WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — A tragic van crash just outside Yellowstone National Park that killed at least six foreign nationals has cast a spotlight on the often-overlooked hazards international tourists face while visiting the famed national parks of the American West.
The accident occurred Thursday on a stretch of scenic highway just west of Yellowstone, when a passenger van collided with a pickup truck. Both vehicles burst into flames, leaving multiple injured and six confirmed dead—among them, tourists from China and Italy, officials confirmed. The victims had been traveling near one of the key seasonal routes between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, as some park roads remain closed following winter storms.
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco said eight Chinese nationals were injured. The crash echoes a 2019 tour bus accident near Utah’s Bryce Canyon that killed four Chinese tourists and injured dozens more.
While Yellowstone’s geysers, grizzlies, and geyser basins draw millions of global visitors, the region’s narrow roads and distracted driving have made road crashes a persistent, though under-acknowledged, danger. Park historian Lee Whittlesey has written that vehicular deaths in Yellowstone are so common they were excluded from his tally of dramatic fatalities in Deaths in Yellowstone. According to other data, 17 people have died in vehicle crashes inside the park since 2007, second only to medical incidents.
“Winding roads, incredible natural scenery, and inexperience with U.S. driving rules create a perfect storm,” said Jeff McBirnie, mayor of West Yellowstone. “Visitors don’t realize just how risky it can be.”
Tourism Strained by Global Tensions
Yellowstone and other iconic national parks have long attracted a strong international following. According to U.S. government data, over a third of overseas tourists prioritize visiting national parks. Chinese tourists historically make up a large percentage, thanks in part to Yellowstone’s popularity in Chinese school curricula.
However, geopolitical tensions and concerns over safety have reshaped travel patterns. “There’s been a sharp drop in international visitors,” said Brian Riley, a Wyoming-based tour operator who markets the Yellowstone region in China. “Chinese tourists, in particular, no longer feel as safe here.”
Riley, who previously lived in China and speaks Mandarin, says the pandemic accelerated this shift. While pre-pandemic tours focused on first-time visits to America’s interior, many newer Chinese visitors already live in the U.S. and plan shorter, domestic trips. “These days, I’m sending more clients to Hawaii. It feels safer and more controlled,” Riley added.
Adding to the tourism strain is a perception that travel to the U.S. has become more unpredictable. Trump-era tariffs, rhetoric, and high-profile incidents at U.S. borders have discouraged foreign travelers. Though the U.S. tourism sector anticipated a post-pandemic rebound by 2025, a slump in international arrivals has dashed those expectations.
Economic Ripple Effects
Local economies in gateway towns like West Yellowstone depend heavily on foreign tourism. “We see a lot of parents visiting while dropping off or picking up kids from college,” McBirnie said. “They’ll stop for a week and spend money. It’s vital to the community.”
While domestic travel helped fill the gap in recent years, business owners worry that growing concerns over travel safety could further erode international interest.
A Long History of Danger
The first motorized death in Yellowstone dates back to 1921 when a tour bus plunged off a road, killing a Texas woman. Though horses and stagecoaches once carried visitors through the park, automobiles have brought new challenges—and far more accidents.
Yellowstone saw 4.7 million visitors in 2024, its second-highest on record, but officials warn that the awe-inspiring experience comes with real risks.
As the region braces for a busy summer, officials urge caution on the roads. For many, it’s a journey of a lifetime—but for too many others, it ends in tragedy.
