Yellowstone National Park reports 868,450 visits on 6 October

Yellowstone National Park reported 868,450 recreation visits for September 2026 in Yellowstone, United States, in a release issued on 6 October 2026. The figure was 3% higher than in September 2025, although visits for the year so far remained below the previous year's total.

Yellowstone reports 868,450 visits for September

The National Park Service said September 2026 visitation reached 868,450 recreation visits, compared with 839,579 in September 2025. The latest figure was also 2% below September 2021, when the park recorded 882,078 visits, its busiest September on record.

The year-to-date count stood at 4,360,300 recreation visits through September 2026. That was 1% below the 4,387,546 visits recorded during the same period in 2025 and 3% below the 4,472,687 visits recorded through September 2021. The 6 October visitation release gives the figures as preliminary visitor statistics.

Wyoming Public Media also reported the September increase on 9 October 2026, noting that the 2026 total was 27,246 visits below the corresponding 2025 figure. The two measures describe different parts of the season: September rose year on year, while the cumulative total remained lower.

What the September figures show about Yellowstone

The statistics relate to recreation visits rather than unique people. A visit is counted when a person enters the park for recreation, so one traveller can contribute more than one visit during a stay or across separate entries.

The park was established on 1 March 1872 as the world’s first national park. It now forms the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and covers 3,472 square miles, with 96% of its area in Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho.

Its visitor landscape includes more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, about 500 active geysers, Yellowstone Lake and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. The annual figures therefore bring together visits to very different areas, from boardwalks around geyser basins to roads and viewpoints across the wider park.

Visiting Yellowstone National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The current news peg is the National Park Service release of 6 October 2026, which records 868,450 recreation visits for September 2026.
• The figures are a statistical update, not an announcement of a new closure, entrance rule or access restriction. Conditions and facilities can still change with the season.
• The park has five entrances and 457 miles of roads. It extends across Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, with gateway communities including West Yellowstone, Gardiner and Cody.
• The terrain includes boardwalks, steep trails, high-elevation areas and extensive backcountry routes. The park lists more than 15 miles of boardwalk and approximately 1,100 miles of backcountry trails.
• The National Park Service advises visitors to stay on boardwalks, keep a safe distance from wildlife and store food properly around thermal areas and wild animals.

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Frequently asked questions about Yellowstone National Park

When did Yellowstone National Park report the figures?

The National Park Service issued the visitation release on 6 October 2026. It covered recreation visits recorded during September 2026.

How many visits did Yellowstone record in September 2026?

Yellowstone recorded 868,450 recreation visits in September 2026, 3% more than in September 2025.

Where is Yellowstone National Park and how do you get there?

The park lies mainly in Wyoming, with smaller areas in Montana and Idaho. It has five entrances and 457 miles of roads linking its visitor areas.