Gardiner
Gardiner, Montana
The only Yellowstone entrance open to regular vehicles year-round, marked by the historic Roosevelt Arch.
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Gateway Town
West Yellowstone, Montana
The busiest of Yellowstone's five entrances, and the closest gateway town to Old Faithful and the geyser basins.
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Town Information
1,272
Population
6,667
Ft Elevation
1908
Founded
Distance from Entrance: Directly adjacent to the park's West Entrance — the town and the park boundary meet at the entrance station.
Parking: Street parking and hotel lots throughout town; no dedicated park-and-ride system since Yellowstone has no shuttle.
Shuttle Connection: No shuttle system. Yellowstone has no in-park shuttle — visitors drive their own vehicles from West Yellowstone, or book a guided snowcoach/snowmobile tour in winter when interior roads are closed to regular vehicles.
Town data courtesy of Wikipedia and AI-assisted research.
About
West Yellowstone sits directly against the park's West Entrance, the busiest of Yellowstone's five gates and the natural base camp for visitors headed to Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Upper and Midway Geyser Basins. It has the largest concentration of lodging, dining, and outfitters of any gateway community, and it's the hub for winter access into the park.
The town's origins trace to November 1907, when railroad magnate E. H. Harriman's crews began building an Oregon Short Line Railroad spur to the park's edge; the line was completed in June 1908 and the settlement (originally called Riverside, then Yellowstone, before West Yellowstone was settled on around 1920) grew up around the depot. It wasn't formally incorporated as a town until 1966, when it took over 10 acres and several historic buildings from Union Pacific after passenger rail service ended. That original depot district is now the Oregon Short Line Terminus Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and home to the Yellowstone Historic Center museum.
At 6,667 feet elevation with roughly 1,272 year-round residents (2020 census), West Yellowstone punches well above its size during peak season, when the town's population effectively multiplies many times over with summer visitors. In winter, it becomes the primary departure point for guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours into the park's interior, since regular vehicles can't reach Old Faithful once the interior roads close.
Where to Stay
West Yellowstone has the widest range of lodging of any Yellowstone gateway town, from budget motels to full-service hotels, almost all within a few blocks of the historic downtown and the park entrance itself.
Getting Into the Park
West Yellowstone's entrance leads directly onto the road toward Madison Junction and, beyond that, Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin — about 32 miles and 45 minutes to an hour away. Unlike Zion or some other national parks, Yellowstone has no shuttle system; every visitor drives their own vehicle or books a guided tour.
Winter in West Yellowstone
From roughly mid-December through early March, West Yellowstone is the park's primary winter gateway. Regular vehicles can't reach the park's interior once the roads close for the season, so guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours departing from town are the main way to see Old Faithful and the geyser basins blanketed in snow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is West Yellowstone from Old Faithful?
About 32 miles from the West Entrance to Old Faithful, roughly a 45-minute to 1-hour drive depending on wildlife traffic and road conditions inside the park.
Is West Yellowstone the same as Yellowstone National Park?
No — West Yellowstone is an independent Montana town sitting right at the park's West Entrance. It's a gateway community, not part of the park itself.
Can you get into Yellowstone from West Yellowstone in winter?
Not by regular vehicle — the West Entrance closes to wheeled vehicles for winter along with most of the park's interior roads. West Yellowstone is instead the main departure point for guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours into the park.
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