University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research 11-2019 Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study Report Jake Jorgenson RRC Associates Jeremy Sage ITRR Norma Nickerson ITRR Carter Bermingham ITRR Mandi Roberts Otak Inc. See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Jorgenson, Jake; Sage, Jeremy; Nickerson, Norma; Bermingham, Carter; Roberts, Mandi; and White, Christina, "Yellowstone National Park Visitor Study Report" (2019). Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications. 397. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/397 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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Authors Jake Jorgenson, Jeremy Sage, Norma Nickerson, Carter Bermingham, Mandi Roberts, and Christina White This report is available at ScholarWorks at University of Montana: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/itrr_pubs/397 i Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................. vii Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Methodology: ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Geofence Surveys: ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Intercept Survey: .................................................................................................................................................... 4 The Role of Both Samples ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Sampling and Daily Schedules ................................................................................................................................ 5 Nonresponse testing and weighting: ..................................................................................................................... 6 1. Section 1: Geofence Survey Results ................................................................................................................. 10 1.1 Geofence Demographics: ............................................................................................................................... 10 1.2 Visitor Characteristics: ................................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 Overall Attraction Results and Key Facts: ...................................................................................................... 20 1.4 Site Specific Attraction Results: ..................................................................................................................... 23 North / South Rim Area: ..................................................................................................................... 24 Old Faithful Area: ................................................................................................................................ 27 Fairy Falls Area: ................................................................................................................................... 32 Midway Geyser Area: .......................................................................................................................... 35 Norris Geyser Area: ............................................................................................................................. 39 Canyon Village Area: ........................................................................................................................... 43 1.5 Roadway Results ............................................................................................................................................ 48 1.5b Select Roadway Segment Results ................................................................................................................ 52 West Entrance to Madison Junction ................................................................................................... 53 North Entrance to Mammoth Hot Springs .......................................................................................... 55 Madison to Old Faithful ...................................................................................................................... 57 Madison to Norris Geyser Basin ......................................................................................................... 59 1.6 Key Findings from Significance Testing .......................................................................................................... 61 1.7 Significance Testing: Individual Site Testing .................................................................................................. 62 Parking Acceptability by Site: .............................................................................................................. 64 Perceived Crowding by Site: ............................................................................................................... 64 Perceived Problems by Individual Site: ............................................................................................... 65 1.8 ANOVA Testing of Attraction Variables by Month: ........................................................................................ 69 1.9 ANOVA Testing of Attractions by Site Type: .................................................................................................. 70 1.10 ANOVA test of Perceived Problems by Site Type:........................................................................................ 70 1.11 Roadway testing by Month: ......................................................................................................................... 71 i 1.12 Effect Sizes and the Impact on Significant Findings: .................................................................................... 72 2. Section 2: GPS Roadway and Length of Stay Results ....................................................................................... 74 2.1 Geofence Locations ........................................................................................................................................ 74 2.2 Speed Distribution by Roadway Segment ...................................................................................................... 75 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 75 Norris Geyser Basin to Canyon Village ................................................................................................ 77 West Yellowstone to Madison Junction ............................................................................................. 79 Madison Junction to Old Faithful ........................................................................................................ 81 Old Faithful to West Thumb................................................................................................................ 83 West Thumb to Lake Village ............................................................................................................... 85 Lake Village to Canyon Village ............................................................................................................ 87 Madison Junction to Norris Geyser Basin ........................................................................................... 89 Canyon Village to Tower Falls (Dunraven Pass) .................................................................................. 91 Lamar Valley ........................................................................................................................................ 93 North Gate to Mammoth Hot Springs ................................................................................................ 95 2.3 Length of Stay at Major Attractions ............................................................................................................... 97 Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 97 Geofence Attraction Locations ......................................................................................................... 100 Mammoth Hot Springs ...................................................................................................................... 105 North and South Rims ....................................................................................................................... 105 Tower Falls .......................................................................................................................................