Hours & Seasons

Yellowstone National Park changes seasonally. Warm summer days are perfect for hiking and fishing, while a winter blanket of snow provides the perfect backdrop for snowmobiling and snow coach rides. Along with the change of season come changes in hours that facilities, visitor centers, campgrounds, and stores are open. Plan ahead and know what to expect when you come to Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park offers so many sights and things to do, it’s best to thoroughly plan your trip so you don’t miss out on any adventure. Below are all the hours and seasonal information you need to make your itinerary.

The most popular time of year to travel come to Yellowstone is in the mild summers. Usually daytime temperatures are in the 70s or 80s, with occasional thunderstorms in the afternoons. Nights are cool. Spring and fall are fairly unpredictable, with snow not uncommon. You should always be ready for sudden changes in the weather. Of course, winter temperatures range from 0 degrees to about 20. Sub-zero temperatures are common during the night.

Visitor Centers:

  • Albright Visitor Center: Open daily all year. Hours are through April 16th from 9 am to 5 pm; April 17th to May 22nd from 9 am to 6 pm; May 23rd and after from 8 am to 7 pm.
  • Canyon Visitor Education Center: Open daily from May 9th. Hours are from May 9th to May 22nd from 9 am to 5 pm; May 23rd and after from 8 am to 8 pm.
  • Old Faithful Visitor Center: Open daily from April 17. Hours are from April 17th to May 22nd from 9 am to 6 pm; May 23rd and after from 8 am to 7 pm; information window until 8 pm.
  • Fishing Bridge Visitor Center: Open daily from May 23rd from 8 am to 7 pm.
  • Grant Visitor Center: Open daily from May 23rd from 8 am to 7 pm.
  • Junior Ranger Station (at the Madison Information Station): Open daily from May 30th from 9 am to 6 pm.
  • Madison Information Station: Open daily from May 23rd from 9 am to 6 pm.
  • Norris Geyser Basin Museum & Information Station: Open daily from May 23rd from 9 am to 6 pm.
  • West Thumb Information Station: Open daily from May 23rd to September 30th from 9 am to 5 pm.
  • West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center: Open daily from April 17th from 8 am to 4 pm; May 23rd and after from 8 am to 8 pm.

Campgrounds:

Make reservations as early in the day as possible. During July through late August, campgrounds fill by early morning. If you have an RV over 30 feet, make a reservation since Yellowstone has a limited number of campsites available for this length vehicle.

  • Bridge Bay: Open from May 29 to September 13. 425 sites. Flush toilets and showers and laundry nearby. $18.50 a night.
  • Canyon: Open from June 5 to September 6. 250 sites. Flush toilets. $18.50 a night.
  • Fishing Bridge RV: Open from May 15 to September 27. 325 sites. Flush toilets. $35 a night. The only campground offering water, sewer and electrical hookups. No tents or tent trailers.
  • Grant: Open from June 21 to September 20. 400 sites. Flush toilets. $18.50 a night.
  • Indian Creek: Open from June 12 to September 14. 75 sites. Vault toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $12 a night.
  • Lewis Lake: Open from June 15 to November 1. 85 sites. Vault toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $12 a night.
  • Madison: Open from May 1 to October 25. 250 sites. Flush toilets. $18.50 a night.
  • Mammoth: Open all year. 85 sites. Flush toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $14 a night.
  • Norris: Open from May 15 to September 28. 100 sites. Flush toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $14 a night.
  • Pebble Creek: Open from June 12 to September 28. 30 sites. Vault toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $12 a night.
  • Slough Creek: Open from May 22 to October 31. 29 sites. Vault toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $12 a night.
  • Tower Fall: Open from May 15 to September 28. 30 sites. Vault toilets. Availability is first-come, first served. $12 a night.

Road Closures:

The roads that are open year round are the North Entrance Road to Upper Mammoth Terrace and Mammoth, to Tower Junction, and to the Northeast Entrance.

  • In the spring, on April 16, interior roads open to autos. The North Entrance to Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana is closed to east/west travel just east of Cooke City from late fall to early spring.
  • In summer, all roads will be open, except in unusual circumstances.
  • In fall, roads close in October at Tower Fall to Canyon Junction and Long Lake. In November, all park roads close at 8 am except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace and Mammoth via Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance.
  • In the winter, there is only one road open to wheeled vehicles and that is the road from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana to the Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana. You may need snow tires or chains. Although the road is open all day and night, winter storms may necessitate it being closed temporarily.

This information was obtained from the National Park Service website and we try to provide the most up to date information about the hours and seasons within Yellowstone National Park, but please note that the above mentioned dates and hours can change without notice.

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