Road Trip to Yellowstone: From Calgary to the First National Park in the World

One of the things I admire most about the US is its incredible system of national parks. At the top of that list is Yellowstone. Being the world’s very first national park, and having seen countless breathtaking photos over the years, it has always been on my bucket list. Recently, after watching the series Yellowstone, the urge to visit grew stronger than ever.

Gateway to the wild

Living in Calgary in Western Canada meant we had a golden opportunity. Yellowstone is close enough for a road trip. A round trip of roughly 2,400 km (about 1,500 miles) sounded daunting at first, but we thought, why not? Let’s do it.

The Plan

We decided on a four-day trip in late August, hoping for good weather. After a couple of failed attempts in the past, this time everything fell into place. Originally, I wanted to camp inside Yellowstone at Madison Campground, but the nighttime temperatures were already dipping to around 0°C, so we opted for warmer lodging instead.

We crossed into the US at the Coutts/Sweet Grass border, which took a while as there was a long queue. On our way back, we came through the Carway border crossing, which was much smoother. The return journey also took us across the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, with the Blackfeet Indian Reservation bordering Alberta. Passing through that land and learning about its significance was a very interesting part of the trip.

Our route was: Calgary → Bozeman → Yellowstone → Helena → Calgary. Lots of driving, but every kilometer (or should I say Mile) was worth it. Outside the park, Montana highways felt refreshingly fast with higher permissible speed limits — it really was a case of “keeping the foot on the gas” to make the journey manageable.

Highlights of Yellowstone

1. Cowboy Culture

Calgary and Alberta share deep cowboy roots (our world-famous Stampede is proof), but Montana lives it daily. Driving through small towns and especially walking around West Yellowstone, I felt the culture everywhere: rustic saloons , cowboy hats , and western-themed shops that looked straight out of an old movie. It felt like a step back in time.

Being a fan of the show Yellowstone, a couple of quotes echoed in my head during the trip:

“This is America. We don’t share land here.” – John Dutton

“There’s sharks and minnows in this world. If you don’t know which you are, you ain’t a shark.” – Beth Dutton

Beth Dutton was personally my favorite character from the show. Fierce, sharp, and unapologetically bold, her words felt especially fitting as we explored Montana’s rugged cowboy culture.

Big Sky Country living up to its name

Keeping our backs upright and our wanderlust alive

2. Geysers

One fun fact I learned: they are pronounced gai-zers, not “ge-yes-ers.” Yellowstone is home to hundreds of them, bubbling, steaming, and spraying in all shapes and sizes. The colors around the hot springs were mesmerizing, with bright blues, oranges, and yellows that looked almost unreal. Of course, no trip is complete without watching Old Faithful erupt, and it did not disappoint.

brewing in technicolor

hot ones

Old but still got it.

Hot springs, cooler colors

didn't get the memo about blending in

free refills

3. Wildlife

Being from Calgary, we are used to seeing bears, moose, and mountain goats in Banff, but Yellowstone felt wilder, bigger, and more raw. Herds of bison grazed across the valleys, completely unbothered by cars stopping to take photos. At one point, we even spotted a bear and foxes feeding on a bison. It was an intense, humbling reminder of nature’s power, though sadly we could not capture it on camera.

Another unforgettable moment came during a short walk near the Mud Volcano area on our way to Hayden Valley. We suddenly found ourselves face-to-face with a bison on the path. Standing that close to such a massive animal was both thrilling and intimidating. It was one of those encounters that makes Yellowstone truly feel like the wild.

The valley deserved better, but here I am.

Travel Tips for Visiting Yellowstone

Our trip was filled with adventure, but we also picked up a few tips that can make your visit smoother:

• Stay Inside the Park if Possible We spent one night at Lake Lodge, a beautiful lakefront property. Staying inside the park saved us a few hours of driving and gave us the flexibility to cover both the Upper and Lower Loops without rushing.

• Plan for Longer Drive Times Yellowstone is vast, and driving takes much longer than expected. Speed limits are slower, and traffic often stops for wildlife crossings, which is part of the charm. Just be prepared to spend more time on the road.

• Bring Your Own Snacks and Drinks Food and shop options inside the park are very limited. Having a cooler with snacks and drinks was a lifesaver for us, especially during long drives between sights.

• Break the Return Journey On our way back, we stopped in Helena for a night. It is a nice, small town and perfect if you do not want to do the long drive in one stretch. We tried Panera Bread (along with their infamous lemonades) and enjoyed the relaxed pace before heading home.

  
  

Final Thoughts

It was a whirlwind of a trip, filled with long drives, endless coffee, and jaw-dropping views. Yellowstone lived up to every bit of its reputation. If you are in Calgary or anywhere in Western Canada and looking for an unforgettable road trip, Yellowstone should be at the very top of your list.