Yellowstone National Park
National Park · WY, ID, MT
Park 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.
More informationCaution · 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.
More information3 noticesfrom the National Park Service
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.
More informationInformation · 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.
More informationInformation · 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.
More information
- NPS site
- nps.gov/yell
- Location
- Yellowstone National Park (44.598, -110.547)
Track your visit to Yellowstone National Park
NP Tracker keeps a record of every National Park Service unit you visit — all 430-plus of them. Log visits with dates and photos, collect passport stamps, plan trips, and watch your map fill in. It's free.
Passport stamp locations
- Albright Visitor Center
- Canyon Visitor Education Center
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museum
- Grant Visitor Center
- Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
- Snake River Backcountry Office
- West Thumb Information Station
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (Chamber of Commerce Desk)
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (Chamber of Commerce Desk)
- West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (NPS Desk)
Hours
All Park Hourstoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3All Day
- Sun Oct 4All Day
- Mon Oct 5All Day
- Tue Oct 6All Day
- Wed Oct 7All Day
- Thu Oct 8All Day
- Fri Oct 9All Day
Yellowstone is open daily, year-round, although activities and services are limited at night and certain times of year. The park has five entrance stations, but not all entrance stations are open year-round. Make sure to carefully read about access at each station at different times of year. And remember, all dates are weather-dependent. Please note that camping is possible only in designated campgrounds.
West Entrancetoday: All Day
- Sat Oct 3
Visitor centers
11
- Albright Visitor Centertoday: 9:00AM - 5:00PMDirections
- Canyon Visitor Education Centertoday: 8:00AM - 6:00PMDirections
- Fishing Bridge Visitor Center and Trailside Museumtoday: 8:00AM - 6:00PMDirections
- Grant Visitor Centertoday: 8:00AM - 6:00PMDirections
Self-guided tours
9
Black Sand Basin20–40 minutes · 6 stops
A thermal area west of the Old Faithful developed area that has chromatic and opalescent hot springs and a geyser that frequently erupts right at the edge of the river flowing through the area.
ESCAPE to Yellowstone: Building Resilience1–2 hours · 7 stops
Everybody needs to escape sometimes—to take a break, to take a hike, or to take a nap! Yet in our ever-connected world, do you know how to recognize when it is time for a break? Do you need some help to build resilience to the pressures in your life? We invite you to ESCAPE to your national parks with your favorite friends and family members. This self-paced tour has stops along the multi-use path in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone that help build the resilience skill of self-awareness.
Fountain Paint Pot30–60 minutes · 8 stops
Along this self-guided tour you will see various hydrothermal features that are expressions of Yellowstone's still active volcano. Within this geologic system, each type of thermal feature is represented. They can be grouped into two general categories—those with a great deal of water (hot springs and geysers) and those with limited water (mudpots and fumaroles). Despite their structural similarities, no two features are exactly alike.
Mud Volcano
Entrance fees
7
- Private Vehicle — $35.00
Unlimited 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.
- Non-commercial Groups — $20.00
Non-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.
- Motorcycle — $30.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
- Snowmobile — $30.00
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 snowmobiles with up to 4 total passengers.
- Per Person — $20.00
Entry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older.
- Nonresident