Planning a trip to Yellowstone and overwhelmed with how huge the park is?
Wondering which entrance to use or which of the 5 Yellowstone entrances is best?
What are the best attractions at each of the 5 Yellowstone entrances and where are the best places to stay in the park?
Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park requires a bit of strategy and planning. The park is simply too huge to just “wing it” and have a good experience in my opinion.
My husband and I spent 5 days exploring Yellowstone and we entered and exited through multiple gates and explored all the attractions around each of the 5 Yellowstone entrances.
I planned our itinerary like crazy and we were able to see each attraction on the map in a very efficient and leisurely pace.
This post will cover all 5 of the Yellowstone entrances, including the best attractions, where to stay, and the closest towns!
Yellowstone Entrances Overview
Yellowstone is a huge park that covers almost 3500 square miles. It’s larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined!
There are 5 entrances into Yellowstone National Park: the north, northeast, east, west and south. Each Yellowstone entrance is unique and has its own set of pros and cons that I’ll cover below.
Each entrance also has a an in-park “village” along with a gateway town outside the park. The in-park villages all have lodging, food, gas stations, and gift shops so you won’t need to leave the park for any necessities.
The Yellowstone entrance gates are actually pretty far from the nearest in-park village. This is why I highly recommend staying inside the park on your Yellowstone trip.
Staying in the park can be expensive and the lodges sell out very quickly, so I’ve included recommendations for in-park lodging along with the gateway towns for each of the Yellowstone entrances.
All in-park accommodations are managed by Xanterra. I recommend booking your in-park hotels 6-12 months in advance!
Related: The Ultimate 1-5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
North Entrance
The North Entrance is the most convenient entrance if you are flying in and out of Bozeman International Airport. It puts you at the park’s headquarters, rolling green hills, and the Mammoth Hot Springs.
The North Entrance is the second most popular entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
North Entrance In-Park Village
Mammoth Village: Popular village with a large hotel, visitor’s center, and town square that is great for picnics.
North Entrance Nearby Town
Gardiner, Montana: A cool, small town right on the Yellowstone River located 1 mile from the North Entrance Station and 5 miles from Mammoth Village.
Closest Airport: Bozeman International Airport
North Entrance Attractions
- Mammoth Hot Springs: Travertine terraces filled with boiling hot spring water and colorful bacteria. The hot springs truly are Mammoth and live up to their name! This is the main attraction at the north entrance of Yellowstone. Walk the upper and lower boardwalks and admire these unique features!
- Roosevelt Arch: The Roosevelt Arch was the first entrance into Yellowstone National Park. It was built in 1903.
- Bunsen Peak Trail: A 4.4-mile hike with 1300 feet of elevation gain to a panoramic view over the park.
- Fort Yellowstone: US military post built in the 1800’s to protect the park’s natural resources. It now serves as park headquarters, but you can still explore some of the original buildings!
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Mammoth Hot Springs & Yellowstone’s North Entrance
North Entrance Lodging
I normally recommend staying inside the park at Yellowstone since many of the towns outside the park can be an hour or more away.
However, Gardiner is close enough to Mammoth Village that it makes an excellent stay as well. There are a ton of hotels and restaurants to choose from.
Inside the Park: The Mammoth Hotel
Gardiner: Yellowstone Gateway Inn or Yellowstone Village Inn
Northeast Entrance
The northeast entrance of Yellowstone is the most dramatic and scenic entrance into the park. Located directly after the Beartooth Highway, the drive into the park won’t disappoint!
Once you enter Yellowstone, you’ll be at Lamar Valley, one of the best places to view wildlife.
If you’re coming to or from Billings, the northeast entrance will be most convenient to you.
Northeast Entrance In-Park Villages
Tower-Roosevelt: Small “Old West” village with rustic cabins and family-style dining.
Canyon Village: Large village with mulitple dining halls, cabins, and stores located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. This is the second busiest area of the park and is located 19 miles south of Tower-Roosevelt
Northeast Entrance Nearby Towns
Cooke City, Montana: A small mountain town with entertaining taverns and gorgeous scenery located 4 miles from the Northeast Entrance Station and 28 miles from the Roosevelt Lodge.
Closest Airport: Billings International Airport
Northeast Entrance Attractions
- Lamar Valley: One of the best places to see wildlife in the entire park. We saw hundreds of bison in the valley while driving through late afternoon!
- Beartooth Highway: A breathtaking scenic drive between Red Lodge and Cooke City Montana. The road becomes NE Entrance Road as you enter Yellowstone National Park. I highly recommend adding this drive to your Yellowstone itinerary.
- Tower Fall: Tower Fall is one of 3 major waterfalls on the Yellowstone River. There is a scenic overlook near the northeast entrance.
- Calcite Springs Overlook: Overlook over the most narrow part of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with steam coming out of the canyon walls.
You’re also not far from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone at the northeast entrance. I’ve included it in the next section on the east entrance, but it is basically equidistant from Tower-Roosevelt and Lake.
Related: How to Drive the Beartooth Highway
Northeast Entrance Lodging
If you want to explore the northeast attractions in Yellowstone, the best place to stay is in the park at the Roosevelt Lodge (closer to Lamar Valley) or Canyon Lodge (closer to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone).
Cooke City is a 45 minute drive from the Tower-Roosevelt Junction, so keep that in mind when booking your trip! You’ll also have to re-enter Yellowstone through the gate each time you leave the park.
Inside the Park: Roosevelt Lodge and the Canyon Lodge & Cabins
Cooke City: Silver Gate Lodge or Skyline Guest Ranch
East Entrance
The east entrance of Yellowstone is less busy and more peaceful than the other Yellowstone entrances. You’ll arrive right at Yellowstone Lake, the largest body of water in Yellowstone National Park.
You’re also not far from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. If you’re on a road trip coming from the east, you might find the east entrance to be most convenient to you.
East Entrance In-Park Villages
Lake Village: Quiet village with a lodge, restaurant, and general store on Yellowstone Lake.
Canyon Village: Large village with mulitple dining halls, cabins, and stores located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 18 miles north of Lake Village. This is the second busiest area of the park.
East Entrance Nearby Town
Cody, Wyoming: A fun cowboy town with nightly rodeos and Wild West museums and history. The only downside to Cody is that it is 80 miles from Lake Village in Yellowstone, so I would not recommend staying here as a Yellowstone home base as it will take you over 2 hours to get to the nearest attraction.
There are no major airports nearby.
East Entrance Attractions
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: 20-mile, colorful canyon carved by the Yellowstone River. There are 2 famous waterfalls and numerous short hikes in this area.
- Hayden Valley: A great place to spot wildlife.
- Mud Volcano: Yellowstone’s largest mudpot. It used to be a mini volcano in the 1800’s until it blew itself apart.
- Mt. Washburn Trail: A fantastic strenuous hike up to Mt Washburn with panoramic views over the park. It’s a 6.8-mile trek with almost 1400 feet of elevation gain (AllTrails link here).
- Lake Butte Overlook: Rarely-visited overlook over Lake Yellowstone. A great place to visit to ditch the crowds!
Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
East Entrance Lodging
Since Cody is so far from Canyon Village and the east entrance (it will take you over 2 hours to drive from Cody to Canyon Village), I highly recommend staying in the park if you want to explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the other east entrance attractions.
The only way staying in Cody would make sense is if you’re on a road trip through Yellowstone and are exiting through the east.
Canyon Village is the second most popular area of the park, after Old Faithful. It is super convenient for exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, but you will be dealing with more crowds than if you stayed at the Lake Hotel.
Inside the Park: Canyon Lodge & Cabins and the Lake Hotel
Cody: Hampton Inn & Suites Cody or Best Western Premier Ivy Inn & Suites
West Entrance
The west entrance of Yellowstone is by far the most popular one. You’ll be in the heart of geyser country and minutes away from the famous Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.
West Entrance In-Park Village
Old Faithful: Largest, busiest, village in the park with 3 lodging options, multiple restaurants, and a giant parking lot for tourists coming to see Old Faithful. This area is named after the world’s most famous geyser and and is located right next to Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin.
West Entrance Nearby Town
West Yellowstone, Montana: Busy, touristy, gateway town to Yellowstone’s west entrance. There are a ton of options for lodging and dining, but it’s 32 miles and almost an hour away from Old Faithful and other attractions.
Closest Airports: Yellowstone Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport
West Entrance Attractions
- Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin: Home to Old Faithful and the most densely concentrated area of geysers and hot springs in the world.
- Grand Prismatic Spring & Midway Geyser Basin: Home to the famous Grand Prismatic Spring and 3 other fantastic hot springs.
- Lower Geyser Basin & the Fountain Paint Pot Trail: A short boardwalk trail through mud pots, geysers, fumaroles, and hot springs.
- Norris Geyser Basin: Yellowstone’s hottest, oldest, and most dynamic geyser basin. 3 miles of boardwalk trails wind through this unique area.
- Artists Paint Pots: A fantastic short trail through some of Yellowstone’s most colorful mudpots.
Related: All of Yellowstone’s 11 Geyser Basins Ranked
West Entrance Lodging
The west entrance is another area where I highly recommend staying inside the park. West Yellowstone is just too far away from the best attractions.
Plus, you do not want to get stuck in a line at the entrance gate if you plan to enter and exit the park multiple times per day.
Inside the Park: Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
West Yellowstone: The Historic Madison Hotel or the Yellowstone Inn
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Old Faithful in Yellowstone
South Entrance
The south entrance of Yellowstone is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. It’s more remote and quiet than other Yellowstone entrances.
It’s also not a bad home base for exploring the geyser basins as well.
South Entrance In-Park Village
West Thumb/Grant Village: Small village with a lodge, dining room, and lakeside restaurant located on the west side of Yellowstone Lake. This are is called “West Thumb” because this area of the Yellowstone Lake blew up and formed the “thumb” of the lake.
South Entrance Nearby Towns
Jackson, Wyoming: Famous (or infamous) town of millionaires in the Jackson Hole Valley south of Grand Teton National Park. It makes a great base for Grand Teton National Park, but not so much for Yellowstone since it’s a solid hour and a half from West Thumb.
Colter Bay Village, Wyoming: Small resort village located on the north side of Grand Teton National Park. It is about an hour from West Thumb.
Nearest Airport: Jackson Hole Airport
South Entrance Attractions
- West Thumb Geyser Basin: Unique geyser basin on Lake Yellowstone. We loved this area and found it less crowded than other areas of the park!
- Grand Teton National Park: Amazing National Park just 30 minutes south of Yellowstone known for the rugged Teton Range and great hiking.
Related: The Ultimate 1, 2, or 3 Day Grand Teton National Park Itinerary
South Entrance Lodging
The south entrance can be a decent place to stay if you’re planning to explore both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Personally, I think it’s better to split up the days and stay closer to Grand Teton when you plan to explore Grand Teton, and stay in Yellowstone when you’re exploring Yellowstone.
The only exception would be if you only had time for a day trip to Grand Teton, but still wanted a base in Yellowstone.
Inside the Park: Grant Village
Jackson: Elk Refuge Inn or The Lodge at Jackson Hole
Colter Bay Village: Colter Bay Cabins
Yellowstone Entrances Pros & Cons Summary
North Entrance
Pros: Close to Mammoth Hot Springs, convenient if you’re flying in and out of Bozeman. Staying in Gardiner is also realistic
Cons: Far from other major attractions like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Northeast Entrance
Pros: The Beartooth Highway, Lamar Valley, and being close to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Cons: Not a ton of great attractions immediately around the area
East Entrance
Pros: Literally right at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (if you’re staying in Canyon Village), Hayden Valley, and Lake Yellowstone. Options for the crowds/convenience tradeoff between staying in Canyon Village or the Lake Hotel
Cons: Canyon Village is very crowded and the nearest town outside the park is 2 hours away
West Entrance
Pros: Insanely convenient for exploring the best geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone
Cons: Extreme crowds
South Entrance
Pros: Close to Grand Teton National Park, West Thumb Geyser Basin, and a quieter home base for exploring Old Faithful and the surrounding geyser basins
Cons: Not a ton of attractions nearby
My Yellowstone Entrances Recommendations
The most convenient locations for staying in Yellowstone National Park are Canyon Village and Old Faithful. Even though these areas are crowded, the convenience of being right at the best attractions can’t be beat.
I highly recommend staying in at least 2 separate areas of the park on your trip. You’ll cut down on driving time immensely this way.
Balance out the crowds/convenience tradeoff by staying in either Old Faithful or Canyon Village for a night or two, and then spending the rest of your time in a less crowded area like the Lake Hotel, Roosevelt Lodge, or Grant Village.
Our Experience: We flew into Bozeman and drove the Beartooth Highway on our way into Yellowstone National Park. We entered through the northeast entrance and drove to our accommodations in Gardiner. We stayed 1 night in Gardiner, 2 nights in Canyon Village, and 1 night at the Old Faithful Inn before exiting Yellowstone through the south entrance on our way to Grand Teton National Park.
Yellowstone Entrances FAQs
Which is the Best Entrance into Yellowstone?
The west entrance of Yellowstone is generally regarded as the best due to it’s proximity to popular attractions like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.
However, there really isn’t a “best” entrance to Yellowstone. The one you use to enter the park will likely depend on where you’re coming from.
If you’re coming from Bozeman, use the north entrance. If you’re coming from Billings, use the northeast entrance. If you’re coming from Jackson or Grand Teton National Park, you’ll want to use the south entrance. If you’re flying into Salt Lake City, use the west entrance.
All the attractions are accessible inside the park by Grand Loop Road, so once you’re in it isn’t hard to get around and see everything!
Where is the Best Place to Stay in Yellowstone?
The best and most central locations to stay in Yellowstone are Canyon Village and Old Faithful.
I highly recommend staying in more than one place inside the park if you plan to visit for 3 or more days to cut down on driving time.
Which Yellowstone Entrance is Least Busy?
The least busy entrance in Yellowstone is the east entrance. Because there are no major airports nearby and the closest town is still 2 hours away, the east entrance is simply less convenient for most travelers.
Which Yellowstone Entrance is Most Popular?
The most popular entrance to Yellowstone is the west entrance.
Due to the proximity to Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and other popular attractions, many tourists use the west entrance as a home base for their Yellowstone vacation.
Do I Need a Reservation to Get into Yellowstone?
No, you do not need a reservation to get into Yellowstone. The entrance fee is $35 per car, unless you have the America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass.
Let me know if this Yellowstone entrances guide helped you plan your trip!
-Megan
More Information on Yellowstone National Park
Check out my other posts on Yellowstone to help you make the most of your visit!
- The Ultimate 1-5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
- Yellowstone in One Day: 7 Best Yellowstone Road Trip Itineraries
- The Ultimate Yellowstone Bucket List: Top 17 Things to See & Do
- The Ultimate 9-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip Itinerary (+ Maps, Photos, & More!)
- Visiting the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone (How to Beat the Crowds, Tips, & More!)
- The Ultimate Guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Yellowstone National Park North Entrance: A Complete Guide
- All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked
- 12 Essential Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Summer
- Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Guide (With Tips & Photos!)
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