Most Yellowstone Park Roads Closed to All Vehicles - NPS

-

Most Park Roads Closed to All Vehicles 

Most roads are closed to prepare for commercially-guided snowcoach and snowmobile travel during the winter season, which will begin December 15 (weather depending). The road between the North and Northeast entrances is the only road open year-round to regular vehicles.

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. When open, roads are not gated at night and people may enter/exit the park 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


Yellowstone has five entrance stations, and it takes several hours to drive between them. Anticipate possible road closures, and check the road status of the entrance you intend to use before traveling.

Road & Entrance Status

For up-to-date information, check out the live road status map (above), call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information, or 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:

 

Roads Outside the Northeast Entrance

After initial opening, weather causes occasional closures. Please check locally or at WY DOT and MT DOT before traveling.

Beartooth Highway (Closed for season)

US-212, Cooke City to Red Lodge, Montana

  • Open the Friday of Memorial Day weekend to mid-October.

Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

WY-296, Cooke City, Montana, to Cody, Wyoming, or Laurel, Montana

  • Open year-round from WY-120 to Pilot Creek Parking Lot (4 miles toward Cooke City from the junction of WY-296/US-212). In winter, 9 miles of road are closed to wheeled vehicles (oversnow travel only) from Cooke City to Pilot Creek. This segment of road is open to wheeled vehicles mid-May through early November. Please check locally or at WY DOT.