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Yellowstone National Park

4,762,988Recreation visits

ID, MT, WY · National Park

51 published activities · 12 campgrounds

Entrance - Private Vehicle $35

SELECTED RECORD

Yellowstone National Park

ID, MT, WY · National Park

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Activities: Arts and Crafts · Arts and Culture · Astronomy · Auto and ATV · Backcountry Camping · Backcountry Hiking · Biking · Birdwatching · Boat Tour · Boating · Bookstore and Park Store · Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour · Camping · Canoe or Kayak Camping · Canoeing · Car or Front Country Camping · Cross-Country Skiing · Dining · Fishing · Fly Fishing · Food · Freshwater Fishing · Front-Country Hiking · Gift Shop and Souvenirs · Group Camping · Guided Tours · Hands-On · Hiking · Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use) · Horse Trekking · Horseback Riding · Junior Ranger Program · Kayaking · Mountain Biking · Museum Exhibits · Paddling · Park Film · Picnicking · RV Camping · Road Biking · Scenic Driving · Self-Guided Tours - Auto · Self-Guided Tours - Walking · Shopping · Skiing · Snow Play · Snowmobiling · Snowshoeing · Swimming · Volunteer Vacation · Wildlife Watching

Published entrance fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle

$35 · Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. Vehicles must be private, non-commercial, and with a seating capacity of 15 or less.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups

$20 · Non-commercial group (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more people. Cost is per person. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$30 · Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Snowmobile

$30 · Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 snowmobiles with up to 4 total passengers.

Entrance - Per Person

$20 · Entry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older.

Commercial Entrance - Sedan

$20 · A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. The cost is $25 + $20 per person. Pass is good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.

Commercial Entrance - Van

$125 · Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Pass is good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

$200 · Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Pass is good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

$300 · Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. Pass is good for seven days as long as it's the same passenger group.

Nonresident

$100 · Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Published passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$70 · Provides unlimited entry for one year (valid through the month of purchase) to the pass holder and passengers in the same vehicle, or pass holder and up to three persons where per person fees are charged. Purchase at any entrance station.

Published operating hours

All Park Hours · Yellowstone is open daily, year-round, although activities and services are limited at night and certain times of year. The park has five entrance stations, but not all entrance stations are open year-round. Make sure to carefully read about access at each station at different times of year. And remember, all dates are weather-dependent. Please note that camping is possible only in designated campgrounds.

West Entrance · Adjacent to the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, the West Entrance is usually open (weather-dependent) to wheeled vehicles from the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow (snowmobiles and snowcoaches) vehicles from December 15 to March 15.

North Entrance · Near the gateway community of Gardiner, Montana, the North Entrance is the only park entrance open to wheeled vehicles all year. November through April, the North Entrance provides the only access to Cooke City, Montana. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. The road from Mammoth to Norris opens to wheeled vehicles the third Friday in April through early November, and to tracked-oversnow vehicles, conditions permitting, from December 15 to early March.

East Entrance · Depending on the weather and conditions, this entrance usually opens to wheeled vehicles the first Friday in May and to tracked-oversnow vehicles December 22 through March 15.

South Entrance · Open (weather-dependent) to wheeled vehicles from the second Friday in May through early November and to tracked-oversnow vehicles from December 15 to March 15. Limited services are available near the South Entrance.

Northeast Entrance · Near the gateway communities of Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana, this entrance is open year around for wheeled vehicle access to Cooke City through Gardiner, Montana. US Highway 212 east of Cooke City is closed to wheeled vehicles November through April. Opening dates for roads east of Cooke City vary from year to year, depending on the weather. The Beartooth Highway is open from late May/early June (weather dependent) to mid October.

Fees, facilities and activities are the 2026-10-03 NPS snapshot. Historical visitation describes recorded visits, not crowding forecasts or present conditions.

Plan your visit

Yellowstone's weather can vary quite a bit, even in a single day. In the summer, daytime highs can exceed 70°F (21°C), only to drop 20 or more degrees when a thunderstorm rolls through. It can snow during any month of the year, and winter lows frequently drop below 0°F (-18°C), especially at night. Bring a range of clothing options, including a warm jacket and rain gear, even in the summer.

Campgrounds (12)

• Bridge Bay Campground
• Canyon Campground
• Fishing Bridge RV Park
• Grant Village Campground
• Indian Creek Campground
• Lewis Lake Campground
• Madison Campground
• Mammoth Campground
• Norris Campground
• Pebble Creek Campground
• Slough Creek Campground
• Tower Fall Campground

Yosemite National Park

4,278,413Recreation visits

CA · National Park

33 published activities · 16 campgrounds

Entrance - Private Vehicle $35

SELECTED RECORD

Yosemite National Park

CA · National Park

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Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.

Activities: Arts and Culture · Astronomy · Auto and ATV · Backcountry Camping · Backcountry Hiking · Biking · Birdwatching · Boating · Bookstore and Park Store · Camping · Climbing · Fishing · Food · Guided Tours · Hands-On · Hiking · Horse Trekking · Horseback Riding · Ice Skating · Junior Ranger Program · Living History · Museum Exhibits · Paddling · Park Film · Scenic Driving · Shopping · Skiing · Snow Play · Snow Tubing · Snowshoeing · Swimming · Tubing · Wildlife Watching

Published entrance fees

Entrance - Private Vehicle

$35 · This fee is valid for seven consecutive days for a non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats. This fee covers the vehicle and everyone inside of it. Per-person nonresident fees still apply.

Entrance - Motorcycle

$30 · Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Per-person nonresident fees still apply.

Entrance - Per Person

$20 · This fee is valid for seven consecutive days for people entering on foot, a bicycle, a horse, or a non-commercial bus or van. People 15 years and younger are free.

Entrance - Non-commercial Groups

$300 · The per-person fee is $20 to a maximum of $300 per vehicle. People 15 years and younger are free.

Entrance - Education/Academic Groups

$0 · An educational fee waiver is available for educational and scientific groups that are accredited or tax-exempt for educational purposes planning a trip for educational or scientific purposes related to Yosemite that is not primarily recreational.

Commercial Entrance - Per Person

$20 · The fee is $20 per person for any resident 16 years or older. For any nonresident the fee is $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. This fee is valid for seven consecutive days.

Nonresident

$100 · Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Yosemite National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus

$200 · This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. For any nonresident there is an additional fee of $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. A commercial use authorization is required.

Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach

$300 · This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. For any nonresident there is an additional fee of $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. A commercial use authorization is required.

Published passes

Annual Entrance - Park

$70 · Annual pass providing free entrance to Yosemite for 12 months from the date of purchase for US citizens and permanent residents.

Published operating hours

Yosemite National Park · Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Hetch Hetchy · Hetch Hetchy area is only open from sunrise to sunset (except for permitted backpackers). All day visitors must exit Hetch Hetchy by sunset. The road is also closed to all vehicles (including backpackers) from sunset to sunrise.

Fees, facilities and activities are the 2026-10-03 NPS snapshot. Historical visitation describes recorded visits, not crowding forecasts or present conditions.

Plan your visit

Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)

Campgrounds (16)

• Bridalveil Creek Campground
• Bridalveil Creek Horse Camp
• Camp 4 Campground
• Crane Flat Campground
• Hodgdon Meadow Campground
• Lower Pines Campground
• North Pines Campground
• Porcupine Flat Campground
• Tamarack Flat Campground
• Tuolumne Meadows Campground
• Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp
• Upper Pines Campground
• Wawona Campground
• Wawona Horse Camp
• White Wolf Campground
• Yosemite Creek Campground