Explore This Park

• Plan Your Visit
  • Basic Information
    • Operating Hours & Seasons

Operating Hours & Seasons

A tour bus full of people stops to watch Pink Cone Geyser.

NPS/Jim Peaco

 

Yellowstone is always open but it's a little complicated so read on.

The road between the north and northeast entrances is open to automobiles year-round. This road provides access to Mammoth Hot Springs, the park's wildlife-rich northern range (including Lamar Valley), and activities like cross-country skiing, hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife-watching. Other park roads are open during summer, but have closures and travel restrictions during the shoulder seasons and winter. Please see the following pages for more information:

• Park Roads (includes opening and closing dates)
• Entrance Stations
• Road Construction and Delays
• Opening and Closing Dates of Facilities (including campgrounds, restaurants, and more)
• Visitor Centers
• Current Conditions
• News Releases (for unscheduled changes to park roads or services)
  
  

What Season is Best?

Choosing which season to visit Yellowstone depends on what you're looking for, so be sure to check out our list of seasonal highlights. Plan your visit in advance and make sure to consider how Things to Do and Places to Go vary depending on the time of year.

 

• 

  What's the Best Season to Visit Yellowstone

  Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall each of these seasons has much to offer a Yellowstone visitor. To avoid surprises when you arrive watch this video to learn a little about visiting in each season.

  Duration:

  3 minutes, 6 seconds