The Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Packing List (Plus Tips!)

If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, this packing list will help you out!

Yellowstone was the world’s first national park, established in 1872. The park is home to so many incredibly unique geological features, from towering geysers to rainbow hot springs to bubbling mud pits. That’s not to mention the waterfalls, a giant canyon, a large lake, mountains, and a myriad of wildlife that call this park home. It’s a very special place.

If you have your Yellowstone trip booked and you want to make sure you have the right gear, this simple packing list will help you out. Plus, I will share some helpful tips for visiting Yellowstone at the end. It’s time to make your dream trip a reality!

Check out my 3-day Yellowstone itinerary to finalize your trip

The Ultimate Yellowstone Packing list

Hiking Gear

Most visitors will want to do at least a bit of hiking during their trip to Yellowstone (or maybe a lot!). In order to be properly prepared, you’ll want to decide if you’ll be sticking to the short boardwalk trails, or venturing deeper into the park.

Here are my top recommendations for hiking gear:

1. A hiking backpack. The right backpack will vary person to person, but Gregory and Osprey are a couple brands I love.
2. Bear spray. You’ll need this if you’re hiking deeper into the park, but not necessarily if you’re only visiting boardwalks. Keep in mind that you can’t fly with it, so if you’re flying, you’ll need to purchase it when you arrive. Also be sure that you know how to use it.
3. A reusable water bottle or water bladder. I love carrying a water bladder for easy drinking.
4. A headlamp, especially if you plan to hike at sunset or sunrise.
5. A first aid kit. Adventure medical kits has some great options.
6. Hiking boots. The right boots vary a lot from person to person, but currently I love my Keens.
7. Hiking socks. I absolutely love Darn Tough socks.
8. Extra layers, such as a raincoat.
9. Snacks! Be sure to carry food along with you while you’re hiking.
10. An emergency shelter. This is always helpful to have on hand.
11. A multi-tool, which can be useful in many scenarios. Just be sure you remember to take it out of your carry-on if you’re flying.
12. A lighter in case of emergency.

Clothing

You should bring whatever clothing you’re most comfortable in, and that makes sense for your specific plans and the weather forecast. However, here are some general recommendations for the type of clothing you might want to pack.

1. A breathable sun shirt. I love the Sahara Shade Hoodie from REI.
2. Lightweight hiking pants (or leggings) for a summer trip. The Trailmade pants from REI are a great choice.
3. A light jacket for cooler evenings.
4. Comfortable walking shoes, ideally closed toed since you’ll be near exploding geysers and boiling hot springs.
5. Underwear, pajamas and anything else you need to be comfortable during your trip.

Insect Repellent

The need for insect repellent depends a bit on the time of year. Mosquitoes tend to be bad in June and July, but taper off in mid-August.

Sun Protection

Yellowstone can be hot and sunny during the summer months! Make sure you have sun protection.

1. A sun hat.
2. Sunglasses.
3. Sunscreen.

Portable Battery

Don’t get caught with a dead phone, especially while you’re hiking! I love this lightweight power bank for hiking trips.

A Zoom Lens and/or Binoculars

If you’re hoping to observe and photograph wildlife during your trip to Yellowstone, it might be nice to have binoculars or a zoom lens if you have a camera! I shoot with the Sony A7III and am happy with my Tamron 150-500mm Full Frame lens.

Optional Water Gear

If you’ll be kayaking on Lake Yellowstone or white water rafting in Grand Teton, be sure to bring a bathing suit, a packable towel and a dry bag.

Yellowstone Map

You can also snag a free park map when you arrive at the park. But if you’re interested in purchasing a larger, waterproof map ahead of time, National Geographic makes amazing national park maps.

Toiletries

Don’t forget to bring whatever toiletries you need for traveling, such as your toothbrush, hairbrush, shampoo, contact lenses, etc.

Tips for Visiting Yellowstone National Park

• Use the Guide Along audio tour while you’re traveling around the park! This location-based tour provides stop recommendations, history and stories all about the park.

• Visit the popular attractions early or late in the day to avoid the crowds. If possible, stay inside the park to reduce your driving time.

• Use geysertimes.org to stay up to date on when certain geysers will be going off. You can also see predicted geyser eruption times at the visitor centers.

• Yellowstone charges a fee of $35 to enter the park. If you’ll be visiting other national parks over the course of a year (such as Grand Teton next door!), it will likely make sense to purchase an America the Beautiful Pass, which grants access to all US national parks for a year, for $80.

• If you’re planning on hiking in Yellowstone, I recommend using All Trails Plus to download your trails ahead of time.

• Grand Teton National Park is very close to Yellowstone, so I recommend visiting both on one trip! Map out your route using my 2-day Grand Teton itinerary.

Final Thoughts

I hope this Yellowstone packing list helps you finalize your national park vacation! From hiking gear to sun protection, it’s best to be prepared when you’re traveling to Yellowstone or any other national park.

For more US national park travel guides, check out these blogs:

• How to Spend 3 Days in Yellowstone
• 50+ of the Best Things To Do in Yellowstone
• A Comparison of 3 Yellowstone Lodges
• How to Spend 2 Days in Grand Teton National Park
• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Glacier National Park
• How to Spend 2 Days in Zion National Park
• How to Spend 2 Days in Channel Islands National Park
• How to Spend 1 Day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• How to Spend 2 Days in Rocky Mountain National Park
• The Best Things To Do in Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• The Best Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park

Thanks for Reading!