Comparison

Yosemite or Yellowstone

Two of the most famous national parks in the USA that share little more than the first letter. They lie far apart, so usually only one makes it into a trip. Which one suits you?

CaliforniaYosemite Nationalpark or WyomingYellowstone

Yosemite Nationalpark

Yellowstone

Character

Granite, waterfalls and a green valley in California's Sierra Nevada.

Geysers, steaming springs and a vast volcanic landscape in Wyoming.

Wildlife

Present, but not the main reason to visit.

A highlight. Bison, bears and, with luck, wolves are part of it.

Size

More compact, much of it centres on the valley and the nearby viewpoints.

Enormous. Plan several days to see the main areas.

Getting there

Easily reached from San Francisco and fits a California loop.

More remote, usually a destination in its own right.

Überfüllt sind beide, da hast du dir genau die besucherstarken Parks rausgesucht, bei denen sich die Massen eben nicht verlaufen. Im Yosemite knubbelt sich alles im Valley und am Glacier Point, im Yellowstone gibt es Mega-Stau, sobald sich irgendwo Büffel, Bären oder Wölfe nahe der Straße zeigen.
From the USA-TALK.DE forum

In short

These are two completely different experiences. Yosemite if rocks, waterfalls and a California road trip appeal to you. Yellowstone if you want natural phenomena and wildlife you will not find anywhere else.

Combining both in one trip is possible, but the distance costs a noticeable amount of time on the road.

See Yosemite Nationalpark See Yellowstone Build your own route

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