Planning a trip to Yellowstone and wondering what is the best entrance to Yellowstone National Park? Anyone who has been to the park will tell you it is vast and full of amazing things to do. However given it’s enormous size it should come as no surprise that there are 5 Yellowstone entrances that are great distances from one and other. In this guide we will tell you all of the entrances, and what entrance for Yellowstone is best for specific reasons.
What are the 5 Yellowstone Entrances?
Roosevelt Arch Yellowstone – Best Entrance to Yellowstone National Park
- North Entrance
- North East Entrance
- East Entrance
- South Entrance
- West Entrance
And from the names you can probably guess their geographic spread across the park.
Now you know what the entrances are we will discuss what is the best entrance to Yellowstone, what is near each Yellowstone entrance and amenities at each entrance.
But before we do that there are some practical points you need to know about some of the entrances such as Yellowstone entrance closures which will obviously influence whether or not you can use a specific entrance.
Yellowstone Entrance Closures
Yellowstone sign
Obviously if an entrance is closed then you will be unable to use it. And the truth is that there are frequent Yellowstone entrance closures.
This isn’t usually because of maintenance or traffic but due to weather. Several of the Yellowstone entrances close during bad weather and some entrances are completely seasonal they are:
Does the North Entrance to Yellowstone close?
The North Entrance at Yellowstone is in fact the only Yellowstone entrance that is open all year round.
If you want to visit Yellowstone in Winter then you will definitely want to use North Entrance as it is the only one which will be open.
However it is worth noting that the road between the Norris Geyser Basin to Mammoth Hot Springs closes between November and April which will greatly influence your Yellowstone winter itinerary.
North-East Entrance to Yellowstone closures
This entrance may close in Winter. Be sure to check the Yellowstone National Park Service Website before traveling to find out whether this entrance will be open or shut for you dates of visit.
East Entrance to Yellowstone Closures
This entrance is one of the seasonal entrances to Yellowstone. This entrance is only usable between May and 1st November every year (for exact dates for your year of travel be sure to check the Park service website).
South Entrance to Yellowstone Closures?
As with the East entrance, the South entrance has a limited opening period between mid-May through early November for all vehicles usually.
The entrance then reopens in December but only to certain types of traffic. From Mid December to Mid March oversaw vehicles such as snowmobiles will be permitted to use this entrance.
When is the West Entrance to Yellowstone Closed?
West Yellowstone entrance is another Yellowstone entrance that closes seasonally. Usually this entrance is open and permitted to be used by cars from the third Friday of April at 8:00 until c. November 1st.
However this and other entrances are always liable to close if the weather and conditions dictate. Therefore it is always important to check your entrance status before you set off.
So now you have an overview of the entrances to Yellowstone and their operational dates we want to discuss which is the best Yellowstone entrance.
What is the Best Entrance to Yellowstone National Park
Where to Stay Near Yellowstone
When you think about the best Yellowstone entrance to use I would say that this will depend on a number of factors including but not limited to:
- Time of year you are visiting as some entrances are closed during certain times of year
- Road Closures within Yellowstone – There is an extensive system of roads in Yellowstone, which all require maintenance. BE sure the roads you need close to your entrance or Attraction you want to visit are operational to precvent a long and circuious journey.
- What you want to see – if there is an attraction you most want to see more than anything else I would advise picking the entrance nearest to it to make sure this is a priority on your Yellowstone itinerary.
If you are traveling during the main Yellowstone season with no road or entrance closures then I would personally always pick to base myself near West Yellowstone at the West Entrance.
Next Read: Yellowstone Summer packing list
However if you are traveling in the off season or if you are worried or if there is a chance of bad weather causing closures then you absolutely should only consider entering via the North Entrance.
For more information pin where to stay by each Yellowstone entrance check out this post.
What is the main entrance to Yellowstone?
There actually isn’t one entrance that can be categorised as the MAIN entrance to Yellowstone.
Some people may consider North Entrance the main entrance because it is the one that has year round opening.
Another reason that North Entrance could be considered to be the main entrance is because it is often considered the ceremonial entrance to Yellowstone.
The famed Roosevelt arch is at North entrance and is perhaps the most visually and iconic entrance at the park.
Which entrance into Yellowstone is the best for certain attractions ?
If you want to pick your entrance to Yellowstone based on their proximity to certain attractions then this is the breakdown of what each entrance is best for:
North Entrance
Attractions:
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Fort Yellowstone Historic District
Closest Town: Gardiner
Closest Airport: Bozeman International Airport
This entrance has longest opening dates of any entrance.
Northeast Entrance
Attractions:
- Lamar Valley
Closest Town: Cooke City
Attractions Outside of Yellowstone near entrance:
- Beartooth Highway – a beautiful scenic drive that goes to a height of 11,000feet.
East Entrance
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Attractions:
- Yellowstone Lake.
- Hayden Valley
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Closest Town: Lake Yellowstone
Cody is also popular but over a 50 mile drive but is a great location for those happy to stay further outside of the park.
Attractions Outside of Yellowstone near entrance:
- Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway
South Entrance
Attractions:
- West Thumb Geyser Basin – one of the best places to see geysers in Yellowstone
Closest Town: Jackson
Attractions Outside of Yellowstone near entrance:
- Grand Teton National Park
West Entrance
West Yellowstone view – Best Entrance for Yellowstone
Attractions:
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Midway Geyser Basin
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Old Faithful
Closest Town: West Yellowstone
Attractions Outside of Yellowstone near entrance:
- Grizzly and Wold Discovery Center
FAQS About the Best Entrance for Yellowstone
Now we have given you are overview of the best entrance for Yellowstone we will answer some of your specific questions. However if you don’t see your question answered here please leave us a comment and we are happy to answer.
Which Yellowstone entrance is closest to Jackson Hole?
The closest Yellowstone to Jackson hole is the South Entrance. The distance between the South entrance and Jackson hole is around 57miles.
Which Yellowstone entrance has the most wildlife?
view of Lamar valley – Best Entrance to Yellowstone National Park – Lamar Valley
You can see wildlife throughout Yellowstone National Park. However if you want a chance to see wolves, bears, bison and more Yellowstone wildlife then you need to head to the Lamar or Hayden Valley.
The Lamar Valley is closest to the Northeast Entrance and Hayden Valley is closest to the East entrance.
We recommend staying close to these entrances for those who want to see wildlife as you need to be in the park very early or at dusk if you want to have the best chance to sight animals in the park.
What is the most popular entrance to Yellowstone?
The most popular entrance to Yellowstone by quite a way is West Yellowstone. This is probably because of the amenities nearby and the easy access.
Best entrance for those visiting Grand Teton and YEllowstone?
If you want to do a combined national park trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton then you need to be staying near the South entrance.
What is the best entrance to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful?
The best entrance to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful is the West Entrance at West Yellowstone. This entrance is physically closest to Old Faithful.
Is north or west entrance better for Yellowstone?
North and West entrance are my personal favorite entrances for Yellowstone.
That is because West Yellowstone is a short drive to some of the big attractions i.e. Grand Prismatic Lake and Old Faithful.
Also the town of West Yellowstone has many great restaurants and good value hotels.
I also find that it has some of the more family friendly things to do near Yellowstone so would recommend this for those visiting Yellowstone with toddlers or traveling to Yellowstone with kids.
However if you plan to visit outside of peak season and there is even a chance of bad weather you may want to stay near North entrance as this entrance stays open longer than the rest.