Thin crust
Geothermal hazard
25–100 yd
Wildlife distance
5/5
Entrances open
11/12
Campgrounds
$35
7-day fee
Not certified
Dark sky
Geothermal & Wildlife SafetyThermal + wildlife risk▾
Entrance Status & Fees5 open · $35▾
North Entrance
Open Year-Round
Gardiner, MT — via US-89
The only entrance open to regular wheeled vehicles 365 days a year, through the historic Roosevelt Arch to Mammoth Hot Springs.
💡 Expect single-lane delays at the Gardner River High Bridge (Apr–late Oct 2026 construction).
NPS road status ↗
Northeast Entrance
Open Year-Round
Cooke City / Silver Gate, MT — via US-212 (Beartooth Hwy)
Open to wheeled vehicles all year via Mammoth & Tower Junction, though the Beartooth Highway approach itself closes seasonally.
💡 Expect winter driving conditions even in shoulder seasons — check road reports before heavy-snow trips.
NPS road status ↗
West Entrance
Open (Seasonal)
West Yellowstone, MT — via US-20/US-191
The park's busiest entrance. Opened April 17, 2026 for the season; closes to wheeled vehicles around Oct 31 (oversnow-only Dec 15–Mar 15).
💡 Closest gate to Madison & Old Faithful — arrive before 8 AM in peak summer to beat parking lot fill-ups.
NPS road status ↗
East Entrance
Open (Seasonal)
Via US-14/16/20, from Cody, WY
Opened May 1, 2026; crosses Sylvan Pass. Closes to wheeled vehicles around Oct 31 (oversnow-only Dec 15–Mar 15).
💡 Scenic but winding mountain pass route — fuel up in Cody, services are limited along the way.
NPS road status ↗
South Entrance
Open (Seasonal)
Via US-89/191/287, from Grand Teton NP / Jackson, WY
Opened May 8, 2026 for through-travel to Grant Village & West Thumb. Closes to wheeled vehicles around Oct 31 (oversnow-only Dec 15–Mar 15).
💡 Most common approach when combining a Grand Teton + Yellowstone road trip.
NPS road status ↗
Campground Availability11 of 12 open▾
Bridge Bay Reservation Only ▾
Sites431
OperatorXanterra
Season~May 15 – Sep 13, 2026
NotesOn Yellowstone Lake, near Lake Village & the marina
Book via Yellowstone Lodges ↗
Canyon Reservation Only ▾
Sites272
OperatorXanterra
Season~May 29 – Sep 19, 2026
NotesClosest camping to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Book via Yellowstone Lodges ↗
Grant Village Reservation Only ▾
Sites429
OperatorXanterra
Season~Jun 26 – Sep 26, 2026
NotesSouth end of Yellowstone Lake, near West Thumb Geyser Basin
Book via Yellowstone Lodges ↗
Madison Reservation Only ▾
Sites276
OperatorXanterra
Season~May 1 – Oct 17, 2026
NotesCentral location between West Entrance, Old Faithful & Norris
Book via Yellowstone Lodges ↗
Fishing Bridge RV Park Reservation Only · Hard-Sided ▾
Sites310
OperatorXanterra
Season~May 8 – Oct 17, 2026
NotesHard-sided RVs only — bear country, no tents/soft-sided
Book via Yellowstone Lodges ↗
Mammoth FCFS Oct 15 – Apr 1 ▾
Sites82
OperatorNPS / Recreation.gov
SeasonYear-round
NotesPark's only true year-round campground; low elevation, mild winters
Book on Recreation.gov ↗
Indian Creek First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites70
OperatorNPS
Season~Jun 12 – Sep 14, 2026
NotesQuiet, between Mammoth & Norris
Campground details ↗
Lewis Lake First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites84
OperatorNPS
Season~Jun 15 – Oct 11, 2026
NotesNear South Entrance, on Lewis Lake — good for canoes/kayaks
Campground details ↗
Slough Creek First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites16
OperatorNPS
Season~Jun 15 – Oct 12, 2026
NotesSmall & sought-after — Lamar Valley wildlife-watching basecamp
Campground details ↗
Tower Fall First-Come, First-Served ▾
Sites31
OperatorNPS
Season~May 22 – Sep 27, 2026
NotesNear Tower Fall & Roosevelt, no RV/trailer over 32 ft
Campground details ↗
Pebble Creek Closed — 2026 Flood Recovery ▾
Sites27 (normally)
StatusClosed until further notice
NotesUndergoing flood-recovery work near Northeast Entrance — do not plan around this site in 2026
Campground details ↗
Landmarks & Wildlife Viewing9 stops▾
Old Faithful / Upper Geyser Basin3 stops▾
Old FaithfulEasy boardwalk · erupts roughly every 60–110 min~90 min visit
Grand Prismatic SpringMidway Geyser Basin · largest hot spring in the US~1 hr
Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk LoopEasy · highest concentration of geysers on Earth~2 hrs
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone2 stops▾
Artist PointEasy overlook · classic view of Lower Falls~20 min
Lower & Upper Falls TrailsModerate · Uncle Tom's Trail has steep stairs~1–2 hrs
Mammoth Hot Springs2 stops▾
Mammoth TerracesEasy boardwalk · travertine limestone terraces~1 hr
Fort Yellowstone / Parade GroundHistoric Army-era buildings, elk commonly graze here~30 min
Wildlife Watching — Lamar & Hayden Valleys2 stops▾
Lamar Valley"America's Serengeti" · wolves, bison, grizzliesBest dawn/dusk
Hayden ValleyBison herds & roadside wildlife jamsBest dawn/dusk
Stargazing & Night SkyNot certified▾
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Yellowstone has not been formally certified as an International Dark-Sky Association Dark Sky Park — the park is pursuing certification but an inventory found thousands of non-compliant light fixtures still to be addressed. That said, remote areas like Lamar Valley and the Lake area reach Bortle Class 1–2 skies among the darkest in the Lower 48. Best on new-moon nights, away from Old Faithful/Canyon area lighting. NPS night sky info ↗
Park Contact Information