Yellowstone News and Information

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for October 2023 Hikers cross the Hellroaring Creek Bridge NPS / Jacob W. Frank Subscribe    |  What is RSS News Release Date:  November 9, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 299,127 recreation visits in October 2023. This is a 26% increase from October 2022 (236,567 recreational visits). It is also a 75% increase from October 2019* (171,339 recreational visits) when several short-term, weather-related road closures likely impacted visitation.   So far in 2023, the park has hosted 4,446,509 recreation visits, up 37% from 2022 (3,241,761 recreation visits), and up 12% from 2019 (3,979,154 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through October):    2023 – 4,446,509 2022 – 3,241,761  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened on Ju...

  Most entrances and roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed Nov. 1 Last day for visitors to enjoy most of the park will be Oct. 31 Bison breath on a cool morning NPS / Jacob W. Frank   News Release Date:  October 24, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The West, South and East entrances and nearly all roads in Yellowstone National Park will be closed to regular vehicle traffic Nov. 1. The park annually closes roads at this time of year to prepare them for the  winter season  and  snowmobile and snowcoach  travel, which will begin Dec. 15. The last day for visitors to drive most park roads will be Tuesday, Oct. 31.   The only roads open year-round are between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana, and the Northeast Entrance in Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana (via Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley). Visitors planning to  drive in the park during the fall and winter ...

  Yellowstone visitation statistics for August 2023 People walking on the boardwalks in Mammoth Hot Springs. NPS / Jacob W. Frank News Release Date:  September 14, 2023 Contact:   Linda Veress , (307) 344-2015 MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – Yellowstone National Park hosted 846,389 recreation visits in August 2023. This is a 45% increase from August 2022 (582,211 recreational visits) and a 3% increase from August 2019* (820,006 recreational visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 3,313,244 recreation visits, up 36% from 2022 (2,437,607 recreation visits), and up 6% from 2019 (3,114,697 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through August): 2023 – 3,313,244 2022 – 2,437,607  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.) 2021 – 3,590,609 2020 – 2,556,528  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened J...

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for June 2023 News Release Date:  July 18, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015 The park hosted 847,864 recreation visits in June 2023. This is a 61% increase from June 2022, the month of the  historic flood  (525,363 recreational visits), and an 8% increase from June 2019* (781,853 recreation visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 1,493,510 recreation visits, up 19% from 2022 (1,258,834 recreation visits), and up 10% from 2019 (1,358,629 recreation visits).   The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through June):    2023 – 1,493,510 2022 – 1,258,834  (The park was closed June 13 through June 21. Three entrances opened June 22.) 2021 – 1,587,998 2020 –  719,054  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.) 2019 – 1,358,629 2018 – 1,381,708      Visiting ...

  NEWS RELEASE Yellowstone visitation statistics for May 2023         Visitors watching wildlife from a safe distance          NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – The park hosted 454,929 recreation visits in May 2023. This is a 13% decrease from May 2022 (523,680 recreation visits), which was Yellowstone National Park’s busiest May on record. This May’s visitation showed a 5% increase from May 2019* (434,385 recreation visits). So far in 2023, the park has hosted 645,646 recreation visits, down 12% from 2022 (733,471), and up 12% from 2019 (576,776 recreation visits). The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through May): 2023 – 645,646 2022 – 733,471 2021 – 649,153 2020 – 145,849  (The park was closed May 1 through May 17. Two entrances opened May 18 and the remaining three opened June 1.) 2019 – 576,776 2018 – 570,824 Summer is Yellowstone’s busiest season and m...

  Top 10 things to know about visiting Yellowstone National Park during the 2023 summer season      Plan like a park ranger      NPS / Jacob W. Frank MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – If you plan to travel to Yellowstone National Park this summer, plan ahead to protect yourself and this wild and awe-inspiring place. Within the park’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Listen and learn from park rangers by watching this  video . Follow the top 10 things to know to enjoy your visit and protect the park for generations to come!   No Vehicle Reservations Required Vehicle reservations are not required to enter the park – just a park entrance pass. Save time at entrance stations by  purchasing your pass online  before you arrive. K...

  Weather-permitting, Beartooth Highway (US-212) to open Friday, May 26 Stay informed about road status and weather conditions      Plowing Beartooth Highway 2021      NPS / Jacob W. Frank Weather-permitting, the Beartooth Highway (US-212), located east of the park’s Northeast Entrance between Red Lodge, Montana, and Cooke City, Montana, will open Friday, May 26 at 8 a.m. Watch for quickly changing weather, including winter weather conditions with heavy snow and hazardous driving conditions. Temporary road closures due to winter weather can occur any time on the highway given its high elevation. Plan to have alternate routes for travel should the highway close. Check the  Montana  and  Wyoming  departments of transportation websites for road updates and status throughout the summer. News Release Date:  May 24, 2023 Contact:   Morgan Warthin , (307) 344-2015

  Weather-permitting, Yellowstone National Park’s Dunraven Pass opens Friday, May 26 All park roads will be open Weather-permitting, the road from Canyon Village to Tower Fall (Dunraven Pass) will open Friday, May 26 at 8 a.m. to public motor vehicle traffic. The public are asked to: Watch for quickly changing weather conditions. Anticipate temporary road closures due to late spring storms and unsafe driving conditions. Stay informed about up-to-date road conditions and traffic delays due to road improvement projects in Yellowstone: Visit  Park Roads . Call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information. Receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions). Stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from all other wildlife. Do not crowd or push wildlife. Due to a severe winter of above-average snowpack, wildlife such as bison, elk and moose are stressed and wea...

  Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center opens for second season       Mason Runs Through (Assiniboine) engaging with Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center visitors.       YF / Alyssa McGeeley MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the  Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center  opens to the public for the season. Located in the Old Faithful area, the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center is a space where Indigenous artists, scholars and presenters from the 27  associated Tribes  of Yellowstone National Park directly engage with visitors through demonstrations and discussions. Now in its second year, the center is a partnership between the National Park Service and Yellowstone Forever, with Tribal consultation. During the 2023 season, 37 presenters from 18 associated Tribes will directly engage with Yellowstone visitors through formal and informal education. Presentations will include photography, beadwork, moccasin making, dancing, s...