July 2024 Yellowstone Visitation Tops Previous Year

According to a National Park Service (NPS) news release on August 7, 2024, visitation in Yellowstone National Park was strong in July, up 2% over last year.

During July of 2024, the Park hosted 992,352 recreation visits, up from 969,692 in July of 2023.

While 2024’s July topped the previous year, it was still 8% short of the all-time high of 1,080,767 recreation visits recorded in July of 2021, when travelers were anxious to vacation after the lifting of early COVID restrictions. At the time, outdoor recreation and vacationing to National Parks was more popular than ever before.

Year-To-Date Visitor Comparison

The NPS report continues with current numbers for the entire year: “So far in 2024, the park has hosted 2,626,091 recreation visits, up 7% from 2023 (2,462,535 recreation visits), and down 2% from 2021 (2,668,765 recreation visits).

The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through July):

2024 – 2,626,091

2023 – 2,462,535

2022 – 1,855,396 (The park was closed June 13 through June 21 due to the historic flood event. Three entrances opened on June 22.)

2021 – 2,668,765

2020 – 1,674,699 (The park was closed March 24 through May 17 due to COVID. Two entrances opened on May 18 and the remaining three opened on June 1.)

2019 – 2,294,691”

Will Yellowstone Visitation Break a Record in 2024?

Year-to-Date, the Park is tracking more closely with its record-high in 2021. May’s 2024 visitation total was up 10% from the 2021 total, and June of this year was only 3% behind June 2021.

Based on these numbers and our observations in the Visitor Center, we believe that the “shoulder seasons” of April-May and September-October are becoming increasingly popular times to visit Cody and Yellowstone National Park.

If the increased shoulder-season visitation keeps up this fall before the Park closes in early November, it’s certainly possible that Yellowstone will surpass its all-time high mark of annual recreational visits.

Additionally, 2024 is the first year since 2020 when international travelers have returned in typical numbers after 4 years of restrictions or hesitancy due to the pandemic. These visitors from across the world no doubt help to boost the visitation numbers.

With the exceptions of extended Park closures in 2020 and 2022, a new record in 2024 would continue the trend of strong visitation growth in Yellowstone National Park over the last several years.

For more information on Yellowstone Visitor Statistics and to see how these numbers are calculated, visit the NPS Stats website.

Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in 2024

The most important part of visiting Yellowstone National Park is to plan ahead and be prepared for the unique and fast-changing conditions within the park.

Commit to protecting the Park for yourself and others by taking the Yellowstone Pledge: “I pledge to protect Yellowstone National Park. I will act responsibly and safely, set a good example for others, and share my love of the park and all the things that make it special.”

Make sure to plan your trip through the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park so you can enjoy the unbelievably scenic 53-mile drive between the Park and Cody, Wyoming. Use our business directory to explore lodging options, shopping, restaurants, and activities to do while you’re here. When you get here, make sure to stop in at our Visitor Center and say hello!