This New Yellowstone National Park Journey Offers A Less-Crowded Experience In 2027

Planning a trip to the world's first national park can take some time. Yellowstone, established in 1872, is a popular tourist destination that stretches for nearly 3,500 square miles. It's full of epic geysers like Old Faithful, one of the most spectacular and unique landmarks in U.S. national parks, and incredibly diverse wildlife. It can be a daunting task to plan a trip to see as much as possible in this park that spans across three states (Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho) — and that's especially true if you're trying to avoid the crowds.

Fortunately, beginning in 2027, seeing the highlights of the park will be more attainable thanks to Tauck. The luxury travel company announced in a press release that it will launch its new Yellowstone Awakens tours in May, October, and November. The tours will be small and are expected to have no more than two dozen guests each. The targeted spring and fall seasons are when the animals who call the park home are the most active, the tour company said in its release.

Tauck is no stranger to vacation planning. The company was founded in 1925 and has brought tour groups to Yellowstone National Park since 1934. It now operates in more than 40 national parks. The company's goal, per the press release, is to "offer access that goes well beyond what guests can arrange on their own."

The intimidating size of Yellowstone, at 2.2 million acres, can make even the best vacation planner question where to begin. With multiple entrances, it can be challenging to determine what accommodations nearby can best suit your needs. Plus, the park's myriad of natural attractions make it impossible to see every corner of this wonderland in one trip. The area is vast and untamed, and tourists have actually died in national parks after entering restricted areas.

Fortunately, Tauck has taken a lot of the guesswork out of a visit to Yellowstone. Tauck's spring and fall Yellowstone Awakens tours include accommodations for four nights at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel — the hotel is near the hot springs area of the same name, which is among the 12 must-see attractions to explore during a visit to Yellowstone. The six-day getaway also includes two mornings of motorized wildlife safaris that are led by naturalist experts. 

In addition to those safaris, Tauck's trip includes "exclusive behind-the-scenes cultural and wildlife experiences." These include visits to the Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center and workshops with Native American artists. The price tag for the experience starts at $4,790 per person, not including airfare.

While the personalized tour and letting someone else handle the details may be the most attractive things about the Tauck tour, the times of year in which the tours are offered may be equally enticing. Nearly 5 million visitors explore Yellowstone National Park each year, with summer (and July in particular) being the busiest time in the park. The spring and fall shoulder seasons are much less crowded, meaning the Tauck tours are a unique way to avoid the chaotic crowds of peak season.

If you take the spring tour, you'll have the best chances of seeing baby animals. This time of year also offers some of the most comfortable temperatures, with highs averaging between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In the fall, the foliage turns to bright yellows and oranges, bringing ample opportunities for colorful photography, along with active wildlife sightings on Tauck's morning safaris.

Fewer people rushing to the park could also mean cheaper and less-crowded flights into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), which is roughly 90 miles away from Yellowstone. You can also access the park from Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) in Cody, Wyoming, which is less than 60 miles from Yellowstone and offers connections to and from Denver.