Which Yellowstone Entrance is Right for You? A Guide To All 5 Entrances
Wondering which entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best? With five entrances spread across three states, choosing the right one can save you hours of driving.
For most first-time visitors, the West Entrance is the best choice, especially if you want to see Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s also the most popular entrance of the 5.
But if you’re flying into Bozeman, combining Yellowstone with Grand Teton, or hoping to see wildlife in Lamar Valley, another entrance might be a better fit.
After multiple family trips to Yellowstone, we’ve learned that the best entrance depends on where you’re coming from, what you want to see, how long you are visiting, and where you’re staying.
Here’s how the five entrances compare, along with our recommendations to help you plan your trip.
Important! Note that during the winter season, most of Yellowstone’s roads are closed to wheeled vehicles. The park can still be accessed through the North Entrance by car, or other entrances by snowmobiles or snowcoach vehicles.
You should definitely schedule a multi-day trip to properly see all that Yellowstone has to offer. One day to see it all would be impossible!
For a true Yellowstone experience, see our Family Vacation in Yellowstone for a detailed 5 day itinerary detailing the best stops, lodging, hikes, and more!
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The 5 Entrances To Yellowstone National Park
To begin, I can’t stress enough how important it is to understand that Yellowstone National Park is HUGE. Encompassing 2.2 million acres, it has two major touring loops, the Upper Loop and the Lower Loop, comprising 142 miles of driving.
You can see why Yellowstone has FIVE entrances to the park!
The West Entrance is the most popular entrance followed by the North Entrance.
All entrances require a park pass to enter. You can purchase ahead of time at the National Park Service website or at the entrance gate.
- West Entrance (most popular with the most amenities in West Yellowstone, MT- closest to the geothermal areas of Yellowstone)
- North Entrance (closest entrance to Bozeman Airport and 5 minutes to Gardiner, MT)
- South Entrance (closest entrance to Grand Teton National Park)
- East Entrance (closest entrance to Yellowstone Lake and Cody, WY- 52 miles)
- Northeast Entrance (closest to the tiny towns of Silver Gate and Cooke City, MT; leads to one of the best wildlife viewing areas in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley as well as the incredibly scenic Beartooth Highway)
| Entrance | Closest Town | Of Note | Closest Airport |
| West Entrance | West Yellowstone, MT | Most popular entrance with the most nearby lodging options; closest to main attractions including thermal basins and Old Faithful | Bozeman, MT Idaho Falls, ID or West Yellowstone, MT |
| North Entrance | Gardiner, MT | Convenient to Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper Loop | Bozeman, MT |
| Northeast Entrance | Silver Gate and Cooke City, MT | Fairly remote. Best for wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley or driving the scenic Beartooth Highway | Billings, MT or Bozeman, MT |
| South Entrance | Jackson Hole, WY | Best for those visiting Grand Teton National Park and arriving in Jackson Hole | Jackson Hole, WY |
| East Entrance | Cody, WY | Those traveling by car from the East Coast. Close to Yellowstone Lake | Cody, WY |
Lodging Note: Only the West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT), North Entrance (Gardiner, MT), and Northeast Entrance (Silver Gate/Cooke City, MT) offer reasonably convenient gateway towns with lodging.
The East Entrance is too far away from most of Yellowstone’s attractions, and the South Entrance to Yellowstone is essentially located in Grand Teton National Park.
See our blog “Where To Stay In Yellowstone” for specific lodging recommendations and advice.
Flying to Yellowstone?
A major advantage of Bozeman/Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is its convenient location to BOTH the North Entrance and the West Entrance of Yellowstone.
Bozeman is the largest airport serving those travelers wishing to enter at Yellowstone’s West Entrance.
Driving from Bozeman Airport to Yellowstone’s North Entrance takes roughly 1.5 hours, and it’s just shy of 2 hours to its West Entrance.
P.S. Bozeman is a great stop as well. See our 10 Best Things To Do In Bozeman, Montana.
Tip: Idaho Falls is another airport option. It is less than 2 hours to the West Entrance to Yellowstone and may have less expensive car rentals and flights.
West Entrance To Yellowstone
The West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best for:
- Exploring the Lower Loop
- Visiting the geothermal features of the park like Grand Prismatic and Old Faithful Geyser
- Finding convenient lodging and additional activities in West Yellowstone
- Arriving from Idaho Falls Airport (drive time 1 hour 45 min) or Bozeman Airport (also 1 hour 45 min)
- Traveling from Glacier National Park (6.5 hours- North Entrance is also an option)
Yellowstone’s West Entrance, located in the the aptly named gateway town of West Yellowstone, Montana, is the most popular entrance due to its abundance of lodging and proximity to Old Faithful Geyser.
If your main goal is to see Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, two of the park’s most iconic geothermal features, the West Entrance is the closest.
It takes 35 minutes from the West Entrance to reach Grand Prismatic and 50 minutes to reach Old Faithful. Of course, travel times vary depending on traffic and “wildlife jams.”
The West Entrance is also the best entrance to explore the Lower Loop, and the town of West Yellowstone would be a good base to do it.
The Holiday Inn , Kelly Inn, and Starlite Hotel (by Hilton) are solid choices, but you’ll find plenty of other lodging options in this small touristy town filled with souvenir shops, ice cream counters, and plenty of cafes and restaurants.
See our favorite lodging options in Where To Stay In Yellowstone- Best Areas and Lodging Choices.
West Yellowstone is a good place to stay for families traveling with kids. Many of the hotels offer swimming pools and you can find additional activities beyond the park.
We like to visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, wander through the fantastic book store, the Book Peddler, and bike the easy and scenic Shortline Trail (see our guide.)
Keep in mind that the West Entrance is also the busiest entrance to Yellowstone and can require a significant wait in line to enter during the busy summer season.
North Entrance To Yellowstone
Yellowstone’s North Entrance is located just 5 minutes from the tiny town of Gardiner, MT (population 900).
Gardiner has a decent number of restaurants, a few shops, outfitters, and a variety of lodging options (Antler Lodge (also has a good restaurant) and Absaroka Lodge are good bets here.
It’s not unusual to see elk walking down the sidewalks along the store fronts in Gardiner. Our kids loved that!
The North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best for those:
- Wanting to enter the park through the historic Roosevelt Arch
- Touring the Upper Loop of Yellowstone National Park
- Exploring Yellowstone’s famous Lamar Valley known for its wildlife – (Northeast Entrance is also an option)
- Arriving from Glacier National Park (6.5 hours) or Bozeman Airport (1.5 hours)
- Staying inside the park at Mammoth Hot Springs or Roosevelt Lodge
- Driving the Beartooth Highway (also Northeast Entrance)
- Visiting during the winter (this entrance is open year round to vehicles traveling through Yellowstone National Park to the Northeast Entrance— see map above for closures)
See our One Day in Lamar Valley for scenic stops, best places to view wildlife, and the best short hikes.
It’s an easy and beautiful drive from Bozeman, MT to Yellowstone’s North Entrance which takes you through Montana’s scenic Paradise Valley on Highway 89 to Gardiner, MT.
You’ll have great views of the mountain ranges, the Yellowstone River, and a high probability of seeing wildlife.
On our last trip in April, we saw elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and an eagle. And that was before we even entered Yellowstone!
Whether you are staying in the town of Gardiner, MT or not, Gardiner is a good place to stock up on groceries, refuel the tank, or buy bear spray and supplies for your trip.
Is the North or West Entrance Better From Bozeman?
Both are excellent options from Bozeman. The North Entrance is just a tad closer to Bozeman (1.5 hours), but it’s still less than 2 hours to reach the West Entrance.
The drives are equally beautiful. On your way to the North Entrance, you’ll drive through Paradise Valley with incredible mountain views and the scenic Yellowstone River.
On your way to the West Entrance, you’ll drive through the Gallatin Canyon which follows along the Gallatin River, made famous in the movie A River Runs Through It.
From Bozeman, the entrance you choose will be dependent upon what you want to see and where your lodging is located.
You might be interested in our post- Can You Visit Yellowstone In One Day From Bozeman? Two Day Trip Itineraries
Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone
We have stayed in Silver Gate, MT which is the closest town to the Northeast Entrance, and we loved it. Quiet, peaceful, not touristy.
The Northeast Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best for:
- Exploring the Lamar Valley- calling all wildlife enthusiasts!
- Exploring the Upper Loop
- Driving the Beartooth Highway
The Northeast Entrance is quiet and definitely more remote. Although it is a bit removed from other areas of the park, it is super convenient if you plan to primarily explore the Lamar Valley or drive the scenic Beartooth Highway.
Yellowstone Lamar Valley
If your goal is to see wildlife during your trip to Yellowstone, the Lamar Valley is undeniably the best place to do it. (Hayden Valley being a second!) You are practically guaranteed to see wildlife here!
Not technically considered as part of the Upper Loop tour, this area of the park doesn’t feel as crowded, and there is plenty to do here between wildlife watching, hiking, and driving the scenic Beartooth Highway.
See our “One Day In Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley” for all the details.
The Northeast Entrance is served by the tiny towns of Silver Gate and Cooke City, MT. You won’t find many amenities here, but the towns will have all you need.
You’ll find cabin rentals and a sprinkling of motels in this area. Keep in mind that these towns are TINY!
Inside the park, Roosevelt Lodge is the closest to the Lamar Valley- only 25 minutes away.
P.S. We stayed at Silver Willows Sarva Cabin on 4 Acres by the Creek (sleeps 9) for 3 nights and appreciated the convenient location when waking early to view wildlife in the Lamar Valley.
Beartooth Highway
If you are near Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley or staying in Silver Gate or Cooke City, you can’t miss the opportunity to drive along the 68 mile long Beartooth Highway (Highway 212), one of the most scenic, high elevation highways in the U.S.
Although not in the national park per se, it is certainly worthy of a visit and was one of the highlights of our trip.
Note that the highway is closed during winter (closing dates are typically sometime in October and opening sometime in June.)
South Entrance To Yellowstone
The South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best for those:
- Arriving from Jackson Hole Airport
- Combining Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park
- Taking a day trip to Yellowstone from Grand Teton National Park
To reach the South Entrance of Yellowstone, you have to drive north through Grand Teton National Park. (Note that separate entrance fees are charged for each park.)
This entrance is really only used for those visiting Grand Teton National Park or those who have flown into Jackson Hole Airport.
The South Entrance to Yellowstone is a good choice for those planning to visit Grand Teton National Park, because you can combine it with a visit to Yellowstone National Park if time permits.
If you plan to do this, consider purchasing an America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) which gives you entrance to all national parks in the U.S. for one year.
If you want to make just a quick day trip to Yellowstone from Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone’s West Thumb Geyser Basin is the closest attraction. From Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton, you’ll reach it in just under 1 hour.
You could also consider making a day trip from Grand Teton National Park to see Old Faithful Geyser Basin. To give you an idea of distance, you can reach Old Faithful Geyser Basin from Grand Teton’s Signal Mountain Lodge in just under 2 hours (1:48), and it’s only 1:10 to West Thumb Geyser Basin.
Of course, driving times are always increased with inevitable construction delays or “wildlife jams.”
See our 5 Day Itinerary for Grand Teton National Park for everything you need to know. P.S. We visit the Tetons every year. It’s a favorite!
East Entrance To Yellowstone
The East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park is best for those:
- Traveling from Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, or the Black Hills of South Dakota
- Traveling by car from the East Coast
- Wanting to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, WY (52 miles to the East Entrance)
- Staying at Yellowstone Lake lodging
If you are taking the dream road trip out west from the East Coast, you’ll likely enter Yellowstone National Park through the East Entrance.
It’s a convenient entry point if you’ve stopped at Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills or Badlands National Park on the way.
It’s a beautiful entrance as it takes you right along the shore of Yellowstone Lake, but it doesn’t have a convenient gateway town attached to it so you’ll find lodging elsewhere in the park or the gateway towns of West Yellowstone, Gardiner, or Silver Gate/Cooke City.
Some visitors stay in Cody, WY and visit the Yellowstone through the East Entrance but it is 52 miles to the entrance and even longer to the park’s major attractions, so I don’t recommend making it a home base.
Seasonal Closures In Yellowstone National Park
Keep in mind that few facilities are open year-round and services are limited from early November through late-April.
The only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction).
Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April, and are open to limited oversnow travel (commercially-guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches) from mid-December to mid-March.
Road & Entrance Status
Tip: You can sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting 82190 to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions). Before traveling, it’s also a good idea to:
- Check road conditions outside of Yellowstone in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Grand Teton National Park.
- View the park webcams to see current traffic conditions at the North and West entrances to Yellowstone.
In Summary
So there you have it! As you can see, there are lots of decisions to make when planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park. We’ve shared all of our tips in our Family Vacation in Yellowstone– A Detailed 5 day itinerary.
The best entrance to Yellowstone National Park depends primarily on where you’re coming from, what you want to see, where you’re staying, and how long you have to see the park. In general, most visitors enter Yellowstone through the West Entrance. Happy Trails! Enjoy your time in Yellowstone country. It’s truly special! – Amy
For future reference, our Yellowstone 5 day itinerary is also available in a handy, convenient PDF file ($15) for your device. You’ll find all the details you need for each day including worthwhile stops along the way to each location, travel time between destinations, the best family-friendly attractions, helpful tips, labeled maps, and the best lodging/dining choices.
