I have a young child. What are the rules?
Children under 4 years of age (or 40 pounds) are required to be in a car seat. You will need to furnish a car seat and purchase a tour for your child. We do not allow children to be held on a parent's lap. We also recommend bringing snacks and water/juice, your child's favorite book or coloring book (to keep them busy while driving between stops). Some parents even bring a small pillow or blanket for an afternoon nap.

What should I wear?
Dress in layers so that you can add or subtract for comfort. And the wise traveler is always prepared for precipitation. It is a good idea to carry an emergency poncho even while on short hikes or tours. Wear comfortable shoes, sturdy enough for short hikes, and waterproof.  Because it can snow in July or reach 70 degrees in late fall, we recommend you dress for all seasons. Be sure to include a jacket. We always tuck a sweater and mittens into our backpack no matter what time of year. You know the saying - better safe than sorry.

Will my cell phone work in the park?
Cell phone service is extremely limited. There is one tower in the Old Faithful area that services some signals. Otherwise, look for pay phones at visitor's centers or in neighboring towns like West Yellowstone, MT.

What should I bring?
* A good pair of binoculars and/or a spotting scope are a must for viewing wildlife.
 * Yellowstone tends to be a very sunny place. In any season, sunscreen is almost always appropriate.
* Our last winter and spring were very wet and so this year there is a bumper crop of mosquitoes. We recommend bringing some ‘bug dope.’ The brands with a higher percentage of Deet work best, but are also more harmful.
* Sunblock, sunglasses, swimsuit or non-cotton shorts and t-shirt, water bottle for full-day trips, and a smile.
* Yellowstone Park is situated at an altitude of 6500 feet and more and our atmosphere is extremely dry. If you live at a much lower altitude or different climate, we recommend that in the first 24 hours to drink at least 64 oz of water and get plenty of sleep. Most people adjust within the first day. You may also want to bring along an extra bottle of water to keep hydrated.

Will I see any animals?
If your interest is Wildlife, then you will enjoy the drive from West Yellowstone to Madison. There are buffalo, elk, sometimes moose, Canada geese, ducks, trumpeter swans, coyotes and other wildlife on the hillsides and meadows along the Madison and throughout the area. (We take this route on all of our van tours.)

Grizzly bear watching has been good for the past two years at Fishing Bridge and Hayden Valley. Buffalo, elk, eagles, geese, ducks, otters, black bear and some wolves have been seen from the Mud Volcano area north through Hayden Valley to Canyon. (We cover this route on our Old Faithful tour.)

Just remember, wildlife viewing is not an exact science. They have daily and seasonal habits, but also tend to do what they would like when they like. Usually, the morning and evening is the best time for viewing wildlife as they come out to eat. During the day they normally go into the trees and shade to rest from the heat and from eating.

The Lamar Valley area has been fantastic for watching both bears and wolves for the past several years. They are again usually out in the mornings and towards evening. The area from Tower to Roosevelt has been very good for watching black bears. Moose have been seen in the area north of Roosevelt, from the Petrified Tree area to above Elk Creek. There are moose, elk, mule deer and other wildlife along the drive from Tower Junction to Mammoth. The Blacktail Lakes area is great for watching waterfowl and birds. The ponds along the highway (Tower Junction to the NE Entrance) from Roosevelt to the Slough (Slew) Creek campground road are always great for bird watching. We have seen elk, moose & mule deer from Pebble Creek to NE Entrance.

The cliffs and ledges just a few miles north of Mammoth or just inside the north entrance has been great for watching bighorn sheep. Also along this road from the north entrance to Mammoth has been great for watching elk. No one can or will guarantee that wildlife will be in the same spots at the same time, but over the years these areas have been very good for having the best chances for viewing wildlife. (Our Evening Wildlife Tour is designed to cover these specific wildlife-viewing areas and is scheduled for the best time of day for animals to be moving and more visible.)

The South Entrance area of Yellowstone is prime moose watching country. Moose and calves can be seen along the roadsides near rivers and small lakes. (Our Grand Teton/ Jackson Hole tour covers this area of Yellowstone.)

How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone National Park?
Park Entrance Fee’s are $12.00 for each visitor over 16 years of age coming in on our van tours. There are some other pass options listed below. You must have appropriate identification in order to purchase these passes with you!
· Annual Area Pass: A $50.00 annual pass for Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks is valid one year from date of purchase and allows user plus three additional people to enter. (Additional people do not need to be related.)
· Interagency Pass: A $80 annual pass for entrance or access to pass holder and accompanying passengers in a single, private non-commercial vehicle at most federal recreation sites across the country. Pass is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. The pass is not valid for Expanded Amenity fees such as camping or parking at Mt Rushmore.
· Interagency Senior Pass: The $10 Interagency Senior Pass (62 and older) is a lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Pass is available only in-person at entrances or visitor centers.
· Interagency Access Pass: Free lifetime pass available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who have been determined to be blind or permanently disabled. Pass is available only in-person at entrances or visitor centers. The above passes replace the Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access Passports as well as the National Parks Pass. These passes will remain valid until they expire or are lost or stolen.

How do I book a tour?
You do need to book tours ahead of time so we can make sure that we have a seat reserved for you, as well as lunch!  You either just call us at 1-800-221-1151 or click on this link, BOOK NOW! to go right to an on-line reservation form. If you have any questions, please call us. We would be glad to help in any way that we can!