One of the great things about National Parks, Yellowstone included, is that visiting them doesn't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, aside from park fees and a campsite, most activities and attractions in Yellowstone National Park are totally free. So if you're looking to keep your vacation spending down, here are some of Yellowstone's best budget vacation ideas.

Park Fees

You won't have to break your budget getting in; seven-day permit entrance fees for Yellowstone National Park are just $25/vehicle; $20/snowmobile or motorcycle; or $12/hiker, biker or skier.

Lodging

When it comes to budget, camping out is the way to go. It doesn't cost much for a campsite – they start around $12/night – and most of us have an old sleeping bag and tent we can pull out of the closet or borrow from a friend. If you'd like to forego all camping fees, you may be able to find a free place to camp on some of the Forest Service or BLM land outside Yellowstone. If camping just isn't in your cards, our Yellowstone Lodging Guide has budget options, as well. Most lodges within the park cost a pretty penny. You'll be able to find more affordable hotels and motels in nearby towns but in the heart of the summer months even “budget” motels jack up their prices.

Yellowstone Lodging Guide
Yellowstone Campgrounds

Getting Here

Since there's no public transportation to or within Yellowstone National Park, visitors usually drive, fly in and rent a car or arrive by bicycle. For those flying into the region, there are six airports just outside of Yellowstone , found in Bozeman, Billings and West Yellowstone, Montana; Idaho Fall, Idaho; and Jackson Hole and Cody, Wyoming. Flights to many of these smaller airports can be expensive (since flights into Jackson Hole are subsidized, it may have the cheapest fares of the smaller, closer airports), so if you want to save a little bit more money, it may be cheaper to fly into Salt Lake City and rent a car there.

Transportation to/from Yellowstone

Dining

Cafeterias in the Park

Relatively inexpensive compared to the pricey lodge restaurants.

Restaurants in Yellowstone

Bring a Cooler

Grocery stores outside of the Park (check West Yellowstone and Gardiner) will be you cheapest dining option.

Happy Hour

Check local papers in towns like West Yellowstone and Jackson for happy hour and dining specials

Catch Your Dinner

A fishing license is cheap ($15/3 days, $20/seven days, $35/season), and fresh campfire-fried trout is a meal to rival the best fillet mignon from the Yellowstone Hotel. Grab a rod and reel and head over to either Firehole or Gibbon River.

What to See & Do inside Yellowstone

So many activities and attractions within the park are free (after you pay the entrance fee) that you can follow our suggested Yellowstone Summer Itinerary [link to Summer Itinerary] for ideas of what to see and do in the park. One of the best (and often overlooked) services that the park offers is a variety of Ranger Programs, including guided hikes, campfire programs, and more.

Read our Yellowstone Summer Itinerary

Affordable Activities & Attractions Near Yellowstone

Grand Teton National Park (south of Yellowstone)

Your seven-day pass to Yellowstone National Park is good at the Grand Teton National Park gates, too. Located just south of Yellowstone, the Tetons are filled with hiking, climbing, backpacking and more.

Take a peek at our Grand Teton National Park Budget Itinerary

Jackson Wyoming (further south of Yellowstone)

Just outside of Grand Teton National Park to the south of Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is one of the classic Old West tourist towns. There's not a ton of budget options for dining and lodging here, but during the summers there are free concerts at Teton Village, a few free events in town, and plenty of great hiking and biking trails.

View our Jackson Wyoming Budget Itinerary

West Yellowstone, Montana (west entrance)

Located at the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone is a happening place in the summers, with the free Music in the Park concert series, beautiful scenic drives, mountain lakes and the Mountain Man Rendezvous.

Check out the West Yellowstone Budget Itinerary

Cody, Wyoming (east entrance)

Just past Yellowstone's East Entrance, Cody, Wyoming has its own free summer concert series, a nightly western gunfight show, the McCoulough Peaks Wild Horse Herd and more.

Browse our Cody Wyoming Budget Itinerary

Gardiner, Montana (north entrance)

Budgeting is important, but so is splurging a bit now and then. If you decide you want to drop a bit of cash on a horseback ride or whitewater rafting, here is the spot. You can also head a bit further north to take a dip in the Chico Hot Springs (under $10 for a day pass).

Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana (northeast entrance)

The small towns of Cooke City and Silver Gate, at the Northeast Entrance, may not have a lot going on, but they are the gateway to the Chief Joseph and Beartooth Scenic Byways. There are also a number of hiking and camping options in this area.