Yellowstone National Park is the flagship of the National Park Service and a favorite to millions of visitors each year. The park is a major destination for all members of the family. By driving the grand loop road, visitors can view the park from the comfort of their vehicle and also take a rest at one of the many roadside picnic areas. For the active visitor, the park has thousands of miles of trails from dayhikes to backcountry explorations. The main attractions are all located on the grand loop road and here are some of the top reasons to visit the park. This site has a lot of the information you need for your trip and you may also consider our dvd "The Wonders of Yellowstone" to help you plan your visit.

* World's First National Park
* 2,219,789 acres (Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined)
* Wildlife - 7 species of ungulates (bison, moose, elk, pronghorn), 2 species of bear and 67 other mammals, 322 species of birds, 16 species of fish and of course the gray wolf.
* Plants - There are over 1,100 species of native plants, more than 200 species of exotic plants and over 400 species of thermopholes.
* Geology - The park is home to one of the world's largest calderas with over 10,000 thermal features and more than 300 geysers. It has one of the world's largest petrifiied forests. It has over 290 waterfalls with the 308' Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River as it's showpiece.
* Yellowstone Lake is the largest (132 sq. mi.) high altitude (7,732') lake in north america.
* 9 visitor centers
* 12 campgrounds (over 2,000 campsites)

"The Wonders of Yellowstone" - 98 Minutes - ~Telly Award Winner for Nature and Wildlife~ The Wonders of Yellowstone DVD captures all the beauty and nature of the park and provides visitors the perfect planner for your Yellowstone trip. Only available through YellowstoneNationalPark.com. Take a complete tour as our Narrator Cathy Coan, guides you to all the wonders of the park including the geyser basins, wildlife, waterfalls and much more. More Info or Order Online

June 20, 2022

Yellowstone National Park Closure Update

All park entrances, roads, and the backcountry are temporarily closed due, Yellowstone will begin allowing visitors to access the south loop of the park at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. To ensure the south loop does not become overwhelmed with visitors and to balance park resource protection and economic interests of surrounding communities, the park is instituting an interim visitor access plan, referred to as the Alternating License Plate System.

Yellowstone Park officials on Sunday announced that, although the northern entrances will remain closed for the time being, they expect to open the northern loop to access from the south within the next two weeks. The two northern entrances from Gardiner and Cooke City will remain closed for the time being because roads in those areas have more extensive damage. Park officials say they expect to release a timeline for reopening those two entrances this week. NPS

Alternating License Plate System (ALPS)

• Beginning June 22, 2022, public vehicle entry will be allowed based on whether the last numerical digit on a license plate is odd or even.
• Entrance will be granted based on odd/even days on the calendar:
  • Odd-numbered last digits on license plates can enter on odd days of the month.
  • Even-numbered last digits, including zero, on license plates can enter on even days of the month.
• Personalized license plates with all letters (i.e. YLWSTNE) will fall into the “odd” category for entrance purposes.
• Personalized plates with a mix of letters and numbers that end with a letter (for example YELL4EVR) will still use the last numerical digit on the plate to determine entrance days.
• Entrance station staff will turn away vehicles attempting to enter the park when the odd/even numerical digits do not correspond to the odd/even calendar date for entrance.

Exceptions to ALPS

• Visitors with proof of overnight reservations in the park will be permitted to enter regardless of license plate number. This includes hotels, campgrounds, and backcountry reservations.
• Current commercial use operators with active commercial use permits will be permitted to enter regardless of license plate number. This includes commercial tours and stock groups.
• Commercial motorcoaches will be permitted to enter regardless of license plate number.
• Motorcycle groups may enter on even dates only.
• Essential services like mail, FedEx, employees, and contractors may enter regardless of license plate number.

This interim license plate system will ensure visitors have access to the park during this period of high demand. Park managers and staff will monitor this system and its impacts on resources, infrastructure, operations, and staffing, and may adjust or implement a reservation or timed entry system, if necessary, after three to four weeks ....... NPS

COVID-19 Response

When visiting the park, visitors should follow CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and recreate responsibly:

• In areas CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Indoor areas include, but are not limited to, park visitor centers, administrative offices, lodges, gift shops, and restaurants. In areas CDC identifies as low and medium COVID-19 community level, masks are optional indoors. View the current COVID-19 community level of Yellowstone National Park on our current conditions page.
• Masks are still required for everyone on all forms of public and commercial transportation.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. If you feel sick, please do not visit the park.
• Come prepared. Visitor services are very limited.
• Expect wait times at the park entrances.
• Follow current local, state, and national health guidance.
• Maintain physical distancing of 6 feet (2 m), especially in high-visitation areas (on boardwalks, in visitor facilities, on popular trails, while viewing wildlife, etc.).

Yellowstone continues to modify visitor services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Some facilities and events are closed or canceled. Please check locally, on the park website, and in the National Park Service app for current information. We thank you for your patience and cooperation as circumstances change and as we modify operations as necessary ....... NPS

Frequently Asked Questions for Yellowstone National Park

How much is the entrance fee?
$35 - Public, noncommercial vehicle;
$30 - Motorcycle or snowmobile (winter)
$20 - Visitors 16 and older entering by foot, bike, ski, etc.
* This fee provides the visitor with a 7-day entrance permit for both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

A $70 park annual pass provides entrance for a single private non-commercial vehicle at Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Lifetime Senior Pass gives seniorsaccess to parks and public lands nationwide. The Senior Pass is $80. You can now purchase a $20 Annual Senior Pass. The Annual Pass is good for one full year from the date of purchase

Where do I enter Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone has 5 entrances to the park:North Entrance - Gardiner, MT, the North Entrance is the only park entrance open to wheeled vehicles all year. November through April, provides access to Cooke City, MT. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. The Mammoth to Norris road is open to wheeled vehicles from April 20 to November 4, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from around December 17 to March 12. Closest airline service is Bozeman, MT

West Entrance - West Yellowstone, MT, the West Entrance is open to wheeled vehicles from April 20 to November 4, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from December 17 to March 12. Closest airline service is West Yellowstone, MT, Bozeman, MT, Idaho Falls, ID, and Salt Lake City, UT.

Northeast Entrance - Silver Gate and Cooke City, MT, is open year around for wheeled vehicles to Cooke City through the North Entrance. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The Beartooth Highway is
open from late May/early June to mid October and is dependent upon weather conditions. Closest airline service is Billings, MT.

South & East Entrances - Open to wheeled vehicles from May 11 to November 4, and to tracked oversnow vehicles from December 17 to March 12. Closest airline service to the South Entrance is Jackson, WY and Cody, WY to the East Entrance.

Where should we stay?
The best way to answer this is to decide how much time you have and what you want to see the most. As an example, if you plan on visiting Yellowstone National Park for only a few days and want to experience some of the main attractions then West Yellowstone would be a good base. From there, it is a short drive to the geyser basins, Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you want to have the full park experience then perhaps lodging at Old Faithful would be a good choice. If you want to view the most wildlife, then we suggest the Northeast Entrance and a short trip to the Lamar valley. The South Entrance is a great option if you have more time and want to visit Grand Teton National Park however it is a longer drive to the heart of Yellowstone if you base out of Jackson. The North Entrance is park headquarters and has the most historic information on the park.

When is the best time to visit the park?
This depends on what your interests are. Here's a summary; Spring has abundant wildlife, roaring waterfalls and wild weather. It can snow or be in the 70's. Summer has it all including the most crowds. If you and your family plan on a summer trip, here's our best advise. Get out early and eat your breakfast on the road! Fall is a special time of year. For wildlife there is a sense of urgency in the air. Everything seems to be diminishing including the crowds. Winter is a time of solitude. In years past it was more "economical" to visit most of the park. Now it is more restricted unless you can afford a snowcoach or guided snowmobile tour. The North Entrance is the busiest due to the ease of access and plowed road.

With 5 entrances and over 2 million acres, we highly suggest you plan your trip in advance. We recommend you obtain some of the many travel planners or DVD's that are available for Yellowstone. If you're more detailed oriented then obtain a travel planner. If you want to know as much information as possible in under 90 minutes then purchase a Yellowstone DVD.

Can I get Cell and WiFi?

Yellowstone National Park Apple App:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nps-yellowstone-national-park/id1053468455

Yellowstone National Park Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nps.yell&hl=en_US

Cell and Wifi is available at all the gateway communities

Cellular service is limited in Yellowstone. Cell towers at Mammoth Hot Springs, West Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Grant Village, Lake Village, and Mount Washburn provide service to most developed areas and to the North and West entrances. Check with your provider to verify coverage. During summer the number of users can overwhelm cellular circuits resulting in an inability to send or receive calls, text, or use cellular data. Texting is usually the most effective means of communication in the park. Cellular service is available in most nearby communities and along some of the major highways leading to the park. However, areas without coverage exist throughout the region. =NPS

In Yellowstone National Park free public Wi-Fi is available at Albright Visitor Center (Mammoth). Wi-Fi available at some park lodges for registered guests. Check at hotel front desks or in NPS Yellowstone app for details. Cell service is extremely limited, with reception only available in or near major developed areas: Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, West Thumb and Grant Village, Lake Village and Fishing Bridge, Canyon Village to Tower Junction, and near the West Entrance. In summer, service is often maxed out in these areas. -NPS

YellowstoneLodging.com

New lodging and travel information website for visitors to Yellowstone National Park. Visitors traveling to the park are encouraged to check out YellowstoneLodging.com for all your lodging accomodations in and around Yellowstone including all the gateway communities. Along with listings and phone reservations for all the lodging, it includes activities, dining, camping and maps of the park.