Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, United States

Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and Lamar Valley wolves in the world's first national park.

Checked 7 October 2026

Grand Prismatic Spring, with its rings of blue, green and orange

Yellowstone is the world's first national park: nearly 3,500 square miles of geysers, hot springs, canyon and wildlife, mostly in north-west Wyoming. No entry reservation is needed, but a car pass costs $35 for seven days, and since 1 January 2026 every non-US resident aged 16 or over also pays $100, unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The season decides everything: in 2026 most roads close to cars on 31 October and reopen only to guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles from 15 December, and in-park rooms open for booking 13 months ahead.

Yellowstone National Park covers nearly 3,500 square miles (about 9,000 km²) on a high volcanic plateau in the north-west corner of Wyoming, with slivers in Montana and Idaho. A figure-of-eight road, the Grand Loop, links its five entrances to the famous areas: the geyser basins along the Firehole River, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its 308-foot (94 m) Lower Falls, Yellowstone Lake, the travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, and the wide wildlife valleys of Hayden and Lamar.

What makes it unique is the heat underground. Yellowstone sits on top of an active volcanic system whose last great eruption, about 600,000 years ago, left the caldera at the park's centre. The park holds close to 60 percent of the world's geysers, more than 150 of them within one square mile of the Upper Geyser Basin around Old Faithful, plus hot springs whose rings of colour come from heat-loving microbes. Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring, is more than 300 feet (90 m) across.

People have used this land for more than 11,000 years, and 27 tribes have ties to it today. In 1872 the US Congress made it the world's first national park. Poaching and vandalism followed, and from 1886 to 1918 the US Army ran the park from Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth, whose red-roofed buildings now house the Albright Visitor Center. The log-built Old Faithful Inn, designed by Robert Reamer and built in the winter of 1903–1904, still stands a short walk from the geyser.

It is also one of the best places in the lower 48 states to see large wild animals: bison and elk along the roads, grizzly and black bears, and wolves, watched at dawn through spotting scopes in the Lamar Valley. Come in summer for open roads and everything working, in spring or autumn for wildlife and fewer people, or in winter by snowcoach to see steaming geysers in a frozen landscape with almost no one around.

What to see

  1. Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin

    The most famous geyser erupts roughly every 68 or 94 minutes (plus or minus 10 minutes), to 106–184 feet (30–55 m). Rangers predict it and four other big geysers here (Castle, Grand, Daisy, Riverside); times are posted at the visitor centre, the lodges and in the NPS app. Walk the boardwalks beyond Old Faithful towards Castle and Grand geysers for quieter views. Nearby Biscuit Basin has been closed since a hydrothermal explosion in 2024. Predictions stop when the visitor centre closes (early November to mid-December, mid-March to mid-April).

  2. Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin

    The largest hot spring in the park, ringed in orange, yellow and blue, seen from a 0.8-mile boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin, 5.5 miles north of Old Faithful. For the classic view from above, walk the 1.2-mile (1.9 km) round-trip Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail from the Fairy Falls trailhead, 1 mile south; both car parks are small and fill early in summer.

  3. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

    A canyon about 20 miles long with the 109-foot Upper Falls and the 308-foot (94 m) Lower Falls. Artist Point on the South Rim Drive gives the postcard view of the Lower Falls; Lookout Point, Inspiration Point and the Brink of the Lower Falls trail are on the North Rim Drive. Several viewpoints are paved and accessible.

  4. Lamar Valley

    The open valley in the north-east is the park's prime place for wolves, bison, pronghorn and bears, and the road through it (North Entrance to Cooke City) is the only one open to cars all year. Wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk; bring binoculars or join a tour with spotting scopes.

  5. Hayden Valley

    Between Canyon and Yellowstone Lake, a broad river valley where bison herds often cross the road and grizzlies are seen in the meadows. There are no designated parking areas, only large pullouts: pull fully off the road to watch.

  6. Mammoth Hot Springs and Fort Yellowstone

    Travertine terraces that change shape constantly, seen from the Lower Terrace boardwalks and the one-way Upper Terrace Drive, next to the historic Army post. Near the North Entrance and open all year, so it is the base for winter visits by car.

  7. Old Faithful Inn

    The 1904 log hotel with a 65-foot (20 m) lobby, a huge stone fireplace and gnarled log railings. You can walk in and look up without staying; the porch has a view of the geyser.

  8. Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin

    The largest high-elevation lake in North America, with hot springs on a boardwalk loop at West Thumb whose water flows straight into the lake. Lake Yellowstone Hotel, the oldest operating hotel in the park, is on the north shore.

The Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park tickets: which to buy and where

There is no timed ticket and no vehicle reservation: you buy an entrance pass valid for seven days, either online in advance or at any entrance station (cash or card). One $35 car pass covers everyone in a private vehicle; on foot or by bike it is $20 per person aged 16+. Since 1 January 2026 every non-US resident aged 16 or over also pays $100, on tours too, unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass (in a private car, one pass holder covers everyone in it), and Grand Teton to the south charges its own separate fees.

The official ticket site

National Park Service (nps.gov/yell) and Recreation.gov

The park's fees page is on nps.gov and has a 'Buy pass' button for the digital pass; America the Beautiful passes are sold on recreation.gov, the federal booking site. Both are .gov addresses. In-park hotels and some campsites are sold separately by Yellowstone National Park Lodges (yellowstonenationalparklodges.com, run by Xanterra), the park's authorised concessioner; entry fees are never included in those bookings.

Go to the official site

  • Private vehicle entrance pass

    $35 per car (up to 15 seats), 7 days; motorcycle $30; snowmobile $30; plus $100 per non-US resident aged 16+ unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass

    Official ticketsDoes not skip lines

    Includes
    Unlimited entry for one private vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days from the day of purchase. No reservation, no timed entry.
    Best for
    Anyone driving in
    National Park Service (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • Per-person entrance pass

    $20 per person aged 16+, 7 days; under 16 free; plus $100 per non-US resident aged 16+ unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass

    Official ticketsDoes not skip lines

    Includes
    Entry on foot, bicycle or skis for seven days.
    Best for
    Cyclists, hikers, people dropped at the gate
    National Park Service (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass

    $250

    Official ticketsDoes not skip lines

    Includes
    Entrance and the $100 nonresident fees for 12 months at all national parks and federal recreation sites, for the holder plus everyone in one private vehicle, or the holder plus three adults where fees are per person (on a snowcoach or shuttle the pass admits the signer plus three adults). Photo ID required; non-refundable.
    Best for
    Non-US residents travelling as two or more adults, or also visiting Grand Teton or another surcharge park
    Recreation.gov (official, digital) or any entrance station · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass

    $80 (US citizens and residents); seniors 62+ $20 a year or $80 for life

    Official ticketsDoes not skip lines

    Includes
    Entrance fees at all national parks and federal recreation sites for 12 months for the holder and their vehicle. Proof of US residency required.
    Best for
    US residents visiting several parks in a year
    Recreation.gov (official) or entrance stations · as of October 2026See this ticket →

  • Yellowstone Annual Pass

    $70 (US citizens and residents only)

    Official ticketsDoes not skip lines

    Includes
    Unlimited entry to Yellowstone only for one year, for the holder and passengers in the same vehicle. Sold at entrance stations.
    Best for
    US residents who come back to Yellowstone but no other park
    National Park Service entrance stations (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket →

How to buy

  1. Buy the $35 vehicle pass in advance from the 'Buy pass' button on nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm and save it on your phone, or pay at the entrance station by cash or card.
  2. If you are not a US resident and travel as two or more adults (or also visit Grand Teton, Glacier or another surcharge park), buy the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass on recreation.gov instead: it replaces both the entrance pass and the $100 per-person fees for the whole car.
  3. Bring the pass holder and photo ID: rangers cannot accept receipts or photos of a physical pass, and cannot look up a lost one.
  4. Book in-park rooms separately on yellowstonenationalparklodges.com from the 5th of each month, 13 months ahead; book campsites on recreation.gov 6 months ahead.

Look-alike sites

Yellowstone has no ticket look-alikes for entry, but lodging is a different story. The only in-park hotel operator is Yellowstone National Park Lodges (yellowstonenationalparklodges.com, run by Xanterra), and it says it never charges a booking fee. Many gateway-town hotels in West Yellowstone and Gardiner carry 'Yellowstone' in their names and booking sites mix them with in-park lodges, so check the address is inside the park. Entrance passes are sold only on nps.gov and recreation.gov (both .gov) and at the gate; campsites only on recreation.gov or the lodges' own site.

We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.

Guided tours of Yellowstone National Park

With a car you do not need a tour for the geyser basins: the boardwalks are signed and rangers post eruption times. A guide is worth paying for wildlife, because they network to find where wolves and bears are that morning and carry spotting scopes; for a day without driving from Jackson, West Yellowstone or Gardiner; and in winter, when snowcoach or guided snowmobile is the only way into the interior. Private wildlife guides in Gardiner charge about $800–1,000 a day for a small party. Before booking, ask who pays the $100 nonresident fee: the NPS charges it to every non-US resident aged 16+ on commercial tours too, and tour companies must tell the fee collector how many are on board.

  • Small-group van or snowcoach tour

    Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour

    Yellowstone National Park Lodges (Xanterra)

    From Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel at 7:00–7:30am, back around 2pm, through the Northern Range to Lamar Valley and sometimes Cooke City. Muffin, juice and deli lunch included; the guide carries spotting scopes. Runs four days a week in autumn, three in winter. Taxes included; park fees not mentioned on the page. Full refund only if cancelled 7 days (summer) or 14 days (winter) ahead.

    $220.62 adult, $110.31 child 3–11 (autumn, 13 Oct–4 Dec 2026); $236.28 / $118.14 (winter, 17 Dec 2026–6 Mar 2027)

    Duration: About 7 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Small-group wildlife tour

    From West Yellowstone: Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour by Van

    Yellowstone Hiking Guides, sold on GetYourGuide

    6:00am pick-up from West Yellowstone hotels, via the Madison River and Mount Washburn to Lamar Valley, picnic lunch at Mammoth. Snack, lunch, binoculars and a spotting scope included; the listing says park entrance fees are included but does not mention the $100 nonresident fee. Not for children under 6 or wheelchair users. Free cancellation up to 24 hours.

    from €259 per person (GetYourGuide's European site shows euros)

    Duration: 8 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Small-group or private day trip

    From Jackson: Yellowstone National Park Day Trip with Lunch

    Teton Scenic Floats & Fly Fishing, sold on GetYourGuide

    The Lower Loop from Jackson through Grand Teton: Old Faithful, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and the lake, with picnic lunch. In October 2026 the listing named park entry fees under what is included but also said the park entrance ticket is not included, and it does not mention the $100 nonresident fee, so ask the operator in writing what you will pay at the gate (for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone) before booking. A very long day; suits visitors based in Jackson without a car.

    from €289 per person

    Duration: 12–15 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Private wildlife tour

    Private, Sunrise and Sunset Wildlife Tours

    Lamar Valley Touring (Gardiner)

    A small Gardiner company on the NPS list of authorised guides. Sunrise tours start at 5am, when wolves are most often seen; coffee, snacks, binoculars and spotting scopes included, a picnic dinner on sunset tours. Runs all year. Worth it for a family or group of four to six who want their own guide.

    $800 for one or two people (6 hours, sunrise or sunset), $950 (8 hours); $100 per extra person

    Duration: 6–8 hours

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

  • Winter snowcoach tour

    Snowcoach day tours to Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

    Yellowstone Expeditions (West Yellowstone)

    Heated tracked vans and big-tyre snowbuses from West Yellowstone, one of the authorised oversnow operators, now booking the 2026–2027 season. In winter this, a guided snowmobile, or Xanterra's snowcoach from Mammoth ($179.45 one way to Old Faithful Snow Lodge) is the only way to reach the geysers.

    $190 adult, $160 child; one-way Old Faithful shuttle $125; plus park entrance fee, 4% city tax and any nonresident fee

    Duration: Full day

    as of October 2026

    See this tour →

We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.

Yellowstone National Park deals and discounts

The bottom line

The $35 car pass is good value: it covers the whole car for seven days, and the boardwalks, viewpoints and ranger programmes cost nothing extra. For non-US residents the real saving is the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass: two adults in one car otherwise pay $235 at Yellowstone alone, and Grand Teton charges its own entry plus another $100 each.

  • One car pass covers everyone; under 16s free

    The $35 vehicle pass covers every passenger in a private vehicle with up to 15 seats for seven days, so a full car costs the same as a single driver. Children under 16 need no pass and pay no nonresident fee.

    nps.gov · as of October 2026

  • $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass covers the surcharge

    Since 1 January 2026 the pass covers entrance and the $100 nonresident fees for the holder and everyone in one private vehicle (or the holder plus three adults where fees are per person) at all national parks for 12 months. Yellowstone and Grand Teton are both on the list of 11 surcharge parks, so a couple doing both saves well over $200. Valid passes bought before 2026 are honoured on their old terms.

    nps.gov · as of October 2026

  • Fee-free days, for US residents only

    On national fee-free days entry is free for US citizens and residents. The remaining 2026 dates are 27 October (Theodore Roosevelt's birthday) and 11 November (Veterans Day), when most park roads are already closed to cars. Since 2026, non-US residents pay the normal entrance and nonresident fees on these days.

    nps.gov · as of October 2026

  • Senior, Access, military and 4th-grade passes

    US citizens and residents aged 62+ pay $20 a year or $80 for life; US residents with a permanent disability (Access Pass), current military and dependents, veterans and Gold Star families, and US 4th graders get free passes. Photo ID is checked with every pass.

    nps.gov · as of October 2026

  • Half-price camping with a Senior or Access Pass

    Holders of the Senior or Access Pass get 50% off standard rates at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant and Madison campgrounds (not Fishing Bridge RV Park). Tick the box when booking and show the pass at check-in. The ordinary annual pass does not qualify.

    yellowstonenationalparklodges.com · as of October 2026

  • Children 11 and under stay free in park hotels

    In-park room rates are for two adults; children 11 and under share the room at no charge, and each extra adult costs $25 plus tax per night. Booking direct carries no booking fee.

    yellowstonenationalparklodges.com · as of October 2026

Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park

Time of day: in summer, reach the entrance before 7am or after noon and visit Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and the canyon outside 10am–4pm, the park's own advice. Dawn and dusk are also when wolves and bears are most active in Lamar and Hayden valleys.

Season: June to September is busiest; late May–early June brings bison calves and bears at low elevations, and September–October brings elk rut and autumn colour with fewer people. All roads are usually open from late May (Memorial Day weekend) until early October; the high Dunraven Pass between Canyon and Tower closes earlier (12 October in 2026).

Closures: in 2026 most roads close to cars on 31 October. From early November to mid-December the park is almost shut except the North–Northeast road through Lamar Valley; Old Faithful eruption predictions also pause. Oversnow travel by guided snowcoach or snowmobile is planned from 15 December 2026 to between 7 and 15 March 2027, depending on the road; the NPS says all dates can change with the weather.

Spring: roads reopen to cars in stages from mid-April. In 2026 the West Entrance to Old Faithful and Mammoth–Norris–Canyon opened 17 April, the East Entrance and Canyon–Lake road 1 May, the South Entrance 8 May and Dunraven Pass 22 May. The 2027 dates had not been published in October 2026: use the 2026 dates as a guide and check the NPS park roads page before you plan a spring trip. Many hotels and campgrounds do not open until May or June.

Tips and tricks

Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.

  1. Save the NPS app offline before you arrive

    Phone signal is patchy across the park. The free NPS app shows maps, accessibility details and the posted eruption predictions for Old Faithful and the other predicted geysers; download Yellowstone for offline use at home.

    From NPS Yellowstone: National Park Service App, 2026

  2. Wait for the steam to lift at Grand Prismatic

    On cool mornings the steam from Grand Prismatic hides its colours. Arrive early to get a parking space, then see Excelsior and the other pools first, or come back later in the morning when the air has warmed.

    From TravelAwaits, Grand Prismatic Spring tips; ranger advice on site

  3. Do the overlook trail, not just the boardwalk

    The aerial view of Grand Prismatic is from the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail: 0.6 miles each way with a 105-foot climb from the Fairy Falls trailhead, 1 mile south of Midway. The car park there is even smaller than Midway's; if it is full, come back later rather than parking on the road.

    From NPS Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail page, 2025; TravelAwaits

  4. Remember the second park fee if you come from Jackson

    The South Entrance road from Jackson runs through Grand Teton National Park, which charges its own entrance fee and, for non-US residents, its own $100 nonresident fee. One America the Beautiful pass covers both.

    From NPS Yellowstone: Fees & Passes, 2026

  5. Don't trust your GPS on road status

    Online maps may route you over roads that are closed for the season or for construction. Check the NPS park roads page, call 307-344-2117 for a recording, or text 82190 to 888-777 for road alerts.

    From NPS Yellowstone: Park Roads and Directions, 2026

  6. Rent bear spray instead of flying with it

    You cannot take bear spray on a plane. Bear Aware, a park concessioner, rents it from kiosks next to the Canyon Visitor Education Center and in the Old Faithful area, and takes back used cans. Never keep it in a hot car: it can burst above 49°C.

    From NPS Yellowstone: Safety, 2026

  7. Bring binoculars or a long lens

    You must stay 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from bison and elk. The park suggests a lens of 300mm or more; wolves in Lamar are often watched through spotting scopes at a mile's distance, which is why guided tours carry them.

    From NPS Yellowstone: Safety, 2026

  8. Plan on long drives, slowly

    The speed limit is 45 mph and bison jams are common. Old Faithful to Canyon is about 50 miles; average times are 35–45 minutes from Madison to Old Faithful and 50–60 minutes from Canyon to Tower. Fuel is available 24 hours a day at Canyon and Old Faithful while those roads are open.

    From NPS Yellowstone: Directions & Transportation, 2025

  9. Book Lamar Valley wildlife for the first light

    Wolf-watching tours leave at 5–7am and the best sightings come early. Staying in Gardiner, Mammoth or Silver Gate/Cooke City cuts an hour or more off the drive compared with West Yellowstone.

    From Tour schedules of Lamar Valley Touring and Yellowstone National Park Lodges, 2026

A bison standing beside a road
A bison standing beside a road

How to get to Yellowstone National Park

  • By air: Bozeman (BZN, for the North and West entrances), Jackson (JAC, via Grand Teton to the South Entrance), Cody (to the East Entrance), Billings and Idaho Falls have flights all year. West Yellowstone's small airport has flights from Salt Lake City from early May to mid-October.
  • Gateway towns: Gardiner, Montana (North Entrance, 5 miles from Mammoth, the only entrance open to cars all year), West Yellowstone, Montana (West Entrance, roughly 65–75 minutes' drive to Old Faithful via Madison), Jackson, Wyoming (South Entrance via Grand Teton), Cody, Wyoming (East Entrance over Sylvan Pass) and Silver Gate/Cooke City, Montana (Northeast Entrance, for Lamar Valley).
  • In the park: there is no public transport. You need a car or a tour; the Grand Loop links the sights and drives take longer than the distances suggest. Buses run from Bozeman to West Yellowstone all year, but you would still need transport inside.
  • In winter: drive to Gardiner and Mammoth via the North Entrance, or take Yellowstone National Park Lodges' winter shuttle from Bozeman airport to Mammoth ($110.81 one way, 15 December 2026–7 March 2027, for guests with a lodges booking). From Mammoth or West Yellowstone, only snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles reach Old Faithful.
  • Parking: free at every site, but the car parks at Midway Geyser Basin, the Fairy Falls trailhead and the canyon viewpoints fill by mid-morning in summer. Camping or sleeping in your vehicle anywhere outside a designated campground is not allowed.

Scams and problems to watch for

  • Booking sites that add fees to park hotels

    Third-party reservation sites resell rooms in Yellowstone's lodges with non-refundable service fees (a Xanterra warning, first published in 2008 and still on its site, cites fees of up to 12 percent of the trip price) that you lose if you change plans, sometimes after a 24-hour wait for confirmation. Tell-tale sign: the site is not yellowstonenationalparklodges.com and does not call itself the park's authorised concessioner. Booking direct costs no fee.

  • 'In-park' lodging that is outside the park

    Many motels in West Yellowstone, Gardiner and elsewhere carry 'Yellowstone' or 'Old Faithful' in their names, and some booking sites define 'in-park' loosely (one used 'within one mile'). Check the address: the only hotels inside the park are the nine run by Yellowstone National Park Lodges, at Mammoth, Old Faithful, Canyon, Lake, Grant Village and Roosevelt.

  • 'No rooms left' pressure

    Resellers like to say every in-park room is gone a year ahead to push you to book through them or outside the park. Rooms do open 13 months ahead and the best go fast, but cancellations come back on the official site; keep checking it.

  • Nonresident fee unclear in the tour price

    Tour listings often say 'park entry included' without mentioning the $100 per person nonresident fee that the NPS charges every non-US resident aged 16+ on commercial tours since 1 January 2026, and some listings are simply unclear: in October 2026 one day-trip listing from Jackson said both that park entry fees are included and that the entrance ticket is not. The tell-tale sign is a price page that never mentions the nonresident fee. Ask the operator in writing who pays it before you book, or bring a Non-Resident Annual Pass.

  • Unauthorised guides

    Every company guiding in Yellowstone needs NPS authorisation, and the park publishes the full list by activity. A tour sold through social media or a hotel lobby flyer that is not on the NPS 'Guided Tours' page is not authorised to guide in the park.

Accessibility

Many of the main sights are on level boardwalks. Accessible walkways run from all Old Faithful car parks to the geyser and through the Upper Geyser Basin, and the Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic) boardwalk has accessible parking and toilets; the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail is not accessible (grades up to 19%). Fountain Paint Pot is level at the start but has steps further on; West Thumb's lower loop has grades up to 10%. At the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Artist Point, the Upper Falls viewpoints and parts of the North Rim Trail are accessible, but the Brink of the Lower Falls path has many steps. At Mammoth, sections of the Lower Terrace boardwalk and the Upper Terrace Drive viewpoints are accessible. Manual wheelchairs are lent free at visitor centres and lodges, and rented at the Old Faithful and Mammoth clinics ($15 a day, $300 deposit). The Canyon and Old Faithful visitor centres have captioned and audio-described films, Albright has an induction loop, and large-print and braille park maps are available. Accessible rooms exist at most lodges (book by phone on 307-344-7311) and accessible campsites at most campgrounds. US residents with a permanent disability get the free Access Pass. Some historic buildings are only partly accessible.

Combine it with

  • Grand Teton National Park

    Jagged peaks over Jackson Hole, directly south of Yellowstone's South Entrance and on the road from Jackson. Separate entrance fee and, for non-US residents, a separate $100 fee; one America the Beautiful pass covers both parks.

  • Gardiner and the Roosevelt Arch

    The North Entrance town, with the stone Roosevelt Arch, the park's Heritage and Research Center (behind-the-scenes tours June–September, book ahead) and most of the Lamar Valley wildlife guides. The only entrance open to cars all year.

  • Beartooth Highway

    US-212 from Cooke City over the Beartooth Plateau to Red Lodge, Montana, one of the highest roads in the Rockies. Open from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October (12 October in 2026), weather permitting.

  • Silver Gate and Cooke City

    Two small towns outside the Northeast Entrance, the closest beds to Lamar Valley at dawn. Reached all year from Gardiner through the park; the road east is closed to cars in winter.

  • Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

    WY-296 from near Cooke City towards Cody; 9 miles near Cooke City are closed to cars in winter. A scenic way between the Northeast and East entrances.

Steam rising over a geyser basin
Steam rising over a geyser basin

Questions people ask about visiting Yellowstone National Park

How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone in 2026?

A private vehicle pass is $35 for seven days and covers everyone in the car; on foot or by bike it is $20 per person aged 16+, and under 16s are free. Since 1 January 2026 non-US residents aged 16+ also pay $100 each, unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass (the Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250). Figures as of October 2026.

Do you need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?

No. Yellowstone has no timed entry or vehicle reservation (as of October 2026). You only need an entrance pass, which you can buy online in advance or at the gate. Lodges, campsites, tours and snowcoaches do need booking.

How far in advance should I book a hotel in Yellowstone?

In-park rooms go on sale 13 months ahead, on the 5th of each month for the whole of that month the following year (midnight Mountain Time online). For summer stays at Old Faithful or Canyon, book as soon as your month opens; cancellations reappear, so keep checking the official site, yellowstonenationalparklodges.com. Campsites on recreation.gov open on a rolling six-month window.

When do roads close in Yellowstone?

In 2026 most roads close to cars on 31 October (Dunraven Pass on 12 October). Only the road from the North Entrance at Gardiner through Mammoth and Lamar Valley to Cooke City stays open all year. From 15 December 2026 to mid-March 2027 the interior can be visited only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile. In 2026 roads reopened to cars in stages from 17 April; the 2027 dates were not yet published in October 2026, so use the 2026 dates as a guide.

How many days do you need in Yellowstone?

One long day covers the Lower Loop: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Three or four days let you add Lamar Valley at dawn, Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone Lake without spending the whole time driving, since Old Faithful to Canyon alone is about 50 miles at 45 mph.

When does Old Faithful erupt?

Roughly every 68 or 94 minutes, plus or minus 10 minutes, for 1.5–5 minutes. Rangers post the next predicted time at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, the lodges and in the NPS app. There are no predictions when the visitor centre is closed, typically early November to mid-December and mid-March to mid-April.

Can you visit Yellowstone in winter?

Yes. You can drive from Gardiner through Mammoth to Lamar Valley all year, and from 15 December 2026 guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles run to Old Faithful and the canyon. Snowcoach day tours from West Yellowstone cost about $190 per adult (2026–2027), and Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel stay open.

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