How to get to Yellowstone
North Entrance - Near the gateway
community of Gardiner, MT, 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,
MT. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles
November through April. The road from Mammoth to Norris is open
to wheeled vehicles from the third Friday in April through the
first Sunday in November, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from
the third Monday in December to Monday of the first full week
in March. Closest airline service is Bozeman, MT. Services are
available year around.
West Entrance - Adjacent to the
town of West Yellowstone, MT, the West Entrance is open to wheeled
vehicles from the third Friday in April through the first Sunday
in November, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from the third
Monday in December to Monday of the second full week in
March. Closest airline service is West Yellowstone, MT,
Bozeman, MT, Idaho Falls, ID, and Salt Lake City, UT.
South & East Entrances - Open
to wheeled vehicles from the second Friday of May through the
first Sunday in November, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from
the third Monday in December to Monday of the second full week
in March. Limited services are available near the South and East
Entrances. Closest airline service to the South Entrance is Jackson,
WY and Cody, WY to the East Entrance.
Northeast Entrance - Near the gateway communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, MT, this entrance is open year around for wheeled vehicle access to Cooke City through Gardiner, MT and the North Entrance. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The Beartooth Highway is open from Friday of Memorial Weekend to 8:00 am on the day following Columbus Day. Storms occasionally temporarily close the Beartooth Highway during this "open" period. Closest airline service is Billings, MT. Services are available year around.
Airline and Bus Transportation
Commercial airlines serve the following airports near Yellowstone National Park all year: Cody and Jackson, WY; Bozeman and Billings, MT, and Idaho Falls, ID. The West Yellowstone, MT airport is serviced from June to early September from Salt Lake City, UT.
Bus service from Bozeman, MT to West Yellowstone, MT via Highway 191 is available all year. Bus service directly from Idaho to West Yellowstone is limited to the summer months. Commercial transportation from Bozeman, MT to Gardiner, MT is available during the winter and summer seasons. Commercial transportation to the park from Cody and Jackson, WY is available during the summer season.
Train service is not available to Yellowstone National Park. The nearest train depots are in southeast Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah and northern Montana. Contact Amtrak for specific schedules.
