Do I need a car to tour Yellowstone? How long does it take to drive the Grand Loop? (2024)
During the summer season, cars are the best option for taking a trip around Yellowstone unless you are riding with a bus tour or concessionaire that provides transportation. Yellowstone has no shuttle service and local bus service is limited to the Jackson Hole area.
Many cycling enthusiasts ride their bikes in Yellowstone but there are no bike lanes and often no safe shoulders. Also, vehicle drivers may be distracted by animals and other roadside attractions. Other than on a few paved trails open to bicyclists, recreational bicycle riders may find Yellowstone’s roads unsafe to ride.
Yellowstone’s main road is the Grand Loop, and it is a difficult drive to tackle in one day. To get to the loop, drive one of the five surrounding entrance roads, which can take an hour in themselves. The Grand Loop serpentines 142 miles around Yellowstone like an inscribed circle closed in on the very heart of the park. This loop connects visitors to every classic gem, from Mammoth Hot Springs near the North Entrance to Fountain Pots and Old Faithful near the West and South Entrances. Simply driving the entire distance, whether going clockwise or counter, could take four toseven hours. And even if the speed limit is 45 mph, you’ll want to take your sweet time, especially around the winding turns, epic scenery and stopped traffic due to wildlife in or near the road.
The Grand Loop Road, however, is also set up like a figure eight allowing for drivers to at least take in half of the attractions along this circular road. For road trips, you can pick a side—any side—of the loop, taking three to four hours of driving and stopping by lakes, canyons, falls and hot springs.
During the winter season, most of Yellowstone’s roads are closed to wheeled vehicles. The park can still be accessed through the North Entrance by car, or other entrances by snowmobiles, cross-country skis, or snowcoaches.
How Far is it To…?
From Mammoth to Madison Junction – 35 miles Old Faithful – 51 miles Lake Village – 49 miles Tower – 18 miles
From Madison Junction to Mammoth – 35 miles Old Faithful – 16 miles Lake Village – 42 miles Tower – 45 miles
From Old Faithful to Mammoth – 51 miles Madison Junction – 16 miles Lake Village – 38 miles Tower – 61 miles
From Lake Village to Mammoth – 49 miles Madison Junction – 42 miles Old Faithful – 38 miles Tower – 35 miles
From Tower to Mammoth – 18 miles Madison Junction – 45 miles Old Faithful – 61 miles Lake Village – 35 miles
From Cody, Wyo., to the East Entrance – 52 miles
From Jackson, Wyo., to the South Entrance – 58 miles through Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockfeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Visitors should allow one and a half to two hours for this drive.
From Gardiner, Mont., to North Entrance – 0 miles
From West Yellowstone, Mont., to West Entrance – Less than 1 mile
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The Grand Loop takes between 4 to 7 hours to drive in full. During the summer season, cars are the best option for taking a trip around Yellowstone unless you are riding with a bus tour or concessionaire that provides transportation.
It takes about 45 minutes to drive from one intersection to another, add in stops and you can spend 4-5 hours easily. The speed limit is mostly 45 MPH, pay attention when it changes to 35 or 25, there is a big intersection or traffic jam ahead.
There are several trusted companies that offer guided bus and van tours of the park. These tours depart from the park's visitor areas and gateway communities like West Yellowstone, Gardiner and Jackson, to name a few.
The Park's Grand Loop Drive is shaped like a figure 8, divided into the Upper Loop and Lower Loop. We recommend driving the Lower Loop on Day 2, since it features Yellowstone's most famous attraction – Old Faithful, that way you are building up to a grand finale.
Curving a figure eight through Yellowstone, the Grand Loop is a 142-mile long scenic route passing Yellowstone's major attractions. Boardwalks and hiking trails lead you to the finest of Yellowstone.
Attractions on the Upper Loop are Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Falls, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Norris Geyser Basin. The Lower Loop is slightly larger and can be traveled in 2 hours and 45 minutes not including time to see the attractions.
One of the best ways to see Yellowstone is to hit the trails. Walking even a ½ mile on a boardwalk or trail offers you a more complete sense of Yellowstone's features and landscape. So dust off your hiking shoes, park the car, and see the wonders of Yellowstone that lie beyond your car window.
$35.00. 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.
The first thing to know about driving in Yellowstone is that it's not going to be as efficient as what you're used to. There are plenty of people on the road during the summer tourist season, and at peak times, driving is going to feel like one of your less pleasant commutes home from work.
Hot springs have injured or killed more people in Yellowstone than any other natural feature. Keep your children close and don't let them run. Animals that become dependent on human food may become aggressive toward people and have to be killed. Keep all food, garbage, or other smelly items packed away when not in use.
Yellowstone Park Service Stations has seven locations in the Park with over 80 seasonal employees. Yellowstone Park Service Stations, Inc. (YPSS) operates seven convenience store/fuel facilities, four automotive repair shops and a central office/warehouse in Yellowstone National Park.
Five different entry points will take you into the park, classified by their geographic location: west, north, northeast, east, and south. Each has a number of benefits, but by far the most popular entrance is from the west, where the town of West Yellowstone, Montana, serves as the entry point.
How long does it take to drive the loop in Yellowstone? The Grand Loop takes 4 to 7 hours to drive depending on stops, wildlife traffic jams and other factors.
One of the most incredible views in Yellowstone is along the Northeast Entrance road in the northeastern section of the park. You can literally park your car at any pull-off along the road in Lamar Valley, get out your binoculars and spend hours watching the best wildlife show in the country.
Yellowstone's Firehole Lake Drive is a 3-mile, one-way side road off the Grand Loop located between the Old Faithful exit and Madison Junction. It has many geysers and hot springs that you can see from the road. There is also a boardwalk around the Firehole Lake itself, leading you to small geysers and springs.
How Long Does It Take to Do the Great Loop? The Great Loop has been done in as little as six weeks and in as much as 12 years. Traditionally, Loopers have spent about a year on the route. After all, it is a seasonal trip.
Time needed: 2 hours, maybe more! Many Yellowstone visitors make the mistake of turning around after exploring Old Faithful and the lower geyser basins.
From Moose, drive up the inner park road to Jackson Lake Junction and follow the outer park road through Moran Junction back down to Moose. The loop is 42 miles long, and depending on how many points of interest you chose to explore, plan for at least a one to two hour drive.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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