Yellowstone is one of the best national parks in the United States for a road trip! We’ve driven to Yellowstone many times over the years, including multiple trips from Dallas as we were building the Cozy Yellowstone Compound in Gardiner.

One of the things we’ve learned is that how you drive to Yellowstone matters. The entrance you choose and the route you take can completely change your experience on the way to the park. In this guide, we’ll walk through the best routes to Yellowstone depending on where you're coming from and what to expect once you arrive.

If you’re still in the early stages of planning your trip, you may also find these guides helpful:

👉 How to Get to Yellowstone (airports, entrances, and rental cars)

👉 Where to Stay in Yellowstone (lodging areas, gateway towns, and hotels)

👉 Yellowstone Packing List (what to bring for summer, shoulder season, and winter)

👉 Yellowstone Travel Guide (maps, itineraries, and planning tips)

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P.S. Want our best Yellowstone tips in one place? Check out our All-Seasons Yellowstone Travel Guide. It’s packed with maps, itineraries, and everything you need to know about visiting Yellowstone National Park year-round!

Why Driving to Yellowstone Is the Best Way to Visit

Yellowstone is enormous! The park covers over 2.2 million acres, and the main scenic drive alone stretches for more than 140 miles.

Most of Yellowstone’s major attractions are spread along Grand Loop Road, a large figure-eight-shaped drive that connects geyser basins, waterfalls, lakes, and wildlife valleys. Because of this layout, the vast majority of visitors explore Yellowstone by car.

If you’re driving to Yellowstone, you won’t have to rent a car once you get here. Even better, the road trip to Yellowstone can become part of the experience, especially if you approach through places like the Tetons, Paradise Valley, or the Beartooth Mountains.

Yellowstone’s Five Entrances

The first thing to know about driving to Yellowstone is that the park has five entrances:

North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana)
Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, Montana)
East Entrance (near Cody, Wyoming)
South Entrance (near Grand Teton National Park)
West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana)

Each entrance offers a different approach to the park and puts you closer to different areas once you arrive.

One important thing to know when planning your route is that the North Entrance near Gardiner is the only entrance open year-round. The other entrances typically close between early November and mid-April as park roads transition between summer and winter travel.

If you’re visiting between mid-May and October, all park entrances are usually open, and you can drive through the park between them. Outside those dates, it’s often easier to drive directly to your lodging outside the park rather than trying to cross the park itself.

Best Road Trips to Yellowstone

Yellowstone plays really nicely with other bucket-list stops, so if you’re already going to Yellowstone, you might as well make the drive part of the trip!

Here are a few of the best “combo” road trips we see (and drive ourselves).

1. Dallas → Colorado → Grand Tetons → Yellowstone

This is a route we’ve personally driven many times. It’s a long haul if you try to do it in one go, but it’s an awesome multi-day road trip if you build in a couple stops.

Easy stops to add on the way:

Caprock Canyon State Park (or Palo Duro Canyon if you want an easier detour)
Denver (great overnight stop)
Rocky Mountain National Park (if you want a national park day before heading north)
Grand Teton National Park (the perfect lead-in to Yellowstone if you enter via the South Entrance)

It’s about 20 hours of driving total, so we do it with at least one overnight in Denver, then decide whether we want to add the Tetons on the second leg.

2) Chicago → Badlands → Black Hills → Yellowstone

This is one of the classic American road trips, and it works so well because the stops are naturally spaced out. You’re basically stacking iconic landscapes back-to-back.

Road trip highlights along the way:

Badlands National Park
Mount Rushmore
Custer State Park (don’t skip this one if you like wildlife drives)
Bighorn Mountains (a gorgeous, underrated stretch before Yellowstone)

From the Black Hills area, you can either head toward Cody + the East Entrance or swing north to drive Beartooth Highway into the Northeast Entrance (seasonal, but incredible).

3) Phoenix → Grand Canyon → Utah Parks → Yellowstone

If you want your Yellowstone trip to feel like an epic, postcard-level road trip, this is the one. It’s not just a way to get to Yellowstone, it’s a full itinerary by itself.

Easy stops to build it around:

Sedona
Grand Canyon National Park
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Grand Teton National Park (perfect final stop before Yellowstone)

Many people spend a full week or more on this drive (before they even reach Yellowstone), because there are so many worthy detours.

4) Salt Lake City → Grand Tetons → Yellowstone

If you’re coming from Utah or flying into Salt Lake, this is one of the best “easy but amazing” approaches to Yellowstone. It’s only about 5-6 hours to reach Yellowstone, depending on your entrance, and adding the Tetons makes the route way more memorable without adding a ton of extra planning.

Driving to Yellowstone From the North

If you’re driving from Bozeman, Glacier National Park, Seattle, or the Canadian Rockies, the North Entrance near Gardiner, Montana is usually the best way to enter the park.

The final stretch of this drive follows US-89 through Paradise Valley, one of the most beautiful valleys in Montana. The Yellowstone River runs alongside the road for much of the drive, with wide open ranchland and the Absaroka Mountains rising in the distance.

Entering through the North Entrance also places you immediately close to Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone’s wildlife-rich Northern Range, including Tower-Roosevelt and Lamar Valley, two of the best places in the park to spot bison, elk, wolves, and bears.

Driving from Bozeman to Yellowstone

Bozeman is the closest airport to Yellowstone’s North Entrance and an easy starting point for many trips. From Bozeman, the drive follows I-90 east to Livingston, then turns south on US-89 through Paradise Valley before reaching Gardiner. This stretch of road is beautiful in every season and gives you a preview of the landscapes you’ll see inside the park.

Driving from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone

Glacier National Park is about 6-7 hours from Yellowstone’s North Entrance, depending on where you begin.

From East Glacier, the simplest route follows US-89 south through Browning and Great Falls, eventually reaching Livingston before continuing into Gardiner.

From West Glacier, many travelers follow US-93 south past Flathead Lake, one of the most scenic lakes in the West, then connect to I-90 near Missoula and continue east to Livingston.

Both routes eventually meet US-89, which follows the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley into Gardiner.

Driving from Seattle to Yellowstone

The drive from Seattle to Yellowstone takes about 11 hours and typically approaches the park through either the North Entrance in Gardiner or the West Entrance in West Yellowstone.

You can follow I-90 east across Washington, crossing the Cascade Mountains before continuing through Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. After entering Montana, the route continues through Missoula and Butte before reaching Livingston.

From Livingston, the road turns south through Paradise Valley toward Gardiner. This route offers constantly changing scenery, from forests and mountain passes to lakes and wide-open Montana valleys.

Driving from Calgary to Yellowstone

Travelers coming from the Canadian Rockies often drive from Calgary to Yellowstone, a trip of about 8-9 hours. A great way to break up the drive is by stopping in Glacier National Park along the way.

One of our favorite versions of this trip is: Calgary → East Glacier (St. Mary) → Going-to-the-Sun Road → West Glacier → Yellowstone

This is a road trip my mom and I actually took to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from Gardiner a few years ago! Driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road through Glacier National Park before continuing south makes this an unforgettable national park road trip.

From Glacier, the drive typically continues through Missoula and Livingston before reaching Gardiner.

Driving to Yellowstone From the Northeast

If you’re coming from Billings, eastern Montana, or North Dakota (including cities like Bismarck), entering Yellowstone through the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City can be one of the most scenic routes.

This approach includes the legendary Beartooth Highway, often ranked among the most beautiful drives in the United States.

The road climbs to nearly 11,000 feet, crossing alpine tundra, mountain lakes, and dramatic high-elevation landscapes before descending toward Cooke City. Because of heavy snowfall, the Beartooth Highway is typically open late May through mid-October. Entering Yellowstone this way places you just minutes from Lamar Valley, one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the park.

Driving to Yellowstone From the East

If you’re traveling from the Midwest or the Black Hills region, the East Entrance near Cody, Wyoming is often the most natural way to approach Yellowstone.

This route enters the park through Shoshone National Forest and follows the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, a beautiful drive along the Shoshone River through the Wapiti Valley.

The scenery gradually transitions from red rock canyon walls to forested mountains as you approach Yellowstone.

Driving from Chicago to Yellowstone

The drive from Chicago to Yellowstone is about 1,300 miles and takes roughly 20 hours of driving. Popular stops along the way include Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and the Bighorn Mountains.

From there, continue west toward Cody before entering Yellowstone through the East Entrance.

Driving from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone

Mount Rushmore is about 7-8 hours from Yellowstone, depending on which entrance you choose. One route continues west across Wyoming toward Cody, entering Yellowstone through the East Entrance.

Another option heads north toward Red Lodge, where travelers can drive the Beartooth Highway before entering Yellowstone through the Northeast Entrance. Both routes offer incredible mountain scenery as you approach the park.

Driving from Custer State Park to Yellowstone

Because Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore are only about 30 minutes apart, you can easily visit both before continuing toward Yellowstone. From Custer State Park, the drive to Yellowstone takes about 7 hours, typically crossing Wyoming before reaching Cody or Red Lodge.

This makes for a fantastic road trip combining: Badlands → Black Hills → Bighorn Mountains → Yellowstone → Grand Teton.

Driving to Yellowstone From the South

If you’re driving from Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, or even Dallas, entering Yellowstone through the South Entrance is often the most scenic option.

This route passes directly through Grand Teton National Park, allowing travelers to easily combine two of the most famous national parks in the United States on the same trip. The drive then continues through the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway before reaching Yellowstone’s South Entrance.

Entering Yellowstone this way places you near West Thumb Geyser Basin and Yellowstone Lake.

Driving from Jackson and Grand Teton National Park

The drive from Jackson, Wyoming, to Yellowstone’s South Entrance takes about 1.5 hours, though many visitors take longer to enjoy the scenery. The route passes several famous viewpoints and lakes within Grand Teton National Park before continuing north into Yellowstone. This is widely considered one of the most scenic approaches to Yellowstone.

Driving from Denver to Yellowstone

Driving from Denver to Yellowstone takes about 9-10 hours and typically heads north through Fort Collins and southern Wyoming. Once again, you can add a stop in Grand Teton National Park before entering Yellowstone through the South Entrance. The route passes through Medicine Bow National Forest, open Wyoming landscapes, and eventually the dramatic mountain scenery around Jackson.

We break down the best route options, scenic detours, and great places to eat in our full guide to a Denver to Yellowstone Road Trip.

Driving from Dallas to Yellowstone

The drive from Dallas to Yellowstone is about 1,300 miles and usually takes us about 20 hours. Since we started building the Cozy Yellowstone Compound in Gardiner (at Yellowstone’s North Entrance), we’ve made this drive multiple times each year. We prefer to break up the trip with an overnight stop in Denver, then continue north through Wyoming.

Popular road trip stops include:

Caprock Canyon State Park
Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park
Grand Teton National Park

If you're planning this route, we’ve shared the full breakdown, including scenic stops and places to eat, in our guide to Best Routes and Scenic Stops on a Dallas to Yellowstone Road Trip.

Driving from Phoenix to Yellowstone

The drive from Phoenix to Yellowstone takes about 15-16 hours, but it’s one of the most scenic road trip routes in the country. Along the way, you can pass through some of the Southwest’s most famous destinations, including Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Page, Arizona, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park.

This could be a full national park road trip before even reaching Yellowstone! We spent a month in Kanab, Utah, while road tripping the Mighty 5 in this area; here are some of the most jaw-dropping places to see.

Driving from Albuquerque to Yellowstone

Driving from Albuquerque to Yellowstone typically takes 14–15 hours, depending on your route. One option connects with the same route used from Dallas and Denver, heading north through Colorado before reaching Wyoming.

Another scenic option travels through northern New Mexico and Colorado’s mountain towns, passing near destinations like Taos, Breckenridge, Vail, and Steamboat Springs before eventually heading toward the Tetons and Yellowstone.

Driving to Yellowstone From the West

Travelers coming from Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or Boise often enter Yellowstone through the West Entrance near West Yellowstone, Montana.

This is the busiest entrance to the park because it provides quick access to some of Yellowstone’s most famous geothermal features, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Lower Geyser Basin.

Driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

Salt Lake City is about 4.5-5 hours from Yellowstone’s West Entrance. Most travelers follow I-15 north to Idaho Falls, then continue east on US-20 into West Yellowstone.

If you want a more scenic approach, you can also drive through Grand Teton National Park and enter Yellowstone through the South Entrance instead.

Driving from Boise to Yellowstone

Driving from Boise to Yellowstone takes about 6 hours and typically follows Interstate 84 east before connecting to US-20 toward West Yellowstone.

One of the most unique stops along this route is Craters of the Moon National Monument, where visitors can explore lava fields, volcanic landscapes, and lava tube caves.

Driving from Los Angeles to Yellowstone

The drive from Los Angeles to Yellowstone takes about 16-18 hours, depending on your route. If you head north through Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, you can stop in places like Red Rock Canyon, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon National Park. From there, it typically makes sense to enter Yellowstone through either the West Entrance or the South Entrance.

The Most Scenic Drives Into Yellowstone

Not all routes into Yellowstone are created equal. Some entrances are convenient, while others are truly spectacular! If you have flexibility in how you approach the park, these are four of the most beautiful drives into Yellowstone National Park.

Beartooth Highway (Red Lodge → Northeast Entrance)

The Beartooth Highway is widely considered one of the most scenic drives in America. Starting in Red Lodge, Montana, the road climbs dramatically into the Beartooth Mountains, reaching nearly 11,000 feet in elevation before descending toward Cooke City and Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance.

It’s an unforgettable drive, but it’s also seasonal, typically opening between late May and mid-October depending on snow. If your trip lines up with those months, this is one of the most spectacular ways to enter Yellowstone.

Paradise Valley (Livingston → North Entrance)

If you're entering Yellowstone through the North Entrance, the final stretch of the drive passes through Paradise Valley. This is one of the most beautiful valleys in Montana. The Yellowstone River runs alongside US-89, with wide open ranchland, mountain views, and frequent wildlife sightings along the way. Paradise Valley feels like a perfect introduction to Yellowstone’s landscapes and wildlife, and it’s one of the reasons we love entering the park through the North Entrance.

Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway (Cody → East Entrance)

Approaching Yellowstone from Cody, Wyoming along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway is another stunning drive. The road follows the Shoshone River through Wapiti Valley, gradually transitioning from red rock canyon walls to forested mountains as you approach the park. This drive passes through Shoshone National Forest, the first national forest in the United States, and the scenery becomes more dramatic the closer you get to Yellowstone.

We also think the drive from Yellowstone’s East Entrance to Lake Village is one of the most underrated scenic drives in the park. In summer, it’s a great stretch for bear-watching!

Grand Teton Approach (Jackson → South Entrance)

Driving into Yellowstone from Grand Teton National Park is another incredible approach. The route begins in Jackson, Wyoming, travels through Grand Teton National Park, and continues north through the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway before reaching Yellowstone’s South Entrance. Entering Yellowstone this way lets you visit two iconic national parks in one trip.

How Far Is Yellowstone From Major Cities?

Yellowstone is located in a relatively remote part of the western United States, so most visitors combine flying with a road trip or plan a longer drive to reach the park.

Here are the approximate driving distances and times from several major cities. Exact timing and distance will depend on which entrance you’re driving to.

Denver → Yellowstone: ~510 miles | 8-9 hours
Salt Lake City → Yellowstone: ~320 miles | 4.5-5 hours
Seattle → Yellowstone: ~740–755 miles | ~11 hours
Chicago → Yellowstone: ~1,300 miles | ~20 hours
Dallas → Yellowstone: ~1,300 miles | ~20 hours
Phoenix → Yellowstone: ~970 miles | 15-16 hours
Calgary → Yellowstone: ~550 miles | 8-9 hours
Bozeman → Yellowstone: ~90 miles | 1.5 hours
Jackson → Yellowstone: ~60 miles | ~1.5 hours

Important Yellowstone Driving Tips

One thing that surprises many first-time visitors is just how large Yellowstone really is. The park covers more than two million acres, and driving between major attractions can take longer than expected. Wildlife traffic jams, limited gas stations, and road construction are all normal parts of the Yellowstone driving experience.

If it’s your first time visiting, we recommend reading our guide to 8 Things to Know About Driving in Yellowstone National Park, which covers practical tips that make navigating the park much easier.

Driving to Yellowstone: Complete Guide to Getting Here By Car