Things to do / Travel Guide
A vacation in Yellowstone is a family rite of passage for a reason – travelers on any budget can enjoy the spectacular sights and natural beauty of the region. The cost of a Yellowstone vacation will largely depend on how a visitor approaches the experience. Under-the-stars lodging and campfire dining will be much less expensive than a luxurious guest ranch and guides.
Lodging Costs in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Montana
The cheapest lodging option in the Yellowstone area is definitely camping, with campsites ranging from being free all the way up to costing around $25 a night. Free camping is available in some areas outside the parks, where national forests offer free dispersed camping. The least expensive cabins in Yellowstone can be nabbed for around $40-$60 a night, with hotel rooms starting at around $100. You can usually save some money by staying in the gateway towns, where prices are generally cheaper. In the summer months, when thousands of tourists flood the region, prices are usually 50 percent higher than in the off-season. Luxury is available even in the heart of nature, so prepare to fork up some serious dough if you choose to stay at any of the swanky ranch guest houses and historic hotels. Jackson lodging tends to be significantly more expensive than other towns in the region.
Dining Costs in Costs in Yellowstone and Butte, Bozeman, Montana
As one would expect, dining costs generally tend to be higher inside the national parks – both for meals in the cafeterias and snack bars and for food at convenience stores and groceries. Before hitting the road with a picnic lunch or plans for a BBQ, visitors may want to consider shopping at one of the grocery stores in the gateway towns where prices will be more affordable and selection more diverse. Restaurants in major towns range in price from $5 fast food to up-scale five course meals that will have visitors digging deep into their pockets.
Attraction and Activity Costs in Yellowstone, Wyoming and Montana
Once you pay an entry fee to get into a National Park, which ranges from $10 to $20, all sights inside the park are free, as are most of the ranger programs. The entry fee for Yellowstone also covers Grand Teton, and is good for a whole week; so as long as you keep your receipt for reentry, your park entertainment is practically paid for in one shot. In addition, vacationers can purchase one of several passes, which grant unlimited access to national parks. The passes permit a car and its passengers, or the pass holder and his/her family, to enter parks where per-person fees are imposed. An annual pass for Grand Teton and Yellowstone costs $40, and an annual National Parks Pass costs just $10 more and is good at any national park in the country. For an additional $15, a golden eagle hologram can extend access to land administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management. For only $10, residents over the age of 62 can get a Golden Age passport for unlimited entry to all the parks, as well as 50 percent discounts on camping and other fees.
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