As you may know, the Yellowstone area was impacted by devastating floods this past month, washing out roads, homes, and businesses in its path. Incredibly, Yellowstone National Park officials aided by federal government funds have been able to restore and repair a large portion of the roads and services that were initially affected. Three of the five entrances to the park are now open and accepting visitors.
At Travel Montana, we’ve been able to run several of our private family tours to the park with very few changes to our itinerary. In fact, one major positive shift we’ve witnessed in the past few weeks is the lack of overwhelming crowds that you would typically experience in the middle of summer at Yellowstone. And with fewer people comes better chances to see the remarkable wildlife of Yellowstone as well as a better experience overall when visiting the iconic sights of the park such as Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Why Visit Now?
There are a few reasons why visiting Yellowstone this August is the perfect time to do so:
- Fewer crowds (as mentioned above) – you come to Yellowstone to experience the magic and awe of mother nature. I doubt you are coming here to fight other human beings for a coveted parking space or be annoyed with how loud another group of people is being around you while you are trying to take in the beauty of the landscape. Fewer people = better overall experience!
- Supporting the National Park Service – Many people have understandably canceled their plans to visit Yellowstone this year due to the floods. It was uncertain how quickly the park roads and facilities would be repaired. But now that so much has been restored over the past few weeks, the park needs visitors in order to function.
- Supporting the local people – The towns and communities surrounding Yellowstone thrive on tourism. These people have already been severely impacted by the floods. Even if their homes and businesses were not flooded personally, their communities and livelihoods have been marred. Help give some relief to these communities by staying in their hotels, eating in their restaurants, and shopping in their stores while passing through to the park.
If you are planning on visiting Yellowstone this year still, consider booking one of our private tours where our staff and guides will take care of everything for you – including hotel accommodations, meals, driving around the park, and hitting up the remarkable sights of Yellowstone at the best times. You just need to get yourself to Montana, we’ll take care of the rest!
Took my 3 kids for a 5-day vacation in Yellowstone. Could not have turned out better. Our guide kept things fun and carefree but on track for timing. My 3 kids were entertained for the entire trip – not an easy accomplishment. She knew where to go AND WHEN to catch a unique view, see animals at play, and leave us with an impression of just how amazing Yellowstone is.
Marc A. (recent Travel montana guest)
We currently have openings this August where you can still sneak in a family vacation before school starts up again. Interested in learning more or to check if your preferred dates are available? Contact our tour manager, Kelly!