MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. — It was an exceptionally busy Memorial Day weekend this year in Yellowstone National Park.
The park reported a 50% increase in vehicle entries park-wide on Memorial Day weekend, May 28 through May 31, 2021 compared to May 24 to 27, 2019. The park is choosing to not compare 2020 levels because only the Wyoming park entrances were open in 2020. 2019 is the last year of data pre-COVID-19 restrictions.
Friday, May May 28, 2021, a total of 9,469 vehicles entered the park through the five entrances. This is an 80% increase compared to Friday, May 24, 2019 which reported 5,273 total vehicle entrances.
Vehicle entries increased as the weekend unfolded, on Saturday, May 29, 11,385 vehicles entered the park and on Sunday 12,040 vehicles entered the park. This is a 42% increase and 41% increase compared to 2019 respectively.
On Memorial Day, May 31, a total of 10,522 vehicles entered the park, a 49% increase compared to Monday, May 27, 2019. 7,054 vehicles entered the park on Memorial Day 2019.
Historically, the busiest entrance is the West Entrance, but the Northeast Entrance is gaining popularity. Compared to 2019, vehicle entrances through the Northeast entrances increased over 100% on Sunday and Monday.
