Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE FIVE APPROACHES TO YELLOWSTONE
NATIONAL PARK
Yellowstone National Park is situated between 44 and 45 degrees north latitude and 109.5 and
111 degrees west longitude. Most of the park lies in the state of Wyoming, but a small portion
in the north is in Montana and a strip on the west side is in Idaho. The park covers an area of
3472 square miles (8992 sq km), most of which is undeveloped mountain and forest. In spite
of this huge size, almost all of the most interesting sights are available to visitors along or close
to the more than 300 miles (483 km) of roads. Because there's so much to see and do and so
many people who want to use the limited housing and camping facilities, advance planning is
essential.
Your first decision will be which way to enter. The approach roads to the five entrances are
shown on the map on
page 24
and described below, along with an idea of the scenery you'll
encounter and the available activities and facilities.
Arriving by Air
If you plan to start your trip by commercial airplane, consider flying to Billings, Montana, the
largest city in the vicinity of the park, with the most connecting flights. You can rent a car there
to drive conveniently to any entrance except the South Entrance.
Closest airport options other than Billings are: Jackson, Wyoming, the closest commercial
airport to the South Entrance; Cody, Wyoming, for the East Entrance; Bozeman, Montana, for
the north or west; and West Yellowstone, Montana, for the West Entrance. These are also good
options for private planes, and all have car rentals available. Additional general aviation air-
ports are at Gardiner, Livingston, and Red Lodge, Montana, as well as Dubois, Wyoming.
If you want to begin in Idaho Falls, Idaho, several airlines can serve you. Many people begin
a western trip from Salt Lake City, Utah, which is a much longer drive but is especially well
served by airlines and is relatively convenient to Grand Teton National Park and the South En-
trance of Yellowstone.
WEST ENTRANCE
There are several good reasons to approach Yellowstone along U.S. Highway 191 to its West
Entrance. First, you'll find ample tourist accommodations in Bozeman, in the Big Sky area,
and in West Yellowstone, Montana. Second, the scenery through the Gallatin River canyon,
though not the most spectacular of the approaches, can be a delightful introduction to the
