Visitation numbers for July, often the busiest month of the summer season, increased slightly in Yellowstone National Park. The overall increase for July totaled 1.5 percent over July 2015. The first seven months of 2016 are up 6.5 percent compared to the previous year.
Two of the park’s five entrances (West Entrance and South Entrance) showed an increase in vehicles for the month of July compared to July 2015. Three entrances reported a slight decrease in vehicles (North Entrance, East Entrance, and Northeast Entrance).
Once again, the most striking increase in vehicle traffic was with buses. There were 13 percent more buses (301 buses) this July compared with July 2015.
Recreational Visits 2016
Recreational Visits 2015
Change
January
30,621
28,091
9%
February
36,327
34,343
5.7%
March
22,924
22,989
(1%)
April
59,253
46,600
27%
May
444,630
386,064
15.2%
June
838,316
780,768
7.37%
July
995,917
980,702
1.5%
Total Year-To-Date
2,427,988
2,279,557
6.5%
While many factors could be at play, park managers point to the National Park Service's Centennial year, marketing and tourism promotions by the states of Montana and Wyoming, and lower gas prices as influences in the record number of visits to Yellowstone so far this year. For additional park visitation data and information on how these statistics are calculated, go to irma.nps.gov/Stats/Reports/Park.
As part of a park-wide social science effort, randomly selected visitors are being asked to take a survey pertaining to their travel through the park from August 4-14. This survey is being conducted by the National Park Service in partnership with Resource Strategies Group Inc.
This data collection effort will be used to understand trends in the demographics, experiences, opinions, and preferences of visitors to Yellowstone National Park. The survey results will help park managers to make decisions that reflect the experiences and needs of visitors and help the park better provide enjoyment, inspiration, and education to the visiting public, while still protecting park resources. The survey report will be available in spring of 2017.: www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/visitorusestudy.htm.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
