Yellowstone National Park — Visitor Information

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Yellowstone spans Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, and no reservation or timed entry is needed to drive in — but fishing, boating, and backcountry camping all require their own permits, and the park is largely self-drive with no shuttle system. Here's what to know before you go.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: road openings, wildlife closures, and weather change quickly and aren't tracked on this page — always check the official Yellowstone Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Wyoming, Montana & Idaho
Entrance Fee
$35 / vehicle, 7 days
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No — vehicle reservations not required
Permit Needed For
Backcountry camping, fishing, boating
South Entrance Note
Passes through Grand Teton first — separate fee
Best Time to Visit
Late May–Jun & Sep (fewer crowds, roads open)

Visitor Centers

Ten visitor centers and information stations are spread across the park — tap one below for official hours & facility info.

Albright Visitor Center
Near the North Entrance at Mammoth Hot Springs — open year-round with full services, including winter.
Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
At the Old Faithful geyser complex — exhibits on the park's hydrothermal features, plus geyser eruption predictions.
Canyon Visitor Education Center
Near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — exhibits on the park's volcanic and geologic history.
Fishing Bridge Visitor Center
Historic stone-and-wood visitor center in the Lake area, near Yellowstone Lake.

Hours vary seasonally, and most facilities close in winter except Albright — confirm current hours on the official NPS visitor centers page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Every vehicle entering Yellowstone needs a park pass — you can buy one online in advance or at any entrance station (cash or card accepted).

  • Private vehicle: $35, valid 7 days (covers all passengers)
  • Motorcycle or snowmobile: $30, valid 7 days
  • Per person (on foot/bike, age 16+): $20, valid 7 days
  • Yellowstone Annual Pass: $70 (Yellowstone only)
  • America the Beautiful Annual Pass: $80 — covers Yellowstone and every other federal fee site

Note: entering via the South Entrance means driving through Grand Teton National Park first, which charges its own separate entrance fee. Non-U.S. residents (age 16+) pay an additional $100/person fee unless entering with an Annual or America the Beautiful pass.

Free Entrance Days (2026)

Feb 16 · May 25 · Jun 14 · Jul 3–5 · Aug 25 (NPS's 110th birthday) · Sep 17 · Oct 27 · Nov 11

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Every U.S. 4th grader (and their family, in the same vehicle) can get a free annual pass covering entrance to Yellowstone and every other federal fee site. Get it at everykidoutdoors.gov or at any entrance station.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit to enter the park or day-hike. You do need one for:

Backcountry Camping

A backcountry permit is required year-round for every overnight backcountry stay. Reservations are encouraged (not required) through recreation.gov, with an early-access lottery each March for the most popular sites.

Fishing

All anglers 16 and older need a Yellowstone fishing permit (separate from a state fishing license). Native cutthroat trout, Arctic grayling, and mountain whitefish must be released; harvest of non-native trout is allowed and sometimes required.

Boating

Every watercraft — including canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, and float tubes — needs an aquatic invasive species inspection and permit before launching. Motorized boats are limited to Yellowstone and Lewis lakes.

Campgrounds & RV Options

Yellowstone has 11 developed campgrounds. Five are booked through Yellowstone National Park Lodges; the rest through recreation.gov. Fees and exact site availability change year to year — use the links below for current pricing.

Bridge Bay Campground
Near Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. 431 sites, RVs up to 60 ft. Open mid-May–mid-Sep. Book via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Canyon Campground
Near Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. 272 sites, RVs up to 40 ft. Open late May–mid-Sep. Book via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Fishing Bridge RV Park
Near Fishing Bridge, Yellowstone Lake. RV-only, full hookups, 310 sites, up to 95 ft. Open May–mid-Oct. Book via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Grant Village Campground
Near the West Thumb/South Entrance area on Yellowstone Lake. 429 sites, RVs up to 50 ft. Open late Jun–late Sep. Book via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Madison Campground
Near the West Entrance, at the Madison River junction. 276 sites, RVs up to 60 ft. Open May–mid-Oct. Book via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.
Indian Creek Campground
Near Mammoth, along the Grand Loop Road. 70 sites, RVs up to 35 ft. Open mid-Jun–mid-Sep. Book via recreation.gov.
Lewis Lake Campground
Near the South Entrance, on Lewis Lake. 84 sites, RVs up to 25 ft. Open mid-Jun–mid-Oct. Book via recreation.gov.
Mammoth Campground
Near the North Entrance at Mammoth Hot Springs. 82 sites, RVs up to 30 ft. Open year-round — first-come, first-served mid-Oct–Apr. Book via recreation.gov (peak season).
Slough Creek Campground
Near Tower-Roosevelt, in the Lamar Valley area. 16 sites, small/tent-friendly, limited RV suitability. Open late May–early Oct. Book via recreation.gov.
Tower Fall Campground
Near Tower-Roosevelt, close to Tower Fall. 31 sites, small/tent-friendly, limited RV suitability. Open mid-May–late Sep. Book via recreation.gov.

Note: Pebble Creek Campground is currently closed due to flood damage. In-park lodges (cabins, hotels) are booked separately via Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Good to Know

  • No park shuttle: Yellowstone is entirely self-drive — the Grand Loop Road connects all major areas, and sections close seasonally for winter.
  • Cell service: spotty to nonexistent through most of the park's interior.
  • Wildlife jams: bison, elk, and bear sightings routinely stop traffic — build extra time into any drive.
  • Thermal areas: stay on boardwalks and marked trails — ground near geysers and hot springs can be thin and dangerously hot.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees, permit lotteries, boating inspection dates, and campground schedules change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Yellowstone National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Visitor Centers · NPS – Backcountry Camping · NPS – Fishing · NPS – Boating · NPS – Campgrounds · NPS – Current Conditions & Alerts