Park Roads

Yellowstone Road Status Map

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

 

 

FIND OUT MORE

• Current Conditions
• Webcams
• Grand Teton Roads Status

The only road generally open year-round to automobiles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction). Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April, and are open to limited oversnow travel (snowmobiles and snowcoaches) from mid-December to mid-March. When open, roads are not gated at night and people may enter/exit the park 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Yellowstone has five entrance stations, and it takes several hours to drive between them. Anticipate possible road closures, and check the road status of the entrance you intend to use before traveling.

 

Road & Entrance Status

For up-to-date information, check out the live road status 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). Before traveling, it's also a good idea to:

• Check road conditions outside of Yellowstone in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Grand Teton National Park.
• View the park webcams to see current traffic conditions at the North and West entrances to Yellowstone.

 

2023-2024 Road Opening & Closing Dates (Projected)

Click on the arrows below to expand the selection and find out projected road dates. All dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Regular Vehicle Travel Dates

Open year-round: North Entrance to Northeast Entrance
Open April 21 - October 31, 2023*: West Entrance to Madison, Madison to Old Faithful, Madison to Norris, Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris, Norris to Canyon Village
Open May 5 - October 31, 2023*: East Entrance to Lake Village (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Lake Village
Open May 12 - October 31, 2023*: South Entrance to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), West Thumb to Lake Village, Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Fall
Open May 26 - October 31, 2023*: Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass). This is a high elevation pass that generally experiences winter weather earlier than other roads in the park — as with all other roads, the closing date is subject to change.
TBD: Beartooth Highway (US-212), Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296)**

*The last day to enjoy the park in a regular vehicle, weather depending, will be October 31, 2023. 
**See below for more information on these roads outside of the park's Northeast Entrance.

Oversnow Vehicle (Snowmobile & Snowcoach) Travel Dates

Open year-round: North Entrance to Northeast Entrance
Open December 15, 2023 - March 3, 2024: Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris
Open December 15, 2023 - March 5, 2024: Norris to Madison, Norris to Canyon Village, Canyon Village to Washburn Hot Springs Overlook
Open December 15, 2023 - March 10, 2024: Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge
Open December 15, 2023 - March 15, 2024: West, South, and East entrances, and all remaining groomed roads
 

 

Current Traffic Delays

It's important to be aware of all planned road improvement projects, as they can cause major traffic delays throughout the park. Drive slowly through construction zones and be alert to workers, heavy equipment, wildlife, and other hazards. The following road improvement projects in Yellowstone will cause traffic delays:

Yellowstone River Bridge

Location: Near Tower Junction along the Northeast Entrance Road
Access: Expect occasional and short traffic delays during 2023. Work will begin in summer 2023 and continue through fall 2026. Hiking trails in the area may close temporarily (visit the Backcountry Situation Report for details).
Improvements: This project includes the replacement of the structurally deficient Yellowstone River Bridge. A new bridge upstream will replace the existing 604-foot-long bridge to preserve year-round access to/from the Northeast Entrance and communities of Silver Gate/Cooke City, Montana. Additionally, construction will include new pullouts and paved parking areas, and the Yellowstone River Picnic Area will be expanded.

 

Additionally, chip sealing occurs every summer and preserves Yellowstone's roads. Plan for delays of up to 30 minutes. Drive slowly and maintain the recommended speed limit on chip seal pavement to reduce the risk of loose gravel damaging cars or windshields.

Find out more about road and infrastructure improvement projects and the park's plan to address the deferred maintenance backlog.

 

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

• CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. Open the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

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

• Open year-round 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. Please check locally or at WY DOT.