Make Your Plans Now – Yellowstone Set to Open Entrances Soon

Temperatures across the state have begun to warm up, and it means that roads that become impassable during the winter months melt and begin to welcome travelers from across the globe to the wonders of nature at Yellowstone National Park.

via GIPHY

The National Park Service is anxious to let visitors start to enter the park, but don't expect to get to every little nook and cranny that it offers this early in the year.  Only select areas will be opening beginning next week, but they do include Montana.

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Make Your Plans Now - Yellowstone Set to Open Entrances Soon

Springtime weather in Montana means getting on the road and visiting our favorite places, and with Yellowstone opening on April 18, 2026, expect an influx of travelers to begin in two locations in the state.

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The entrance at Gardner, Montana, commonly known as the "North Entrance" with the grand archway, and also the "West Entrance" located in West Yellowstone will both be open to the public beginning at 8am on the above date.  The date is however weather dependent, according to the park service bulletin.

Areas Available Include Popular Locations - Even Old Faithful at the Park

For visitors that use either entrance, several locations will be accessible within the park, with many of the most popular tourist locations ready for the first braves souls into the park.  Those locations include:

• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Lamar Valley
• Norris Geyser Basin
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Old Faithful
• Northeast Entrance (Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana)

For now, those will be the only roads and attractions available, but the NPS stated that additional roads would be available in May of 2026, weather permitting.  For more information on Yellowstone National Park conditions and areas open, visit the NPS website here.