Faithful are the most frequent of eruptions. You can also view the eruptions from the observation deck of Old Faithful inn that gave you a different perspective of this world famous natural wonders.
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

2Grand Prismatic Spring

4.9
(816)
•
4.5
(3182)
•
Mentioned on 
15 lists 
Hot spring
Nature & Parks
Hot Springs & Geysers
Visiting Yellowstone in winter entails dealing with a substantial amount of snow. To explore the park's interior during this time, private snow coaches are utilized. These vehicles have spacious interiors equipped with large side windows and pop-top roof hatches, providing unobstructed 360-degree views of the landscape and wildlife. Additionally, they offer ample room for both camera equipment and winter gear.
Slide 1 of 15
This is by far the main spot I wanted to see at Yellowstone. A gigantic colorful pool! However - due to the time of year (early spring), it was covered thickly in steam and you could not really enjoy it at all. I would love to come back in summer. I would also love to get a higher view.
Grand Prismatic Springs was by far the highlight of my trip through Yellowstone! The entire boardwalk loop around the whole thing just left you awestruck by its natural beauty. The vibrant array of colors was surreal to see in person and the photos captured by your cameras will probably never do it full justice. There were also plenty of local guides to give you pertinent information as you make your way around the loop. Parking was a nightmare however but that was to be expected I suppose...
Absolutely stunning. If you must see only one thing in Yellowstone, this is it!! This is hands down my favorite place in the park. Pro Tip: parking is a cluster. Park on the roadside before getting there and walk the rest of the way there.
It's a good stop with a boardwalk (no railings) running around the different pools. However, much of their beauty is found from above so to truly get a great view, you need to hike a separate trail to the Grand Prismatic Springs overlook, starting at Fairy Falls parking lot.
Amazing place with Incredible view of the Grand Prismatic Spring! 😍 Definitely recommend doing the small hike to the Overlook for amazing captures. All the smaller pools are photogenic areas as well.
I’m sure it is gorgeous in summer, but if you are going in winter, you may not be able to even see it due to steam coming off of it. The boardwalk out to it is nice and easy to walk.
If you are visiting the most magical National Park the. You must stop at Grand Prismatic Springs to check out the amazing colors and hot spring pools. You can get great pictures from the boardwalk or there is a trail head that leads you up about a mile hike to a great view for better views. YOU MUST STAY ON THE BOARDWALK. These are very delicate ecosystems and when you walk on them it destroys them or worse yourself. And remember if you see wildlife stay a minimum of 25 yards away.
Beautiful... short hike to see the grand prismatic spring from the top... the only thing is it is really crowded from 9am to 12 pm... plus since it has been raining there are a lot of mosquitos so take your bug spray! But beautiful 😍
One of my favorite places to visit while visiting Yellowstone is Grand Prismatic Spring. Just stunning views and the colors are just unbelievable. Takes my breath away each time. A long line of cars to enter each time for the parking spots, but well worth the wait to get into the area to see the Grand Prismatic Spring.
Wonderful place. Take the small hike to see it from the top.
Recommend getting there around 9am, hike to the falls passed the springs. By the time you return the morning mist and the like will have burned off and the view of the spring will be best. The colors are just as the pics show, very vibrant and unique. We even saw a bison and other wildlife which was a bonus.
Near Old Faithful Geyser. Don't miss this place! Time of day, season, water flow and weather effects the coloration. Don't expect the colors that you see on postcards.
Words cannot explain this magical place. Worth doing board walk along with the Fairy Falls overlook (1 mile round trip, pretty easy hike). Parking is bit tricky but doable. Always prefer post noon visit as in the morning the visibility is low.
It was an okay crowd in the afternoon and would suggest to park on the road and walk to here. To get the absolute mesmerizing view, do the Prismatic Overlook loop by parking near Fairy Falls trailhead.
Must visit place in Yellowstone National park. Full of steamy water with mineral deposits in different colors. Unique experience to view these hot streams. Crowd and mostly need to go in line on wooden path.
Wyoming 82190, USA

3Mammoth Hot Springs

4.7
(3890)
•
4.5
(2204)
Nature & Parks
Hiking area
Hot Springs & Geysers
Mammoth Hot Springs, a renowned Yellowstone attraction, showcases a series of terraced travertine pools that emit steam. According to a recent press release from the National Park Service, visitors can access the park on foot through specific entrances while repairs are being completed. Located near the Montana entrance in the northern section of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs offers an opportunity to witness ancient geological activity.
Slide 1 of 6
Our family had been to Yellowstone a couple of times, but we had never done the north side. Mammoth lives up to its name. There is an upper and lower with different parking areas. Once you park there several boardwalks you can wonder around to see the various parts of Mammoth Hot Springs. We took our 3 girls and they really enjoyed it. There is a small town near by with shops, restaurants, restrooms and park areas.
After exploring everything south of this point, it is fun to then come here to something COMPLETELY different from all of the other pools, geysers, and waterfalls. These terraces are their own thing and they are very cool to see up close.
Very cool place to visit. You can drive around the vehicle pathway and see the different parts of it or you can walk around the various parts using the walkway. There were elk all around relaxing near the information center nearby. There is free WiFi in the area too. Also, there is an in park hotel there that you can reserve (reserve at least a year in advance of your visit) less crowded area when I went (around 5:30pm)
Such a cool place!! The Travertine pools are huge! There are multiple parking lots with easy access. There are several entrances to the walkways. There are a lot of stairs keep in mind for those that have a hard time getting around. It used to have a lot more water flowing but does have a little as of early June 2023.
We visited Mammoth Hot Springs on May 10, 2022. It is close to the north entry of the park. The place is beautiful and has boardwalks to view lower and upper hot springs. Snow was still present on most of the boardwalks.
Lots of boardwalks crisscross up the side of the mountain providing a solid hour of exploration. The hot springs are littered across the hillside with unique geological formations around every turn. The hot springs are completely exposed and the sun reflects off the white rock making the rock formations even more dramatic. This makes for a hot afternoon activity during the summer, but still enjoyable if you’re prepared.
Mammoth, WY 82190, USA•https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/explore-mammoth.htm

4Yellowstone National Park Headquarters

5.0
(18)
•
5.0
(1810)
Visitor center
Nature & Parks
National Parks
Slide 1 of 4
One of the best national park to visit. We stayed inside the park and it helps to go around early and watch a lot of animals. A great experience for families.
What can you add that hasn't been said. Other than go to see the big geysers like Old Faithful and Steamboat early in the morning or late afternoon. The hours between 10:30 AM - 2:30 PM are absolutely insane because of the number of tourists trying to see them on bus service
The beauty of Yellowstone will forever amaze me. Love this place so much!
Yellowstone is in my top 3 parks. I had an amazing trip spending 4 days in the park. I plan on returning during winter so I can finish my trip and see all the snow. The wildlife was great, staff was friendly and it was a beautiful experience. Jeff Mullins Photography Adventures. Happy Hiking!
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/staffandoffices.htm

5Yellowstone Lake

4.7
(163)
•
4.5
(1801)
•
Mentioned on 
13 lists 
Lake
Nature & Parks
Bodies of Water
Yellowstone Lake, a vast freshwater lake within the national park, offers breathtaking hiking trails, fishing areas, and boat rentals. To navigate its waters, a permit is required for all types of vessels including motorized and non-motorized ones like float tubes. These permits can be obtained in person at various locations throughout the park. The fees range from $5 to $20 depending on the vessel type and duration of use.
Slide 1 of 10
Frozen Yellowstone lake How powerful the nature is.
Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Lake freezes over completely every winter in late December or early January, with ice thicknesses varying from a few inches to more than two feet. The lake usually thaws in late May or early June. Yellowstone Lake remains cold year-round, with an average water temperature of 41°F (5°C). Because of the extremely cold water, swimming is not recommended.Yellowstone Lake has the largest population of wild cutthroat trout in North America. How a Pacific Ocean fish was trapped in a lake that drains to the Atlantic puzzled experts for years. Figuratively, if one could pour all the water out of Yellowstone Lake, what would be found on the bottom is similar to what is found on land in Yellowstone: geysers, hot springs, and deep canyons.
Absolutely one of the most beautiful lakes in America! Peaceful. Serene. Huge!! It is a must see. Take a picnic lunch, stop at one of the picnic areas. Enjoy the views!
Really big and beautiful lake. It’s still an iced lake when I was there, but I think it should be pure water now. You can see this lake from different angles. Now you might be able to take a boat through bridge bay. You can go to west thumb to see how geothermal landscapes merge with lake and it’s really awesome!
Fantastic driving towards Fisher's Bridge coming from West Thumb.... Beautiful vistas and do look for dead wood as it makes great pictures! 😉
As I was driving out of the area, came upon these two bisons grazing by the lake.
Beautiful lake that has boat access
Yellowstone lake cover 136 surface miles and it is the largest high elevation lake in North America. Interesting fact is that there is no fishing allowed from the “fishing bridge” since 1973. Yellowstone Lake runs through numerous parts of the park but we found the best view to be on East entrance road. I would highly recommend Steamboat Point picnic ground for awesome views of the water during a stop for lunch or dinner. Steamboat is just a mile or so east of the fishing bridge. Enjoy.
We have explored and thoroughly loved Yellowstone National Park each of the numerous times we have visited. Lone Star Geyser is a favorite spot and a wonderful hike from Lone Star back to Old Faithful Lodge! Everyone should see Yellowstone. You’ll gather lifetime memories there. I regret not touring Yellowstone in winter when I was young! It’s on my bucket list! ♥️
Such a beautiful scenery, a must stop on your trip through Yellowstone.
Wyoming 82190, USA
•
See full list

Top places to eat

1Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room

3.6
(218)
•
3.5
(700)
•
Mentioned on 
+7 other lists 
American restaurant
The Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room is a traditional American-style restaurant with an open and airy design. Offering a range of classic meat and noodle dishes as well as vegan options, the restaurant has a great atmosphere for enjoying a meal with family or friends.
Slide 1 of 7
Based on reviews and the fact that this was the only place to have dinner, we had low expectations and were pleasantly surprised. Each person we interacted with was hard working, helpful and friendly. Menu selections were more than we expected and all of our meals were delicious! Even the presentation was well done. Truly the best dinners we have had in a National Park location. The reservation system worked out well. Some nights we did have to eat a bit later than we wanted, but it was fine. We only had lunch one day, but it was amazing! Much quieter than dinner.
I was staying in the lodge for 4 days and I had my dinners there. It’s a good idea to reserve your table when you book the lodge as this restaurant can get busy and you will get only reservations late in the evening if you reserve your table few days before. Even though their menu items are limited, I liked most of what they are offer were good. The waiting staffs were very friendly and attentive. I ordered lobster tortellini, trout roast and bison burger and I found all interesting and tasted good. They even have a fireplace inside the restaurant. I prefer drinking hot water with the meal and waiting staff were kind enuf to offer me hot water with a lemon wedge. Over all it a good restaurant and I had a great time there.
Our meal wasn't bad, though only fair for the price. It's such a missed opportunity - for the relatively few covers they do every night, the meals could be outstanding! The bison short ribs were quite decent. The lamb and polenta were both sadly dry - with no sauce at all, despite being "braised all day". Where are the mushrooms, or caramelized onions, or any sort of reduction? And don't get me started on the sad sad pure-as-the-snow-outside bread. I must say that the wine list is decent.
Dinner Everyone says park dining is terrible. I cancelled Old Faithful Inn buffet and hoped for the best at Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room. It was excellent! The house salad, short rib, wild boar pasta, and kids burger were all eaten happily. We shared the molten cake with ice cream and it was actually pretty good! The prices are reasonable for in park expectations and the food and service was great- no complaints!
Visited the Snow Lodge in Yellowstone in the middle of winter (December). This is the only restaurant at the lodge and in this area of in the park (there is also a restaurant at Mammoth Hot Springs which is also open in winter. Food was good and well presented. Service was exceptional thanks to Jolene.
In a world with flooded roads, supply chain issues, labor shortages, this was great. The bread to start didn't look like much but was very soft and tasty. The every day menu had a variety of items to choose from. They have daily specials so they try to change up ingredients. The roasted pepper soup was amazing. Recommend going earlier to beat the dinner rush.
We had the opportunity to eat three times at this restaurant. It is very convenient if you are staying at the lodge, because the park is very large and it is not easy to exit to have dinner or breakfast because of the long distances. Their bison burger is a total success! It was recommended at check-in by the clerk, we had it the first night and we loved it so much that we had it again the following day. Breakfast is a buffet, their options were not impressive but had what was necessary.
2 Old Faithful Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurant/old-fai…

2Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room

4.0
(303)
•
4.0
(1312)
•
Mentioned on 
+7 other lists 
expensive
Fine dining restaurant
Restaurant
Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room is an upscale American restaurant located on the grounds of the Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park. The restaurant offers a seasonal American menu with views of the lake and specializes in gourmet entrees.
Slide 1 of 15
This is a great restaurant; its scenic location inside Yellowstone National Park only adds to this greatness. We had the breakfast buffet twice, and I would recommend it, but the restaurant really shines at dinner. I had the trout one night, and halibut another; both were perfectly cooked and delicious. The dishes are somewhat "small and fancy", but delectable from the first bite to the last. I cleaned each plate, eating every wonderful cherry, tomato, carrot, or other side. Everything we tried was great, actually; the bison chili, the corn chowder, and any of the desserts were truly amazing. The atmosphere is rather nice, but the dress code is casual likely because it's in the park. You'll find every sort of party dining there, from tired hikers, to large families.
We camped in our motor home, and wanted a nice evening out to dinner, made reservations, and arrived on time. Then we waited, and waited, and waited more than an hour to be seated. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the place is beautiful, but they sure do not care about service at all. They have a captive audience and an endless supply of visitors. Food was OK,not what you would expect for the price. Next time in Yellowstone I’ll cook at the campground.
I'm giving it two stars for atmosphere and our waiter. Everything else about our dinner here was the most over priced and terrible meal we've had. The New York Strip was tougher than my leather wallet. Wife ordered a salad that was missing the two primary ingredients they advertise it as on the menu. They didn't even have bread. Our drinks tasted like they were virgin cocktails with barely any booze in them. If you want to eat at a restaurant in the park, eat at old faithful. Our dinner there was way better and the drinks were proper.
The food and atmosphere were good. The biggest downside was the extremely small portions. The trout was flavorful but the dish was very small. Same for the chicken, which was just a quarter of a chicken. The Basque Cake for dessert was very good but was really tiny. We ordered it a la mode and the “scoop” of ice cream was bite-sized. Good food but you might leave hungry which is disappointing given the prices.
Fine dining and impeccable service, with a bit more casual vibe. The food and drinks are much better than the other options you can find in the Park, so do give it a try if you are in the area. Reservations required for dinner, unless you are willing to wait >1hr. The breakfast buffet offered really nice fresh fruit, which is otherwise super expensive in the Park, so we basically "recovered" the price of EV BTU from the fruit alone. Other foods were good too 😋
Don't plan to dine here. 2 hour wait for cold, improperly cooked, frozen Sysco food. They are 5 stars at disappointing guests, mistreating employees, and poor planning (overbooking the dining room, understaffing the restaurant, etc). They have frequent power outages, but keep the restaurant open without warning any of their reservations that the entire menu will be unavailable, And then offer cold cut sandwiches and bagged chips in what is supposed to be a fine dining establishment.
AMAZING!! Great food, great wine, great service!! Beautiful dining atmosphere. Huge windows to gaze at the natural beauty. Everything about this dining experience was excellent! The menu has so many options. The dessert was possibly the best Basque Cake I’ve ever had. This is a must if visit Yellowstone National Park.
Not sure why there are bad reviews? The food was delicious!!! I had the trout with asparagus, a mocktail and the Yellowstone chocolate dessert -which we ask for a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Also customer service is great, everyone was so pleasant and friendly! We made reservations in advance with our booking.
Not sure why a review of the dining room asks to rate the rooms... However, the dining room is excellent. My family stayed a week and really enjoyed it. An elegant dining room, stately historical and with great views. Breakfast was our favorite, buffet style and full of delicious choices, coffee and juice included. Each day had slightly different choices. Staff was friendly and attentive. Dinner was an affair, definitely something to experience at least once. Reservations recommended (and in peak season required I think). Easy to make a reservation in the online system though and you definitely want to do it as soon as possible, which I think is a month ahead of your stay if you are a guest at the hotel.
After several bad reviews, I was nervous about making this the choice for our 20th anniversary dinner. But we checked in to our cabin and went for dinner about 6:30. Got 2 drinks from the bar while we waited and had a pleasant experience. Sure it was not the normal non-pandemic experience there but staff did great under the circumstances and it was fun trying different entrees. The bartender was quick and efficient and we had fun with Sid our server.
Service, view, and atmosphere were great. Food was Okay. It should be stated, we were at the end of the season and I think last night of the restaurant too. The meal cost was a 30-50 per plate for a 20-35 taste experience.
Compared to the noxious buffet at Old Faithful Inn, this place should get 6 stars! We enjoyed dinner and breakfast. There are some strange ingredient shortages so you need to be ready to enjoy smoked salmon on a cinnamon raisin bagel. They also ran out of applesauce for dinner on the kids’ menu. But this was legitimately good food at only big city prices. Great hostess Ruthie in 2023.
We drove down for the breakfast buffet because the food at Canyon Village was poor. The buffet was fantastic: frittata, cheese blintzes, nicely cooked bacon, fresh French toast, bagels with cream cheese, capers, and salmon, fresh blackberries, tasty scones, etc., etc. The price was quite reasonable, too. (About $17 per adult including coffee as of July 2, 2023.) The dining room is beautiful with nice views, and the service was good.
Dee went above and beyond to make us comfortable in the dinning room. He was a great server and really took care of us. The food was out of this world! We got the escargot to start and it came in the shell! Yum! They had a great range of options for the meal and dessert. My favorite thing was the halibut and the huckleberry ice cream!
The service was slower than the glaciers that made the park Went here with family to celebrate the first evening on vacation (Tuesday 9/26/2023) and we were definitely disappointed. Overall the food was good 4/5, but not great - the plate was hotter than the food so it likely sat before being brought out. The dining ambiance was pleasant enough, however multiple neighboring tables arrived, ate, and left before our food arrived. The table immediately next to us arrived after us and was eating dessert when our entree arrived. Our waitress made no attempt to inform us of any delay, which would have been appreciated if explained. I suspect she did not put in our order in the first place and then forgot to bring our food once it was done. The dining manager was running around making sure empty tables were set up for breakfast the following day, instead of ensuring the patrons currently dining were assisted. Very disappointed and would not recommend wasting your time or money here. We had a better meal at Cassie’s Steakhouse in Cody, WY!
236 Yellowstone Lake Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurant/lake-ho…

3Old Faithful Inn Dining Room

2.8
(260)
•
3.5
(2547)
•
Mentioned on 
+6 other lists 
expensive
American restaurant
The American restaurant Old Faithful Inn Dining Room provides a buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a vast array of elevated eats. It is the largest log structure in the world, and one of the most famous American restaurants.
Slide 1 of 10
I was nervous eating here after reading reviews but was pleasantly surprised by our experience. We made reservations for 7:45pm. Other than a short line to check in with the host, we didn’t have to wait for our table, it was ready! Our server was Anthony and he was great. Very nice, attentive (drinks refilled before emptied or asked) and checked in frequently to ensure everything was going well/tasting good We ordered the pretzels with beer cheese, salads, and both had prime rib. Pretzels were average - Nothing special but good! Salads, were typical side salads. No croutons though. Prime rib was served with asparagus and roasted potatoes. Came out hot and cooked to the right temp. Was it the best prime rib I’ve ever had? No but it was still very good and satisfying! We skipped dessert. There was also a buffet but the options didn’t seem worth it to us. Salmon, ribs, and chicken for main meats at $40 a plate. The dining room is beautiful and historical. Truly wonderful to dine in this space. We enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere - I am still shocked by the number of poor reviews. Perhaps we got lucky with a great server/night. Thanks Anthony for taking care of us! We went in worried we made a mistake and will be disappointed but it was a great experience and I’m so glad we didn’t cancel our reservation
The building is spectacular. Cathedral like in scope, but still warm and cozy. The dining room is well laid out with tables spread out so you're not on top of the other diners. The wait staff are so nice and get their job done with aplomb. The food is good. Maybe a bit basic on the salad side but the appetizer, soups, and mains are excellent. Nice wine list as well.
We had a buffet dinner here during our visit of the park one night. The Old Faithful inn itself was magnificent and beautiful. But I can’t said the same about the restaurant. Service was very slow as getting water to our table and refilling it. $39.99 P/P dinner buffet are just not worth the money. It is the “Inn” that captivated the people and us to come and dine. It it’s one of the life time and once is enough.
This is a very unique place and one I find to be great in a variety of ways. The ambience is quite rustic yet epitomizes adventure and has a mid western flair. This eatery offers vegetarian options including plant-based chicken. I enjoy their sandwiches and soups. The Yellowstone Caldera is the most memorable dish/dessert on the menu and probably my favorite thing overall. The service is great and I’ve never had a bad experience here in the many times I’ve dined here. Lately though because of the pandemic, they have changed a lot. They don’t offer as much anymore and reservations are on a first come, first serve basis. The buffet isn’t the best, as it is extremely small and doesn’t offer a lot of choices. But some of the food on it is good. My family enjoyed the meat offerings on it. The Old Faithful Inn Dining Room is a wonderful place and I’m hoping they will become the same place I’ve grown to love and appreciate again, as I have immense faith in the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. Seems like the pandemic has not only changed humanity in general, but the restaurant business.
Food was pretty good (for a Natl Park restaurant). Server was really nice and attentive. I really liked their pepper and gouda cheese soup. For the record, we went there 45 minutes before closing time and waited 15 minutes for a table.
If you want to eat dinner here, book in advance! We came in October and I assumed with the off season it would be easy to make a reservation once we arrived but they fill up quick. We enjoyed the buffet, the prime rib was excellent and there was a good selection of sides, salad, etc.
The sweet spot is 4:45-5pm. People start lining up at 3:30pm and have to wait til 4:30pm for the doors to open. Once the first wave is seated, around 4:45pm they start handing out pagers and it's a 30-90min wait. So you can go check out Old Faithful or the store and not have to wait in the actual line to get in. Once in- you will have to wait around 20min in the buffet line for your food. So stock up the first time and don't plan to go twice. The buffet menu was limited, but everything we had was decent. Not amazing, just decent. But still a good experience and I would do it again. Also there is whip cream for the apple crisp if you ask your server!
We had three meals here and ended up with food poisoning. It would be 100X better for visitors if the National Park Service would allow a McDonald's or Burger King to be set up. Expect to wait in line for 20+ minutes at dinner and then to be disappointed. If they're determined to do buffet they need to bring in some experts from Carnival or Royal Caribbean who can at least show them how to do it without poisoning everyone. Breakfast is weak and there are no eggs cooked to order, contrary to the web site. Imagine a Hampton Inn buffet and then lower your expectations for the fruit quality. I give the staff credit for showing up to work! If you want a decent meal, drive to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel (non-buffet dinner) or our to West Yellowstone for great bbq. Alternatively, pack up a huge cooler before entering the park and treat your hotel stay as a camping trip as far as meals are concerned.
Wonderfull place to have dinner, since now the best in Yellowstone. Great food, even the side dishes were really tasty and well cooked. Excellent service and astonishing location.
The dining room does buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is great and high-quality. All you can eat. Drinks (soft drinks too) are EXTRA, so do be careful. The prices are weird. The kids are cheap, but the adults are expensive. It doesn't scale properly with appetite size. New menu items for lunch. Dessert and soup included. DO NOT get the Peach or apple tarts, they are basically Oatmeal, canned fruit, and sugar soup. Slow line. I got so much that I forgot to take a picture of my second plate.
1000 Old Faithful Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurant/old-fai…

4Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room

3.9
(108)
•
4.0
(612)
•
Mentioned on 
+6 other lists 
American restaurant
The Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room features a rustic setting, with stone fireplaces and front porch for rocking chairs. The American cuisine here is varied, featuring burgers and Mexican food options. The lodge is located in one of President Teddy Roosevelt's favorite locations in the park.
Slide 1 of 11
I was so excited to get the chance to eat here. A front porch adored with rocking chairs and benches wait for your waiting pleasure. Grab a drink at the small bar. If you don't drink ask for a huckleberry lemonade. Sit back and relax while they get you a table ready. Our wait was not long and the food was delicious. All of the staff is super friendly and so kind. Make sure you check out the trails behind the building
This is a rustic lodge built near a favorite location of President Theodore Roosevelt in Yellowstone. There are two fireplaces, a family style restaurant, a lobby bar and a front porch with lots of rocking chairs. Nice place to sit and relax and really has a cowboy feel.we went there for a late lunch which was pretty good.
Nice lodge stuck up in the northeast corner of Yellowstone. Nice setting and the lodge serves quite a few cabins in the area as well as the local corrals. Be aware at this time they are short handed and wait times can go over an hour. We all waited over an hour and then enjoyed our hamburger, bison burger, nachos carnitas, and chicken enchiladas. The staff was polite and courteous; doing the best they can bring short handed. Very few places in Yellowstone to sit and eat; the gift shop next door sells sandwiches as well.
Family style mostly southern dishes, with such large portions (with two sides, also large) that you perhaps should not order the appetizers! We had a short wait to get seated, but the food came at good speed. Try the fried green tomatoes for appetizers, they are yum. The hot wi gs are 🔥. For the vegetarian, the tofu tacos are OK. The rack of ribs was a hit at our table, as well as the blackened trout. Chicken enchiladas were good as well. Service was very friendly, with our server checking in with us multiple times. The location is beautiful, of course.
Wonderfully friendly service and excellent food option in a casual yet historic setting. We even saved room to split a huckleberry cobbler a la mode!
Neat place to stop for a meal when you are passing through. Great views, cute store and the dining room had good food. One of the better dining experiences inside the park. Kid friendly, space to walk around, cabins to stay in with options on amenities and price points.
During our tour of Yellowstone Park, we decided to make a pitstop at this charming place. The ambiance, both inside and outside, was delightful, and the service was excellent. The rustic decor gave it a genuine cowboy atmosphere. However, when it came to the food, it left much to be desired. Regrettably, there weren't many vegetarian options available. I opted for the fried green tomatoes, chuck wagon corn, and a house salad. The tomatoes were passable, but the corn and salad were quite disappointing. If I ever return to the park, I won't be revisiting this establishment.
This was a great place to stop for breakfast. The service was great and they were very friendly. We ate here twice during our Yellowstone visit, once after driving through and enjoying Lamar Valley and one a different day before driving Lamar Valley.
Awesome scenery and history. Saw some Buffalo chill’n near the front under a tree. Should be more stars, but I was very disappointed with the food. It seemed more like stadium food except for the burgers. $100+ for 1 cheeseburger, pork nachos, carnitas platter, and 3 beers. I do know the cost of transportation and employees, but I was expecting more for such an iconic place.
Our family ate here last week during our family reunion. It was delicious! The only sad part was that they were out of huckleberry ice cream.
Parking excellent. Lodge/cabin & location nice & historic. Atmosphere was great & we had to wait about 20 minutes to get seated. Our waiter wasn’t very friendly & attentive when paying attention when ordering our food. No special requests either. Took about 20 minutes to get our food. Messed up our orders pretty good & even forgot food for our 6 yr old son. The root beer & food was excellent! Our other son who is 12 stated he loved his bacon buffalo burger. We would go here again for the food & atmosphere but will keep our expectations low with the servers. Again excellent food.
101 Roosevelt Lodge Rd, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurant/rooseve…

5Canyon Eatery

3.3
(560)
•
3.0
(741)
•
Mentioned on 
+5 other lists 
American restaurant
Located in the popular tourist town of West Yellowstone, Canyon Eatery is a great place to enjoy American cuisine. Offering plenty of options for meat lovers, as well as vegetarian and vegan choices, this restaurant is perfect for anyone looking to find a high-quality meal. The restaurant also has a range of breakfast options, should you wish to start your day off with something delicious. Whether you're there for a casual lunch or an important dinner out, Canyon Eatery will not disappoint.
Slide 1 of 11
I enjoyed my wok for dinner with veggies and tofu! I thought it had good flavor and it was MUCH better than the similar wok that I had at the Old Faithful cafeteria. There is plenty of outdoor seating and some is covered! I also ate breakfast here, but didn't feel like that was worth the long line. I had to wait a really long time for them to brew more coffee and other guests were getting grumpy.
Skip it. Not worth it. Got there at 4:50pm and waited in a 45min line. Limited handwritten menu. They were out of noodles and steak before they even opened... The veggies are all cooked together and taste bland, even with the sauce added on top. Saw 3 employees standing around not doing much even with the giant line. The manager was straightening oatmeal containers and telling a few jokes, but not being helpful at all. I'd rather drive to West Yellowstone then eat here. Also the recycling was a joke. All of the to-go containers aren't recyclable- but that's all they're using right now!
There is a good variety of delicious food here. You can go in one line for western food or another line for Asian stir-fry bowls. Both seem to be equally popular. The ordering process is well marked and simple to follow and it tastes quite good. The portions are large enough and the pricing is decent, especially considering that you are inside a National Park. The lines are extremely long and move a little too slowly. Surely there is a way to speed the process up or even offer more kiosks to eat from. A pleasant surprise in the middle of the Park.
⚠️ WARNING: RUBBER NOODLES. The rice and noodles were unsatisfactory--the noodles tasted and smelled like rubber/lemon and not at all how Japanese noodles are supposed to taste. Some insight on the beef barbecue: the beef was way too hard and chewy for my liking (and spicy too.) Overall, the American food and service was okay but they REALLY FAILED trying to make Asian food which was a real disappointment.
Very basic a cafeteria setting with average food. It’s buffet style and some decent options but it’s priced a bit high for what you get. You are in a state park and you are a “captive” audience, and they know they don’t have to try too hard since there are no other options! My 1/2 chicken was good, but it was $20. The portobello mushroom entree was bad. VictorB
Was there only once when visited Yellowstone a month ago because we didn't want to waste more time. It's a nice place to begin with, but extremely slow and long line, food was just okay, there was only one cashier despite the long line, and that poor cashier was also required to refill the utensils and napkins. Poor management!
This review should be taken with a grain of salt. As one of the only two or three places to get hot (mostly) food without driving an hour and leaving the park, it was fine. "5 stars, I got a lot of chicken after burning 3500 calories hiking all day." But they do realize they have a captive audience. The half chicken was probably worth 3.5 stars, a little dry but still tasty enough. Mashed potatoes like the ones from the school cafeteria, but I liked those so there you go. A half packet of salt and four packets of pepper and they were fine. The "wok" option of noodles with steak and chicken was 2 stars. Tough steak and chicken that felt like it was slow-cooked and almost shredded itself when looked at. The biscuits and gravy for breakfast were cool, and the eggs were legitimately cold. I wouldn't be surprised if whatever heating unit that's supposed to be under the eggs on their line was actually just broken, there was no lingering trace of heat at all. Great location though.
Food is good for what it is. Service is lacking. The entire cafeteria line was being serviced by three people which resulted in long lines. Information about advertised offerings that were not available was not available until you arrived at the end of the line only to find out you needed to wait in another line.
I love the game monopoly because I end up rich, I dislike the experience of monopoly, especially here in the park, that'swhere I end up hungry. Our food experience left us very unhappy. This is the area where the taste buds are to shut down, and you eat just to fill your stomach. The description on the website does not match up with reality. What a disappointment, the experience becomes more memorable when all the senses are in tune, especially the taste buds, and a happy stomach, not so here. If you have food allergies and sensitivities, be ware, it will be difficult for you to find neutral food choices. (My spoce has allergies to bell peppers, and the dinner options they had available had bell pepper in every dish except rice and noodles. The other places were closed at 7pm, so we couldn't get anything else, only the grocery store was open, so that's where we ended up purchasing food.) Having explored for the most of the day, we come in in the evening we were expecting to be able to eat at around 7pm bc the website said that food places are open till 9 and burger place 10pm, well to our disappointment, the burger place closed at 7pm, and the diner at 8pm (with a note that closing times may change without notice) So be prepared to not have dinner. Our takeaway, make sure our cooler is stocked well.
This is some of the worst food that I have ever attempted to consume. The rice is so overcooked that it has become a nasty paste, and the vegetables and meat are flavorless and dry. Any decent restaurant in the park is closed. The food in West Yellowstone is by far the best option. Avoid this place at all costs!
My family and I got there around 19:45 hours. At that time, food could only be ordered at one counter, so we had to wait quite a while and the food selection was a bit restricted. However, our Chili and Hot Dogs were OK and filled our empty stomachs after a long day in the national park and beyond. I liked the retro architecture of the lodge though and considering the many people eating there at the same time, it was not too loud.
Yellowstone National Park, 83B Lupine Ct, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA•https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/restaurant/canyon-…
•
See full list
Map layers
•
Overview
Top places to visit
Top places to eat

What's the weather like in Yellowstone National Park?

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Yellowstone National Park for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

All road trips from Yellowstone National Park

Explore nearby places

All related maps of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park throughout the year

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Yellowstone National Park?

Get inspired for your trip to Yellowstone National Park with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here: