National Park
Yellowstone National Park
- West
- 9 hikes
- 26 places to see
- 4 current alerts
Current alerts
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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.
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Notice
Most Park Roads Closing to Regular Vehicles November 1
The last day to enjoy most of the park in a regular vehicle is October 31. Most roads will open to guided oversnow tours on December 15 (weather permitting). The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the only road open year-round to regular vehicles.
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Notice
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.
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Notice
Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed
Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to purchase an entrance pass before arriving, but you may also purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival.
From the National Park Service, as of October 30, 2026, 5:15 pm. Check nps.gov before you go.
Latest news
- National Park Service finds no significant environmental impact for North Entrance Road reconstruction project in Yellowstone National Park
- Tips for visiting Yellowstone National Park this Fourth of July
- Biologists set to begin 2026 grizzly bear captures for research purposes in Yellowstone National Park
- UPDATE: Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads scheduled for opening April 17 delayed due to winter storm
About Yellowstone
A guide to this park: what to see, where to walk, and when to go.
- Region
- West
- States
- Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
- Designation
- National Park
- Entrance fee
- $35, private vehicle
- Hikes on this page
- 9
- Places to see
- 26
- Articles
- 14
Know before you go
Fees, hours, weather and getting to Yellowstone.
Entrance fees
- $35 Private Vehicle Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.
- $30 Motorcycle
- $30 Snowmobile
- $20 Per Person
- $20 Non-commercial Groups
Passes
- $70 Annual Entrance - Park
Hours
All Park Hours
Open 24 hours a day, every day.
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.
Weather and when to go
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.
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.
- Gateway towns
- West Yellowstone, MT · Gardiner, MT · Cody, WY
- Nearest airports
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) · Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) · Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Contact the park
- Address
- 2 Officers Row, Yellowstone National Park Headquarters, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
- Phone
- (307) 344-7381
- Official site
- nps.gov/yell
From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.
Trip planner
A day-by-day plan for Yellowstone
Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.
The trails and places you save below go into your plan as must-sees.
Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.
Where to stay for Yellowstone
The gateway towns, closest first. Add your dates in the planner to search for your own nights.
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West Yellowstone, MT Closest
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Gardiner, MT
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Cody, WY
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Guided tours and trips
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Things to do in Yellowstone
The park service's own list, with how long each takes.
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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.
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Snow Pass Ski Trail
The Snow Pass Ski Trail is a 4.2 mile (6.76 km), skier-tracked, one-way, easiest to most-difficult, ski that takes skiers through a steep heavily forested area to a semi-flat wide…
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Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail
Follow the rim of the Yellowstone River valley, enjoying views of bighorn sheep, the Narrows of the Yellowstone, Overhanging Cliff, and the towers of Tower Falls.
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Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail
Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the distant Absaroka Mountains.
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West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail
Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake.
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Trout Lake Trail
Enjoy a short hill climb through Douglas-fir forest to Trout Lake.
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Abandoned Railroad Bed Bike Trail
An abandoned railroad bed located near the north entrance of Yellowstone makes a beautiful bike trail.
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Storm Point Trail
Pass by Indian Pond and through a forest to the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Along the way, look for marmots in the rocky area near Storm Point.
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Sepulcher Mountain Trail
Climb to the summit of Sepulcher Mountain while keeping an eye out for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and moose along the way.
Places to see
Viewpoints
Natural features
History & culture
Campgrounds in Yellowstone
Run by the park service. Reservable sites book on Recreation.gov; first-come sites do not.
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Canyon Campground
Canyon Campground—elevation 7,900 feet (2408 m)—lies in a lodgepole pine forest at Canyon Village, south of the Washburn range and near the breath-taking Grand…
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Bridge Bay Campground
Bridge Bay Campground—elevation 7,800 feet (2377 m)—is located near Yellowstone Lake, one of the largest, high-elevation, fresh-water lakes in North America. C…
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Fishing Bridge RV Park
Fishing Bridge RV Park—elevation 7,800 feet (2377 m)—is located near the Yellowstone River where it exits Yellowstone Lake on its way toward the Grand Canyon o…
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Grant Village Campground
Grant Campground—elevation 7,800 feet (2377 m)—is located in Grant Village, just off the Grand Loop Road at the south end of Yellowstone Lake. It is one of the…
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Madison Campground
Madison Campground—elevation 6,800 feet (2073 m)—sits about 14 miles east from the town of West Yellowstone and 16 miles north of Old Faithful. Nearby, the Gib…
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Indian Creek Campground
Located about eight miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs on the road to Norris, Indian Creek Campground—elevation 7,300 feet (2225 m)—sits near the base of the G…
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Mammoth Campground
The only campground in the park open year-round, Mammoth Campground—elevation 6,200 feet (1890 m)—is located five miles south of the park's North Entrance. Sca…
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Norris Campground
Norris Campground will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
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Pebble Creek Campground
Pebble Creek Campground was significantly impacted by the 2022 floods and will remain CLOSED until further notice for flood recovery work.
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Tower Fall Campground
Tower Fall Campground—elevation 6,600 feet (2012 m)—is located on the north side of the steep, winding, road to Dunraven Pass. The campground is near the Tower…
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Lewis Lake Campground
Lewis Lake Campground—elevation 7,800 ft (2377 m)—is about eight miles from the South Entrance and a short walk from the southeast shore of Lewis Lake. A boat…
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Slough Creek Campground
Near some of the best wildlife watching opportunities in the park. Located at the end of a two-mile dirt road, this campground is best suited for tents and sma…
Reading about Yellowstone
What to pack for Yellowstone
Gear & Essentials
Tell us about your trip and we will add what else you will want:
The basics
Worth having in the car whatever the park.
For this trip
Traveling with kids
Bringing a pet
RVing
Backcountry
Winter conditions
On the water
Photography
Accessibility
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