Summary
5/5
Entrances open
$35
7-day fee
Historic Crowd Data
Avg. monthly visitors, 2015–2024 · National Park Service
Light
Moderate
Busy
Very Busy
Peak season is June–September, when around 79% of annual visitors arrive. For lighter crowds, aim for November–April.
Plan Your Visit
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 Faithful~90 min visit
Easy boardwalk · erupts roughly every 60–110 min
Grand Prismatic Spring~1 hr
Midway Geyser Basin · largest hot spring in the US
Upper Geyser Basin Boardwalk Loop~2 hrs
Easy · highest concentration of geysers on Earth
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone2 stops▾
Artist Point~20 min
Easy overlook · classic view of Lower Falls
Lower & Upper Falls Trails~1–2 hrs
Moderate · Uncle Tom's Trail has steep stairs
Mammoth Hot Springs2 stops▾
Mammoth Terraces~1 hr
Easy boardwalk · travertine limestone terraces
Fort Yellowstone / Parade Ground~30 min
Historic Army-era buildings, elk commonly graze here
Wildlife Watching — Lamar & Hayden Valleys2 stops▾
Lamar ValleyBest dawn/dusk
"America's Serengeti" · wolves, bison, grizzlies
Hayden ValleyBest dawn/dusk
Bison herds & roadside wildlife jams
Things to Do7 categories▾
Hiking Trails4 trails▾
Fairy Falls TrailEasy
Flat walk through young lodgepole pine forest to a 200-ft waterfall; extend to Spray & Imperial Geysers
5.4–6.7 mi RT
Dunraven Pass – Mount Washburn TrailStrenuous
Climbs to the 10,219-ft summit of Mount Washburn, staffed by a fire lookout with sweeping Absaroka Range views
6 mi RT
Elephant Back Mountain TrailMod.-Strenuous
Lollipop loop above Yellowstone Lake near Fishing Bridge, climbing through lodgepole forest to an overlook
3.5 mi loop · 800 ft
Avalanche Peak TrailStrenuous
Steep climb near Sylvan Pass; not recommended for those with heart or respiratory conditions
~4.2 mi RT · 2,100 ft
Fishing3 rules▾
Fishing Permit$40/3-day · $55/7-day · $75/season
Required for anglers 16+, purchased via Recreation.gov; free for ages 15 & under with adult supervision
SeasonLate May–Oct 31
Standard season runs Memorial Day weekend–Oct 31; Madison, Firehole, Gibbon & Gardner rivers have extended dates
Native Species ReleaseMandatory release
Cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish & Arctic grayling must be released immediately to protect native populations
Boating3 rules▾
AIS Inspection & PermitCard payment only
All watercraft — motorized, non-motorized, even float tubes & paddleboards — must pass an invasive species inspection before launching
Motorized Boating$40/7-day · $60/season
Limited to Lewis & Yellowstone Lakes; max 40 ft, no jet skis, airboats, or water-skiing
Non-Motorized Boating$20/7-day · $30/season
Canoes, kayaks & paddleboards allowed on all lakes except Sylvan, Eleanor, Twin Lakes & Beach Springs Lagoon; Coast Guard-approved PFD required
Winter Sports2 ways▾
Cross-Country Skiing & SnowshoeingDec 15–Mar 15
Mostly ungroomed backcountry routes across Mammoth, Northeast, Tower, West Yellowstone, Old Faithful & Canyon areas
Guided Snowcoach & Snowmobile ToursDec 15–Mar 15
Only way to reach the Old Faithful & Canyon interior in winter; commercially guided, or by permit via the Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program
Horseback Riding2 options▾
Day Ride Permits (Private Stock)Permit (free)
Free permit required for private stock users on day rides; max 20 people & 20 animals per group
Overnight Stock TripsPermit · From Jul 1
Requires a backcountry permit in addition to the day-ride permit; not allowed before July 1 due to trail conditions & range readiness
Stargazing & Night SkyNot certified▾
Loading…
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 ↗
Bird Watching289+ species▾
Trumpeter Swan
North America's largest waterfowl, found on park lakes
Bald Eagle
Nests along the Yellowstone and Lamar rivers
Osprey
Dives for fish in the park's rivers and lakes
Sandhill Crane
Nests in the park's meadows and wetlands
Great Gray Owl
One of the world's tallest owls, hunts by sound in the forest
Park Contact Information