Yellowstone National Park North Entrance: A Complete Guide

Planning a trip out west and want more information on the Yellowstone National Park north entrance attractions? You’re in the right place!

The Yellowstone National Park north entrance is a convenient choice for travelers coming from Bozeman or the Pacific Northwest.

Home to Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone’s Park Headquarters, and rolling desert-like hills, the north entrance attractions should be on everyone’s Yellowstone bucket list!

This post will tell you everything you need to know about the Yellowstone National Park north entrance, including the best attractions, where to stay, and a sample itinerary.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Overview

Yellowstone is a huge park with 5 entrances. Each entrance is unique and has its own set of pros and cons (more info on each entrance and where to stay is in this post).

To maximize your time in the park, I highly recommend staying in at least 2 different locations on your visit.

The north entrance is the second most popular entrance to the park, after the west entrance.

The north entrance is the only entrance that is open year-round. You can drive from Gardiner to Cooke City on Grand Loop Road through Yellowstone National Park, but the Beartooth Highway east of Cooke City is closed in the winter.

Located just a few miles south of Gardiner, Montana, the north entrance gives you close proximity to the Mammoth Hot Springs. If you fly into Bozeman (like we did), the north entrance is your closest option for entering Yellowstone National Park.

I especially like the north entrance if you are coming from the north (duh) because it allows you to start exploring the north side of the park and work your way down.

I was surprised at the almost desert landscape and rolling green hills that are unique to the north side of the park. You’ll often see elk on the road between Gardiner and Mammoth, so drive carefully and keep your eye out!

elk in gardiner montana near yellowstone — Elk Between Mammoth and Gardiner

2022 Flood Updates

In the summer of 2022, Yellowstone National Park experienced devastating flooding that severely affected the north entrance. N Entrance Road completely washed out, the boiling river became permanently altered (meaning no more swimming), and the Mammoth Village wastewater treatment plants were damaged.

For the 2023 season, the Mammoth Hotel and restaurants are open as of July 1st. N Entrance Road is still closed due to construction, but the Temporary North Entrance Road was recently paved to allow access to the North Entrance from Gardiner.

All that to say, you are all set to visit the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance attractions in 2023. The only difference is that you cannot swim in the boiling river hot springs anymore and you will take a different road to and from Gardiner.

How to Get to Yellowstone North Entrance

The Yellowstone National Park North Entrance is easily accessed by taking the US Highway 89 exit from I-90 near Livingston, Montana.

Highway 98 turns into N Entrance Road at the Teddy Roosevelt Arch, and then it splits into Temporary N Entrance Road and N Entrance Road (still closed at the time of writing).

You can access the north entrance from inside the park by taking Grand Loop Road to Temporary N Entrance Road.

yellowstone national park north entrance map

Yellowstone North Entrance Drive Times

Here are some drive times to the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance from popular locations inside and outside the park:

Gardiner, Montana: 1 mile / 3 minutes
Mammoth Hot Springs: 5 miles / 15 minutes
Bozeman, Montana: 78 miles / 1-1.5 hours
Billings, Montana: 72 miles / 2.5-3 hours
Cooke City, Montana: 55 miles / 1.5 hours
Cody, Wyoming: 132 miles / 3.5 hours
Jackson, Wyoming: 152 miles / 4 hours
West Yellowstone, Montana: 54 miles / 1.5 hours
Old Faithful: 57 miles / 1.5 hours
Canyon Village: 38 miles / 1 hour
Tower Junction: 23 miles / 45 mins
Lake: 56 miles / 1.5 hours

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Attractions

The main attraction near the north entrance is the Mammoth Hot Springs, but there are a few other cool sights here as well!

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Drive time from north entrance: 4 miles / 10 minutes

mammoth hot springs yellowstone — Mound Spring | Mammoth Hot Springs

travertine pools in mammoth hot springs — Travertine Pools at Mammoth Hot Springs

The Mammoth Hot Springs are one of the most unique areas in the park, and the only place to see travertine terraces. You can explore these features by walking the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces boardwalks.

The boardwalks are split into the upper and lower terraces. We parked at the lower terraces and walked to the upper boardwalk, but you can also drive.

Walking the entire Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces will take you about an hour and a half. It’s 2.2 miles with 324 feet of elevation gain.

The Mammoth Hot Springs is a pretty busy area of Yellowstone, so plan to get there early in the morning or go later in the evening (after 5 pm).

Parking at the lower terraces is extremely limited, but you can also park at the picnic area and walk over to the boardwalks if parking is full. We got there just after 7:30 am and spots were already starting to fill up!

Teddy Roosevelt Arch

Drive time from north entrance: 0.5 miles / 1 minute

roosevelt arch yellowstone national park north entrance

Just north of the Yellowstone National Park north entrance gate is the Teddy Roosevelt Arch. The arch was actually built in 1903, even though the plaque has a quote from 1872 legislation.

The Roosevelt Arch was the first major entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

You can drive through it, or walk through it on either side of the main arch.

The arch is an iconic part of Yellowstone’s history, and a must-see on your first visit!

Fort Yellowstone

Drive time from north entrance: 5 miles / 15 minutes

Explore the Fort Yellowstone Historic District that now serves as park headquarters.

Fort Yellowstone was constructed in the late 1800’s to protect the park from people exploiting its resources (poaching animals, damaging hot springs, etc). In 1890, Congress allocated $50,000 to build a permanent military post to protect the land. When the NPS was established in 1916, the US Army moved out and the NPS took over.

You can still explore the original buildings in the Mammoth Historic District!

Bunsen Peak Trail

Drive time from north entrance: 6 miles / 15 minutes

If you’re into hiking, the Bunsen Peak Trailhead is one of the most popular trails in Yellowstone. Located just 5 miles south of Mammoth, this is a great hike to do before or after visiting the Mammoth Hot Springs.

You’ll hike up to a grand overlook of the park. This trail is 4.4 miles long with almost 1300 feet of elevation gain.

Bring bear spray and plan to do this hike in the morning or late afternoon to make sure you get a parking space!

Sheepeater & Obsidian Cliffs

Drive time from north entrance: 10 miles / 20 minutes (Sheepeater) or 14 miles / 25 minutes (Obsidian)

Both of these cliffs are fun little detours as you’re heading south on Grand Loop Road toward Norris. They’re located right off the main road and only take a few minutes to stop and see.

Sheepeater Cliff is made of exposed columns of basalt from a volcanic eruption over 500,000 years ago.

Obsidian Cliff is the source of the US’s most widely-dispersed Obsidian tools made by hunter-gatherers over 1800 years ago. This obsidian was even found in the Ohio River Valley!

Obsidian Cliff was also the first roadside exhibit in a US National Park. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

Blacktail Plateau Drive

Drive time from north entrance: 9 miles / 20 minutes

The Blacktail Plateau Drive is a 6 mile, one way dirt road running west to east. This scenic drive is a good place to spot wildlife and get away from some of the crowds!

The turn off is located 9 miles east of Mammoth on Grand Loop Road.

This road is only open between June – September and is also closed when it rains.

Where to Stay Near the Yellowstone National Park North Entrance

I typically recommend people to stay inside the park because it will literally save you hours of driving. However, the north entrance is an exception because Gardiner is so close and convenient.

Gardiner is a cool, small town located right on the Yellowstone River. You’ll have more options for food if you stay here, but you’ll be a little farther from the Yellowstone North Entrance attractions.

Here are some options for lodging near the the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park:

The Mammoth Hotel: Located inside the park in Mammoth within walking distance to the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces and other attractions. It’s best to book accomodations inside the park 6-12 months in advance because they sell out very quickly!
Yellowstone Village Inn: Located just north of Gardiner. We stayed here and it was pretty basic, but it was clean and had decent wifi!
Yellowstone Gateway Inn: Also located just north of Gardiner and has great reviews.

If you stay outside Mammoth, try to enter the park before 9 am to avoid long lines at the gate!

the mammoth hotel in yellowstone — The Mammoth Hotel

Our Experience: We originally planned to stay in the Mammoth Hotel, but it ended up still being closed due to flooding on the night of our stay. Our room was canceled with a full refund, so we ended up staying in the Yellowstone Village Inn in Gardiner instead.

Where to Eat Near The Yellowstone North Entrance

Mammoth Village has 3 dining options which are super convenient inside the park.

When we visited, the only option was grab-and-go, since the hotel was still closed due to the flooding/wastewater treatment issue.

Mammoth Terrace Grill: Quick, casual dining
Mammoth Hotel Dining Room: Full service dining
Mammoth Hot Springs General Store: Groceries, coffee, and grab-and-go sandwiches
Mammoth Hotel Map Room Bar: Drinks

There are also a plethora of restaurants in Gardiner. We ate dinner at the Iron Horse Saloon. There is a ton of outdoor dining on the deck that overlooks the Yellowstone River!

gardiner montana — Gardiner, Montana | Yellowstone National Park North Entrance

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Itinerary

You really only need a half-day to see the highlights near the north entrance. If you plan to hike the Bunsen Peak Trail, you’ll want to give yourself a full day.

We structured most of our days in Yellowstone with a midday rest. Crowds are huge midday during the summer in Yellowstone, so we utilized the mornings and evenings to do our adventuring. I would highly recommend doing this as the experience is much better without hordes of people around you at all times!

Half-Day Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Itinerary

Here is how I would lay out a half-day near the Yellowstone National Park north entrance:

Morning: Take a photo with the Roosevelt Arch on your way into the park and hike the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces first thing in the morning. Check out the Visitor’s Center and Fort Yellowstone after the Terraces.

Midday: Have an early picnic lunch or eat at the Mammoth Terrace Grill. After lunch, head to your next stop in the park. If you’re going east, do the Blacktail Plateau Scenic Drive. If you’re going south, stop by the Sheepeater and Obsidian Cliffs on your way.

If you’re looking for a good evening activity that isn’t near the north entrance but is still reasonably close on your way to your next destination, I would recommend walking the boardwalks at Norris Geyser Basin if you’re heading south or go wildlife spotting in Lamar Valley if you’re heading east!

1-Day Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Itinerary

Here is how I would spend one full day at the Yellowstone north entrance:

Morning: Take a photo with the Roosevelt Arch as you enter the park. Hike the Bunsen Peak Trail first thing in the morning.

Midday: Have lunch in Mammoth or Gardiner and relax at your hotel for the afternoon. Now is a good time to explore Gardiner and do some souvenir shopping.

Afternoon: Explore Fort Yellowstone and the Visitor’s Center. Feel free to add on the Blacktail Plateau Drive and/or Sheepeater and Obsidian Cliffs if you’re interested. Grab an early dinner in Mammoth.

Evening: Hike the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. Crowds will be much thinner if you go at 5 or 6 pm!

mammoth hot springs upper terraces — Mammoth Hot Springs Upper Terraces

Yellowstone North Entrance Attractions FAQs

When is the North Entrance Open?

The Yellowstone National Park north entrance is open year-round. You can enter and exit the park 24/7.

Can you Swim in the Mammoth Hot Springs?

No, you cannot swim in the Mammoth Hot Springs. Before the 2022 flood, you could swim in the hot springs in the Boiling River, but it has now been permanently altered and swimming is not allowed.

How Was Mammoth Hot Springs Formed?

The Mammoth Hot Springs were formed by steam rising out of the ground and depositing calcium carbonate minerals. The calcium carbonate cools and forms travertine.

The springs feed water onto the mass of travertine, creating pools of steaming hot water where species of bacteria thrive (yes, the red and teal colors are bacteria!).

Because of the constant mineral deposits, the Mammoth Hot Springs are ever-changing!

Is Mammoth Hot Springs Drying Up?

No, the Mammoth Hot Springs are not drying up. The area is ever changing and springs will get re-routed as more calcium carbonate deposits get built up in the area. Water takes the path of least resistance, so the flow path changes over time!

devils thumb mammoth hot springs — The Devil’s Thumb | Mammoth Hot Springs

Do you plan to visit the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park on your next trip out west? If you have any questions about the area that this post didn’t cover, please leave a comment below!

-Megan

If You Have More Time in Yellowstone National Park

Check out my other posts on Yellowstone to help you make the most of your visit!

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance: A Complete Guide

Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Overview

2022 Flood Updates

How to Get to Yellowstone North Entrance

Yellowstone North Entrance Drive Times