Yosemite VS Yellowstone: Which One Is Better?

Yellowstone and Yosemite take the top two spots among the 63 incredible national parks across the USA, with both drawing in four million visitors each year. 

These two national parks have an abundance of breathtaking landscapes, hiking trails, and various plants and wildlife.

However, there are some significant differences between the two.

So, if you only have time to visit one US national park and are undecided between Yosemite or Yellowstone, allow us to help.

Read on for our full Yosemite vs Yellowstone comparison so you can decide for yourself which one appeals most to you.

Yosemite VS Yellowstone: Quick Comparison

Where is Yosemite national park?

Yosemite national park is in California and lies on the western slope of the granite-founded mountain range of Sierra Nevada. It’s famous for its ancient sequoia trees, waterfalls, deep valleys, and granite rocks.

Where is Yellowstone national park?

Yellowstone national park spans primarily across Wyoming, but some parts spread to Montana and Idaho. It’s renowned for its gushing geysers, hot springs, and other geologic wonders. 

Yosemite is much more conveniently located than Yellowstone. It is a 3-hour drive from San Francisco, 4-5 hours from Los Angeles, or 5.5 hours from Las Vegas.

Yellowstone is definitely more ‘out of the way’ than Yosemite, which can put some people off. Most people fly into West Yellowstone Airport or opt for larger airports like Salt Lake City or Bozeman.

It’s a 4-5 hour drive from Salt Lake City or 3 hours from Bozeman. 

However, although Yellowstone is more difficult to get to, Yosemite is more expensive, busier, and harder to secure accommodation.

Yosemite VS Yellowstone: Full Comparison

Let’s compare Yosemite and Yellowstone using different criteria.

Size

One of the most significant differences between Yellowstone and Yosemite is the size of the parks.

Yellowstone is significantly bigger, encompassing 3,742 square miles of land across three states.

It is the 8th largest US national park but the biggest one in the lower 48 states. It is comparable in size to the Caribbean island, Puerto Rico.

Yosemite is much smaller, covering 1,187 square miles, with 95% of the park considered wilderness. This is the size of the Zemlya Georga Island in Russia and is the 16th largest out of all 63 US national parks.

Therefore, comparing both national parks, Yellowstone is almost triple the size of Yosemite.

Highlights

Both Yellowstone and Yosemite have fascinating landscapes with iconic natural landmarks.

Yellowstone has more wildlife, but Yosemite has more forests.

Yellowstone is full of geologic sites, while Yosemite boasts more scenic views and waterfalls.

Therefore, ​choosing between Yosemite vs Yellowstone comes down to your personal preferences. 

Yellowstone Highlights

Yellowstone National Park is the oldest (and most unique) national park in the USA, believed to contain half of the world’s known hydrothermal features.

Therefore, the park’s main highlights are its various geothermal spots and volcanic-formed features. 

• Yellowstone Caldera – This “supervolcano” sits in the center of the park. Although it’s still active, the most recent eruption was 631,000 years ago.
• Over 500 geysers, including the Steamboat Geyser (the world’s tallest active geyser) and Norris Geyser Basin (the park’s hottest geyser basin). This highlight is included in this tour.
• Mammoth Hot Springs – This unique limestone spring deposits two tons of travertine limestone every day. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Artists’ Paintpots – A small hydrothermal area with colorful hot springs and two large mud pots.
• Mud Volcano – An area inside the Caldera consisting of several unique geothermal features, such as the Dragon’s Mouth Spring.
• Grand Prismatic Spring – This rainbow-colored pool is the largest hot spring in the United States. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Boiling River – A large hot spring with a combination of hot and cold spots suitable for seasonal thermal bathing.

Aside from the geothermal and volcanic activity, there are many other beautiful spots to see.

• Yellowstone Lake – The largest body of water in the park. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River – Two of the park’s significant waterfalls. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Mount Washburn – Popular hiking trail.
• Hayden Valley – Large, sub-alpine valley full of wildlife. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Mystic falls – A 70-foot cascade waterfall with a short scenic hiking trail.
• Over 800 historic landmarks, including Old Faithful Inn, Obsidian Cliff, and Fort Yellowstone. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Over 900 miles of hiking trails, with the most popular hikes being Mt Washburn and North Rim Trail.

Yosemite Highlights

Although Yosemite does not have any geothermal activity and is smaller than Yellowstone, there is still a vast array of highlights to be found.

Glaciers carved out most of these highlights millions of years ago.

• Two active glaciers – Lyell is the largest and covers 160 acres, and Maclure is a much smaller cirque glacier. 
• Yosemite Falls – A three-part waterfall that stretches 2,425 feet high, with hiking trails leading to both the upper and lower falls. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Yosemite Valley – This 7.5 mile long, 3,000–3,500 ft deep glacier valley spreads throughout the park and is surrounded by high granite summits like Half Dome and El Capitan. This highlight is included in this tour.
• El Capitan – An impressive vertical granite rock formation that stands over 3,000 feet above the valley floor. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Glacier Point – A viewpoint above Yosemite Valley that gives some of the most expansive views over the national park and is one of the best places to watch the sunset.
• Mirror Lake – This unique lake gives a mirror-like effect by creating a beautiful reflection of surrounding trees and the base of Half Dome. 
• Bridalveil Fall – This 620 feet high waterfall is the tallest waterfall along Yosemite Valley’s southern rim. This highlight is included in this tour.
• Nevada Falls – A 594-foot high waterfall on the Merced River that sits below the granite dome.
• Mariposa Grove – The largest sequoia grove in Yosemite is home to over 500 ancient giant sequoias, along with Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel Trees.
• Tuolumne Meadows – A large, open subalpine meadow with a tranquil atmosphere. This highlight is included in this tour.
• More than 60 day hikes, including the challenging Half Dome Trail and Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.
• Over 12 miles of paved bike trails, including the 4-mile Wawona to Swinging Bridge route.

Accommodation

You’ll find different types of accommodations in both national parks.

Camping

Yellowstone has 12 designated campgrounds with 2000 spots, while Yosemite has 13 campgrounds with almost 1500 spots.

In addition, seven of Yosemite’s campsites work on a reservation basis compared to five of the 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone.

As a result, reservations for campgrounds at both parks fill up quickly, making it difficult to camp there. 

What’s more, both parks have different rules and regulations for camping inside the national park.

One key difference is that Yosemite allows visitors to camp anywhere within the park’s wilderness.

In contrast, Yellowstone only permits camping in the designated campgrounds. 

If you want to stay overnight in Yosemite, you will need a wilderness permit. However, there are a limited number of these for each area, and again it’s recommended that you reserve.

However, you can camp anywhere within the park, including outside of the designated campgrounds, with this permit.

There are two exceptions, though: near the five High Sierra Camps and in the Little Yosemite Valley area.

In Yellowstone, camping or overnight vehicle parking in parking lots, picnic areas, or other places is not allowed. There are no overflow camping facilities either.

However, you can camp in many of the neighboring communities and nearby forests.

Want to find an RV to rent for your upcoming trip? Find an affordable RV on RVshare. You can learn more by reading our complete RVshare review.

Lodging

Yellowstone offers nine lodges within the park’s grounds, including old-school cabins, with more than 2,000 rooms.

The most popular lodge is the famous Old Faithful Inn, a historic log-and-stone building dating to 1903. As well as being a national historic landmark, the Old Faithful Inn is believed to be the world’s largest log cabin.

It’s conveniently located close to many of the park’s top attractions. It’s a short 6-minute walk to the Old Faithful geyser, 2.4 miles to Morning Glory Pool and 2.5 miles to Kepler Cascades. 

Next to the inn is the Old Faithful Lodge for those who prefer a cabin to hotel-style rooms. Another popular option is the Canyon Lodge and Cabins, with 400 hotel-style rooms and 100 rustic cabins.

The other lodges are the Grant Village Lodge, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and Roosevelt Lodge.

Yosemite offers eight lodging options within the park. For those looking for luxury, there is the four-star Ahwahnee Hotel with a fine-dining restaurant.

There’s also the traditional Yosemite Valley Lodge and historic Victorian Wawona Hotel. 

An accommodation style unique to Yosemite is the tented cabins that give a ‘glamping’ experience. The most popular site is the High Sierra Camps.

However, if that is fully booked, you can try Curry Village or the seasonal White Wolf Lodge.

Wildlife

If wildlife is a crucial factor in deciding between Yosemite vs Yellowstone, then Yellowstone is probably best. The park is larger and more remote than Yosemite.

Yellowstone is home to almost 70 species of mammals. It also has the largest population of wild Bison globally, around 4000 to be exact, which you may spot roaming throughout the park.

Then, there’s a good chance you’ll see Bald Eagles as the park is a popular nesting spot for them. 

Other animals that are unique to Yellowstone are Lynxes, Badgers, Moose, Mountain Goats. Plus, if you’re camping in the park, you’ll likely hear wolves too!

Gray wolves were restored in the park in 1995, and now more than 370 live in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

When it comes to wildlife sightings in Yosemite, there are generally far fewer than at Yellowstone.

Considering Yosemite gets around the same amount of visitors as Yellowstone but is much smaller, it’s a lot more crowded, so they tend to hide away from people.

This doesn’t mean there is less wildlife present, though. On the contrary, Yosemite has its own unique range of animals; American dippers, Western tanagers, BigHorn Sheep, Wild Boars, Snowshoe, Hares Mountain, Beavers.

What’s more, there are many animals you could spot in both parks. These include Bears, Cougars, Foxes, Elk, Deer, Bats, Owls, Eagles, Bobcats, Coyotes, and Otters.

While you might not come across many mammals in Yosemite, you will see plenty of birdlife. Many birds flock here because of the park’s elevation, making it a fantastic place for birdwatching.

However, make sure you’re not looking overhead all the time, as Yosemite contains a diverse range of reptiles, too, primarily lizards and snakes.

Weather And Best Time To Visit

Yellowstone and Yosemite have different climates, with Yellowstone generally having colder winters and Yosemite having hotter and drier summers.

The difference in elevation affects the weather too. Yosemite has an extensive elevation range, between 2,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level, which means the weather can change quickly.

Meanwhile, Yellowstone is more consistent, 6,000 feet or above sea level, so temperature changes are less drastic.

Yellowstone will often reach subzero temperatures during the winter, whereas Yosemite will usually stay at low single digits.

Even so, the alpine mountain range of Yosemite stays covered in snow from November through to May.

In the summer, Yellowstone will generally be between 70°F, up to 80°F, while Yosemite often reaches 90°F. 

Both parks are open all year round, but summer is the most popular season with tourists and the hottest time to visit.

Winter is the quietest time, but many of the park trails will be closed, and getting around in the heavy snow is very challenging. 

The best time to visit Yosemite or Yellowstone is the beginning or end of summer, May or September.

During these months, the parks are less crowded, and the weather is the most pleasant.

Final Thoughts On Yosemite Vs Yellowstone

There is a lot to consider when deciding between Yosemite vs Yellowstone. Which national park you choose will largely depend on what you are looking for.

Both parks are unique and special in their own way. However, I would say if you’re interested in geothermal activity, volcano landscapes, and wildlife, Yellowstone is your best bet.

On the other hand, Yosemite is for you if you love waterfalls, epic scenic views, or rock climbing.

That said, both national parks are great for road-trippers or camping lovers. You can book a car rental on Discover Cars or an RV rental on RVshare.

Searching for more USA travel inspiration?

• How many days in Yosemite
• Honeymoons spots in USA
• Easy hikes in Yellowstone