Park comparison
Yosemite vs Yellowstone
The two most famous parks in America, and the two hardest to plan. Here's how they differ.
Yosemite is granite and waterfalls: the Valley, Half Dome, and giant sequoias nearby. Yellowstone is geysers and wildlife on a scale nothing else matches. Yosemite needs day-use reservations for the Valley in summer; Yellowstone needs lodging booked far ahead. Pick Yosemite for rock and waterfalls, Yellowstone for wildlife and thermal features.
Side by side
| Yosemite | Yellowstone | |
|---|---|---|
| Best time to go | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | Jun, Sep |
| Crowds | Busiest in May through August | Busiest in June through September |
| Landscape | Mountain | Mountain |
| Established | 1890 | 1872 |
| Location | California | Wyoming & Montana & Idaho |
Month by month
Questions
Which is better, Yosemite or Yellowstone?
Neither is objectively better. Yosemite is granite and waterfalls: the Valley, Half Dome, and giant sequoias nearby. Yellowstone is geysers and wildlife on a scale nothing else matches. Yosemite needs day-use reservations for the Valley in summer; Yellowstone needs lodging booked far ahead. Pick Yosemite for rock and waterfalls, Yellowstone for wildlife and thermal features.
Can you visit Yosemite and Yellowstone in one trip?
It's possible but they're about 869 miles apart, so most people visit them on separate trips.
When is the best time to visit both Yosemite and Yellowstone?
Look for the overlap: Yosemite is best May–Jun, Sep–Oct and Yellowstone is best Jun, Sep. The sweet spot for both is February and May through October.
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