There are five entrances to Yellowstone National Park, three from Montana and two from Wyoming. Which one to choose depends, in part, on the part of the country you are coming from.
The most scenic route to enter Yellowstone arrives at the northeast corner along U.S. Highway 212 coming from Red Lodge and entering the Park near Cooke City, Montana. This route, a road that winds up through the mountains, is known as the Beartooth Highway. The Montana DOT says, “The highway is generally open from the Friday of Memorial Day weekend through mid-October, weather permitting.” The Beartooth Highway is closed at other times of the year.
U.S. Highway 89 leaves Livingston and reaches Yellowstone at the north entrance at Gardiner, Montana. This route moves south from Livingston along the wild and beautiful Yellowstone River and Paradise Valley.
The third Montana entrance is on the west side of Yellowstone in the small town of West Yellowstone. Many visitors take U.S. Highway 191 from Bozeman or U.S. Highway 287 from Three Forks, Montana, to reach this entrance. Another route to West Yellowstone is U.S. Highway 20 from Idaho.
The east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, coming from Cody, Wyoming, is along U.S. Highway 14. This is a very scenic route to reach Yellowstone.
From Jackson Hole, Wyoming, visitors travel on U.S. Highway 89 to enter the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
Before launching your entry into Yellowstone an overnight stay in Red Lodge, Livingston, Gardiner, Bozeman, or West Yellowstone in Montana is a good idea. Similarly staying overnight in Cody or Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Whichever overnight city best fits your travel plans, start your journey to Yellowstone early (by 7:00 am) in the morning, then you will have enough time to experience all of Yellowstone’s wonders in one full day.