The Five Entrances to Yellowstone
- The Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate, Montana,
- The North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana
- The West Entrance at West Yellowstone, Montana
- The South Entrance that connects to Teton National Park
- The East Entrance which is approximately 53 miles west of Cody, Wyoming
I recommend traveling in the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons if traveling by car. Most entrances close for the winter to road vehicles except part of the road from Gardiner, Montana to the North entrance of the park. There are, however, snowmobile guided tours coming in from the West Yellowstone entrance and the South Entrance as well as the North Entrance to the park. Whichever entrance you choose, if it is one with a town at the gate, please fill up your car’s gas tank. I cannot stress this enough, there are miles of road without gas. After all it is a national park and supervolcano.
1. The Northeast Entrance
The Northeast entrance is located near the small town of Silver Gate, Montana. It is through this entrance that you enter to the famous Lamar Valley, which is rich in diversity of wildlife. It is at the Lamar Valley where you can spot the bison (buffalo), grizzlies, elk, black bears and even wolves. If you encounter the animals, remember to watch from a safe distance. NEVER approach wildlife. If they are blocking the road, do not get out of your car and get close to the animals. Just enjoy nature!
There are a few lodging options at this entrance by Cooke City. There are also a few places to eat here. Please also fill up your car’s gas tank at this location. There are approximately 29 miles into the park before the first road junction and another 18-20 miles before the North Entrance Visitor Center or the Visitor Center at Canyon Village.
2. The North Entrance
The North entrance is located at the beautiful town of Gardiner, Montana. This quaint town has that western look and feel that movies of the old wild west portray. There are plenty of lodging options from Super 8, Comfort Inn, Best Western, and many other inns, bed and breakfasts, and even cabins. The town offers a variety of dining options as well. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center to get more information on Gardiner and a map of Yellowstone.
The most impressive thing about coming into the park through this entrance is only 5 miles from the gate and you come unto the massive Mammoth Hot Springs.
Mammoth Hot Springs is certainly an impressive site to see and hopefully it is on your list of things to see in Yellowstone. Driving up to see Mammoth Hot Springs you will pass the Boiling River (one of the few designated areas where you can swim). There is a section where hot thermal waters meet with the water of the Yellowstone River creating a warm area designated for swimming. By Mammoth Hot Springs you can see Libery Cap Spring and the Devil’s Thumb. As you drive further down you can see Beryl Springs where you can hear the impressive sounds of the heat, gases, and steam coming out of the ground.
3. The West Entrance
The West entrance to Yellowstone coming in at West Yellowstone, Montana has got to be one of the busiest entry points and, by far, a fan favorite. West Yellowstone is popular not only for its quaint beauty, but its variety of attractions, shopping, dining and lodging options. It rivals Gardiner for the many hotels, inns and even RV parks. The local food in West Yellowstone is great, but you also have the fast food chains everyone knows. It is the closest entry point to Geyser heaven.
Driving in 14 miles into the Madison Visitor Center area you will start to notice the many spectacular geyser basins including the lower basin where you can see the fountain geyser and many others. Further south you come into the beautiful breath-taking Grand Prismatic Spring which looks like a giant colorful eye/lake from the sky. It’s composed of minerals and micro-organisms that thrive in those hot waters and form the beautiful hues of color. Further along the route you come to many other geysers plus another Visitor Center where the famous and most popular attraction can be seen: Old Faithful Geyser.
4. The South Entrance
The South entrance will ensure that you have spectacular views and you see two parks at once. At Jackson, Wyoming, although it is further from Yellowstone’s entrance, you can find plenty of dining, shopping, and lodging. The town is known for its mix of the old and new making it popular for tourists in both the summer and in the winter for skiing. The drive from Jakson takes you up route US-191 North for 57 miles through the breath-taking Grand Teton National Park until you get to the South entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
Once you enter Yellowstone it’s a 22-mile drive until you get to the next visitor center and you get to see the Grant Village, West Thumb and the beautiful Yellowstone Lake. There you’ll be smack-dab in the middle of the Geyser basins. From West Thumb you can get to Old Faithful Geyser by going 17 miles west.
5. The East Entrance
The East entrance is probably the furthest from any nearby town at approximately 52 miles from Cody, Wyoming. Cody is a town that is essentially the Old West. The town’s famous founder Buffalo Bill is what it’s mostly known for, as well as the river dam of the same name which was the tallest dam ever built at the time of its construction. With plenty of shopping, dining, lodging, and attractions, it is a great place to visit on your way to Yellowstone.
Once in Yellowstone, you will drive 27 miles to the nearest Visitor Center by Yellowstone Lake, which apart from being great in size, it’s also the largest lake at that high of an elevation. By the lake you can find the Yellowstone Lake Hotel, but you must book in advance because it tends to get booked quickly, specially in the summer.
The entire road on this entrance is filled with amazing views of the park and geo-thermal vents. There are plenty of RV parking spaces and even fishing on the lake.
However you decide to enter Yellowstone, no matter what, it is worth the visit.
