The north gate of the Yellowstone National Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yellowstone National Park is a truly great place to visit, but you’ve gotta’ make sure that it’s open and that there are gonna’ be some facilities available . . . just in case you need ’em. Well, Yellowstone National Park is open all year round, just so long as you head for the North Entrance which is outside of Gardiner, MT, just a little south of Livingston in the winter time. The road is regularly plowed during the winter months and heads on towards Cooke City, MT, and the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. You won’t be able to get further past that point out of the park in the winter, however, due to the pass to Red Lodge, MT not having winter maintenance.

All other entrances to Yellowstone National Park close during November to regular automobile traffic whilst they’re being prepared for the winter season with snowmobile and snow coaches, plus towards the end of March and early in April when the roads are being prepared for the summer season. During the winter time the roads within the park are only open for over-snow vehicles.

Summer roads in Yellowstone National Park, however, once they are open, are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, unless they have to be closed due to weather conditions etc, but that kinda’ goes without saying at Yellowstone National Park, you never know what’s coming next!

Things change quickly at Yellowstone National Park – always check for updates before leaving home, especially during the winter months.

Yellowstone National Park Visitor Centers & Ranger Stations Operating Hours

Albright Visitor Center – this Yellowstone National Park visitor center is at Mammoth Hot Springs, and is open daily throughout the year.

• Beginning of October through to end of May – 9am – 5pm
• End of May through to end of September – 8am – 7pm

View from the overlook at the main terrace of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Canyon Visitor Education Center – has lots of exciting, interactive exhibits where you can learn all about the geology of Yellowstone National Park. This visitor center closes during the winter months, opening hours are;

• May 12th until May 25th – 9am – 5pm
• May 26th until September 3rd – 8am – 8pm
• September 4th until September 30th – 8am – 6pm
• October 1st until October 14th – 9am – 5pm

Fishing Bridge Visitor Center – with lots of great information about the birds and other wildlife found in Yellowstone National Park , opening hours;

• May 23rd until September 30th – 8am – 7pm

Okay, the quality of the videos not great, but Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park is awesome.

Grant Visitor Center – has lots of interesting information about the historic fires which raged through Yellowstone National Park in 1988. Open from;

• May 26th until September 30th – 8am – 7pm

Junior Ranger Station – located at the Madison Information Station – is open from;

• May 26th until September 3rd – 9am – 6pm

Madison Information Station – home of the Junior Ranger Station – is open from; 

• May 23rd until September 30th – 9am – 6pm

Museum of the National Park Ranger, Norris – located one mile to the north of Norris, this museum presents the history of the National Park Ranger . . . well, Yellowstone is the oldest national park, so I suppose it stands to reason really. Opening hours are;

• May 26th until September 23rd – 9am – 5pm

Norris Geyser Basin Museum & Information Station – with some fantastic exhibits about all of the hydrothermal features found in Yellowstone National Park, open from;

• May 23rd until September 30th – 9am – 6pm

Old Faithful Visitor Education Center – possibly the most famous feature of Yellowstone National Park. Open from;

• April 20th until May 25th – 9am – 6pm
• May 26th until September 30th – 8am – 8pm
• October 1st until November 4th – 9am – 5pm

West Thumb Information Center – opening hours;

• May 26th until September 30th – 9am – 5pm

West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center – in the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, opens as follows;

• January 1st until April 30th – 8am – 5pm week days only
• May 1st until May 25th – 8am – 6pm daily
• May 26th until September 2nd – 8am – 8pm daily
• September 3rd until September 30th – 8am – 6pm daily

Yellowstone National Park Camping

If you love camping, then Yellowstone National Park is the place for you. With a total of 12 campgrounds offering more than 2,000 campsites (not including back-country sites) you’re sure to have a great time camping at Yellowstone.  Some campgrounds are strictly on a first come, first served basis – some reservations are possible, in fact, they’re advisable during the peak season. Find more information about camping at Yellowstone National Park on our fees and reservations page.