(YELLOWSTONE, OCTOBER 28, 2015) — This weekend provides the last chance for visitors to drive to many iconic locations in Yellowstone before roads close to automobile travel and the park begins preparing for the winter season.
Roads to most of the park’s popular locations close to vehicle travel at 8:00 a.m. Monday, November 2. The exception is the road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana through Mammoth Hot Springs to the park’s Northeast Entrance and the communities of Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana, which is open all year, weather permitting. All other park roads close for the season to allow the park to begin preparing the roads for guided snowmobile and snowcoach travel beginning Tuesday, December 15.
Visitors driving to and in the park during the fall and winter should have flexible travel plans and be prepared for changing weather conditions. Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice. Mud and snow tires or tire chains may be required. For the most current information on road conditions and road closures in Yellowstone, visit http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm. The automated Road Report phone number, 307-344-2117, is available for information on whether a road is open or closed, but does not contain road condition information.
At Mammoth Hot Springs, the Yellowstone General Store, Post Office, medical clinic, campground, and visitor center remain open all year. Pay-at-the pump fuel is available 24 hours a day all year at all park service stations.
Extensive information and assistance for planning a visit to Yellowstone is available on the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/yell.
All communities near Yellowstone are open all year, with local businesses offering a wide range of fall and winter recreation opportunities.
Information on fall and winter lodging, camping, services, and activities near the park in the Montana communities of Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Cooke City, and Silver Gate is available by contacting their respective Chambers of Commerce or from the Montana Office of Tourism at 800-847-4868 or www.visitmt.com.
Those interested in visiting the Wyoming communities of Cody and Jackson while en route to Yellowstone can get information from their Chambers of Commerce, or by contacting Wyoming Office of Tourism at 800-225-5996 or www.wyomingtourism.org.
If your travel plans to Yellowstone take you through Idaho, you can get more information by calling the Idaho Division of Tourism Development at 800-847-4843 or by checking out their web site www.visitidaho.org.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 408 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
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