5 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone as a Solo Traveler
And One Reason Not to!
Are you interested in exploring Yellowstone National Park, but unsure how it will be as a solo RV traveler or camper? I recently spent five days solo camping in Yellowstone solo right after it opened back up from the flooding of 2022 and had an amazing time (despite a van breakdown).
There are many reasons to visit Yellowstone as a solo traveler. Let me start this by saying Yellowstone National Park blew me away. I know a lot of people have Yellowstone on their bucket list of must-see places and when you visit you will clearly understand why. There is so much natural diversity it’s like no place else on earth.
Yellowstone is home to hundreds of geysers and thermal features. There’s rivers and waterfalls and lakes and forests and mountains and gorgeous alpine meadows teeming with wildlife. And most unexpected for me, the stunning grand canyon of Yellowstone which literally brought me to tears. I turned a corner and there was the most amazingly unexpected view. You can see all kinds of wildlife right from your car window. Bison and bears and elk and bighorn sheep are easily spotted from the side of the road. The wolves are more elusive, and I would love to return to see if I can spot them.
How much time should you spend in Yellowstone National Park? I recommend at least three full days, more if you can.
Here are my Top 5 Reasons to Visit Yellowstone as a Solo Traveler
1. There is so Much to Do in Yellowstone!
No matter what you are into, you can find something in Yellowstone National Park to pique your interest. Yellowstone National Park is more than two million acres and it will take a lifetime to see it all. Due to its size, to get the most out of a visit to Yellowstone, it’s best to plan ahead. It can take several hours to travel from one part of the park to another and that’s not accounting for wildlife traffic jams. Yellowstone is best to be savored anyway. Plan to get out of your vehicle and walk around and you’ll avoid the large crowds Yellowstone is famous for and really experience its beauty.
It’s best to break Yellowstone up into regions. The park is set up in three different loops. The Grand Loop, Upper Loop and Lower Loop and that makes it easy to set exploring days around a particular region. For example, you can spend a whole day near Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. Spend the day walking around the more than 150 geysers. Have a seat and wait for Old Faithful to go off and then have lunch, dinner or a drink inside Old Faithful Inn.
You can spend another day driving through the Hayden Valley where you’re likely to see all kinds of wildlife. The bison will be roaming just off the road. Stop at one of the many viewpoints and picnic areas along Yellowstone Lake. Dip your toes in the lake. Explore the West Thumb Geyser basin
If boating is your thing, you can charter a guided fishing trip or bring your own boat or kayak. Just be sure to get it inspected for invasive species before you launch.
To get more information about the places you’re visiting, download an app like Autio or Gypsy Guides.
2. People are friendly
So many people come to Yellowstone National Park. It’s on the bucket list of many Americans and you’ll also meet many international travelers. I met two women from Belgium, a family from Georgia and a couple from Kentucky—and that was just in the campground. There’s something about traveling to a National Park that makes conversations flow. And as a solo, sometimes you’re easier to approach.
If you want to meet people, it will not be hard in Yellowstone. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with someone. You can ask them what parts of the park they’ve visited and what areas they recommend. Personally, I get a lot of my travel ideas from people I meet along the way. Meeting people is one of the best parts of solo travel. Just because you’re solo, doesn’t mean you have to be alone or lonely.
If you don’t want to explore everything on your own and meet others, there are plenty of tours to sign up for. Let someone else do the driving—plus it’s a great way to learn more, see more and meet fellow travelers on the journey. There are a lot of great tour companies that operate in Yellowstone. I didn’t take a tour, because none of the ones I was interested in left from my campground and I didn’t think it would be worth it to have to drive an hour or so to meet up with a tour to save on driving. But depending on which campground you’re staying in—or if you’re staying outside the park, taking a guided tour can be a great option.
3. Sit, Linger, Contemplate
As a solo you can take time to create art, sit and contemplate, linger in Yellowstone. When I turned that corner on the South Rim Trail and saw Artist’s Point on the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for the first time, I literally burst into tears at the sheer beauty of the sight. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be able to see this. I’m not sure I would have had the same visceral reaction if I was traveling with others. Something about experiencing that solo really cracked me wide open. I stopped to just drink it in. Had I been with other people, I might have felt pressure to keep moving, to get to our next destination, to pose for photos or join in on an inane conversation. Instead, I was able to just be with my feelings, the glory of it all. I could have sat and done some writing or if I was artistic, pulled out paints or colored pencils. But that moment will stay with me forever. And it’s the one that made me realize I want to return to Yellowstone again someday.
4. You can get Access to More Places as a Solo Traveler
The National Parks are home to some amazing historic lodges. The Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone is one. Theses places are popular and can get crowded. As a solo, it can be easier to get a reservation at one of the restaurants. I stopped in at the Old Faithful Inn to see about getting a reservation for dinner. When the host found out I was a solo traveler, he told me to just come back and ask for him. That they would be able to seat me as a solo without a problem. All of the other reservations were filled up weeks in advance. There’s also a cute bar inside the Inn called The Bear Pit which can also fill up. But as a solo, you’re likely to find a spot to sit at the bar. It can also be a great place to meet other travelers and share your travel stories. I often find about new places to visit from fellow travelers that I randomly meet.
Not only can you gain better access indoors as a solo traveler in Yellowstone, you can easier find a way to escape the crowds outdoors. I was able to slip past the long lines of people waiting to see different viewpoints. I hiked on the South Rim trail and ran into just a few other people. I skirted around the crowds queued up to take selfies at Inspiration Point.
5. Visiting Yellowstone is Affordable for Solo Travelers
Travel can be expensive, but a trip to Yellowstone National Park is one of the most affordable trips a solo traveler can make—especially if you stay in your own RV or camp inside the park. The amount of bang for your buck is unbeatable. The price of admission for a 7 day pass is just $35, a yearly National Parks Pass is $80, or only $20 if you’re 62 or older. ($80 for a lifetime pass for seniors.)
Dry camping inside the park starts at just $20 a night, definitely cheaper than a lot of RV or State Park campgrounds.
Other than camping and any food or souvenirs you might purchase, there is no cost beyond admission once inside the park. Considering all there is to do and see, it’s quite a bargain for a solo traveler!
The biggest drawback of traveling solo in Yellowstone
Since Yellowstone is bear country, hiking alone can be risky. But it can be done safely. I took several hikes solo in Yellowstone and on one of them, I started to feel a bit vulnerable. I saw a couple hiking the same trail as me and I asked them if I could tag along just a few yards behind them. They were more than happy to accommodate. You can hang out in the parking area of a hike and wait for some people to show up, explain your situation and ask if you can tag along. You can choose hikes that are more popular or go on a guided ranger hike.
Regardless, be sure to be bear aware, make noise when you hike and carry bear spray. Let someone know where you are hiking, how long you plan to hike and when they can expect to hear back from you. You will likely not have good cell signal in Yellowstone, so it’s best to take a paper map or be sure to download a map to your phone before heading out on a hike. Take plenty of water and always carry the 10 hiking essentials when you hike solo.
Listen to my podcast episode about my solo trip to Yellowstone.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you decide to make a purchase via my links.
