Jellystone Park is 100 years old, but due to other distractions in today's world, it doesn't draw visitors like it used to and has now lost money 10 years straight. Even so, Ranger Smith (TOM CAVANAGH), who grew up there, and Ranger Jones (T.J. MILLER), his younger, overeager subordinate, still go about their daily duties. That includes keeping an eye on Jellystone's most famous inhabitant, Yogi Bear (voice of DAN AYKROYD). He's a necktie-wearing, talking bear with an insatiable appetite, who's always coming up with new schemes to steal visitors' picnic baskets, much to the dismay of his much smaller and far more reserved sidekick, Boo Boo (voice of JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE).
Yogi's reputation has drawn the attention of documentary filmmaker Rachel (ANNA FARIS) who wants to do a film about him. Ranger Smith has no problem with that, especially considering that he's become instantly smitten with her. But he does have a problem and that's Mayor Brown (ANDREW DALY) and his Chief of Staff (NATHAN CORDDRY) who've decided that since their city is out of money, selling logging rights to the park could generate additional revenue and possibly ensure Brown's victory in the upcoming governor's race.
Ranger Smith is obviously against the closure of the park, but finds he can only keep it open if he can make $30,000 in a week. With time running out, he tries to come up with a way to do that, but must contend not only with the chief of staff trying to undermine him, Ranger Jones wanting his job, and his attraction to Rachel, but also Yogi whose antics threaten to undermine his efforts.