Permits & Reservations

 

Reservations

For lodge reservations, contact Yellowstone National Park Lodges. For campground reservations, contact Yellowstone National Park Lodges (five campgrounds) or Recreation.gov (seven campgrounds).

Make your reservations early as lodge rooms and campsites can fill months in advance. Reservations are not needed to enter the park.

 
Girl roasting marshmallow over an open fire.
Camp in a Campground

Plan a night in one of twelve park campgrounds.

A large, A-frame-style log lodge rises above surrounding conifer trees.
Stay in a Lodge

Pick a lodge that's right for you and make a reservation early!

 

Recreational Permits

 
Angler fishing in Yellowstone during a golden morning.
Catch a Fish

Be a responsible angler and understand the regulations before you come.

Canoer paddles on Yellowstone Lake
Boat

Take in the view from the water.

Hikers crossing a creek via a cable suspension bridge.
Camp in the Backcountry

Enjoy the solitude of more than 300 backcountry campsites.

Horseback riders in Yellowstone
Ride a Horse

Bring your own stock or take a guided ride.

 

Special Use Permits

 
A camera mounted to a sliding apparatus resting on a wooden boardwalk.
Special Use Permits

The National Park Service may require a special use permit (SUP) for certain activities to occur in Yellowstone. Learn more about SUPs.

A videographer looks through his viewfinder of the video camera to frame a scene.
Film, Photography, and Sound Recording

A permit is required for commercial filming, photography, and audio recording.

A wrecker hauls a broken down vehicle along a park road.
Suppliers, Travel, & Hazardous Materials

Certain transportation into Yellowstone National Park requires an additional permit different from that of a recreating visitor.

Sign stating that people in the area and expressing their own opinions.
First Amendment

Church services or demonstrations require a special use permit (non-fee).

The grey stone chapel at Mammoth Hot Springs surrounded by green grass.
Weddings and Other Ceremonies

Weddings and other ceremonies may be permitted in certain areas of Yellowstone depending on location, group size, and time of day or year.

Black and white photograph of low-lying clouds and distant mountain peaks.
Scattering of Ashes

Review these regulations if you would like to scatter the remains of your loved one within the park.

 

Other Permits and Authorizations

 
Researcher working with a pipette in the lab.
Scientific Research

Most types of research done in the park are subject to the park's research permitting policy and require a permit.

Three lines of snowmobiles wait for their drivers to return.
Commercial Use Authorizations (CUAs)

The National Park Service requires specific authorizations for commercial businesses to operate in national parks.

Last updated: October 28, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

PO Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190-0168

Phone:

307-344-7381

Contact Us