When we set out on this adventure, we knew right away we wanted to be sure and see Yellowstone, a bucket list item for both of us! Visiting Yellowstone with toddlers does come with a few challenges, but it totally doable!

We visited Yellowstone for a week in June of 2020. We did stay at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park just four blocks from West Yellowstone entrance. There are five entrances into Yellowstone, and the west entrance is just inside Montana, barely. This entrance is probably the most popular of Yellowstone’s entrances for it’s proximity to the most significant attractions like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. No matter which exit you choose, be prepared to drive. Even from West Yellowstone, Old Faithful is at least a 45-minute drive, and that is without a “Bison Traffic Jam.” And traffic jams do happen in Yellowstone between road construction, tourist picture taking, or the occasional animal roadblock. Be prepared for a little patience when visiting Yellowstone with the toddlers!

Grizzly RV Park was the perfect location as it was in town, close the park and down the street from the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and the Imax Theatre. Grizzly RV Park is not the cheapest campground, but we decided to splurge for the convenience and location for our bucket list trip. The park had good Wi-Fi, a great playground (a bit advanced for toddlers), a big bear statue to amaze kiddos, and a dog walking park that is perfect for a family walk. The campground spots were spacious and private with a tree or something separating from the next site, so the girls felt like they had their own backyard. If you want to get a reservation, book early! We lucked out with an opening due to Covid-19 cancellations.

10 Facts on Yellowstone* and how to survive Yellowstone with Toddlers

1. Yellowstone encompasses 3,472 square miles (2,221,766 acres) which makes it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

We only drove about half of the park as there are miles and miles, which adds up to hours and hours, which means little people lose patience! We brought the Amazon Kindles along for a few drives time but encouraged lots of tech breaks to sightsee out the windows. Bring lots of snacks or toys to keep the kids entertained so the parents can watch the road and enjoy some of the scenery.

2. There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. The four types of thermal features are geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles.

Most of these significant destinations are a short walk from the parking lot. Many are on elevated boardwalks and level ground for little ones to be able to walk out and see the sights. A small stroller would work in most areas, except for the Yellowstone Grand Canyon area due to stairs.

3. Yellowstone is home to more than 500 active geysers (more than half the world’s geysers).

Our kids loved to see Old Faithful and some of the other more active geysers. Some make noises, and you can really encourage the little one’s imagination. Our girls were a bit scared of the Dragon Mouth geyser but loved some of the smaller ones thinking they were trains. If making the Old Faithful Geyser loop, do take a stroller as the boardwalks could easily be over a mile depending on the route to take.

4. Yellowstone Lake has 131.7 sq. miles of surface area and 141 miles of shoreline. It is the largest high elevation lake in North America.

Swimming is not encouraged in many of the Yellowstone lakes, mainly due to the average temperature of these lakes remaining in the low 50’s. There is a Boiling River spot with a short hike in, but not recommend until July or August, again because of temperature. If you choose to swim, don’t forget the towels, change of clothes and swimsuits. Plenty of fishing areas to try out on a lake, but only fly fishing is allowed in Yellowstone in the rivers. Be sure to stop and get a fishing permit if you plan to fish.

5. Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states.

Seeing wildlife is half the reason to go to Yellowstone! The twins really got into animal spotting. I would recommend picking up some cheap kiddo binos before you go to get them involved in hunting for the animals. We were able to see Elk, Bison, an American Mink, Antelope, and the always exciting Chipmunks! Sadly, we did not get to see any bears or wolves, as we didn’t get to the Lamar Valley, which is the far Northeast corner and about 100 miles one way to reach, but prime bear and wolf country. Fortunately for us, we did get to visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. Tickets to the Discovery Center are good for two days and can be combined with a day in town or catch the Imax film.

6. 285 species of birds can be found in Yellowstone.

Again, get your binos ready! We saw a bald eagle, which the girls also got to see in the Grizzly & Wolf Encounters. The Rocky Mountain Magpie are easy to spot, and the girls recognized the RedTailed Hawk from our Kansas days.

7. There are more than 1,800 known archaeological sites within the park.

We are saving archaeological sites for when the girls are a little older and can understand. There is a Junior Ranger Program, and most parks do have a pre-school version. Unfortunately, Yellowstone was not supporting the Junior Ranger Program summer of 2020 due to all visitor centers being closed due to Covid-19.

8. About 290 waterfalls can be found throughout Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres.

Our girls love waterfalls, but we kept to the easy hikes, which are viewpoints for the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Their favorite thing was to see a rainbow at the bottom of a waterfall.

9. Yellowstone houses more than 720,000 museum items, including 30 historic vehicles, millions of archived documents, and more than 20,000 books, manuscripts, periodicals.

Unfortunately, we did not get to see any of these or spend time at the museums due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We now have a great excuse to come back and visit Yellowstone when the girls are not toddlers and can learn more from experience. Even though Covid-19 put up roadblocks this summer, it is essential to know the National Parks are open, and you can get out and see the great outdoors and still social distance and stay safe….just don’t forget the hand sanitizer when you pack the sunscreen!

10. There are approximately 1,000 miles of hiking trails in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone with Toddlers and hiking don’t always mix! We hiked approximately 3.2 miles, in Yellowstone, if that! LOL! So far, our girls are not hikers! Short legs = short hikes. But never fear, you can still hike Yellowstone with toddlers as there are lots of one-mile-ish walks. Download the Yellowstone or National Park App (make sure to open and download content before getting to the park as there isn’t much cell or Wi-Fi service in the park) to get a list of short hikes and plan out your travel routes. Strollers are allowed on the boardwalks. Make sure your little hiker has good tennis shoes, and someone carries a supply of Band-Aid in case of the trip and fall boo-boo!

Couple other quick tips to survive Yellowstone with Toddlers:

• Bring a jacket and dress in layers. Yellowstone weather changes quickly. We had snow one day and then 75 degrees the next!
• Bring snacks and water! There are lots of places to get meals, but the parking lots can fill up, long lines, and when kids are hungry, feeding the little animals darlings immediately becomes an emergency. Keep whining to a minimum with prepared snacks from your survival pack.
• Download any Yellowstone Apps or maps you need before you visit as the park has a limited cell phone range or Wifi.
• Don’t forget sunscreen or bug spray! Also kept in the survival pack our COVID-19 masks, hand sanitizer, and sunglasses for the kiddos.
• Follow all posted rules, people!! I like animals, and I do walk on the wild side occasionally, but I have no interest in veering off a path and getting burned by molten lava or Geyer acid, nor do I want to be gored by a Bison. It seems simple enough, but in the week we were there, three news articles came out about people – all adults, not following the rules. Please don’t end up featured in this book!
• Go to Imax Theatre in West Yellowstone for nothing else, but the $0.50 soft serve Huckleberry Ice Cream! At prices that low, we hit up these tasty treats a couple of times in one day! Also, the IMax had one of the better quality gift shops, including a sale rack!

*Source Note: Yellowstone.org

For other great toddler or kid-friendly resources, check out Full Suitcase Blog for great itineraries and kid activities at many of the National Parks and vacation destinations.

We hope these tips give you some ideas and courage to travel to Yellowstone with Toddlers. Just a little planning can help ensure your trip has Bright Dais Ahead!

We want to hear from you! Comment below and let us know what we missed at Yellowstone! Where did you stay? What is in your Yellowstone survival pack? We look forward to answering your questions or comments!