Heading to Yellowstone National Park this summer? Enjoy the beauty...and prepare for crowds/NPS

After year after year after year of increasing summer crowds, you likely can expect more of the same this summer if you're heading to Yellowstone National Park, according to park officials.

To help you prepare for the crowds and for being in a park renowned for its wildlife, they've put together this short video:

Summer is Yellowstone’s most popular season. Expect busy facilities and destinations, as well as delayed travel times due to heavy traffic and wildlife jams. Try to arrive early or stay late, and avoid main attractions (like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Norris Geyser Basin) during peak hours. 

“More than half of the record 4.25 million visits in 2016 took place during June, July, and August,” said Superintendent Dan Wenk. “Whether you are visiting Yellowstone for the first time or the 50th, we hope you’ll take the Yellowstone Pledge and plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable trip.” 

The Yellowstone Pledge is a personal promise you can make to yourself and the park. It can be taken anywhere — at home, in your car, or in front of your bathroom mirror — and now it’s available in 10 languages. Tag your photos with #YellowstonePledge. 

Know before you go: 

• Check the current park conditions for information on road construction, temporary road closures, and the backcountry situation report.
• Reserve space in a campground or hotel - these facilities fill far in advance.
• Expect very limited access to cellular phone service and Wi-Fi.
• Read the Top Things to Know.
• Download Yellowstone’s app before you arrive.

While you are here: 

• Attend a ranger program.
• Read the summer newspaper (you’ll get a copy when you drive through the entrance).
• Maintain safe distances from wildlife (practice safe selfies).
• Carry bear spray because a bear doesn’t care whether you are a hiker, backpacker, angler, photographer, wolf watcher, or geyser gazer.
• Join an InstaMeet where social media friends and followers meet in real life to take photos and exchange ideas.