A field with an old fence and mountains in the background

Yellowstone National Park

It can be hard to tell where Cody ends and Yellowstone begins. The drive to the park’s East Gate is a breathtaking journey through the volcanic Absaroka Range, home to grizzlies, bison, and other wildlife. This famous route, once hailed as “the most scenic 50 miles in the world” by President Theodore Roosevelt, leads to over two million acres of mountains, geysers, lakes, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Since becoming the world’s first national park in 1872, Yellowstone has captivated visitors from around the globe with its natural wonders.

How to Get to Yellowstone

The East Entrance is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, just 52 miles west of Cody via Highway 14-16-20. The Northeast Entrance is 78 miles from Cody via WY 296 . Other entrances into Yellowstone are Highway 191-89-287 in Wyoming, and Highways 20, 287, 191, 89 & 212 in Montana. Explore our Scenic Byways to plan your route.

Yellowstone Outdoor Adventures

The best way to experience Yellowstone Country’s natural wonders is to completely immerse yourself in this spectacular setting. Discover Yellowstone National Park while hiking through 1,100 miles of trails or get a little wet during a fly fishing excursion. During the winter months, Yellowstone National Park still brings much to do with snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing.

Explore Outdoor Activities

Park Guides & Tours

Join in an interpretive tour and journey through the park’s wildlife, waterfalls and geysers. Choose from a collection of Yellowstone’s guided tours that suit your exploring preference. Get a hands-on wildlife excursion and learn more on Yellowstone’s wildlife or go beyond the boardwalks and discover Yellowstone’s backcountry during an adventure tour!

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Geysers, Hot Springs & More

Yellowstone is home to the largest collection of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles in the world. From the punctual eruptions of the famous Old Faithful Geyser to the constantly changing terraces of the Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park is a geological hotspot like nowhere else on Earth.

Yellowstone’s Natural Wonders

Although Yellowstone National Park is primarily flanked by geysers, mud cauldrons and hot springs, Yellowstone’s lakes, rivers and waterfalls tend to draw the flash of a camera. Set your sights on Yellowstone Lake, one of the world’s largest natural freshwater lakes and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Yellowstone Country is also home to an abundant and diverse wildlife that include grizzlies, wolves and elk.

General Yellowstone Park Information

Entrance Stations

Yellowstone has five entrance stations. Be sure to carefully read about access at each station at different times of year and remember that everything is weather dependent. All entrances and interior roads are open daily for 24-hour entry, exit, and travel during the late spring, summer, and fall, except for the North entrance, which is open year-round. Most entrances as well as interior roads close for the winter season the first Sunday of November and open to over-the-snow tracked vehicles in mid-December through mid-March. Please be sure to check the Park Roads page or call ahead for opening dates.

The East Entrance

The East Entrance typically opens to wheeled vehicles the first Friday in May and to tracked-oversnow vehicles December 22 through March 1, weather permitting. The East Entrance is 52 miles from Cody via the Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway (US 14-16-20).

The Northeast Entrance

The Northeast Entrance is open year-round for wheeled vehicle access to Cooke City from Gardiner, MT via the North Entrance only. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The Northeast Entrance is 78 miles from Cody via the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (WY 296).

The West Entrance

The West Entrance typically opens to wheeled vehicles the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow vehicles from December 15 to March 15, weather permitting.

The South Entrance

The South Entrance typically opens to wheeled vehicles the second Friday in May through early November and to tracked-oversnow vehicles from December 15 to March 15, weather permitting.

The North Entrance

The North Entrance is the only park entrance accessible for entry and exit to wheeled vehicles year-round. The road from Mammoth to Norris opens to wheeled vehicles the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow vehicles, conditions permitting, from December 15 to early March. Access is limited in November and April due to weather conditions.

Further Information

For more information about Yellowstone National Park, visit the National Park Service website. You may also call 307-344-7381 or mail the Visitor Services Office at Post Office Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.