Yellowstone National Park

How to Get to Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming, with sections in eastern Idaho and southern Montana. Park includes five main entrances: the north entrance is on US 89, near the gateway community of Gardiner, MT; the northeast entrance is on US 212, 69 miles from Red Lodge, WY; the west entrance is on US 20, near the town of West Yellowstone, MT; the east entrance is on US 20 and US 14/16, 53 miles from Cody, WY; and the south entrance is on US 89, 191 and 287, 64 miles from Jackson, WY.

Recommended Scenic Routes Near Yellowstone National Park:

If you are approaching Yellowstone from the north or the east, you will definitely want to take the Beartooth Highway, a 69-mile "All-American" Road that passes through sections of southern Montana and northern Wyoming. It is considered by many to be one of the most spectacular National Forest routes on the North American continent and offers visitors a rare opportunity to see the transition from a lush forest ecosystem to alpine tundra in the space of just a few miles. It is one of the highest and most rugged areas in the lower 48 states, with 20 peaks reaching over 12,000 feet in elevation.

From Red Lodge, Montana, the Beartooth Highway runs south on US 212 to the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Red Lodge is easily reached from I-90, which crosses the southern portion of Montana. From Cody, Wyoming, you can pick up the Beartooth be going north on WY 120 for 17 miles to the junction of WY 120 and WY 296. Then follow WY 296 for 47 miles to its intersection with US 212 (The Beartooth).

Park Size:

2,219,791 acres.

Description:

Old Faithful and some 10,000 other thermal features make this the Earth's greatest geyser area. Here, too, are lakes, waterfalls, high mountain meadows, wildlife, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, all set apart in 1872 as the world's first national park.

Facilities:

Badlands includes two visitor centers: 1) The Ben Reifel Visitor Center (open year round), located at park headquarters at Cedar Pass, which includes an information desk, park orientation movie, exhibits, park offices, restrooms, water, and public telephone. 2) White River Visitor Center (open June-August), located on the Pine Ridge Reservation on Highway 27, which includes an information desk, park orientation movie, exhibits, restrooms, and water. The Cedar Pass Lodge, located next to the Ben Reifel Visitors Center, offers food service from April 1 and air conditioned cabins from April 15 until the season ends in mid-October. For reservations, call 605-433-5460. Park's campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Things to Do:

Camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, wildlife viewing, auto touring, ranger-led programs, educational programs and courses.

Lodging and Camping

Lodging in Yellowstone National Park ranges from rustic cabins to luxury suites. Facilities are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. Reservation information can be obtained online or by calling 307-344-7311. Lodging includes: Canyon Lodge and Cabins, located near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its Lower Falls; Grant Village, situated on the southwestern shore of Yellowstone Lake, approximately 20 miles from Old Faithful; Lake Lodge Cabins; Lake Yellowstone Hotel, on the shore of Yellowstone Lake; Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, located near the park's north entrance; Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, and Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins, located in the Old Faithful area; and Roosevelt Lodge Cabins, located in the Tower-Roosevelt Area.

There are a total of 12 campgrounds in Yellowstone National Park. Seven are operated by the National Park Service (Indian Creek, Lewis Lake, Mammoth, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek, and Tower Fall) and are all available on a first-come, first-served basis. The other five campgrounds -- Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park, Grant Village, and Madison -- are operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts through a reservations system. Same-day reservations can be made by calling 307-344-7901; future reservations can be made by calling 307-344-7311, or by writing to: Yellowstone National Park Lodges, PO Box 165, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190.

Operating Hours:

The park is open year-round. Yellowstone includes eight visitor facilities operated by the National Park Service, including visitor centers, museums, and contact stations. These include: the Albright Visitor Center and Museum (in Mammoth Hot Springs), Norris Geyser Basin Museum (Norris Junction), Madison Information Station (in Madison Junction), Old Faithful Visitor Center, Grant Visitor Center (on the shore of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake), Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center (near the Grand Loop Road on the East Entrance Road), Canyon Visitor Center (in Canyon Junction), and three ranger stations (in the Tower District).

History:

Established on March 1, 1872. Designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and a World Heritage Site in 1978. Park features a museum collection (consisting of more than 200,000 objects) and archives of national and international significance which document and help to interpret the cultural and natural history of the world's first national park.

Contact the Park:

Yellowstone National Park
P.O. Box 168
Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190
307-344-7381

Additional Resouces on Yellowstone National Park

Maps - List of available maps of the park and surrounding area.

Yellowstone Net - a variety of information on the park

Yellowstone Park Foundation - fund projects and programs that protect and preserve Yellowstone NP.

Yellowstone Association - non-profit educational organization that promotes the preservation of Yellowstone NP.

Yellowstone Today - park's official newspaper

Yellowstone Resources & Issues Handbook - includes answers to many basic park questions.

Yellowstone Publications - links to a number of publications related to the park.

National Geographic Yellowstone (for Kids) - includes games, classroom projects and more.

Wyoming Office of Tourism

Wyoming State Parks & Historic Sites