Yellowstone Park visits continue to set records

More than 900,000 people entered Yellowstone National Park in July, up more than 11 percent from the same month in 2008, and up over the previous all time record of 847,000 visitors set in July 1995. Year to date, park attendance is up 10.3 percent. July is typically the park’s peak visitation month, followed by August, June, September, and May.

Visitation in June was just below 644,000, well above the previous record of 609,000 visitors in June 2007.

The West Entrance remains the park’s busiest, with more than 385,000 visitors this July compared to 337,000 a year ago. The greatest percentage increase in visitation was recorded through the East Entrance, up 15.1 percent from July 2008.

Park managers believe the decrease in gasoline prices from over $4 a gallon last July to near $2.50 a gallon this summer helped spur the increase in visitation.

Photo: Great Fountain Geyser.