March 18th 2026 |
Photo – Courtesy of NPS/Jim Peaco
Yellowstone National Park recorded 4,762,988 recreation visits in 2025.
So despite the 43-day federal shutdown and a general lack of services between October 1 and November 12 of 2025, YNP officials say officials say visitation held steady.
Yellowstone remained open during the government shutdown, which occurred outside the regular vacation season at the national park. A lapse in federal appropriations forced the politically motivated shutdown.
Park services were limited. Most visitor centers, restrooms, and indoor facilities were closed, and ranger-led programs, maintenance, and trash collection were suspended or reduced. Staffing was cut dramatically, with roughly 75% of National Park Service employees furloughed.
Park roads, trails, and outdoor areas remained accessible.
Lodges, restaurants, and guided tours operated, supported by private staffing and revenue. Entrance stations stayed open, and basic safety and law enforcement functions were maintained by essential personnel.
According to the National Park Service, visitors logged more than 86.8 million hours in the park last year, along with nearly 1.24 million overnight stays. The agency said it worked to keep parks “open and accessible whenever possible” during the shutdown, which was the longest in U.S. history.
While the final visitation total remains slightly below Yellowstone’s peak years earlier in the decade, the nearly 4.8 million visits underscore the park’s continued popularity and resilience even amid operational challenges. Yellowstone has consistently ranked among the most-visited parks in the country, drawing tourists from across the U.S. and around the world.
2025 marked another strong year for the nation’s first national park despite the historic 43-day partial federal government shutdown.
