Yellowstone National Park saw a 2% decrease in visitors between July 2025 and July 2026, with 958,706 recreation visits in the month this year. The numbers may have shown a decrease, but they still show that Yellowstone is one o fhte busiest national parks in the country during the summer season.
July of 2025 brought 975,109 recreation visits to Yellowstone. This year’s July total was also 11% lower than July of 2021, the busiest in park history, when 1,080,767 visitors were recorded. Those numbers helped 2021 reach a record-breaking annual visitation number of more than 4.8 million.
Yellowstone Has Welcomed 2.6 Million Visits in 2026
Through the end of July, Yellowstone has recorded 2,635,384 recreation visits in 2026. That’s a 1% decline from the 2,666,031 visits recorded by the end of July 2025. It’s also 1% below the 2,668,765 visits recorded during the same period in 2021.
In July 2024, Yellowstone recorded 2,626,091 visits through July, and 2023 saw 2,462,535. 2021 saw historic flooding that forced the park to close on June 13th. While three entrances did reopen on June 22nd, the park’s visits by the end of July were only 1,855,396.
Summer Visitors Urged to Plan Ahead
Yellowstone officials are encouraging visitors traveling to the park during the busy summer season to plan ahead and prepare for crowded conditions. The National Park Service recommends that visitors review important information before arriving, use the free NPS app and follow Yellowstone’s safety guidance. Visitors are also encouraged to take the Yellowstone Pledge and help protect the park by acting responsibly. Additional visitation information and historical data are available through the National Park Service statistics system.