Park Roads

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Expect Travel Delays in the Old Faithful Area

High visitation and road construction on the bridge leading into and out of the Old Faithful Area may result delays into and out of the area. To help reduce the delays, please follow any directions provided by rangers or signs. NPS rangers are working hard to minimize the delays.

If you don't plan on stopping by the Old Faithful Area, you may want to consider by-passing the area and travel via Norris and Canyon Village instead.

 

The map below shows the current status of park roads and road construction. Select a road segment or icon for more information. Conditions in Yellowstone can change quickly, especially during spring and fall, so check back often. Short-term road closures and delays may not be shown.

 

 

2021 Spring Opening Dates

Roads will open at 8 am on the following dates (conditions permitting):

• April 16: West Entrance to Madison Junction, Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Norris to Canyon Village.
• May 7: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village.
• May 11: Cooke City to Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
• May 14: South Entrance to West Thumb, Lake Village to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass).
• May 28: Beartooth Highway

 

 

Road Closures

For 2021, the following part of the Grand Loop Road will be closed. Additionally, there will be no trail access to Mount Washburn.

• Tower–Roosevelt to Canyon Village

 

Roads Outside the Northeast Entrance

After initial opening, weather causes occasional closures. Please check locally or at WY DOT and MT DOT before traveling.

Beartooth Highway

US-212, Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana

• Open the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.
• Open for the season (conditions permitting)
• Night closures (7 pm–7 am) Monday–Thursday nights.
• NO night closures Friday–Sunday nights.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

WY-296, Cooke City, Montana, to Cody, Wyoming, or Laurel, Montana

• Open year-round to from WY-120 to Pilot Creek Parking Lot (4 miles toward Cooke City from the junction of WY-296/US-212). In winter, 9 miles of road are closed to wheeled vehicles (oversnow travel only) from Cooke City to Pilot Creek. This segment of road is open to wheeled vehicles mid-May through early November.
• Open for the season (conditions permitting)

 

Road Construction

Expect delays and/or traffic pattern changes in these locations:

• North Entrance
• Old Faithful Area entrance and exit

There will be night closures (7 pm–7 am) on the Beartooth Highway Monday–Thursday nights. NO night closures Friday–Sunday nights.

Learn more about the 2021 Road Construction Projects.

 

Additional Road Information

• Yellowstone has five entrance stations and it takes hours to drive between them. Be sure to check the road statuses to the entrance you intend to use.
• For up-to-date information consult the map above, call [phone] for recorded information, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions). Anticipate possible road closures due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions.
• Open roads are not gated at night: people may enter/exit the park 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Check our webcams to see current traffic conditions at the North and West entrances. Construction has started on a new entrance station at the North Entrance. Expect delays and traffic pattern changes.
• Check road conditions in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park before traveling.
• An autonomous vehicle will be in operation around Canyon Village during part of the summer season.
• Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April when the park switches to oversnow travel (snowmobiles and snowcoaches).
• The only road open year-round to automobiles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction).

2021 Fall Closing Dates

Roads will close to regular vehicles on the following dates:

• October 12: Cooke City to Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Beartooth Highway (US 212 to Red Lodge, Montana)
• November 8: All roads close at 8 am except the road between the North Entrance and the Northeast Entrance

2021-2022 Winter Opening Dates

Conditions permitting, roads will open to oversnow travel by snowmobile and snowcoach at 8 am on the following dates:

• December 15: West Entrance to Old Faithful, Mammoth to Old Faithful, Canyon to Norris, Canyon to Lake, Old Faithful to West Thumb, South Entrance to Lake, Lake to Lake Butte Overlook, East Entrance to Lake Butte Overlook (Sylvan Pass)

2022 Winter Closing Dates

Roads will close to oversnow travel by snowmobile and snowcoach at 9 pm on the following dates:

• March 6: Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris
• March 8: Norris to Madison and Norris to Canyon Village
• March 13: Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge
• March 15: All remaining groomed roads