Yellowstone Park tourism sets October record

October was a record breaking month as Yellowstone National Park visitation passed the 4 million mark. The park recorded 252,013 recreational visits during the month.

Park officials said 4,066,191 people visited the park so far this year, an increase of 16.72 percent over last year and 11.7 percent over the previous record year in 2010.

During the shoulder season months of April, May and October, the park saw a marked increase in the number of buses and bus passengers. Bus number were up 56 percent and the number of passengers increased by 46 percent compared to October 2014.

Unseasonably warm weather may have played a role in the the large increase. Lower gas prices may have also influenced the record number of visits.

Park managers are working to determine how the increased numbers impacted park resources, its staff and facilities and the surrounding communities. Over the next few months, the park will focus on what changes can be made prior to the next summer season and future years to improve visitor experiences.