Yellowstone is considerably large. In fact, it extends into 3 states (Wyoming, Montana, and a small part of Idaho), and along its borders, there are several access points to the park. How many entrances are there to Yellowstone? There are 5 entrances. Let’s see where they are and which is the best depending on the itinerary and the Yellowstone attractions you want to visit.
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Yellowstone Entrances: Map and Info
Below I have tried to make a quick list and later will go into greater detail about the main attractions, towns, and hotels near the various entrances of the park so that this can help you plan your itinerary. If you are looking for a detailed and tested itinerary to enjoy all the wonders of the park, I recommend you check out this Yellowstone itinerary. As far as accommodations, you can find all the details in my guide on where to stay in Yellowstone. The distances to the entrances will be listed in this article, but since Yellowstone is a very busy park, as we already mentioned here, please keep in mind that getting around Yellowstone could take longer than expected, especially if you visit the park in high season and do not leave early in the morning.
West Entrance
- Nearby Attractions:
- Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin (24 mi)
- Norris Geyser Basin (27 mi)
- Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin (30 mi)
- Nearby towns:
- West Yellowstone (0.3 mi)
- Nearby places of interest outside the park:
- Mesa Falls (50 mi)
- Hotels inside the park nearby:
- Old Faithful Inn (30 mi)
- Old Faithful Lodge and Cabins (30 mi)
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Cabins (30 mi)
The park’s West Entrance is located in Montana, in the town called West Yellowstone, which is particularly convenient for visiting the geyser area, including Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful, but also the Norris Geyser Basin. The distances from other attractions such as Mammoth Hot Spring and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are not prohibitive, which, together with the decent number of accommodations available in West Yellowstone, makes the West Entrance one of the best places to access the park. If you prefer to stay inside the park, this is the closest access to accommodations near Old Faithful.
The west access may be the best choice for those coming from Salt Lake City (follow this itinerary), a nice 5- hour drive through Utah and Idaho, passing by the beautiful Mesa Falls. If you spend the night in West Yellowstone, you can also take advantage of this opportunity to go on a delightful excursion through the valleys of Montana, along the Vigilante Trail, exploring fascinating western towns such as Virginia City and Nevada City.
South Entrance
- Nearby Attractions:
- West Thumb Geyser Basin (21.5 mi)
- Nearby towns
- Jackson (57 mi)
- Nearby places of interest outside the park:
- Grand Teton National Park
- John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
- Hotels inside the park nearby:
- Grant Village (19 mi)
To reach the South Entrance, you will cross the Jackson Hole Valley, one of the most important tourist and nature attractions in Wyoming. It is framed by the magnificent Tetons. Here you will find the charming town of Jackson, the remarkable Grand Teton Park, and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, which serves as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. You can choose to sleep outside the park, taking advantage of the ample supply in the town of Jackson, or spend the night inside the park at Grant Village 20 miles away, which is a good location close to Yellowstone’s geysers.
It is another quite common route from Salt Lake City (here is the itinerary that awaits you). However, the fact that it is farther from the main attractions compared to the West Entrance makes it a bit more inconvenient in my opinion. For those visiting the park from Utah’s capital, I think the best solution is to use the West Entrance to get to the park and the South Entrance to return to Salt Lake City, that way you will optimize driving time and distances and you will not miss any of the major attractions.
East Entrance
- Nearby Attractions:
- Lake Yellowstone (28 mi)
- Hayden Valley (31 mi)
- Nearby towns
- Cody (52 mi)
- Nearby places of interest outside the park:
- Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (0.2 miles)
- Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center (45 miles)
- Hotels inside the park nearby:
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel (28 miles)
- Lake Lodge (28 miles)
The main reason to use the East Entrance on your trip to Yellowstone is if you are coming from Cody, or want to include it in your itinerary, either to visit this interesting town or to drive east towards the Bighorn Mountains, Devils Tower and the main attractions of South Dakota (for example Mount Rushmore, Black Hills and Badlands National Park) Just past the East Entrance, on the way to Cody, begins a beautiful scenic road called the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, which, with its imposing rock towers, will take you to Cody, which is more than 50 miles from the park entrance. Cody has many accommodations, but if you prefer to spend the night closer to the park’s attractions, the closest accommodations to the East Entrance are near Yellowstone Lake (with the exception of Grant Village)
Northeast Entrance
- Nearby Attractions:
- Lamar Valley (9 mi)
- Nearby towns
- Cooke City (4 mi)
- Nearby places of interest outside the park:
- Beartooth Highway (0 mi)
- Hotels inside the park nearby:
- Roosevelt Lodge (28 mi)
The Northeast Entrance is located a few miles from Cooke City, a small town where there are some accommodations available. The road to take to the Northeast Entrance is the Beartooth Highway, one of the most beautiful scenic mountain roads in the Great American West. This entrance is close to Lamar Valley, which together with Hayden Valley, is one of the most beautiful valleys in Yellowstone not only because of the stunning landscapes but also because you can observe local wildlife there. The nearest hotel inside the park (28 mi away) is the Roosevelt Lodge, not far from the magnificent Tower Fall and about 19 miles away from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
North Entrance
- Nearby Attractions:
- Mammoth Hot Springs (5 mi)
- Fort Yellowstone Historic District (5 mi)
- Tower Fall (25 mi)
- Nearby towns
- Gardiner (0.6 mi)
- Nearby places of interest outside the park:
- Paradise Valley (15 mi)
- Hotels inside the park nearby:
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (5 mi)
- Roosevelt Lodge (23 mi)
This entrance is located in Montana and is ideal for those coming from the north who want to visit Mammoth Hot Springs, which is the closest attraction to the entrance. This is the closest access for those coming from the city of Bozeman, while the reference town for those planning to spend the night outside the park is Gardiner (about half a mile away), which has several hotels. Those who prefer to spend the night at Yellowstone can take advantage of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins, not far from Gardiner.
Yellowstone Entrance Closures
Depending on the time of your visit you may be forced to choose one entrance over another, here are all the seasonal closures of access roads to the park:
- West Entrance: Open from late April to early November. Vehicles with snow chains may enter mid-December to mid-March.
- South Entrance: Open from mid-May through early November. Cars with snow chains are allowed to enter from mid-December through mid-March.
- East Entrance: Open more or less during the same time frame as the South Entrance, with the slight difference that it closes in early March during the winter.
- North-East Entrance: Some roads east of Cooke City may close in winter due to inclement weather.
- North Entrance: The only entrance that is open year-round, so it is the only way to get and from Cooke City during the winter. If you want to visit Yellowstone in winter, keep in mind that the road from Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Geyser Basin closes from early November to late April.
