National Park · Idaho, Montana, Wyoming · est. 1872

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is a national park of the United States located mainly in the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming, with small portions extending into Montana and Idaho. The park is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially the Old Faithful geyser, one of its most popular. While it represents many types of biomes, subalpine forest is the most abundant. It is part of the South Central Rockies forests ecoregion.

Overview from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA. The Park Service publishes no description for this unit.

Photos: National Park Service · 107 in the NPS collection ↗

Alerts

  • Closure
    Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion

    The parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River at Biscuit Basin, located north of Old Faithful, is closed to all travel until further notice due to the possibility of another event at the site of a hydrothermal explosion that occurred July 23, 2024.

    NPS ↗
  • Caution
    Stay Away From Bull Elk

    Bull elk are fast and unpredictable this time of year and can seriously injure people. If an elk charges, run. In addition to staying at least 25 yards (23 m) away from elk and bison, always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves.

    NPS ↗
  • Information
    West Thumb Geyser Basin Boardwalk - Partial Closure

    A section of the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk will be closed to Fishing Cone and Lakeshore Geyser through mid-October while crews replace damaged support structures along the shoreline. The remaining sections of boardwalk will remain open to visitors. Dates are subject to change without notice.

    NPS ↗
  • Information
    Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge

    Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 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.

    NPS ↗
  • Information
    Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed

    Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to purchase an entrance pass before arriving, but you may also purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival.

    NPS ↗

Fees & passes

TypeCost
Private VehicleUnlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.$35
Non-commercial GroupsNon-commercial group (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more people. Cost is per person. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.$20
MotorcycleValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.$30
SnowmobileValid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 snowmobiles with up to 4 total passengers.$30
Per PersonEntry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older.$20
NonresidentEach non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.$100
Commercial tours · by vehicle capacity
SedanA commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The cost is $25 + $20 per person. Pass is good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.$20
VanBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.$125
Mini-busBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.$200
Motor CoachBased upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service.$300
Passes
Annual Entrance - ParkProvides unlimited entry for one year (valid through the month of purchase) to the pass holder and passengers in the same vehicle, or pass holder and up to three persons where per person fees are charged. Purchase at any entrance station.$70
From the park

You are required to pay an entrance fee in order to access Yellowstone National Park. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, many national parks are allowed to keep 80% of all fees collected and use that money to fund critical projects that improve services and protect resources.

Buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass, not this park's $70 annual pass, unless this is the only park you will see all year. It covers entrance at every federal site for 12 months. Compare the passes

Hours

All Park HoursDaily · All Day
West EntranceDaily · All Day
North EntranceDaily · All Day
East EntranceDaily · All Day
South EntranceDaily · All Day
Northeast EntranceDaily · All Day

West Entrance: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.

DatesHours
Standard hoursNowAll Day
Nov 1 to Dec 14, 2026Fall Shoulder SeasonClosed
Mar 16 to Apr 20, 2027Spring Shoulder SeasonClosed

East Entrance: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.

DatesHours
Standard hoursNowAll Day
Nov 1 to Dec 14, 2026Fall Shoulder SeasonClosed
Mar 16 to May 4, 2027Spring Shoulder SeasonClosed

South Entrance: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.

DatesHours
Standard hoursNowAll Day
Nov 1 to Dec 14, 2026Fall Shoulder SeasonClosed
Mar 16 to May 11, 2027Spring Shoulder SeasonClosed

July draws the most visits here and November the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.

Visits by month with average temperature, precipitation, Yellowstone0300k600k900k1.2MJanuary: 42,153 visits on average, 12.0°FJanFebruary: 44,668 visits on average, 13.5°FFebMarch: 33,479 visits on average, 21.2°FMarApril: 73,470 visits on average, 28.7°FAprMay: 508,111 visits on average, 38.4°FMayJune: 830,987 visits on average, 47.0°FJunJuly: 922,896 visits on average, 55.5°FJulAugust: 820,128 visits on average, 53.9°FAugSeptember: 796,027 visits on average, 45.4°FSepOctober: 302,468 visits on average, 33.6°FOctNovember: 23,807 visits on average, 21.5°FNovDecember: 33,648 visits on average, 13.0°FDecJanuary: 12.0°F averageFebruary: 13.5°F averageMarch: 21.2°F averageApril: 28.7°F averageMay: 38.4°F averageJune: 47.0°F averageJuly: 55.5°F averageAugust: 53.9°F averageSeptember: 45.4°F averageOctober: 33.6°F averageNovember: 21.5°F averageDecember: 13.0°F average10°F20°F30°F40°F50°F60°FVisitsRain, inches0.0 in1.0 in2.0 in3.0 inJanuary: 1.80 in precipitationFebruary: 1.70 in precipitationMarch: 1.90 in precipitationApril: 2.28 in precipitationMay: 2.35 in precipitationJune: 2.38 in precipitationJuly: 1.51 in precipitationAugust: 1.34 in precipitationSeptember: 1.57 in precipitationOctober: 1.85 in precipitationNovember: 2.06 in precipitationDecember: 2.35 in precipitation
Bars are the average recreation visits in each month over 2021 to 2025. The line is the average temperature at Yellowstone Lake, 7 miles from the park's reference point at 7,835 feet, station USW00094173 in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals. The lower panel is monthly rain from the same station, which publishes no snowfall normal.

See every month and year since 1979.

Campgrounds

Canyon Campground ↗273 sites
$39 a night · Closed Sep 20 to May 28 · Books through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Bridge Bay Campground ↗432 sites
$33 a night · Closed Sep 14 to May 14 · Books through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Fishing Bridge RV Park ↗310 sites
$89 a night · Closed Oct 18 to May 7 · Books through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Grant Village Campground ↗430 sites
$39 a night · Closed Sep 27 to Jun 25 · Books through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Madison Campground ↗276 sites
$33 a night · Closed Oct 18 to Apr 30 · Books through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com
Show all 12 campgrounds
Indian Creek Campground73 sites
$20 a night · Closed Sep 15 to Jun 11
Mammoth Campground87 sites
$25 a night · Mammoth Campground is typically open year-round, though part of the campground is closed mid-October through April. Reservation-only 4/15-10/15.
Norris Campground ↗112 sites
$25 a night · Closed for the foreseeable future. · 112 reservable
Pebble Creek Campground ↗27 sites
$20 a night · Pebble Creek Campground was significantly impacted by the 2022 floods and will remain CLOSED until further notice for flood recovery work. · 27 reservable
Tower Fall Campground33 sites
$20 a night · Closed Sep 28 to May 21
Lewis Lake Campground84 sites
$20 a night · Closed Oct 12 to Jun 14
Slough Creek Campground17 sites
$20 a night · Closed Oct 13 to Jun 14

Every campground here has its own page on Campsite Atlas, with site counts, hookups, rig limits and booking windows. All of them on one page → How park camping works

Visitor centers

  • Albright Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp

    Here you can gather park information, orient yourself to the rest of the park (including road conditions, and campground and lodge availability), shop for souvenirs, explore exhibits to learn more about the wildlife and history of Yellowstone, join a ranger program, pick up a fishing permit (fees…

  • Canyon Visitor Education Center ↗Passport stamp

    Stop by the Canyon Visitor Education Center to learn more about the geologic story of the area, including the Yellowstone volcano, and view a room-size relief map of Yellowstone.

  • Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum ↗Passport stamp

    The distinctive stone-and-log architecture of this old building—known as "parkitecture"—was one of several prototypes for park buildings around the country. Today, the visitor center and museum highlight the ecology of Yellowstone Lake, focusing on birds.

  • Grant Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp

    Fire plays an important, natural role in the ecosystems found in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding region. Learn more about this and the fires of 1988 in the exhibit hall, gather park information and trip ideas, shop for souvenirs at the park store, join a ranger program, buy a fishing…

  • Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum ↗Passport stamp

    Located about halfway between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone, you can stop here for park information as visitors have been doing since 1930. The structure is an example of "parkitecture" or designing a building in a way that reflects the surrounding ecosystem.

  • Museum of the National Park Ranger ↗

    Once a US Army outpost built in 1908, this visitor center houses exhibits that celebrate the history of the park ranger profession. The current structure replaced previous structures dating back to 1884.

Show all 11
  • Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station ↗Passport stamp

    Situated on the ridge overlooking the Norris Geyser Basin, this historic building is staffed during the summer with rangers who provide park information and facilitate ranger programs.

  • Old Faithful Visitor Education Center ↗Passport stamp

    Located near Old Faithful Geyser, this visitor center offers views of the geyser's eruption from the tall, windowed front of the visitor center. Additionally, you can gather park information, talk with a park ranger at the front desk, shop for souvenirs in the park store, delve into the natural…

  • West Thumb Information Station ↗Passport stamp

    This facility is closed until further notice as of July 2026. A small facility at the start of the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalks, where you can visit with a park ranger and gather park information, shop for souvenirs in the park store, or join a ranger program.

  • West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (NPS Desk) ↗Passport stamp

    Located in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, there is a desk and backcountry office staffed by National Park Service rangers (summer and winters only). The building is open year-round and a second desk is staffed by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce.

  • West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (Chamber of Commerce Desk) ↗Passport stamp

    Located in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, there is a desk staffed by National Park Service rangers (summer and winters only). The building is open year-round and a second desk is staffed by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce.

Explore

Things to do

  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone1-2 Hours

    Look out across the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or take in the beauty of the Yellowstone River and its waterfalls.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Snow Pass Ski Trail2-3 Hours

    The Snow Pass Ski Trail is a 4.2 mile (6.76 km), skier-tracked, one-way, easiest to most-difficult, ski that takes skiers through a steep heavily forested area to a semi-flat wide open area with views of Swan Lake Flats.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Yellowstone River Picnic Area Trail2-3 Hours

    Follow the rim of the Yellowstone River valley, enjoying views of bighorn sheep, the Narrows of the Yellowstone, Overhanging Cliff, and the towers of Tower Falls.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Yellowstone Lake Overlook Trail1-3 Hours

    Hike to a high mountain meadow for a commanding view of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake and the distant Absaroka Mountains.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail30-60 Minutes

    Stroll through a geyser basin of colorful hot springs and dormant lakeshore geysers situated on the scenic shores of Yellowstone Lake.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Trout Lake Trail1-2 Hours

    Enjoy a short hill climb through Douglas-fir forest to Trout Lake.

    Opens on the Park Service site
Show all 12
  • Abandoned Railroad Bed Bike Trail2-4 Hours

    An abandoned railroad bed located near the north entrance of Yellowstone makes a beautiful bike trail.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Storm Point Trail1-2 Hours

    Pass by Indian Pond and through a forest to the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Along the way, look for marmots in the rocky area near Storm Point.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Sepulcher Mountain Trail6-8 Hours

    Climb to the summit of Sepulcher Mountain while keeping an eye out for mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and moose along the way.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Sentinel Meadows & Queen’s Laundry Trail2-4 Hours

    Follow the Firehole River and cross meadows until reaching a hydrothermal area. Look for the large sinter mounds of hot springs and the remains of the old, incomplete bathhouse.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Riddle Lake Trail2-4 Hours

    Hike through small mountain meadows and forests to the shores of a picturesque little lake. Look for elk in the meadows and for birds near the lake.

    Opens on the Park Service site
  • Ribbon Lake Trail3-4 Hours

    Take a stroll out to Ribbon Lake, also passing by Lily Pad and Clear lakes.

    Opens on the Park Service site

Films

Minute Out In It: Hauling Supplies to Crevice Mountain Patrol Cabin · 1.2 min · on NPS.gov ↗
Minute Out In It: Collaring a Cougar · 1.4 min · on NPS.gov ↗

National Park Service productions, public domain.

Webcams

Camera images load live from the National Park Service and partner agencies

News

Map

Interactive map by the National Park Service

Guidebooks for Yellowstone National Park

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Ranger Rowan's Guide to Yellowstone National Park
    Katie Parr, 2025
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana: with Yellowstone National Park
    Carter Walker, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • The Yellowstone fly-fishing guide
    Craig Mathews, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Hiking Yellowstone National Park
    Bill Schneider, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Top Trails: Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
    Andrew Dean Nystrom, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Local history books for Yellowstone National Park

  • Yellowstone National Park
    Lee H. Whittlesey and Elizabeth A. Watry, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.

Reference

Wildlife

289
Bird species
68
Mammal species
8
Species seen this month

Seen this monthAmerican Bison 35× · Coyote 19× · Brown Bear 14× · Trumpeter Swan 6× · Bald Eagle 5× · Mountain Goat 4× · Bighorn Sheep 3× · Pronghorn 3×Research-grade observations within 25 km, last 30 days, via iNaturalist

Full checklist: 284 birds, 68 mammals
Birds

Raptors & owlsAmerican Kestrel · American Peregrine Falcon · Bald Eagle · Boreal Owl · Broad-winged Hawk · Burrowing Owl · Cooper's Hawk · Crested Caracara · Ferruginous Hawk · Flammulated Owl · Golden Eagle · Great Gray Owl · Great Horned Owl · Hen Harrier · Long-eared Owl · Merlin · Mountain Pygmy Owl · Northern Saw-whet Owl · Osprey · Peregrine Falcon · Prairie Falcon · Red-shouldered Hawk · Red-tailed Hawk · Rough-legged Hawk · Sharp-shinned Hawk · Short-eared Owl · Snowy Owl · Swainson's Hawk · Turkey Vulture · Western Screech-owl

Waterfowl & wadersAmerican Bittern · American Coot · American White Pelican · American Wigeon · Barrow's Goldeneye · Black-crowned Night-heron · Black-necked Grebe · Blue Goose · Blue-winged Teal · Bufflehead · Cackling Goose · Canada Goose · Cinnamon Teal · Clark's grebe · Common Goldeneye · Common Loon · Common Merganser · Double-crested Cormorant · Eurasian Wigeon · Great Blue Heron · Great Egret · Greater Scaup · Greater White-fronted Goose · Green Heron · Green-winged Teal · Harlequin Duck · Hooded Merganser · Horned Grebe · Lesser Scaup · Long-tailed Duck · Northern Pintail · Red-breasted Merganser · Red-necked Grebe · Ring-necked Duck · Ross' Goose · Ruddy Duck · Sandhill Crane · Snowy Egret · Tricolored Heron · Trumpeter Swan · Tundra Swan · Virginia Rail · Whooper Swan · Whooping Crane · Wood Duck · Yellow Rail · pied-billed grebe · western grebe · white-faced ibis

Shorebirds & seabirdsAmerican Avocet · Arctic Tern · Baird's Sandpiper · Black Tern · Black-bellied Plover · Bonaparte's Gull · California Gull · Caspian Tern · Common Gull · Common Tern · European Herring Gull · Forster's Tern · Franklin's Gull · Greater Yellowlegs · Hudsonian Godwit · Killdeer · Least Sandpiper · Lesser Yellowlegs · Long-billed Curlew · Long-billed Dowitcher · Marbled Godwit · Pectoral Sandpiper · Red-necked Phalarope · Ring-billed Gull · Ruddy Turnstone · Sabine's gull · Sanderling · Semipalmated Plover · Semipalmated Sandpiper · Short-billed Dowitcher · Solitary Sandpiper · Spotted Sandpiper · Upland Sandpiper · Western Sandpiper · White-rumped Sandpiper · Willet · Wilson's Phalarope · Wilson's Snipe

Gamebirds & dovesBand-tailed Pigeon · Common Pigeon · Dusky Grouse · Eurasian Collared Dove · Eurasian Collared-dove · Mourning Dove · Ruffed Grouse · Wild Turkey

WoodpeckersAmerican Three-toed Woodpecker · Black-backed Woodpecker · Downy Woodpecker · Hairy Woodpecker · Lewis' Woodpecker · Northern Flicker · Pileated Woodpecker · Red-headed Woodpecker · Red-naped Sapsucker · Williamson's Sapsucker

Hummingbirds & swiftsBroad-tailed Hummingbird · Calliope Hummingbird · Rufous Hummingbird · White-throated Swift

Also on the checklistAmerican Cliff Swallow · American Crow · American Dipper · American Dusky Flycatcher · American Goldfinch · American Redstart · American Robin · American Tree Sparrow · American pipit · Ash-throated Flycatcher · Barn Swallow · Belted Kingfisher · Black-and-white Warbler · Black-billed Cuckoo · Black-billed Magpie · Black-capped Chickadee · Black-headed Grosbeak · Black-legged Kittiwake · Black-throated Sparrow · Blackburnian Warbler · Blackpoll Warbler · Blue Jay · Blue-gray Gnatcatcher · Bobolink · Bohemian Waxwing · Brewer's Blackbird · Brewer's Sparrow · Brown-headed Cowbird · Bullock's oriole · Canada Jay · Canvasback · Canyon Wren · Cape May Warbler · Cassin's Finch · Cedar Waxwing · Chestnut-sided Warbler · Chipping Sparrow · Chukar · Clark's Nutcracker · Clay-colored Sparrow · Common Grackle · Common Nighthawk · Common Raven · Common Redpoll · Common Starling · Common Yellowthroat · Cordilleran Flycatcher · Dark-eyed Junco · Eastern Kingbird · Evening Grosbeak · Fox Sparrow · Gadwall · Golden-crowned Kinglet · Grasshopper Sparrow · Gray Catbird · Gray Partridge · Great Grey Shrike · Green-tailed Towhee · Hammond's Flycatcher · Harris's Sparrow · Hermit Thrush · Hooded Warbler · Horned Lark · House Finch · House Sparrow · House Wren · Lapland Longspur · Lark Bunting · Lark Sparrow · Lazuli Bunting · Least Flycatcher · Lesser Goldfinch · Lincoln's Sparrow · Loggerhead Shrike · Mallard · Marsh Wren · Mountain Bluebird · Mountain Chickadee · Nashville Warbler · Northern Goshawk · Northern Rough-winged Swallow · Northern Shoveler · Olive-sided Flycatcher · Orange-crowned warbler · Pacific Diver · Pine Grosbeak · Pine Siskin · Pinyon Jay · Prairie Warbler · Prothonotary Warbler · Pygmy Nuthatch · Red Crossbill · Red-breasted Nuthatch · Red-eyed Vireo · Red-winged Blackbird · Redhead · Rock Wren · Rose-breasted Grosbeak · Ruby-crowned Kinglet · Rusty Blackbird · Sage Thrasher · Sagebrush Sparrow · Sand Martin · Savannah Sparrow · Say's Phoebe · Scissor-tailed Flycatcher · Snow Bunting · Song Sparrow · Sora · Steller's Jay · Surf Scoter · Swainson's Thrush · Swamp Sparrow · Tennessee Warbler · Townsend's Solitaire · Townsend's Warbler · Tree Swallow · Varied Thrush · Veery · Vesper Sparrow · Violet-green Swallow · Warbling Vireo · Western Bluebird · Western Kingbird · Western Meadowlark · Western Tanager · Western Wood Pewee · White-breasted Nuthatch · White-crowned Sparrow · White-throated Sparrow · White-winged Crossbill · White-winged Scoter · Willow Flycatcher · Wilson's Warbler · Wilson's Warbler · Yellow Warbler · Yellow-breasted Chat · Yellow-headed Blackbird · Yellow-rumped Warbler · black rosy-finch · black-necked stilt · brown creeper · gray-crowned rosy-finch · spotted towhee

Mammals

Small mammalsAmerican Beaver · American Pika · American Water Shrew · Audubon's Cottontail · Bushy-tailed Woodrat · Cinereus Shrew · Common Muskrat · Coronation Island vole · Deer Mouse · Dwarf Shrew · Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel · Heather Vole · House Mouse · Least chipmunk · Meadow Vole · Montane Vole · Northern Flying Squirrel · Northern Pocket Gopher · Red Squirrel · Richardson water vole · Snowshoe Hare · Southern Red-backed Vole · Uinta Ground Squirrel · Uinta chipmunk · Western Jumping Mouse · White-tailed Jack Rabbit · Yellow-bellied Marmot · common porcupine · dusky shrew · malheur shrew · mountain cottontail · yellow pine chipmunk

PredatorsAmerican Badger · American Black Bear · American Mink · Bobcat · Canada lynx · Coyote · Cross Fox · Gray Wolf · Grizzly Bear · Long-tailed Weasel · Pine Marten · River Otter · Striped Skunk · Wolverine · common raccoon · ermine

Hoofed mammalsBighorn Sheep · Eurasian Elk · Mountain Goat · Mule Deer · Rocky Mountain Elk · White-tailed Deer · Yellowstone moose · bison

BatsBig Brown Bat · Black Bat · California Myotis · Fringed Myotis · Hoary Bat · Little Brown Bat · Long-eared Myotis · Long-legged Myotis · Yuma Myotis · mule-eared bat

Also on the checklistCatamount · antelope

Weather & climate

Yellowstone's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, daytime highs can exceed 70°F (21°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. It can snow during any month of the year, and winter lows frequently drop below 0°F (-18°C), especially at night. Bring a range of clothing options, including a warm jacket and rain gear, even in the summer.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone?

Entrance is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 per person on foot or bike. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.

Source: National Park Service

Which passes work at Yellowstone?

The $80 America the Beautiful pass covers the entrance fee here, and a Yellowstone-only annual pass is $70.

Source: Is the pass worth it

Can I pay the entrance fee in cash?

No. Yellowstone takes cards only at the entrance.

Source: National Park Service

Do international visitors pay more at Yellowstone?

Yes. Visitors who are not US residents, age 16 and up, pay a $100 surcharge on top of the entrance fee, or carry the $250 Non-Resident Annual Pass.

Source: The nonresident fee, explained

When is entrance to Yellowstone free?

Next on October 27, Theodore Roosevelt's birthday. 2 fee-free days are left this year, for US residents only.

Source: Free entrance days

Do I need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?

No. There is no timed-entry or entrance reservation at Yellowstone. Camping and some tours have their own reservations.

Source: National Park Service

Is Yellowstone open year-round?

Yes. The grounds are open 24 hours a day, year-round.

Source: National Park Service

Can I camp in Yellowstone?

Yes. The Park Service lists 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone: Canyon, Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison, and more. 12 take reservations through Recreation.gov.

Source: Every campground, on Campsite Atlas

Which Yellowstone campgrounds have showers, hookups, or a dump station?

Showers: Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Grant Village. Dump station: Canyon, Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison. Electric hookups: Fishing Bridge RV Park.

Source: Campgrounds

Do camping fees at Yellowstone include the entrance fee?

No. Camping is charged per night on top of the entrance fee or a pass; Canyon is $39 a night.

Source: Campgrounds

Do Yellowstone campgrounds book through Recreation.gov?

Not all of them. Canyon, Bridge Bay, Fishing Bridge RV Park, and Grant Village take reservations through secure.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.

Source: Campgrounds

When do Yellowstone campgrounds close for the season?

Canyon is closed Sep 20 to May 28, Bridge Bay is closed Sep 14 to May 14, and Fishing Bridge RV Park is closed Oct 18 to May 7; 6 more have posted closures.

Source: Campgrounds

Follow this park

Alerts feed (RSS)
Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.