Most Yellowstone Roads Closed on November 1 for Winter: Only the North-to-Northeast Road Stays Open to Cars, and Oversnow Travel Starts December 15
The National Park Service announced on October 21 that most roads in Yellowstone National Park, in northwestern Wyoming, along with the West, South and East entrances, closed to regular vehicle traffic on November 1 in preparation for winter operations. Saturday, October 31 was the final day visitors could drive most of the park's roads in 2026, and the road from Tower Fall to Canyon Junction over Dunraven Pass also remained open only through October 31, weather permitting.
For the rest of the winter, visitors arriving by car can reach the park only on one route: the road connecting the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, with the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana. That road passes through Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley and remains open year-round, weather permitting, which means winter storms can still close it temporarily, and temporary restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice.
Reaching the interior, including Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, depends on the oversnow season: guided snowmobile and snowcoach travel begins on December 15. Between the November 1 closure and December 15, the interior is in transition, closed to cars and not yet open to oversnow vehicles.
The park's advice to winter drivers is concrete: check the Park Roads webpage for current conditions, sign up for Yellowstone road alerts by texting 82190 to 888-777, or call (307) 344-2117 for a recorded road conditions update; keep flexible travel plans, expect limited services, pack blankets and other cold weather essentials, and keep the gas tank full. The communities around the park, including Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Cooke City, remain open year-round. (Source: National Park Service)
Source: National Park Service
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons 摄影，公共领域：冬季的老忠实泉喷发（黄石国家公园）
