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West Yellowstone
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Gardiner (North)
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Cooke City (North East)
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The question we most often get is “which entrance is the best?”. That actually requires answering a question with a question – Which direction will you be coming from?
From Billings
From Billings to Red Lodge, you should take the Beartooth Highway, also known as the “most beautiful drive in America” by Charles Kuralt to the north east gate at Cooke City/Silver Gate.
From Livingston, Montana
Travel south from Livingston through the beautiful Paradise Valley to the North Gate at Gardiner, Montana.
From Bozeman/Belgrade
From Bozeman you can choose either West Yellowstone or over to Livingston and south to Gardiner.
From Big Sky it is, yet another, amazingly scenic drive to the West Entrance at West Yellowstone.
From Ennis
Traveling from Ennis, you would follow the Madison River, pass Quake and Hebgen Lakes to Highway 191 and south to West Yellowstone.
From Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Traveling from Jackson Hole you would enter at the South Entrance via Teton National Park so do allow some extra time.
From Cody, Wyoming
From Cody, Wyoming, you would take the South East Entrance.
Winter
During the winter months, West Yellowstone, Gardiner, and the South entrances are open to enter on guided snowmobile or snowcoach trips. The only driving vehicle road open year-round in Yellowstone is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction).
That said, there is no “wrong” entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Each offer a different starting point and perspective. Which ever you choose, come prepared to be amazed. Amazed at the vastness, the scenery, and the wildlife.