Welcome to Yellowstone Net

Yellowstone National Park is America’s first and foremost National Park. Established in 1872 by the United States Congress for the preservation of its many wonders and for the enjoyment of the people. Yellowstone National Park – is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, and includes small areas of Montana and Idaho as well. In addition to its superb Rocky Mountain scenery, the park is one of the world’s principal wildlife preserves. It’s also the site of America’s greatest concentration of geysers and hot springs, which form a visible and spectacular link with the primeval forces of the Earth’s creation. Yellowstone is also the oldest national park in the country. In fact, the original idea of setting aside natural resources like Yellowstone began here when some of the territory’s first explorers began a unique campaign to preserve the beauty of these lands for generations to follow. Here more than two million acres of a high mountain-ringed plateau have been set aside for permanent protection as a natural preserve. It’s been called America’s finest and most diverse vacationland.

Yellowstone is a treasure that inspires awe in travelers from around the world, boasting more geysers than anywhere else on the globe. Yellowstone in its early days was known simply as “Wonderland.” It is the destination of a lifetime for all ages. Yellowstone National Park and the larger Yellowstone region feature numerous hotel and other lodging facilities. Lodging inside Yellowstone is highly desirable but limited.

Fire Danger is Very High

The parkwide fire danger level for Yellowstone is now VERY HIGH and Stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect.

Fire restrictions include:

Backcountry and trails

Prohibited: Charcoal or wood fire campfires in the backcountry, including those in established fire rings.
Prohibited: Smoking in the backcountry and on all trails, except immediately adjacent to the provided fire ring in designated campsites or within a 3-foot-diameter area barren of all flammable material (e.g. standing in water, on a boat).
Permitted: Portable gas stoves and lanterns in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable materials within 3 feet.

Frontcountry and developed areas

Permitted: Smoking only in:
- an enclosed vehicle
- a single-family dwelling
- a developed campground
- a day-use picnic area
- within a 3-foot-diameter area that is barren or cleared of all flammable material
Permitted: Campfires in designated fire rings in frontcountry developed campgrounds (Madison, Mammoth, Slough Creek, Canyon, Indian Creek, Pebble Creek, Lewis Lake, Grant Village and Bridge Bay) and day-use picnic areas. All campfires must be cold to the touch before abandoning. Soak, stir, feel, repeat.

Fireworks are not allowed in the park. Visitors are reminded that negligently starting a wildland fire may result in fines and/or imprisonment.

Quick Links to our most viewed pages

Park Newspaper – Old Faithful Geyser – Top Ten Attractions – Official Yellowstone National Park Map – Live View of Old Faithful

Yellowstone Entrance Fees

Seven-day Passes

Good for entry into Yellowstone National Park for seven days from the date of purchase.

Private, non-commercial vehicle: $35
Motorcycle or snowmobile: $30
Individual (by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.): $20/person

Visit our Entrance Fee page for more pricing.

Yellowstone National Park Fast Facts

GENERAL

World’s First National Park
A designated World Heritage Site and designated Biosphere Reserve
3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km
2,221,766 acres or 898,317 hectares
63 air miles north to south (102 km)
54 air miles east to west 87 km)
96 % in Wyoming
3 % in Montana
1 % in Idaho
Highest Point: 11,358 ft / 3,462 m (Eagle Peak)
Lowest Point: 5,282 ft / 1,610 m (Reese Creek)
Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined
Approximately 5% of park is covered by water; 15% is grassland; and 80% is forest
Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at the north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner
Temperatures (average) at Mammoth: January: 9° F/-13 C in
July: 80° F/27 C
Records:
High: 99°F/37 C, 2002 (Mammoth)
Low Temp: -66° F/-54 C (West Entrance, Riverside Station 1933)

GEOLOGY

An active volcano
Approximately 1,000-3,000 earthquakes annually
Approximately 10,000 thermal features
More than 300 geysers
One of the world’s largest calderas, measuring 45 by 30 miles (72 by 48 km)
Thousands of petrified trees in northern Yellowstone
Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher, flowing year-round
Tallest waterfall: Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 308 ft. (94 m)
WILDLIFE

67 species of mammals, including:

7 species of native ungulates
2 species of bears
322 recorded species of birds (148 nesting species)
16 species of fish (5 non-native)
6 species of reptiles
4 species of amphibians
2 threatened species: Canada lynx, grizzly bear
1 endangered species: gray wolf

Frequently asked Yellowstone questions

Visit the rest of our pages for complete Yellowstone Information

What is the best time to visit Yellowstone?

Although Yellowstone National Park is open year around, certain times are better to visit than others. The park is primarily open from May to October, with the months of July and August attracting the largest number of visitors. May, June and September are somewhat less crowded, and the weather during this time can still be a bit cool due to Yellowstone’s high altitude. For winter visitation, the months of January and February are best.

What roads are now Open

For up-to-date information consult the map below, call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information, or sign up to receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone by texting “82190” to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).
Open roads may close temporarily due to inclement weather and other reasons.
Open roads are not gated at night: people may enter/exit the park 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The map below shows the current status of all park roads. Green roads indicate roads that are open to auto travel and red roads indicate roads that are closed to all travel. Temporary closures are always possible.

Where should I stay when Yellowstone is full?

There are many lodging options near Yellowstone. Your choice will depend on your personal preference and how far you wish to drive to see the sights you wish to visit in Yellowstone.

West Yellowstone, Montana offers the greatest number of hotel rooms and cabins, Cooke City / Silver Gate, Montana the least.

Gardiner is close to the north entrance of Yellowstone, but does not have as many rooms as does West Yellowstone.

Cody, Wyoming (to the east) and Jackson, Wyoming (south) are each about an hour from Yellowstone.

Where should I stay in Yellowstone?

If you wish to lodge inside of Yellowstone National Park, it is best to plan well ahead of time as most of the rooms inside the park fill a year ahead of time.

The park is very large. When choosing a lodging option, one approach is to pick a hotel or lodge near attractions you wish to visit.

Be advised that lodging inside Yellowstone contains no televisions, swimming pools or many other modern amenities.

Built in 1903/04, the Old Faithful Inn is the most iconic and most popular lodge in Yellowstone. A world-renowned lodge made of lodgepole pine logs, the Inn features a variety of rooms and is situated in Old Faithful Village adjacent to the Upper Geyser Basin and near Old Faithful Geyser, the most popular attraction in the park. Other lodging options in the village include the Old Faithful Snow Lodge (hotel rooms and cabins) and the Old Faithful Lodge (cabins).

Many other lodging options are also available in Yellowstone.

Lake Village is home to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins, the most upscale lodging facilities in the park. Also in Lake Village are the Lake Lodge and Cabins, another popular lodging option.

Also in the interior of Yellowstone is the newly-remodeled Canyon Lodge and Cabins, located near the Grand Canyon and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River.

North of the Canyon Lodge and Cabins is the Roosevelt Lodge, the smallest of the lodging villages and the most rustic cabins in the park.

The Mammoth Hotel and Cabins in Mammoth Hot Springs are located near Yellowstone’s northern entrance. Grant Village Hotel, a 1960s-era structure, is near the southern entrance.

In addition to lodges, hotels and cabins, many roadside public campgrounds are available throughout Yellowstone.

Where should I stay near Yellowstone?

Each of the five entrances to Yellowstone is adjacent or near a gateway community. The various lodging options in the gateway communities run the gamut from relatively inexpensive to upscale and expensive, and include national chain lodging properties as well as unique, local accommodations.

Your choice of lodging in a given gateway community will involve some driving time to see Yellowstone. During your Yellowstone visit you may want to make reservations in more than one gateway community in order to more easily see more of the park.

The west entrance is the most popular park entrance. Adjacent to the west entrance is the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, a gateway community featuring many lodging options from guest ranches to hotels to home rentals to glamping and camping. West Yellowstone is 30 miles from Old Faithful Village.

At the northern entrance to the park the small town of Gardiner, Montana offers a variety of hotels and home rentals. Gardiner is five miles from Yellowstone’s Mammoth Village.

Near Yellowstone’s northeast entrance are the adjacent communities of Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana. Accommodations include hotels and rentals. Cooke City and Silver Gate are in the vicinity of the famed Lamar Valley, renowned as the best place to watch the park’s wolves.

Within fifty miles east of the park’s east entrance are a number of hotels, campgrounds and dude ranches. The famous Old West town of Cody, Wyoming is fifty miles from Yellowstone’s east entrance and offers many hotel and cabin options.

Grand Teton National Park is south of Yellowstone. Hotel rooms and cabins are available in Grand Teton National Park and in Jackson, Wyoming, yet further to the South.

What would happen if the volcano in Yellowstone erupted?

The Yellowstone supervolcano is different from a regular volcano. Residing underneath Yellowstone, the supervolcano generates enormous amounts of heat near the surface of the ground that in turn powers the thousands of geysers, hot pools, mud pots and steam vents in the park. Geological studies indicate that over the course of recent millions of years the supervolcano has erupted approximately every 600,000 years. There are no indications it will erupt anytime soon. Humanity may have disappeared from planet earth by the time Yellowstone’s supervolcano again erupts. But should that not be the case, and if the land mass of the United States (or whatever it may be called by that time) is roughly the same as now, the eruption could cause various levels of devastation and damage over perhaps one-half of the land mass, while potentially triggering global climate change.