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Yellowstone National ParkA herd of Bison, commonly called Buffalo, graze along a roadside.
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Yellowstone National Park
Road Construction Delays and Closures

Yellowstone is reconstructing its roads, which means you will likely encounter delays and nighttime closures. Consult the maps below as you plan your drive to minimize delays.

For more road information, including what roads are open during each season, see our Operating Hours and Seasons page. Call the 24-hour Current Road Report hotline at (307) 344-2117 for the latest information on conditions affecting roads within the park. See the 2009 Road Improvements Map (332 kb pdf) for projects that may affect travel this summer.


 
Map of road closures in winter

Some park areas, entrances and roads are not accessible year-round!! Roads are currently being plowed. Most park roads are not open to motorized vehicle traffic at this time. The closed roads will begin re-opening starting April 17, 2009. See the spring schedule for details.

From early November through late April, all roads south through the park are closed to wheeled vehicles, including the road to Old Faithful Geyser.

Flashing black roads are closed to wheeled vehicles during the winter season.

 
 
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2009 Yellowstone National Park Road Construction Projects

 
Map of Yellowstone showing where road construction will take place.

Norris–Madison: Gibbon Canyon

April 16—May 22: Expect 30-minute delays. May 26–August 16: Open 8 am–10 pm: expect 30-minute delays Closed 10 pm–8 am
August 17: ROAD CLOSES FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON!

 





 
Map detailing road construction on the East Entrance of YNP.

East Entrance Road

May 1–Nov. 1, open with 30-minute delays Monday–Friday, but no weekend or holiday work.



 

 
Simple map of road system in Yellowstone Park.

Beartooth Highway (US 212)

For construction updates on this highway only, call 888-285-4636. Northeast Entrance through Cooke City: May 27–September 25, open with 30-minute delays Monday– Friday, but no weekend or holiday work.

Milepost 25–43.1 (state line): June–November, open but expect delays.




 

All Summer:
Expect Road Improvement Projects on Many of the Major Travel Routes to Yellowstone Park Entrances from Montana and Wyoming

For information about Montana Road projects, call 1-800-226-7623 or visit www.mdt511.com

For information about Wyoming Road projects call 1-888-996-7623 or visit www.wyoroad.info/

For information about all road projects in Grand Teton National Park, call 307-739-3614. The park’s newspaper, Teewinot, includes a road construction map for further reference and can be found online at www.nps.gov/grte, or picked up at any park entrance station or visitor center.




 

General Information

Road construction is perennial in Yellowstone National Park. In general, park roads have either been recently repaired or reconstructed, or are scheduled for repair or reconstruction. Approximately 80% of main park roads (about 185 mi or 295 km) are in a structurally deficient state, with poor quality road bases failing under the weight, speed, and volume of modern traffic for which they were not designed. Harsh winter weather and short construction seasons provide additional challenges.

These needs are now being addressed under a 20-year, $300 million Federal Lands Highway Program for Yellowstone National Park. In addition to the major construction addressed below, park road repair crews will be working in other areas of the park throughout this and subsequent seasons. Thank you for your patience with our road construction efforts.

Other road closures or delays are possible. For current road information, call: 307-344-7381.

Additional construction zones and schedules may be announced as construction contracts are awarded.

We recommend that visitors check the following resources before traveling:

 
Map showing road closures, construction and delays
Seventh Cavalry Ensignia Pin.  

Did You Know?
Prior to the establishment of the National Park Service, the U.S. Army protected Yellowstone between 1886 and 1918. Fort Yellowstone was established at Mammoth Hot Springs for that purpose.

Last Updated: May 05, 2009 at 14:31 EST