Yellowstone National Park – The Perfect Off-Season Road Trip with a Baby

Some people might think we’re crazy for setting off on our longest-ever road trip with a 9-month-old baby (I know I sure did!) but the geysers and magical vistas of Yellowstone National Park were calling us!

Alongside many hours of meticulous planning and dreaming about the wonders we would see, were many moments of anxiety and doubt about taking our little guy on such a big trip. Despite my concerns, it was the most incredible vacation! And, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

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Where to stay in Yellowstone with a baby

Our road trip covered 2500 miles over 12 nights, with 5 different locations in total, but the Yellowstone segment of our trip spanned 7 days. Covering over 31,000 square miles, Yellowstone National Park is the largest (and oldest!) National Park in America, and with so much to see all across the park we decided to save some driving time and split this segment across 2 locations.

First, we set up basecamp for four nights at Yellowstone Lodge, in West Yellowstone, in a large double queen room with microwave and fridge – essentials for travelling with a baby. Plus the hotel swimming pool was perfect for helping our little guy unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.

Next, we made ourselves at home at the Ridge Line Hotel in Gardiner, MT, for two nights. Again in a spacious double queen and with a gorgeous riverside view, which was the perfect elk-spotting location. We also enjoyed the heated pool, games room, and complimentary smores kits!

What can you do in Yellowstone with a baby?

While some people cram the main attractions into 3 or 4 days, we had the luxury of slowing down to accommodate our baby’s nap schedule and go with the flow of weather conditions and the occasional ‘bison block’ on the park roads!

The highlights of our trip included some of the world’s most iconic natural phenomena, as well as some stunning attractions we’d never heard of! That’s the beauty of this park, it’s just so vast that it’s full of surprises.

Old Faithful Geyser – Remember to take a peek inside the Inn!

The most iconic and famous of Yellowstone’s geysers and it’s clear why! We ended up watching the aptly named display 3 times, as it erupted approximately every 90 minutes. There are also some beautiful and easy boardwalks and trails to see dozens more geysers and hot springs. Plus, Old Faithful Inn is the largest log hotel in the world – with 5 stories of incredible log cabin structure.

Grand Prismatic Hot Spring – Plus the lookout trail from the Fairy Creek car park.

The epic rainbow pool looks magical up close on the main boardwalk, but to truly appreciate its beauty you have to take the 45-minute hiking trail from Fairy Falls car park. We ended up doing this trail twice and loved it both times – while it was snowy and misty the first, and with sunnier skies the following day.

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone – Hike both the Upper and Lower Falls trails!

When I mentioned a canyon and waterfall to my partner, he was surprised to learn this was an attraction at Yellowstone as the geysers take the spotlight. Despite being a less iconic attraction, it was one of the most outstanding waterfalls we’d ever seen! Start at ‘Artist Lookout’ for a gorgeous view of the canyon and waterfall, before stopping to hike the Upper and Lower Falls trails on the way back to the Canyon Village, for epic up-close views of tons of water gushing through the falls every second.

Yellowstone Lake Overlook at West Thumb

The largest high-elevation lake in North America, it’s worth driving to West Thumb for a view of the geyser-lined shore and the West Thumb hot pools. We also spotted Grizzly Bears and a Grey Wolf on our way to this area – such incredible luck to see both animals at the same time! While it was too busy to stop and look for more than a few minutes, the chance to take a peek through the binoculars was awesome!

Lamar Valley & Hayden Valley for wildlife spotting

Speaking of wildlife, these are beautiful scenic routes to explore and look out for a variety of wildlife. Bison are pretty much everywhere in the pak (yep even next to the boardwalks by the geysers!) but you’ll need to look harder for elk, moose, bears and wolves.

Near the West Entrance, this was a fascinating (yet stinky) stop for a mix of hot pools and geysers. Enjoy the weird and wonderful shapes and sizes of these geothermal marvels and see how long you can stand the sulphuric stench of some of the more acidic parts of the park.

Located near the North Entrance, we stopped here towards the end of our stay and were blown away by how spectacular, and different, the sights were at Mammoth Hot Springs. Years and years of cascading sulphuric waters have formed beautiful steps that are adorned with rusty reds and browns from the bacteria living in the water. When water stops flowing due to the forever changing nature of the springs, bright white tiers remain in place, adding a stunning contrast to the ‘living’ channels of water.

Naturally, these are all attractions inside Yellowstone National Park! It’s worth noting that both West Yellowstone and Gardiner are charming towns! The latter is more scenic with hotels stretching alongside the river, while you’ll find lots of restaurants and souvenir shops in West Yellowstone!

What did you love (and not love) about visiting Yellowstone ?

We visited Yellowstone at the end of May, just weeks after the main roads in the park opened after the winter closure. We knew the weather might be unpredictable, and wintery at times, so thankfully we went prepared with warm clothes and winter tires. While there were still lots of people visiting, we loved how accessible the main attractions were, despite reading about long lineups and impossible parking situations.

The only flip side was that some amenities weren’t open yet, both in the park and the towns we stayed in. This provided limited dining options for a family of vegetarians visiting a meat-loving state where buffalo burgers were the main attraction at every other restaurant. We did pluck up the courage to dine out one night and had an awesome time at Pete’s Rocky Mountain Pizza & Pasta joint! They were so welcoming and family-friendly, plus the veggie pizza we ordered was delicious!

With some picnic essentials and a microwave at the hotel, we mostly embraced the laid back (and cheaper) hotel room dinners and packed a bag of food for each day in the park. For travellers with a baby, this was the perfect way to fuel ourselves!

Top tips for visiting Yellowstone with a baby

Whether you have a baby, or not, Yellowstone is the perfect place to slow down and take your time. If you can afford to spend more than 3-4 days there, do it!

If you can visit during the shoulder season, it will pay off when it comes to beating the crowds. If you’re keen to hike, going in September would be better than May, as the snow was still melting at higher altitudes, and some trails were closed to give the Grizzly Bears and their cubs the space they needed at this time of year.

Save time and money by packing a picnic for lunch. There were limited options for food and refreshments in the park, and having a cooler packed up each day meant we could stop as and when we felt like it. Often, we pulled over to a quiet picnic spot and tucked into sandwiches while our little one napped. With stunning views at every turn in Yellowstone, it sure beats lining up for overpriced burgers at the few diners located near the main attractions.

Prepare for all weathers! Even in July it’s been known to snow at Yellowstone, due to the park’s high elevation. From suncream and baseball caps, to gloves and puffer jackets – there’s a good chance you’ll need it all at some point.

For travellers with a baby, these are our top tips:

We highly recommend taking your own travel crib and a Slumberpod blackout tent. We made sure our baby was familiar with it before our trip and it meant he was well-rested every day. Plus, us parents could relax in the hotel room and watch a movie while he peacefully snoozed in the dark!
Hit the road at nap time! Our little guy was still taking 3 naps a day, and with an hour’s drive from the hotel to most attractions, we intentionally set off in time for him to nap. Once we arrived at an attraction he was refreshed and happy to go in the baby carrier to explore!
Book accommodation with a fridge, microwave, and a pool! The pool might seem like a luxury, but after spending so much time in the car seat and baby carrier each day, it allows him to stretch his muscles and burn off any leftover energy before bedtime.
Have a comfortable baby carrier, like the Ergobaby 360, to help your little one see the wonders of your travels. They’ll pretty much get to see the park with the same perspective as you, plus it’ll be a welcomed break from their car seat!

Would you go again?

Absolutely! We’ll definitely be heading back to Yellowstone once our little guy is older and able to hike some of the trails that weren’t feasible this time around. We know he’ll love seeing the wildlife and epic scenery once he’s old enough to comprehend the science and stories that make it so magical.

Author Bio:

Rachael Bilby is a first-time Mum and Marketing Consultant with a love for travel. Originally from Essex in the UK, she now lives with her family in Kelowna, Canada, and loves exploring British Columbia and surrounding provinces and US states. Learn more about Rachael at rachaelbilby.com.

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