Yellowstone National Park store prices

The prices within the park are high....there is just no way around it. Milk was almost double what we paid outside of the park. We have always loaded up before going into the park. After 4 or 5 days, when we are in need of a number of groceries, we plan our trip into either the northern area of the park, and head outside of the park to the close communities, or to the western area of the park, and head to West Yellowstone. The prices are higher here, too, than at your local Wally World, but not nearly as high as the park stores. It was a way to visit the communities, maybe have a bite to eat, get lower priced gas and groceries, then head into the park again. If all you need it just a gallon of milk, go for it at the park stores. Not worth the time, gas or worry for milk and bread.

I've visited the parks multiple times per year since 2009. I agree with CloudDriver, and would stock the larder in Billings. Supplies of every kind are more expensive both inside the parks and in the gateway communities. Especially produce and gasoline. The price per banana in the park last year was 79 cents! The parks are huge, and require a lot of driving to enjoy. Keep in mind that the top speed in YNP is 45 mph with many spots of lower speed limits. Plus, the inevitable traffic jams for wildlife sightings will occur, and there are spots of road construction as well. The gas is much more expensive within YNP, but you will need to purchase while inside the park. I would budget for that. Alcohol prices within the park are not bad compared to outside.. so waiting to get some in the park won't break the bank. At Flagg ranch, you will still be very far from a reasonably priced grocery. The closest will be on the south side of Jackson at a Smith's like mentioned previously. This will take the better part of 1.25 hours one way to get to. If you're on a grocery run, take the quicker path around the Tetons outer loop that will take you through the Moran entrance in order to remain on the HWY.
Finally, a friendly reminder that YNP requires barbless hooks for fishing anywhere in the park, and you will need a park permit to fish.

Ok.....gotcha.....I guess I mis-understood........Thanks for the clarification.:W

I should have clarified a bit. An example is if the price of a gallon of milk is within a $1 or so of out of the park prices, then I will bring enough milk for 3 days and buy the rest in the park. I plan on coming in loaded with supplies.

thanks,
Dean

I see from your previous posts that you are planning on an overnight in Billings MT before Yellowstone. In 2014 we stopped at a WalMart Supercenter a short distance off I90 exit 446 in Billings where you can stock up before being faced with the higher prices in Yellowstone. I would also fill the TV gas tank in Livingston or Gardiner before entering the Park.

One other thought - the Headwaters Campground at Flagg Ranch is actually between Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks, not really a good base camp for seeing Grand Teton. However, I see from your previous posts that you like fishing, so if you chose this campground to be close to the Snake River disregard my previous sentence.

I have to say that I find this somewhat confusing ???????

Looking at your signature you have a travel trailer and a tow vehicle ----now I'm pretty sure travel trailers have cupboards and refrigerator ????

Tow vehicles also have some of of their own space so if you have a rough idea how long you're going to be -----then you can buy canned goods ,meat , things like that and either freeze them or put them in your refrigerator .

You do have a refrigerator right ???and if you need to-- want to buy milk or things like that--- then you can buy them to the stores it's going to be more expensive ,but I am really confused by the whole post ???

I would have thought RV.'s have Storage ????maybe I'm wrong

Not trying to be smart ass...just dont understand.

You know that you're going to a very popular spot ---that's pretty remote and you know prices are going to be higher in a captive spot so I'm sorry---- just confused?

Nothing can be as bad as the prices at Fort Wilderness! I'm glad we pack a weeks worth of food...and beer. I don't remember offhand but the prices were 2 to 3 times what they are anywhere else!

Our experience at West Yellowstone was high prices and limited selections.
Why do you not want to take the supplies with you?

There's also some sort of yellowstone park tax/fee on top of everything. Also the store that's on the Montana side have no sales tax, while the stores on the Wyoming side do.

Montana has no state sales tax, but in recent years, the town of West Yellowstone has enacted a local sales tax. I forget the % rate - was just enough of a shock to find out there now is one! I don't remember if Gardiner MT has a local sales tax as well, but I tend to think it doesn't.

Wyoming does have sales tax, and each county can choose to add some. The park itself is basically divided between Teton County and Park County - Teton's sales tax rate is, I believe, 1% more than Park County's. Lake, Grant and Old Faithful areas charge Teton County rates, and Mammoth & Roosevelt charge Park County rates. I don't know which way Canyon goes.

Sales tax is of course a minor part of the cost of staying there. It's a very popular tourist area, with such long drives to places outside the park that you are virtually a captive audience - therefore, prices for everything are high. Just part of the experience. :) (And gas is often higher in West Yellowstone, outside the park, than inside the park itself.) Just go with the flow. Bring in what you can comfortably carry; otherwise just plan accordingly. And remember that you will likely be getting slightly better gas mileage inside the park than on the faster, straighter roads outside the park, due to the slower speed limit. That's been our experience.

As for eating out, the cafeterias are your best value - the food is almost as good as in the dining rooms, but the cost is much lower than for a sit-down meal. The Yellowstone General Stores, particularly at Old Faithful and Mammoth, have great ice cream, which makes for a wonderful mid-afternoon treat. :)

The gas at Grant Village CG in Yellowstone was $1.00 more per gallon last fall than outside the park. And the access to the gas pumps was like a minefield with all the potholes. I suggest you gas up and grocery shop before you arrive and then only buy what you run out of while there.