01 · Opening · Wyoming, Montana, Idaho
The world's first national park, with more active geysers than the rest of the planet combined.
First momentOld Faithful in the Upper Geyser Basin, by the park's largest visitor centre: it erupts several times a day, and the park posts a time window for every eruption.
hydrothermal features in one area
geysers, more than half of all worldwide
part of the caldera rose in 2006, measured by GPS
a national park, the world's first
Today in the park
Alerts and road conditions on nps.gov ↗
Fetched automatically: 03 Oct 2026 14:06 UTC.
Original National Park Service alerts. The date is the last update of the alert, not a validity period. Closures can change within hours.
Crowds through the year
About 46 times as many people visit in July as in November.
Tap a month for the number
Visits per month, median of 2023–2025. In 2025 the park recorded 4.76 million visits.
More than 10,000 hydrothermal features, including around 500 geysers: the largest concentration of active geysers on Earth and more than half of all geysers worldwide. It is also the largest largely undisturbed collection of such features.
The park sits above a shallow source of magma. One of the largest known volcanic eruptions in the world created one of the largest known calderas here. Seismographs record several hundred to several thousand earthquakes every year.
Since 2004, GPS stations and radar satellites have measured ground movement to the centimetre. In 2006, part of the caldera rose by up to seven centimetres (nearly three inches) a year. In 2014, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck near Norris, the strongest since the early 1980s.
Established in 1872, above all because of the geysers, hot springs, mudpots and steam vents, and because of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Mammoth Hot Springs is one of the few places in the world with active travertine terraces.
The park is open around the clock on every day of the year. As long as the roads are open, the entrances do not close at night. There are five entrance stations, and several hours of driving lie between them.
2.2 million acres, about 8,900 km² (3,440 sq mi). More than 1,770 km (1,100 mi) of trails, managed mostly as wilderness. Many trails lie above 2,100 m (6,900 ft); snow lingers until late May, and on passes until late July.
Unlike other US parks, you need no vehicle reservation to enter. An entrance pass is required, but you can also buy it at any entrance station.
If you use the South Entrance, including on the way to Jackson, you drive through Grand Teton National Park. Each park charges its own entrance fee.
Conquering Yellowstone LLC · GetYourGuide
Long day tour from Bozeman via Big Sky and West Yellowstone to the Lower Loop, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a local driver and audio guide. According to the list of inclusions, food is not included; bring supplies for the day.
Departure According to the route, a Walmart (Lawn & Garden door), with the description naming Bozeman as the start, plus an Exxon station and the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. Check the exact pickup point before booking.
The list of inclusions names “pickup and drop-off from/to hotels in West Yellowstone”, the route only the three pickup points Walmart, Exxon and West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. A tip for the guide is listed as a service fee and is not included. Park entry is not in the list of inclusions. Check dates and prices with the provider. For people without US residency, regardless of this: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
02 · Upper, Midway and Norris Geyser Basins
Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the hot Norris Basin: the best-known basins lie along the road from the West Entrance, which in 2026 is open from 17 April to 31 October.
The reliable one
Not the largest geyser in the park, but the most reliable, and so the best known in the world.
Colours that are alive
The largest hot spring in the United States. Its colour rings are not minerals but living organisms.
Between the springs
Old Faithful in the Upper Geyser Basin is the world's best-known geyser; the park posts a time window for every eruption. Then there is Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Basin, the hot and changeable Norris Basin with Steamboat Geyser, and the terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs.
Burns from hot springs are among the most common serious accidents in the park. The ground around them looks solid but can be a thin crust over boiling water. More than twenty people have died after going into a hot spring. Bathing in them is prohibited.
In some thermal areas, toxic gases can build up to dangerous concentrations. If you feel unwell there, leave the area immediately.
Yellowstone Day Tours · GetYourGuide
Full-day van tour from West Yellowstone with hotel pickup, breakfast, picnic and binoculars. Important if you live outside the US: according to the inclusions, the park entry included applies to US citizens; the $100 surcharge for non-residents aged 16 or over is not included.
Departure Hotels in West Yellowstone, Montana; according to the description, departure at 7:30, return around 16:30.
The provider explicitly lists the $100 fee for non-US citizens and names the $250 America the Beautiful pass for non-residents as an alternative. Check dates and prices with the provider.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
03 · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The yellow rock walls gave the river and the park their name. Lower and Upper Falls, viewpoints on both rims; the best known is Artist Point on the South Rim.
The yellow walls
The yellow rock walls that gave the river and the park their name, and two great waterfalls.
On the rim and beyond
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its Lower and Upper Falls. Viewpoints line the North and South Rims; the best known is Artist Point. Several trails start from Canyon Village.
More than 1,770 km (1,100 mi) of trails, with no permit needed for day hikes. If you stay overnight in the backcountry, you need one. Many trails lie above 2,100 m (6,900 ft) and hold snow until late May or early June, and in early summer river crossings can be 7 m (23 ft) wide and up to 2 m (6.5 ft) deep.
04 · Lamar and Hayden: bison, wolf, bear
The two main areas for wildlife watching. Go early in the morning and at dusk, with binoculars and at a distance: at least 91 m (100 yards) from bears and wolves.
Photo: Eric Johnston, National Park Service ↗ · Public domain ↗
„Bison herds regularly cross the road in Hayden Valley. The safest and often the best view is from your car.“
Yellowstone National Park · Grizzly in the morning in Hayden Valley
Early in the morning
The valley in the northeast where you are most likely to see bison herds, wolves and bears, from your car.
Dazu passt From West Yellowstone: Lamar Valley Wildlife Tour by VanDazu passt Lamar Valley: Safari Hiking Tour with LunchDistance is the rule
Lamar Valley in the northeast and Hayden Valley in the centre are the two main areas. Go early in the morning and at dusk. The safest and often the best view is from your car.
Stay at least 91 m (100 yards) from bears, wolves and cougars, and at least 23 m (25 yards) from all other animals, including bison and elk. If an animal approaches, you must move away. Feeding animals is prohibited, including birds and squirrels.
The whole park is grizzly and black bear country, from backcountry trails to the parking lot at Old Faithful. The park recommends that every person carries their own canister within reach on a belt or chest strap, not in a backpack. Bear spray is not allowed on planes and must not be stored inside a vehicle: above 49 °C (120 °F) the canister can explode.
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · GetYourGuide
Full-day trip to Lamar Valley, the area with the best chance of seeing bison, wolves and bears. Binoculars and a spotting scope for the group are included; with the required distances of 91 and 23 m (100 and 25 yards), they are not an extra but a necessity.
Departure Hotels in West Yellowstone, Montana; pickup at 6:00 according to the description.
The provider explicitly lists park entry as not included, so plan for your own pass or entry. Tips are not included. Not suitable for children under 6. Dates and prices with the provider. In addition, for people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · GetYourGuide
A guided hike instead of a bus ride, starting at the Lamar River Trailhead. The provider supplies binoculars, a group spotting scope, a trekking pole and bear spray; bear spray is not allowed on planes, so it is exactly the gear you cannot bring yourself.
Departure Meeting point at 8:00 at the Lamar River Trailhead (hiker parking, not the Stock Trailhead), 14.8 miles east of Tower Junction. Get there on your own; according to the list of inclusions, hotel pickup is not included.
According to the list of inclusions, pickup, park entry, water, rain jacket and tips are not included. Around six miles with ups and downs at about 2,000 m (6,500 ft); not suitable for children under 8. The hike runs in any weather. Check dates with the provider before booking. For people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
Hayden Valley Nature Tours · GetYourGuide
Private guided evening tour into the park, when the animals become more active and the day visitors have left. According to the provider, it goes to Yellowstone Lake and Hayden Valley, with stops at viewpoints, geysers and hot springs. Binoculars and a spotting scope, snacks and drinks are included; pickup is between 16:00 and 17:00 in West Yellowstone.
Departure Pickup in West Yellowstone between 16:00 and 17:00; according to the provider, all tours start there. Pickup in Gardiner or inside the park is possible, but the tour is then shorter.
For the duration, the page gives 5 hours and the list of inclusions a 4- to 5-hour tour. Park entry is not in the list of inclusions; for the same product on Viator, the provider explicitly lists entrance fees as not included. For people without US residency, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over is added; according to the park authority, it also applies on commercial tours. According to the provider, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Guide in English, cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Check dates and prices with the provider.
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Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
05 · The only road that is always open
White travertine terraces, the old army post Fort Yellowstone and the 1903 Roosevelt Arch. The road from the North Entrance via Mammoth and Tower Junction to Cooke City is the only one open to cars all year.
The terraces
White travertine terraces that are constantly changing, and next to them the old army post from which the park administration grew.
Via the North Entrance
The only entrance open to cars all year. The 1903 Roosevelt Arch stands here. From here the road continues to Mammoth Hot Springs and via Tower Junction to the Northeast Entrance.
From the North Entrance at Gardiner through the park via Tower Junction to Cooke City. All other roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late April.
Open all year, but beyond it the road ends in winter, because the Beartooth Highway is closed from mid-October to late May.
People have been travelling through here for more than 11,000 years. 27 tribes have connections to this area and to resources that now lie within the park. Many tribes and bands used the park as a homeland, hunting ground and travel route, before and after the arrival of European Americans.
06 · Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb
The largest lake in North America above 2,100 m (6,900 ft), cold even in summer. At West Thumb, the hot springs reach into the water.
Photo: Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service ↗ · Public domain ↗
By the water
From historic park hotels to simple cabins, all run by Yellowstone National Park Lodges. Lake Yellowstone Hotel is a National Historic Landmark and the oldest hotel still operating in the park. Wi-Fi, air conditioning and TVs are mostly not available.
The South Entrance leads through Grand Teton National Park and is open from 8 May to 31 October. The East Entrance over Sylvan Pass from Cody is open from 1 May to 31 October.
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · GetYourGuide
Half-day tour on the largest lake in North America above 2,100 m (6,900 ft), with kayak, paddling jacket, dry bag and lunch. The meeting point is the boat ramp parking lot at Grant Village Marina in the West Thumb area.
Departure Boat ramp parking lot at Grant Village Marina, West Thumb area.
The road from the South Entrance to West Thumb is only open in the summer half of the year. Start at 10:00 according to the description, around five miles of paddling from Grant Village marina to West Thumb Geyser Basin. Minimum age 14 according to the description, “not suitable for children under 15” according to the notes; not for non-swimmers. Park entry, pickup and tips are not included; the meeting point is inside the park, so you need a valid entrance pass. The tour may be cancelled in bad weather. Check dates and prices with the provider. For people without US residency, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over is added; according to the park authority, it also applies on commercial tours.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
CoveredGround Tours · GetYourGuide
Day tour from Cody, Wyoming, with pickup at your accommodation, lunch, water, binoculars and a telescope. The route runs via the East Entrance and Sylvan Pass, which can only be driven in the summer half of the year.
Departure Accommodation in Cody, Wyoming; alternatively, according to the description, at 9:00 at the Fishing Bridge General Store inside the park.
The provider lists park entry under “not included”, adding that it is included if you have a national park pass, so plan for your own pass or entry. The list of inclusions names lunch as included, while the description mentions a packed lunch you bring yourself at the Gibbon River; check before booking. Tips are not included. Check dates and prices with the provider. In addition, for people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide
07 · Always open, rarely fully drivable
From early November to late April, almost all roads are closed to regular vehicles. In winter, the only way into the park is on guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches.
Photo: Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service ↗ · Public domain ↗
Which road, when
The summer peak season is the busiest and has the most facilities open. The shoulder seasons bring fewer people, but changeable weather and closed roads. In winter, access is heavily restricted and only a few facilities are open.
17 April to 31 October: West Entrance–Madison, Madison–Old Faithful, Madison–Norris, Mammoth–Norris, Norris–Canyon. 1 May to 31 October: East Entrance–Fishing Bridge over Sylvan Pass, Canyon–Bridge Bay. 8 May to 31 October: South Entrance–West Thumb, West Thumb–Old Faithful over Craig Pass. 22 May to 12 October: Canyon–Tower Fall over Dunraven Pass, and the Beartooth Highway. Roads usually open at 8:00.
From 15 December 2026 to mid-March 2027, the closed roads are open to guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches. During this time, that is the only way to reach the West, South and East Entrances.
From mid-December to mid-March, guided snowmobile and snowcoach tours run into the park. There are also ski and snowshoe tours. The park's own film is 12 minutes long and plays on nps.gov, not on a video platform.
The park recommends arriving at an entrance before 7:00 or after 12:00 and avoiding the main sights between 10:00 and 16:00.
08 · Before you go
Just under six minutes from the park authority on geysers, plus the towns at the entrances, supplies in the park and where to check the current situation.
Photo: Ed Austin / Herb Jones, National Park Service ↗ · Public domain ↗
Film by the park authority
Just under six minutes from the park authority in the “Yellowstone InDepth” series: park geologist Hank Heasler explains how geysers work, what role they play in the park's history and what they reveal about the Earth, with footage of many eruptions. In English.
Source: Yellowstone National Park · View channel ↗
Around the park
The towns at the entrances. Gardiner at the North Entrance can be reached all year, West Yellowstone is the largest, and Cooke City the smallest, reachable only from the west in winter.
Fuel stations, stores, a repair garage and towing are available at several places in the park, with different seasonal hours. The park lists them individually.
For the current situation there are webcams at the North and West Entrances, a situation report and a page on current conditions.
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The key question is not whether the park is open, but which road.
Climate through the year
Best months by the climate data: July and August. Average daytime highs of around 22 °C, lows of 7 to 8 °C, 37 to 40 mm of precipitation a month. The wettest month is December (91 mm), the driest July (37 mm).
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Precipitation mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | −6.7 | −17.0 | 81 |
| February | −6.1 | −16.9 | 75 |
| March | −2.6 | −12.6 | 77 |
| April | 1.6 | −8.0 | 82 |
| May | 9.5 | −1.7 | 81 |
| June | 15.8 | 2.6 | 70 |
| July | 22.2 | 7.7 | 37 |
| August | 21.8 | 6.7 | 40 |
| September | 16.5 | 2.0 | 52 |
| October | 7.0 | −4.2 | 69 |
| November | −1.7 | −11.6 | 79 |
| December | −7.3 | −17.3 | 91 |
| Year | 834 |
Modelled values, not a weather station: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) for a grid cell of about 55 × 50 km around the map point Lower Yellowstone Falls (44.72° N, 110.50° W), with an average cell elevation of about 2,440 m. Averages for 2001–2020. Higher ground and valleys can differ markedly.
Source: NASA POWER, climatology 2001–2020 ↗ · retrieved 3 Oct 2026
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · offer
Half-day tour on the largest lake in North America above 2,100 m (6,900 ft), with kayak, paddling jacket, dry bag and lunch. The meeting point is the boat ramp parking lot at Grant Village Marina in the West Thumb area.
Departure Boat ramp parking lot at Grant Village Marina, West Thumb area.
The road from the South Entrance to West Thumb is only open in the summer half of the year. Start at 10:00 according to the description, around five miles of paddling from Grant Village marina to West Thumb Geyser Basin. Minimum age 14 according to the description, “not suitable for children under 15” according to the notes; not for non-swimmers. Park entry, pickup and tips are not included; the meeting point is inside the park, so you need a valid entrance pass. The tour may be cancelled in bad weather. Check dates and prices with the provider. For people without US residency, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over is added; according to the park authority, it also applies on commercial tours.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 2 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.
The season decides which entrance works.
The most-used entrance, right on the park boundary. Open to cars from 17 April to 31 October 2026.
The park lists planned road construction projects with expected delays. In 2026, delays of up to 15 minutes are announced at Bridge Bay, among other places. For current road conditions there is a map, a recorded phone line on 307-344-2117 and a text message service.
Around Old Faithful, parking is limited according to the park, especially between 10:00 and 18:00. Arriving before 10:00 or after 18:00 avoids the tightest hours. Wheelchair-accessible walkways lead from all car parks to the geyser.
The overlook above Grand Prismatic Spring starts from the Fairy Falls car park, 1.6 km (one mile) south of Midway Geyser Basin. The park describes parking there as very limited. The trail climbs 32 m (105 ft) to the overlook; the round trip is 1.9 km (1.2 mi).
Yellowstone Day Tours · offer
Full-day van tour from West Yellowstone with hotel pickup, breakfast, picnic and binoculars. Important if you live outside the US: according to the inclusions, the park entry included applies to US citizens; the $100 surcharge for non-residents aged 16 or over is not included.
Departure Hotels in West Yellowstone, Montana; according to the description, departure at 7:30, return around 16:30.
The provider explicitly lists the $100 fee for non-US citizens and names the $250 America the Beautiful pass for non-residents as an alternative. Check dates and prices with the provider.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Conquering Yellowstone LLC · offer
Long day tour from Bozeman via Big Sky and West Yellowstone to the Lower Loop, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a local driver and audio guide. According to the list of inclusions, food is not included; bring supplies for the day.
Departure According to the route, a Walmart (Lawn & Garden door), with the description naming Bozeman as the start, plus an Exxon station and the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. Check the exact pickup point before booking.
The list of inclusions names “pickup and drop-off from/to hotels in West Yellowstone”, the route only the three pickup points Walmart, Exxon and West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. A tip for the guide is listed as a service fee and is not included. Park entry is not in the list of inclusions. Check dates and prices with the provider. For people without US residency, regardless of this: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
CoveredGround Tours · offer
Day tour from Cody, Wyoming, with pickup at your accommodation, lunch, water, binoculars and a telescope. The route runs via the East Entrance and Sylvan Pass, which can only be driven in the summer half of the year.
Departure Accommodation in Cody, Wyoming; alternatively, according to the description, at 9:00 at the Fishing Bridge General Store inside the park.
The provider lists park entry under “not included”, adding that it is included if you have a national park pass, so plan for your own pass or entry. The list of inclusions names lunch as included, while the description mentions a packed lunch you bring yourself at the Gibbon River; check before booking. Tips are not included. Check dates and prices with the provider. In addition, for people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 2 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.
All amounts in US dollars, retrieved from the National Park Service on 20 September 2026.
| Established | 1872, the world's first national park |
|---|---|
| Area | 2.2 million acres, about 8,900 km² (3,440 sq mi) |
| States | Wyoming, Montana, Idaho |
| Hydrothermal features | more than 10,000 |
| Geysers | around 500, more than half of the world's total |
| Trails | more than 1,770 km (1,100 mi) |
| Entrances | five |
| Campgrounds | 11, with more than 2,000 sites |
| Lodges | nine, all run by one concessioner |
| Open to cars all year | one road: North to Northeast Entrance |
| Associated tribes | 27 |
| Human history | more than 11,000 years |
Yellowstone is a park on top of a magma chamber. Over the past 150 million years, its landscape has been compressed, stretched, glaciated, eroded and reshaped again and again by volcanism.
The result is unique: more than 10,000 hydrothermal features in one area, including around 500 geysers. That is the largest concentration of active geysers on Earth and more than half of all geysers worldwide, and also the largest collection that has remained largely undisturbed. Add to that mudpots, steam vents and, at Mammoth Hot Springs, active travertine terraces, which exist in only a few places in the world.
The ground is on the move. The seismographs that the University of Utah operates for the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory record several hundred to several thousand earthquakes every year. Since 2004, precise GPS stations and radar satellites have measured how the ground rises and sinks: in 2006, part of the caldera rose by up to seven centimetres (nearly three inches) a year, while the northern rim subsided. On 30 March 2014, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck four miles (6.4 km) north-northeast of Norris Geyser Basin, felt in Gardiner and West Yellowstone.
The park was established in 1872 as the world's first national park, explicitly because of these features and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Today it is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is managed mostly as wilderness.
People have been travelling through here for more than 11,000 years. 27 tribes have connections to this area and to resources that now lie within the park; many tribes and bands used it as a homeland, hunting ground and travel route, before and after the arrival of European Americans.
Every person aged 16 or over who does not live in the US pays an extra fee of $100, unless they enter with an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass. This also applies to people on commercial tours. For two adults in a car, $35 becomes $235.
A private vehicle with all occupants costs $35 for seven consecutive days, a motorcycle $30, a snowmobile $30. If you arrive on foot, by bike or on skis and are 16 or older, you pay $20. Children under 16 pay nothing.
According to the fees page, the $70 Yellowstone annual pass is only open to US citizens and US residents. The same goes for the fee-free days: they explicitly apply only to US citizens and residents.
The nationwide annual pass costs non-residents $250 instead of $80. It covers entrance and day-use fees at all federal parks and saves you the $100 fee. Depending on the type of fee charged, it covers one private vehicle or four people, so for a family it replaces four surcharges of $100 each.
The surcharge explicitly also applies to people without US residency who enter as part of a commercial tour group. Operators are expected to know the number of their non-resident guests before entering and to declare it at the entrance station; since June 2026 they can prepay entrance and surcharge with a Commercial Site Pass on Recreation.gov. Whether an operator does this is rarely stated in its list of inclusions, so ask before you book.
The America the Beautiful pass for non-residents waives the surcharge not only in your own vehicle: in a commercial tour group it covers the pass holder and three more people aged 16 or over. The same applies to the entrance fee, which is charged per person on commercial tours. As proof of US residency, the park accepts a US passport, a state driver's licence or state ID, and a Green Card; anyone aged 15 or under pays neither entrance fee nor surcharge.
At all five entrance stations, in cash or by card. The digital America the Beautiful pass is available immediately on recreation.gov; the physical card takes up to three weeks by post. A purchase receipt does not replace the pass.
Yellowstone Day Tours · offer
Full-day van tour from West Yellowstone with hotel pickup, breakfast, picnic and binoculars. Important if you live outside the US: according to the inclusions, the park entry included applies to US citizens; the $100 surcharge for non-residents aged 16 or over is not included.
Departure Hotels in West Yellowstone, Montana; according to the description, departure at 7:30, return around 16:30.
The provider explicitly lists the $100 fee for non-US citizens and names the $250 America the Beautiful pass for non-residents as an alternative. Check dates and prices with the provider.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Conquering Yellowstone LLC · offer
Long day tour from Bozeman via Big Sky and West Yellowstone to the Lower Loop, in an air-conditioned vehicle with a local driver and audio guide. According to the list of inclusions, food is not included; bring supplies for the day.
Departure According to the route, a Walmart (Lawn & Garden door), with the description naming Bozeman as the start, plus an Exxon station and the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. Check the exact pickup point before booking.
The list of inclusions names “pickup and drop-off from/to hotels in West Yellowstone”, the route only the three pickup points Walmart, Exxon and West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center. A tip for the guide is listed as a service fee and is not included. Park entry is not in the list of inclusions. Check dates and prices with the provider. For people without US residency, regardless of this: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
CoveredGround Tours · offer
Day tour from Cody, Wyoming, with pickup at your accommodation, lunch, water, binoculars and a telescope. The route runs via the East Entrance and Sylvan Pass, which can only be driven in the summer half of the year.
Departure Accommodation in Cody, Wyoming; alternatively, according to the description, at 9:00 at the Fishing Bridge General Store inside the park.
The provider lists park entry under “not included”, adding that it is included if you have a national park pass, so plan for your own pass or entry. The list of inclusions names lunch as included, while the description mentions a packed lunch you bring yourself at the Gibbon River; check before booking. Tips are not included. Check dates and prices with the provider. In addition, for people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 2 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.
Everything is reserved, and well in advance.
More than 2,000 sites. All must be reserved in advance; the only exception is Mammoth Campground, which gives out sites on a first-come, first-served basis from 15 October to 1 April. Reservations open on a rolling basis exactly six months before your arrival date.
Through Yellowstone National Park Lodges: Bridge Bay and Madison $38 each plus tax, Canyon and Grant Village $45 each, Fishing Bridge RV Park $94. Through Recreation.gov: Indian Creek and Lewis Lake $20 each, Mammoth $25.
Sleeping in a vehicle is prohibited outside designated campgrounds: not in pullouts, not in parking areas, not at picnic areas.
If you stay overnight in the backcountry, you need a permit. Day hikes do not.
Here the rules are not a formality; they are the reason people come back.
Dogs are prohibited in thermal areas and on boardwalks, even on a leash, carried, in a stroller or in a backpack. Service dogs are allowed everywhere but must be on a leash.
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · offer
Full-day trip to Lamar Valley, the area with the best chance of seeing bison, wolves and bears. Binoculars and a spotting scope for the group are included; with the required distances of 91 and 23 m (100 and 25 yards), they are not an extra but a necessity.
Departure Hotels in West Yellowstone, Montana; pickup at 6:00 according to the description.
The provider explicitly lists park entry as not included, so plan for your own pass or entry. Tips are not included. Not suitable for children under 6. Dates and prices with the provider. In addition, for people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Yellowstone Hiking Guides · offer
A guided hike instead of a bus ride, starting at the Lamar River Trailhead. The provider supplies binoculars, a group spotting scope, a trekking pole and bear spray; bear spray is not allowed on planes, so it is exactly the gear you cannot bring yourself.
Departure Meeting point at 8:00 at the Lamar River Trailhead (hiker parking, not the Stock Trailhead), 14.8 miles east of Tower Junction. Get there on your own; according to the list of inclusions, hotel pickup is not included.
According to the list of inclusions, pickup, park entry, water, rain jacket and tips are not included. Around six miles with ups and downs at about 2,000 m (6,500 ft); not suitable for children under 8. The hike runs in any weather. Check dates with the provider before booking. For people without US residency: according to the park authority, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over also applies on a commercial tour. Check before booking whether the provider covers it.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Hayden Valley Nature Tours · offer
Private guided evening tour into the park, when the animals become more active and the day visitors have left. According to the provider, it goes to Yellowstone Lake and Hayden Valley, with stops at viewpoints, geysers and hot springs. Binoculars and a spotting scope, snacks and drinks are included; pickup is between 16:00 and 17:00 in West Yellowstone.
Departure Pickup in West Yellowstone between 16:00 and 17:00; according to the provider, all tours start there. Pickup in Gardiner or inside the park is possible, but the tour is then shorter.
For the duration, the page gives 5 hours and the list of inclusions a 4- to 5-hour tour. Park entry is not in the list of inclusions; for the same product on Viator, the provider explicitly lists entrance fees as not included. For people without US residency, the $100 surcharge per person aged 16 or over is added; according to the park authority, it also applies on commercial tours. According to the provider, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. Guide in English, cancellation up to 24 hours in advance. Check dates and prices with the provider.
View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 2 Oct 2026
Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link. Offer details checked 2 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.
A private vehicle with all occupants costs $35 for seven days. On top of that, every person aged 16 or over without US residency pays an extra fee of $100. Two adults in a car therefore pay $235. The extra fee does not apply if you enter with an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass.
For non-residents it costs $250 instead of $80. It covers entrance and day-use fees at all federal parks and saves you the $100 fee. Without a pass, two adults pay $235 in Yellowstone alone, so from the second park onwards the pass is cheaper. According to the fees page, the $70 Yellowstone annual pass is only open to US citizens and residents.
Only the road from the North Entrance at Gardiner via Tower Junction to Cooke City is open to regular vehicles all year. All other roads are closed from early November to late April. In 2026 they open in stages between 17 April and 22 May and close between 12 and 31 October.
No. Unlike some other US parks, Yellowstone requires no vehicle reservation. An entrance pass is required, but you can buy it at any of the five entrance stations, in cash or by card.
At eleven campgrounds with more than 2,000 sites, or in one of nine lodges. Everything must be reserved; campgrounds open bookings on a rolling basis exactly six months before your arrival date and are usually booked up long in advance. The only exception is Mammoth Campground from 15 October to 1 April. Sleeping in your car outside campgrounds is prohibited.
Burns are among the most common serious accidents in the park. The ground around the springs can be a thin crust over boiling water. More than twenty people have died after falling in. So stay on the boardwalks, touch nothing, do not bathe, and leave the thermal area immediately if you feel unwell.
$100 per person aged 16 or over without US residency, on top of the regular entrance fee of $35 per private vehicle for seven days. The fee also applies to people on commercial tours. It does not apply if you enter with an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass.
Yes. Non-residents pay $250 instead of $80. The digital pass is available immediately on recreation.gov; the physical card takes up to three weeks by post. In Yellowstone it covers entrance and saves you the $100 non-resident fee.
All information comes from the National Park Service and is checked with a date.
Researched 20 Sep 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.
Current information from the park ↗
Location sources: The National Park Service publishes no coordinates for these places; every point is documented with an OpenStreetMap object. Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.
End of the field book · Park authority ↗
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