There are a few travel trends that have popped up this year in light of the ongoing restrictions and precautions. From RV rentals and road trips to cabins in remote places, it seems people are physically distancing in nature more than ever. Visiting and camping at National Parks may be the next big travel trend, and one park in particular, is seeing record breaking numbers of tourists.
While most attractions have seen a decline in visitors this year, Yellowstone Park is reporting the opposite. According to USA Today, the park recorded about 837,000 visits in September, a rate 21% higher than September 2019 and 15.6% higher than the park’s second-busiest September on record in 2018, when it hosted 724,000 people.
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Sara Fleming, a spokesperson for the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, said the uptick in tourists could be caused by an increase in the amount of young people who have visited the park in recent months. She said more young people between 20 and 50 have visited the park than in previous summers.
Yellowstone is the world’s first national park, and on March 1, 1872, it became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic wonders. Today, Yellowstone is best known for Old Faithful, a legendary geyser that erupts on schedule as well as its various springs. Visitors also love getting a glimpse of the stunning waterfalls, hiking off-the-beaten-path trails, rafting, camping and enjoying other outdoor activities within a stunning natural backdrop.
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Yellowstone closed on March 24 due to the pandemic, and began to reopen to the public on May 18. Currently, not everything in the park is open and closures are updated daily. Visit the Yellowstone National Park website to stay up-to-date on their reopening plans and COVID-19 restrictions before planning a trip.