Yellowstone National Park - Scenic Drives

Winter

 The winter season of snowmobile and snow coach travel runs from the third Wednesday in December until early March. All roads and entrances, with one exception, are closed to motor vehicle travel and are groomed for over snow vehicles. The exception is the North Entrance and the road from Gardiner, MT, through the Northeast Entrance to Cooke City, MT, which is open only to wheeled vehicles. Plowing stops at Cooke City, so you must return to the North Entrance to leave the park.

Spring

Plowing begins in early March. Depending on weather, the first stretches of road to open to motor vehicles include Mammoth-Norris, Norris-Madison, and West Yellowstone-Old Faithful; these roads open in mid-April. Roads on the east and south sides of the park, including East and South Entrances, typically open in early May. The Sunlight Basin Road, between Cooke City, MT and Cody, WY and Craig Pass, between Old Faithful and West Thumb, open by early May as conditions allow. Dunraven Pass, between Tower and Canyon Junctions, and the Beartooth Highway, connecting Cooke City to Red Lodge, MT generally open by Memorial Day weekend. Weather can especially affect road openings over the higher passes. Spring storms may cause restrictions or temporary closures on some roads.

Summer

Park roads are generally open for travel, barring accidents, rock/mud slides or road construction.

Fall

Storms may cause temporary restrictions (snow tire or chain requirements) or closures of park roads. Road reconstruction projects are underway in Yellowstone resulting in some closures of major sections of road. The Beartooth Highway, connecting Cooke City to Red Lodge, MT closes for the season in mid-October. Depending on weather, park roads close for the season on the first Monday of November. The only exception is the year round road from Gardiner to Cooke City, MT. The winter season of snowmobile and snow coach travel begins in mid-December.