National Park · NPS · ID, MT, WY · Roosevelt connection
Yellowstone National Park
Photo: NPS / Jacob W. Frank, Electric Peak Sunset
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Most Park Roads Closed to All Vehicles
Most roads are closed to prepare for commercially-guided snowcoach and snowmobile travel during the winter season, which will begin December 15 (weather depending). The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the only road open year-round to regular vehicles.
Information Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge
Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 through November 24, 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle weight) will not be able to cross the bridge during this time.
Park Closure Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion
The parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River at Biscuit Basin, located north of Old Faithful, is closed to all travel until further notice due to the possibility of another event at the site of a hydrothermal explosion that occurred July 23, 2024.
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
The Roosevelt connection
T.R. was here
- Yellowstone National Park: 15 days in Roosevelt’s record, September 22, 1890 to April 21, 1903.
Yellowstone National Park in Theodore Roosevelt Day by Day · First recorded day - Norris Hotel: April 18, 1903.
Norris Hotel in Theodore Roosevelt Day by Day · First recorded day
What to see and do
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Biking
- Mountain Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Arts and Crafts
- Volunteer Vacation
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- Horseback Riding
- Paddling
- Canoeing
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Plan your visit
Hours
All Park Hours: Yellowstone is open daily, year-round, although activities and services are limited at night and certain times of year. The park has five entrance stations, but not all entrance stations are open year-round. Make sure to carefully read about access at each station at different times of year. And remember, all dates are weather-dependent. Please note that camping is possible only in designated campgrounds.
West Entrance: Adjacent to the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, the West Entrance is usually open (weather-dependent) to wheeled vehicles from the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow (snowmobiles and snowcoaches) vehicles from December 15 to March 15.
North Entrance: Near the gateway community of Gardiner, Montana, the North Entrance is the only park entrance open to wheeled vehicles all year. November through April, the North Entrance provides the only access to Cooke City, Montana. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. The road from Mammoth to Norris opens to wheeled vehicles the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow vehicles, conditions permitting, from December 15 to early March.
East Entrance: Depending on the weather and conditions, this entrance usually opens to wheeled vehicles the first Friday in May and to tracked-oversnow vehicles December 22 through March 15.
South Entrance: Open (weather-dependent) to wheeled vehicles from the second Friday in May through early November and to tracked-oversnow vehicles from December 15 to March 15. Limited services are available near the South Entrance.
Northeast Entrance: Near the gateway communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana, this entrance is open year around for wheeled vehicle access to Cooke City through Gardiner, Montana. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The Beartooth Highway is open from late May/early June (weather dependent) to mid October.
Fees and passes
- Entrance - Private Vehicle — $35.00
- Entrance - Non-commercial Groups — $20.00
- Entrance - Motorcycle — $30.00
- Entrance - Snowmobile — $30.00
- Entrance - Per Person — $20.00
- Commercial Entrance - Sedan — $20.00
- Commercial Entrance - Van — $125.00
- Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $200.00
- Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $300.00
- Nonresident — $100.00
- Annual Entrance - Park — $70.00
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.
Getting there
Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 3,500 square miles in the northwest corner of Wyoming (3% of the park is in Montana and 1% is in Idaho). Yellowstone has five entrance stations, and several are closed to regular vehicles during winter. It takes many hours to drive between these entrances, so be sure to check the status of roads at the entrance you intend to use while planning your trip and before you arrive.
Visitor centers
- Albright Visitor Center
- Canyon Visitor Education Center
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum
- Grant Visitor Center
- Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum
- Museum of the National Park Ranger
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
- West Thumb Information Station
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (NPS Desk)
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (Chamber of Commerce Desk)
Campgrounds
- Canyon Campground (273 sites) — reserve
- Bridge Bay Campground (432 sites) — reserve
- Fishing Bridge RV Park (310 sites) — reserve
- Grant Village Campground (430 sites) — reserve
- Madison Campground (276 sites) — reserve
- Indian Creek Campground (70 sites) — reserve
- Mammoth Campground (85 sites) — reserve
- Norris Campground (112 sites)
- Pebble Creek Campground (27 sites) — reserve
- Tower Fall Campground (31 sites)
- Lewis Lake Campground (85 sites) — reserve
- Slough Creek Campground (16 sites) — reserve
Weather
Yellowstone's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, daytime highs can exceed 70°F (21°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. It can snow during any month of the year, and winter lows frequently drop below 0°F (-18°C), especially at night. Bring a range of clothing options, including a warm jacket and rain gear, even in the summer.
Phone: 307-344-7381
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Gallatin National Forest USFS · 45 miles
- Grand Teton National Park NPS · 55 miles
- Shoshone National Forest USFS · 55 miles
- Custer National Forest USFS · 59 miles
- Targhee National Forest USFS · 60 miles
- Teton National Forest USFS · 66 miles