Looking for a relaxing fall getaway? Here’s an idea: Yellowstone National Park. Located in beautiful rural Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, but driving there is a hassle, no matter where you’re coming from. This trip is a perfect excuse for a flight on a private plane.
Throughout the summer, Yellowstone is often crammed with tourists, turning the scenic roads into bumper-to-bumper traffic. Any wildlife sighting (and there are many!) backs up traffic even more. You don’t go to Yellowstone to sit in your vehicle; you go to explore.
In early November, all of the roads close to the public except for the North Entrance near Mammoth Hot Springs. In mid-October, the number of visitors is pretty low, but the park is breathtaking. Clear, crisp air. Bugling elk. Potential for snow. Showy trees. Hot springs. Geysers. It’s truly a perfect time to experience the raw beauty and natural splendor of Yellowstone.
I went there a few years ago, and a huge bison greeted us just as we drove through the gate nearest Cody, Wyo., and a herd of elk was hunkered down in the yard outside Mammoth. If you fly in to Yellowstone Regional Airport, you’ll be on a fall adventure in very little time.
Here’s the latest FAA info for YRA.