Starting today, Sunday, November 1, 2026, Yellowstone National Park is closing almost all of its roads and three of its five entrances to vehicle traffic. Nothing to worry about: this is the seasonal closure carried out every year in preparation for the arrival of winter, which is very harsh in this part of the United States. In fact, heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures make it impossible to keep much of the park’s road network open to regular traffic.
Which entrances and roads in Yellowstone are closing today?
Starting Sunday, November 1, 2026, three of the park’s five main entrances are closed to automobile traffic:
- East Entrance, the eastern entrance accessible from the Cody area in Wyoming.
- West Entrance, the western entrance near West Yellowstone, Montana.
- South Entrance, the southern entrance that connects Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park.
They also close almost all internal roads in the park, including those that normally provide access to some of the most famous attractions, such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
All the Yellowstone entrances are highlighted on the map below:
When do Yellowstone roads reopen?
Generally, Yellowstone’s internal roads reopen in the second half of April or in May, but the exact date is still unpredictable. In addition, they are often reopened in stages rather than all at once, depending on weather conditions and how the snow-clearing operations are progressing. One thing is certain: you have to wait until late spring before you can plan an road trip that also includes Yellowstone National Park.
Which parts of Yellowstone remain open during the winter?
Despite the harsh conditions during the winter months, Yellowstone does not close completely. Weather permitting, the road connecting the North Entrance in Gardiner with the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City and Silver Gate in Montana remains open.
It may seem like unnecessary news if you’re only focusing on the most famous attractions, like the ones mentioned above. But if you take a closer look at the map, you realize that this route crosses some very interesting areas of the park, passing places such as:
- Mammoth Hot Springs, famous for its travertine terraces.
- Tower Junction, an important road junction in the northern part of Yellowstone.
- Lamar Valley, one of the park’s best areas for wildlife viewing, especially bison, elk, and wolves.
This road is generally the only internal connection accessible to regular cars throughout the year. Of course, temporary closures can also occur here due to heavy snowfall or particularly severe weather conditions.
Areas accessible in winter without a car
Yellowstone is perfectly visited by car during the summer season, but how can you avoid missing its natural beauty during the winter season? Starting December 15, 2026, the season of snowmobile excursions and snowcoach tours will begin, using special vehicles such as off-road vehicles or vans equipped for travel on snow.
So even during the winter it will be possible to reach some of the park’s main attractions, including the picturesque Old Faithful geyser, but only through tours using authorized vehicles.
How to check Yellowstone road closures
If you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone in the coming months, don’t rely only on the information above, but pay close attention to road conditions, which can change quickly depending on snow and weather conditions. Even roads that are officially open may be subject to temporary closures.
The National Park Service provides an official page with the updated Yellowstone road map, where you can check in real time which routes are open and which are closed. In the days before your trip, and then on the day itself, you can make sure that the road you plan to take is passable without restrictions.
News source: National Park Service press release of October 21, 2026
