What time does Yellowstone gates open?

Yellowstone National Park's West Entrance opens to the public on the 3rd (third) Friday of April at 8:00 am. Unless weather or other conditions do not allow. The West entrance closes normally the 1st (first) Monday of November at 9:00 pm. The only Entrance OPEN Year Round is the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana.



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Plan to Enter the Yellowstone Before 8 am. Most day visitors to Yellowstone arrive between about 8 am and 2 pm. So naturally, the longest lines at the entrance stations form then. The West Entrance is the busiest entrance and it isn't uncommon to hear of people waiting an hour or more to get into the park.

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YELLOWSTONE ONE DAY ITINERARY - THE UPPER LOOP
  • HOT TIP: Start early. ...
  • HOT TIP: Although very early morning and dusk are the best times for wildlife viewing in this area, a visit at any time of the day will typically result in seeing wildlife of some sort.
  • HOT TIP: We love arriving in the morning hours, before noon.


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The mornings (dawn until 11 a.m.) and evenings (6 p.m. until dusk) are perfect window times for beating the tour groups and family wagons and securing a spot with an uninterrupted view. If you prefer the morning, all you need is a trusty alarm clock, maybe a strong cup of coffee and an early start to the day.

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Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to purchase an entrance pass before arriving to save time, but you may also purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival.

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How to Avoid Crowds in Yellowstone
  1. Yellowstone National Park has over two million breathtaking acres. ...
  2. Our first suggestion is to go early, real early. ...
  3. Explore the understated areas. ...
  4. You can also check out the backcountry thermal areas. ...
  5. Another easy hike with great fishing is Buela Lake.


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That's because so many people are only interested in what they can see from the road. Your single best bet for enjoying a bit of solitude is to park your vehicle at a trailhead and do some hiking. Yellowstone has all kinds of trails running through lesser-known areas that are incredibly scenic without the fanfare.

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This may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but geysers do emit a bit of a stench due to the elevated levels of sulfuric acid and hydrogen sulfide gas contained within the geysers themselves.

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