Yes, you can visit Yellowstone in winter, but most of the park is closed to regular cars from November 1 until mid-April. You can drive only the road from the North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana) past Mammoth Hot Springs and through Lamar Valley to the Northeast Entrance; to reach Old Faithful and the rest of the park you need a guided snowcoach or snowmobile trip, which runs from December 15 to mid-March. Those are the National Park Service's own dates for the 2026–27 season (NPS news release, Oct. 21, 2026).
This is part of our guide series to all 64 U.S. national parks. Winter in Yellowstone means steaming geysers, bison covered in frost and far fewer people than summer. Here is how it works for adults planning a trip this season: how you get in, where you can sleep, what is open, and what to pack.
Jump to: Roads · Snowcoach and snowmobile tours · Lodges · What to see · Tips · FAQ
Which Yellowstone roads are open in winter?
Only one road stays open to regular cars all winter: the road between the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana and the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City/Silver Gate, Montana. It passes Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley, and it stays open year-round, weather permitting. The West, South and East entrances, and most park roads, closed to regular vehicle traffic on November 1, 2026 (NPS).
- Mid-December: once enough snow builds up, most roads open to oversnow travel only (snowcoach and snowmobile).
- Mid-March: oversnow travel ends and plowing begins.
- Mid-April: roads start reopening to regular cars.
The park can close roads for weather without notice. For current road status, the NPS lists text alerts (text "82190" to 888-777) and a recorded road line at (307) 344-2117 (NPS).
Yellowstone snowcoach and snowmobile tours: how to see Old Faithful in winter
From December 15, 2026 until mid-March, you reach the interior of the park, including Old Faithful, by guided snowmobile or snowcoach, or through the park's Non-Commercially Guided Snowmobile Access Program, which uses a permit. Winter oversnow travel hours are 7 am to 9 pm (NPS: Snowmobiles & Snowcoaches).
A snowcoach is an over-snow vehicle that carries a small group with a driver-guide, so it suits travelers who want to sit back and take photos. Snowmobile tours are more active and colder. The NPS keeps a list of authorized tour companies by entrance on the same page. Book early: winter tours and rooms near Old Faithful are limited.
Which Yellowstone lodges are open in winter?
Two in-park hotels open for winter in 2026–27 (NPS Operating Dates):
- Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins: December 16, 2026 to March 6, 2027. You can only get there by snowcoach or snowmobile.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins: open through March 7, 2027, on the road you can drive.
Mammoth Campground stays open year-round (first-come, first-served in winter), and the towns around the park stay open all winter with their own lodging. Other winter facilities: Albright Visitor Center at Mammoth is open year-round; Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is open December 15 to March 15; Canyon Visitor Education Center December 15 to March 9; and warming huts at Madison, Fishing Bridge and West Thumb are open December 15 to March 15 (NPS).
What to see in Yellowstone in winter
Lamar Valley wildlife
The NPS calls Yellowstone's northern range "one of the best places in the world to watch wolves," and Lamar Valley sits right on the winter car road (NPS: Lamar Valley wolf watching). Bison and elk are easy to spot against the snow. Bring binoculars, use pullouts, and keep at least 100 yards from wolves and bears and 25 yards from all other animals. Bison often walk on the roads in winter, and animals have the right of way.
Mammoth Hot Springs
The steaming terraces at Mammoth are reachable by car all winter, and the Albright Visitor Center there is open year-round. It is the easiest winter stop if you are driving in from Gardiner.
Old Faithful and the geyser basins
With a snowcoach or snowmobile tour (or a night at Old Faithful Snow Lodge), you can watch Old Faithful erupt in a snowy landscape. Boardwalks near thermal areas can be icy, so wear traction aids over your boots (NPS: Explore in Winter).
Skiing and snowshoeing
Winter opens up cross-country skiing and snowshoeing across the park. The Mammoth ski shop opens December 15, 2026, and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge ski shop opens December 16 (NPS).
Yellowstone in winter tips for adults
- Dress for real cold. Daytime highs usually run from 0 to 20°F, and nights below zero are common (NPS). Layers, a warm hat, gloves and insulated boots matter more than anything else you pack.
- Plan around the one open road. If you fly in and drive yourself, plan to enter at the North Entrance in Gardiner.
- Download maps before you go. Expect little or no cell service; the NPS suggests downloading the free NPS app's offline content first.
- Keep the tank full and carry blankets in the car, as the NPS advises for winter driving.
- Go mid-December to early March if Old Faithful is on your list, since that is when tours and the Snow Lodge run.
- Stamp your passport. Pick up the cancellation stamps at the open visitor centers and check Yellowstone off our free national parks checklist (all 64 parks, printable, no email needed).
Remember your Yellowstone winter trip
A winter visit to Yellowstone is one most people only do once, so it is worth keeping. With Stamp Your Trip you tap a passport-style stamp for every park and place you have really been, arrange them, add a name or a few words, and print it on a tee, sweatshirt or hoodie. A sweatshirt makes sense for a cold-weather trip.
If you want a ready-made Yellowstone design, our Custom Yellowstone Scavenger Hunt Sweatshirt and Custom Yellowstone Scavenger Hunt Tee have a wildlife checklist you can tick off on the trip, personalized with your name and year and printed to order. Heading south to Grand Teton on a summer trip too? See the Custom Grand Teton National Park Stamp Collage Shirt, or browse all national park shirts. For outfit ideas, read what to wear to Yellowstone and our national park sweatshirt guide.
Yellowstone in Winter FAQ
Can you drive into Yellowstone in winter?
Only on one road. From November 1 to mid-April, regular cars can use only the road from the North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) through Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley to the Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, MT), weather permitting. The rest of the park is reached by snowcoach or snowmobile.
Can you see Old Faithful in the winter?
Yes, but not by car. From December 15 to mid-March you get there on a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour, or with a non-commercial snowmobile permit, and you can stay overnight at Old Faithful Snow Lodge (December 16, 2026 to March 6, 2027).
When does Yellowstone's winter season start in 2026?
Most roads closed to regular cars on November 1, 2026, and the snowcoach and snowmobile season begins December 15, 2026, according to the NPS.
What lodges are open in Yellowstone in winter?
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (through March 7, 2027) and Old Faithful Snow Lodge (December 16, 2026 to March 6, 2027). Mammoth Campground is also open year-round.
Is Yellowstone worth visiting in winter?
For many adults, yes: there are far fewer crowds, snow-covered scenery and easy wildlife viewing in Lamar Valley. The trade-off is very cold weather, limited services and the need for a guided tour to see most of the park.
How cold is Yellowstone in winter?
Daytime temperatures are usually 0 to 20°F (about -20 to -5°C), and below-zero nights are common, especially at higher elevations.
Dates and hours come from nps.gov and can change without notice; check the park's operating dates before you go. Cover photo: Trevor Vannoy on Unsplash.