FIND OUT MOREThe only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles 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 (commercially-guided 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. Road & Entrance StatusFor up-to-date information, check out the live road status map (above), call (307) 344-2117 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:
2026 Road Opening & Closing Dates (Projected)Click on the arrows below to expand the selection and find out projected road dates. Roads typically open at 8:00 a.m. on the first day. All dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions.  Open year-round: North Entrance to Northeast Entrance Open April 17 - October 31, 2026: West Entrance to Madison, Madison to Old Faithful, Madison to Norris, Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris, Norris to Canyon Village Open May 1 - October 31, 2026: East Entrance to Fishing Bridge (Sylvan Pass), Canyon Village to Bridge Bay Open May 8 - October 31, 2026: South Entrance to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful (Craig Pass), West Thumb to Lake Village, Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Fall Open May 22 - October 12, 2026: Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass). This is a high elevation pass that generally experiences more winter weather than other roads in the park—as with all other roads, the closing date is subject to change. Open May 22 - October 12, 2026: Beartooth Highway (US-212), Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY-296). This is a high elevation highway that generally experiences more winter weather than roads in the park—as with all other roads, the closing date is subject to change. See below for more information about these roads outside of the park's Northeast Entrance.  Open year-round: North Entrance to Northeast Entrance
Open December 15, 2026 - March 7, 2027: Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Open December 15, 2026 - March 9, 2027: Norris to Madison, Norris to Canyon Village, Canyon Village to Washburn Hot Springs Overlook Open December 15, 2026 - March 14, 2027: Canyon Village to Fishing Bridge Open December 15, 2026 - March 15, 2027: West, South, and East entrances, and all remaining groomed roads *All dates are subject to change due to weather or other circumstances. 2026 Anticipated Traffic DelaysIt'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. In addition to the projects listed below, other unscheduled work may occur. All dates and delays may change without notice. The following road improvement projects in Yellowstone will cause traffic delays: Location: Bridge Bay area Location: 1.5 miles south of Old Faithful area
Location: 0.5 miles southeast of Mammoth Hot Springs, toward Tower Junction
Access: expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 13 through late October 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle weight) will not be able to cross the bridge during this time. Five full nighttime closures (9 p.m.-4 a.m.) will also occur after September 7, 2026—advance notice will be provided. Improvements: replacement of expansion joints, deep-patch replacement of the approach spans; repairs to the steel truss structure, concrete elements, railings, and catwalk; painting; and the addition of concrete guard walls. Location: West Entrance Road, between West Yellowstone and Madison. Location: Northeast Entrance Road, just east of Tower Junction.
Location: various locations throughout the park.
Access: expect up to 30-minute delays while crews work throughout 2026 Improvements: chip sealing occurs every year and preserves Yellowstone's roads by sealing small cracks and extending pavement life. 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 EntranceAfter initial opening, weather causes occasional closures. Please check locally or at WY DOT and MT DOT before traveling. Beartooth Highway (Open for season) US-212, Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway WY-296, Cooke City, Montana, to Cody, Wyoming, or Laurel, Montana
Yellowstone is located in three states with five main entrances. View park maps and learn how to get here.
Check road conditions and construction updates around Grand Teton National Park.
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Last updated: August 18, 2026