My husband and I have traveled to Yellowstone National Park twice now. Once, on a trip just the two of us. And, this summer as a family trip. After going twice, both in the month of July, we’ve learned some lessons to pass along.
Pro Tip 1: What to Wear
Pack clothes that LAYER. Even though you’re traveling in the summer you’ll still be surprised at the temperatures during the early morning and evening hours! As a woman, I chose to wear comfortable shoes, shorts, a comfortable shirt, and a quarter-zip or full zip jacket. My husband would wear the same thing. Here’s an example:
Another option to consider for ladies would be leggings, a tank top, and a light-weight jacket.
Pro Tip 2: Hair
If you have designed your trip to be all about seeing Yellowstone and all it has to offer every day, you’ll likely not have the time to do you typical makeup and hair routine you’re used to at home. Because most of your destinations will be at a high altitude, expect wind. This means, skip trying to straighten/curl/style your hair. My advice: braid it. And, pack a hat! In addition to windy conditions, you’ll also appreciate the hat for sunshade.
Pro Tip 3: Footwear
Because of the dry climate, the ground is really dusty! So, if you’re someone who enjoys wearing short or no-show socks, you’ll want to consider grabbing a pair or two of ankle socks just for this trip. Hands down, the absolute best ankle socks for this trip (or other National Park trips) are Smartwool Socks! I am not paid to say this: these socks are ahhmazing!! Here’s the ones I really like. In addition to the comfort of these socks, they are also made with Merino wool which is a natural deterrent to bacteria. In other words, you can wear them multiple days without needing to wash them due to odor. (Praise hands!) This is especially handy if you’re not capable of washing a load of laundry while you’re traveling. You can read more about that here.
As far as shoes go, you actually don’t need an aggressive ankle-high pair of hiking boots for most trails in Yellowstone. Unless, of course, if that’s your thing. The first time we traveled, I wore a low-rise hiking shoe. The ones with the thick tread and all of that. They were nice for grip, but they were soooo uncomfortable. This year, I knew I wanted to wear a pair of shoes that were actually comfortable. Here’s what I chose, and they were perfect! Again, not an ad. If you like the way Chaco footbeds feel on your feet, I really recommend these shoes for casual hikes during your travel. They are a darker color, which is great to hide dirt, and when worn with the SmartWool socks, make for a comfortable ride.
Pro Tip 4: Must-Have Packing Checklist
For a 7-day trip to Yellowstone, here’s an example of what your suitcase should absolutely include:
- At least 3 pair of shorts
- At least 4 comfortable shirts (moisture-wicking, athletic)
- Sports bras
- A hat
- Sunglasses
- Comfortable “hiking” shoes (see above)
- Wool, hiking socks (see above)
- A pair of long leggings
- A pair of jeans
- 1 medium weight jacket
- Chaco sandals, or other shoes you don’t mind getting wet
- Moisturizer – for your face/exposed skin
- Hydrating Chapstick
- Sunscreen
- Hair bands
- Dry shampoo (do I even have to say this??)
- Binoculars
- A backpack
Although the temperatures may be mild, please don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun/wind exposure. Notice I include sunscreen and a good moisturizer because the wind really got to me this last time. It took over a week to recover my face from the beating it took. So, don’t forget to moisturize!
Lastly, I suggest braiding your hair and using dry shampoo to get you through your trip. In the dry climate, you’ll likely find you don’t need to wash your hair as often as you would if you normally live in a more humid climate like we do.
I have a lot more to say about how to meal plan, choose your destinations, and where to stay. Let me know what you’d like to know next!
– Abby
Abby H Baker 