2015 Yellowstone National Park Opening & Closing Dates

2015 Road System

Weather permitting, roads open at 8:00 a.m.  Changes and delays are always possible.

2015 Spring Opening Dates

April 17: Mammoth to Old Faithful; Madison to West Entrance;Norris to Canyon.
May 1: Canyon Junction to Lake;Lake to East Entrance (Sylvan Pass).
May 8: Lake to South Entrance;Tower Junction to Tower Fall.
May 22: Tower Fall to Canyon Junction (Dunraven Pass); Beartooth Highway.
June 11: Old Faithful to West Thumb (Craig Pass).

2015 Fall Closing Dates

October 13: Beartooth Pass and Dunraven Pass close
November 2: All roads except the road between the North and the Northeast Entrances

Bridge Bay

• Campground: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 7.
• Dock Rental: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 13.
• Marina Store: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 7.
• Boat Tours: Opens June 15, closes Sept. 13.
• Scenic Cruiser: Opens June 15, closes Sept. 13.

Canyon Village

• Yellowstone Adventure Store: Opens April 17, closes Nov. 2.
• Service Station (credit card service at all pumps): Opens May 1, closes Oct. 19.
• Wrecker Service: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 11.
• Canyon General Store: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 11.
• Repair Service: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 7.
• Canyon Visitor Education Center: Open (lobby).
• Canyon Campground: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 13.
• Canyon Lodge/Cabins: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 19.
• Cafeteria: Open May 23, closes Sept. 13.
• Trail Rides: Opens June 23, closes Sept. 6.

Fishing Bridge

• Fishing Bridge RV Park: Opens May 8, closes Sept. 20.
• General Store: Opens May 8, closes Sept. 24.
• Service Station (credit card service at all pumps): Opens May 8, closes Sept. 20.
• Wrecker & Repair Service: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 7.

Grant Village

• Mini Store: Opens May 15, closes Sept. 28.
• Lodging and Restaurant: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 26.
• Lake House Restaurant: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 20.
• Wrecker/Repair Service: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 7.
• Service Station: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 27.
• Grant General Store: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 21.
• Grant Campground: Opens June 21, closes Sept. 20.

Lake Village

• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 4.
• Lake Dining Room & Deli: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 4.
• Lake Hotel Cabins: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 4.
• Lake Clinic: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 19.
• Lake General Store: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 21.
• Lake Lodge & Cabins: Opens June 10, closes Sept. 27.
• Lake Lodge Cafeteria: Opens June 10, closes Sept. 27.

Mammoth Hot Springs

• Albright Visitor Center: Closed for renovations. Temporary visitor center is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Mammoth General Store: Open all year, but might be closed on Sundays and some holidays.
• Terrace Grill Fast Food: Open April 24, closes Oct. 18.
• Mammoth Gift Shop: Opens April 24, closes Oct. 18.
• Mammoth Hotel/Cabins/Dining Room: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 12.
• Service Station: Opens May 18, closes Oct. 5.
• Mammoth Campground: Open year-round.

Old Faithful

• Old Faithful Visitor Center: Open.
• Snow Lodge Geyser Grill Fast Food/Bear Den Gift Shop: Open now, closes March 15. Opens April 17, closes Nov. 1.
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge Rooms, Cabins and Restaurant: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 18.
• Service Station (lower): Opens May 1, closes Oct. 11.
• Old Faithful Upper General Store: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 12.
• Wrecker Service: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 11.
• Old Faithful Inn, Gift Shop, Dining Room, Bear Paw Deli: Opens May 8, closes Oct. 11.
• Old Faithful Lodge: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 9.
• Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 9.
• Old Faithful Lodge Gift Shop, Bake Shop: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 9.
• Old Faithful Clinic: Opens May 15, closes Oct. 2.
• Service Station (upper): Opens May 29, closes Sept. 14.
• Old Faithful Lower Store (basin): Opens May 22, closes Sept. 28.
• Repair Service: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 7.

Tower/Roosevelt

• Tower Fall General Store: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 17.
• Tower Junction Service Station: Opens June 6, closes Sept. 1.
• Roosevelt Lodge/Cabins: Opens June 5, closes Sept. 7.
• Horse Rides/Stagecoach: Opens June 5, closes Sept. 6.
• Roosevelt Store: Opens June 5, closes Aug. 31.
• Cook-Out: Opens June 6, closes Sept. 12.

Concession Campgrounds

• Bridge Bay: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 7.
• Canyon: Opens May 29, closes Sept. 13.
• Grant Village: Opens June 21, closes Sept. 20.
• Madison: Opens May 1, closes Oct. 18.
• Fishing Bridge RV Park: Opens May 5, closes Sept. 20.

Park Service Campgrounds

• Indian Creek: Opens June 12, closes Sept. 14.
• Lewis Lake: Opens June 15, closes Nov. 1.
• Mammoth: Open all year.
• Norris: Opens May 15, closes Sept. 28.
• Pebble Creek: Opens June 15, closes Sept. 28.
• Slough Creek: Opens June 15, closes Oct. 7.
• Tower Fall: Opens May 22, closes Sept. 28.

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Introduction to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance

Welcome to America’s first national park!  Yellowstone was established in 1872 by act of Congress, and today the park encompasses more than 2.2 million acres of wilderness.  Yellowstone is a diverse ecosystem that is home to a variety of species of wildlife including grizzly and black bears, wolves, elk, moose, bison, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and many others.  The park also contains the world’s largest concentration of geysers, including the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser.

There are five entrances to the park – north, south, east, west, and northeast.  The road system inside  Yellowstone National Park is laid out like a figure eight with the upper loop covering the northern half of the park and the lower loop traversing the southern half.  There are several lodging options from which to choose inside the park including the Old Faithful Inn, Canyon Lodge, Lake Hotel, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Roosevelt Lodge, Grant Village, Lake Lodge Cabins, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Old Faithful Lodge Cabins.  Lodging inside the park often sells out months in advance due to the popularity of Yellowstone.  However, there are also excellent lodging options just outside of the west and north park entrances.  West Yellowstone, Montana (the west entrance) offers a variety of lodging options along with attractions such as the  Yellowstone IMAX Theater, the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, and the Yellowstone Museum.  Gardiner, Montana (the north entrance) also offers convenient lodging just a few miles north of Mammoth Hot Springs.  For those visitors who feel lucky, there are casinos with keno machines and live poker tables in West Yellowstone and Gardiner.

While you’re certain to see wildlife from the road as you drive through the park, you should consider a hike into the wilderness.  Even if it’s only a short hike off the road, you’ll see and experience the park from a different perspective if you venture into the wild.  Stay on the trails and following directions provided on trail signs.  Also, don’t forget your camera as you may see one of the countless natural wonders that Yellowstone has to offer.

There are a number of other activities that visitors may choose to experience including white water rafting in Gardiner, horseback rides in the park, guided tours, and the Roosevelt western cookout.  We recommend that you plan to visit the park for at least five days in order to comfortably explore all of its regions and major attractions.  Be sure to visit the Old Faithful geyser basins, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, the petrified forest, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley, Fishing Bridge, and the mud volcano.  There’s so much to see, and the adventure of a lifetime awaits you.  Don’t delay, plan your next Yellowstone National Park adventure today!  For more information about the park, visit our Yellowstone National Park website at http://www.mynationalparks.com.