Yellowstone in Winter from Montana: Snowcoach Tours, Gardiner Road & Where to Stay

Last updated: October 28, 2026

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Yellowstone in winter means two different trips. From Gardiner, you can drive your own car through the North Entrance and on through Mammoth, Tower and Lamar Valley to Cooke City all winter. That road stays open to wheeled vehicles year-round, weather permitting. Everywhere else in the park, including Old Faithful, the geyser basins and Canyon, you can only get in on a snowcoach or a guided snowmobile. That oversnow season runs from Dec. 15, 2026 to mid-March 2027 (NPS news release, Oct. 21, 2026; NPS Park Roads).

This guide covers the 2026-27 dates, the rules for snowmobiles and snowcoaches, the two in-park lodges open in winter, and how Gardiner and West Yellowstone compare as bases. For the summer version and the three Montana entrances, see Visiting Yellowstone from Montana. For more park guides, go to our Yellowstone hub.

Winter 2026-27 at a glance

Dates can change with the weather. For current road status, call the NPS road line at (307) 344-2117, or text 82190 to 888-777 for park alerts (NPS release).

The one road you can drive: Gardiner to Cooke City

The road from the North Entrance at Gardiner runs through Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction and Lamar Valley to the Northeast Entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City. It is the only route in the park kept open to regular vehicles in winter (NPS release). NPS gives these average summer drive times: North Entrance to Mammoth about 15 minutes, Mammoth to Tower Junction about 40 minutes, and Tower Junction to the Northeast Entrance about 60 minutes (NPS Directions). In snow, plan on longer.

Cooke City is a dead end for cars in winter. The Beartooth Highway is closed, and on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway route east of Cooke City, the 9 miles to Pilot Creek are closed to wheeled vehicles (NPS Park Roads). If you drive in from Gardiner, you have to drive back out the same way.

What’s open along this road in winter, per the NPS operating-dates page (NPS Operating Dates):

• Albright Visitor Center (Mammoth): open year-round.
• Gas pumps at Mammoth and Tower: open 24 hours a day, year-round.
• Mammoth Campground: open in winter, first-come, first-served (NPS Visiting in Winter).

To see Lamar Valley wildlife with a guide instead of driving yourself, compare a Hayden and Lamar Valley wildlife tour from Gardiner. Confirm the operator runs on your winter dates before you book.

Oversnow travel: snowcoaches and snowmobiles

Most of the park is groomed for oversnow travel only. There are two ways in:

1. Snowcoach. This is a commercially operated over-snow vehicle that carries a group. Commercial snowcoach tours run from the authorized operators listed below.
2. Snowmobile. These go in either with a commercial guide or on a permit through the non-commercial guided program described below.

Rules every oversnow visitor follows

These rules come from the federal regulation for Yellowstone’s winter use (36 CFR 7.13) and the NPS winter pages:

• All snowmobilers must be accompanied by a guide. Unguided snowmobile access is prohibited. The guide can be a commercial guide or a trained non-commercial group leader.
• Speed limits: 35 mph for snowmobiles and 25 mph for snowcoaches, unless posted lower (36 CFR 7.13).
• No idling longer than 3 minutes (36 CFR 7.13).
• Commercial snowmobile groups are capped at 10 snowmobiles, including the guide’s (36 CFR 7.13).
• Daily limits: The park allows up to 110 “transportation events” a day. No more than 50 can be snowmobile events, and 4 of those are set aside for non-commercial groups. By entrance, commercial snowmobile events are allotted as follows: West 23, South 17, East 2, North 2 and Old Faithful 2 (36 CFR 7.13). The West Entrance gets the largest share, which is one reason West Yellowstone is the main snowmobile town.
• Stay on groomed roads. Off-road snowmobile travel is not allowed (NPS Winter Safety).

Authorized commercial operators

NPS lists these companies as authorized to guide snowmobile and snowcoach trips, with the entrance each operates from (NPS Guided Tours, updated Sept. 21, 2026):

Only the North and West entrances are in Montana. The East (Cody) and South (Grand Teton) entrances are in Wyoming. Before you book any tour, check that the company appears on the NPS list.

To see what is offered for your dates, you can browse West Yellowstone tours on Viator. Whatever you book, confirm the company is on the NPS authorized-operator list above.

Non-commercial guided snowmobile permits

If you want to lead your own group, the Non-Commercial Guided Snowmobile Access Program offers a small number of permits. The details below come from the NPS program page, last updated May 22, 2025 (NPS Snowmobiling). Confirm them before you apply.

• How many: Up to 4 non-commercial groups a day, one per oversnow entrance.
• How to get one: A lottery runs on Recreation.gov from Aug. 1 to 31. Winners are notified in mid-September, and leftover dates open starting Oct. 1.
• Cost: $40 per permit per day, plus a $6 application fee.
• Group size: Up to 5 snowmobiles per group.
• Machines: Snowmobiles must meet NPS Best Available Technology (BAT) standards. Tracked side-by-sides are not allowed.
• People: Each operator must be 16 or older, hold a valid driver’s license and complete the online education course. The group’s guide must be 18 or older.
• Trips: Up to 2 trips per person per season.

The NPS page describes this as an annual schedule, so the main lottery for this season has most likely already run. Check Recreation.gov and the NPS page for any dates still open.

Where to stay inside the park in winter

Only two lodges inside the park open in winter (NPS Visiting in Winter):

Sources: NPS Operating Dates; Xanterra Old Faithful Snow Lodge (Winter); Xanterra winter lodges. The NPS and the concessioner list slightly different closing dates, so check the booking page before you plan your last night.

Xanterra runs a reservation-only snowcoach between Mammoth and Old Faithful Snow Lodge twice a day in each direction, Dec. 16, 2026 to March 7, 2027. The morning coach checks in at 7:45 a.m. and arrives at 12:00 p.m. Xanterra also runs a winter shuttle from Bozeman’s airport (BZN) to Mammoth for guests with reservations at either lodge (Xanterra winter transportation). Current rates are posted on Xanterra’s snowcoach transportation page.

At Old Faithful in winter, NPS lists these dates: Obsidian Dining Room Dec. 16, 2026 to March 7, 2027, and Geyser Grill Dec. 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027. Warming huts at Madison, Indian Creek, the Old Faithful yurt, Fishing Bridge, West Thumb and Canyon open from Dec. 15 (NPS Operating Dates).

Gardiner vs. West Yellowstone as a winter base

Drive times from BZN are OSRM route estimates; the in-park times above are from NPS Directions. Winter driving is slower; check MDT 511 for road conditions before you leave.

Hotels: Gardiner sits right at the North Entrance arch: hotels in Gardiner on Expedia. West Yellowstone is the main base for snowmobile and snowcoach trips through the West Entrance: hotels in West Yellowstone on Expedia.

Getting there: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is the closest large airport to both entrances. A rental car with winter tires or all-wheel drive makes the drive easier; compare rental cars at Bozeman’s airport (BZN) and check prices for your dates. Livingston, about an hour north of Gardiner, is another place to stay; see our Livingston town page. If you live in the Bozeman area, see the Bozeman town page.

After a cold day: Yellowstone Hot Springs says it is eight miles north of the North Entrance, at the south end of Paradise Valley, and open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday (Yellowstone Hot Springs). See our Montana hot springs guide for other soaks. Soaking in the park’s own hot springs is prohibited (NPS Swimming).

Fees (2026)

• Private vehicle: $35 for 7 days (NPS Fees).
• Snowmobile: $30 for 7 days, covering up to 2 snowmobiles (NPS Fees). If you’re on a commercial tour, ask whether the entrance fee is included.
• Non-U.S. residents (2026 rule): NPS lists a $100 per-person nonresident fee for visitors 16 and older, on top of the standard entrance fee, unless they enter with an annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS Fees).

Winter safety

These points are from NPS Winter Safety and NPS Visiting in Winter:

• Cold: NPS puts the park’s elevation at 6,000 feet or higher, with winter highs approaching 30°F and lows that can drop to −30°F at night.
• Roads: Expect ice and snow even on the open Gardiner–Cooke City road. Drive cautiously, watch for plows, and don’t stop or walk in the road; use pullouts. NPS warns that a tow can take hours to arrive.
• Carry in your car: snow tires, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a blanket, booster cables, maps and a shovel.
• Walking: Boardwalks and trails get icy, so wear traction aids. Stay on boardwalks in thermal areas.
• Avalanches: NPS says avalanches occur throughout the Yellowstone area and can be deadly. Check avalanche forecasts before any backcountry travel.
• Wildlife: Expect bison and other wildlife on park roads in winter. Keep your distance and let animals pass.
• Cell service is limited in the park, so download maps before you go.
• Ravens: NPS notes that in some areas ravens have learned to unzip packs and scatter the contents, so don’t leave a pack unattended.

This guide is general travel information, not safety or legal advice. Conditions in Yellowstone change quickly; follow ranger instructions and current NPS alerts.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drive into Yellowstone in winter?
Yes, but only on the road from Gardiner (North Entrance) through Mammoth and Lamar Valley to Cooke City (Northeast Entrance). All other park roads close to cars on Nov. 1 (NPS).

Can I ride a snowmobile in Yellowstone without a guide?
No. Every snowmobiler must be with a commercial guide or in a permitted non-commercial group led by a trained guide (36 CFR 7.13; NPS Snowmobiling).

When can I see Old Faithful in winter 2026-27?
From Dec. 15, 2026, when oversnow travel opens. The West Entrance road stays groomed through March 15, 2027 (NPS Park Roads). Old Faithful Snow Lodge opens Dec. 16, 2026.

Which hotel in Yellowstone can I drive to in winter?
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, reached through Gardiner (Xanterra).

Sources

• NPS news release, “Most Yellowstone National Park Roads and Entrances Close Nov. 1, 2026, for Winter Season” (Oct. 21, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/news/26026.htm
• NPS Park Roads (updated Oct. 13, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm
• NPS Operating Dates: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/operating-dates.htm
• NPS Visiting Yellowstone in Winter: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/visiting-yellowstone-in-winter.htm
• NPS Winter Safety: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/winter-safety.htm
• NPS Snowmobiling / NCGSAP (updated May 22, 2025): https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/snowmobiling.htm
• NPS Guided Tours (updated Sept. 21, 2026): https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm
• NPS Fees: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/fees.htm
• NPS Directions: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/directions.htm
• 36 CFR 7.13 (eCFR): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-I/part-7/section-7.13
• Xanterra winter lodges: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/stay/winter-lodges/ ; Snow Lodge (winter): https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/lodgings/cabin/old-faithful-snow-lodge-cabins-winter/ ; snowcoach transportation: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventure/winter-adventures/snowcoach-transportation/ ; winter transportation/shuttle: https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/stay/plan/winter-transportation/

Cole Bennett edits MontanaHelp, a research-driven guide to moving to and living in Montana. Articles cite official and public sources and are updated as rules and data change. AI tools help research and draft them; a person runs the editorial process and spot-checks one article per batch before it’s published.

AI tools helped research and draft this article. A person runs MontanaHelp’s editorial process and spot-checks one article per batch before it’s published.