• Visitors stand on the boardwalk of Grand Prismatic, the park's largest hot spring which is ringed with orange, brown and yellow runoff channels.

    Yellowstone

    National Park ID,MT,WY

Road Construction and Delays

2013 Scheduled Road Construction
Reference the numbered dots and map below to see where road construction is scheduled for 2013.

 
construction zone 1b
Northeast Entrance Road (Lamar River Bridge): Possible 15-minute delays until June 30.
 
construction zone 2b
Tower-Roosevelt Junction to Tower Fall Road: Large trucks will be driving between Gardiner and Tower-Roosevelt between 6 am and 9 am. Please use caution while driving.
  • March 25 to May 23: Road will be closed for contractor work.
  • May 24 to May 27: Memorial Day weekend. No delays or closures.
  • May 28 to October 17: Gravel road. Possible 30 minute delays. Nightly closures from 11 pm to 7 am.
  • July 3 (5 pm) to July 5 (7 am): Fourth of July weekend. No delays or closures.
  • August 31 to September 2: Labor Day weekend. No delays or closures.
  • October 17: Expected project completion.
 
construction zone 3b
Canyon Village Parking Area: May 28 to November 3. Be aware of construction activities in the pedestrian plaza area.
 
construction zone 4c
9-Mile Slide Repair (East Entrance Road): Located nine miles east of Fishing Bridge Junction, a short section was damaged by a landslide two years ago.

  • May 28 to October 17: One-lane traffic. Possible 15 minute delays. Possible two week period of nightly closures between July 15 and August 15.
  • July 3 to July 5: Fourth of July weekend. No delays or closures.
  • August 31 to September 2: Labor Day weekend. No delays or closures.
  • October 17: Expected project completion.
 
construction zone 5b
Indian Creek Campground Road (Obsidian Creek Bridge): Asphalt paving at the bridge. Paving will be completed this summer.
 
2013 construction map
 
Warning sign
Motorcyclists are advised to slow down and use extreme caution on loose gravel in areas of construction!
 

General Road Construction Information
Yellowstone reconstructs its roads during the spring, summer and fall seasons, which means you will likely encounter delays depending on your destination. To minimize delays, consult the map above as you plan your drive into the park. Keep in mind, road work schedules may change. Sometimes additional construction zones and schedules may be announced as construction contracts are awarded. Other road closures or delays are possible. It's a good idea to check with our visitor centers or entrance stations for current information and possible delays. Call the 24-hour Current Road Report hotline at (307) 344-2117 for the latest information on conditions affecting roads within the park.

Road construction is perennial in Yellowstone National Park. In general, park roads have either been recently repaired or reconstructed, or are scheduled for repair or reconstruction. Approximately 80% of main park roads (about 185 mi or 295 km) are in a structurally deficient state, with poor quality road bases failing under the weight, speed, and volume of modern traffic for which they were not designed. Harsh winter weather and short construction seasons provide additional challenges.

These needs are now being addressed under a 20-year, $300 million Federal Lands Highway Program for Yellowstone National Park. In addition to the major construction addressed below, park road repair crews will be working in other areas of the park throughout the seasons.

We recommend that visitors check the following resources before traveling:

 

Construction While Traveling TO Yellowstone
Expect road improvement projects on many of the major travel routes to Yellowstone Park entrances from Montana and Wyoming. Projects include chip-seal and/or fog-seal to extend road surface life. Expect 30-minute delays and the use of pilot vehicles. Be aware of construction workers and equipment.

Montana Info
For information about Montana road projects

Wyoming Info
For information about Wyoming road projects

For information about all road projects in Grand Teton National Park

  • call 307-739-3614
  • The park's newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any park entrance station or visitor center.

Other Numbers to Call for Road Information
Beartooth Highway - 888-285-4636
Cody Chamber - 800-393-2639
Red Lodge Chamber - 888-281-0625
Cooke City Chamber - 406-838-2495

For more road information, including what roads are open, see our Park Roads page. Thank you for your patience with our road construction efforts.

Did You Know?

Upper Geyser Basin Hydrothermal Features on a Winter Day.

Yellowstone contains approximately one-half of the world’s hydrothermal features. There are over 10,000 hydrothermal features, including over 300 geysers, in the park.