Visiting Yellowstone National Park in November 2026: What's Open After the Roads Close

Roosevelt Arch at the North Entrance, photographed November 18, 2019. Main image: photo by NPS / Jacob W. Frank, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, with text added.

Yes, if you only need the north end of the park and you're fine with a cold, quiet trip. Most Yellowstone roads and three of the five entrances closed to regular vehicles on November 1, so the Grand Loop, Old Faithful, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are off the table until oversnow travel starts in mid-December. What's left is the road from Gardiner through Mammoth and Lamar Valley to Cooke City, which is a good road for wildlife and empty boardwalks. If the geysers are the whole point, wait.

That's why my Yellowstone guide is built around the summer roads. Treat this post as the November edition: one open corridor, short days, and no lodge or campground except at Mammoth.

Is November the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone?

It's the best month if you want to skip crowds and drive a road with bison and elk beside it. It's a poor month for almost everything else. The park's own road page, last updated November 3, says the only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles runs from the North Entrance at Gardiner to Cooke City. Everything else waits for winter oversnow vehicles or the spring opening.

For the loop, geysers, and waterfalls, pick June through September. For snowcoaches and Old Faithful in the snow, come after December 15; my Yellowstone in December guide covers that. If you're based in Jackson, the South Entrance is closed too, so read the Jackson day trip post before you drive north, and see my Grand Teton in November guide for the park next door.

Weather and Daylight in November

NPS's weather page lists a November average high of about 39°F and a low of about 19°F, with around 9 inches of snow for the month. It also says snow is common in fall, with 12 inches in a day possible. Winter driving here means black ice and whiteouts, per the winter safety page.

Daylight shrinks fast. At Mammoth the sun rises around 7:07 a.m. on November 6 and 7:39 a.m. on November 30, and it sets around 5:06 p.m. at the start and 4:44 p.m. at the end (approximate, calculated from the park's coordinates). Plan to finish before dark, and know that the good wildlife light is at the edges of those short days.

What's Open and Closed, and Where You Can Drive

Roads. NPS's October 21 news release says most roads and the West, South, and East Entrances closed on November 1, 2026. Dunraven Pass stayed open through October 31. The Beartooth Highway beyond Cooke City is closed for the season too. Check the park's road status page the morning you drive, because snow can slow or close even the open road.

Services. The operating dates page says services are limited from early November through late April. As of November 5, 2026, Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth, the Mammoth General Store, and Mammoth Campground are listed as open year-round. The campground takes reservations only April 15 to October 15, so in November it's first come, first served. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and its dining room are open into March 2027. Canyon Village and Old Faithful are closed for winter, with a few winter openings listed from December 15.

Fuel. The same page lists Mammoth fuel as available around the clock, and also marks the gas station closed with dates to be determined. Don't gamble on it: fill your tank in Gardiner.

What to Book and When

For November, book the hotel at Mammoth, or stay in Gardiner and drive in. There's nothing else to reserve, and no timed entry. If you want December snowcoach seats or Old Faithful lodging, start looking now, because winter space inside the park is small. If you're already thinking about summer camping, my Madison Campground post explains how that Recreation.gov booking works.

The Best Things to Do in November

Walk the boardwalks at Mammoth Hot Springs, where steam rises off the terraces and a fresh snowfall makes the whole place look quiet and strange. Then drive east to Tower Junction and into Lamar Valley, and let the pullouts do the work. Bring binoculars and keep the car as your blind.

First tracks on the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalks after fresh snow, photographed November 11, 2017. Photo: NPS / Neal Herbert, public domain (NPS), via source.

Wildlife in November

NPS says to expect wildlife at any time of year, and Lamar Valley is the part of the park you can still drive. NPS's own November photos from that corridor show bison, elk, wolves, and coyotes. Nothing is guaranteed, and I wouldn't plan a trip around one species.

Bison in Lamar Valley, photographed November 5, 2017. Photo: NPS / Neal Herbert, public domain (NPS), via source.

The safety page sets the distances: 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from bison, elk, and other wildlife. It singles out bison as the animal that has injured the most people in the park, and asks for extra caution around elk in spring and fall. Carry bear spray even in winter, and stay in the car near animals on the road.

A bull elk in snow by Obsidian Creek, photographed November 17, 2016. Photo: NPS / Jim Peaco, public domain (NPS), via source.

Holidays, Events, and Crowds

Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, is the only fee-free day in November, per the park's fees page. Otherwise the vehicle fee is $35 for seven days. Crowds are thin all month. Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 26, and the Mammoth General Store and medical clinic are closed that day, so shop on Wednesday. NPS lists no other Thanksgiving closures, but services are limited, so don't count on a restaurant being open.

Safety and What to Pack

Pack insulated boots, layers, a hat, gloves, sunglasses for snow glare, food, and water in insulated bottles. Keep a full tank and a winter kit in the car, because help is far away. Use only plowed pullouts. Stay on the boardwalks near thermal features, where NPS prohibits swimming or soaking in hot springs.

How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone in November?

One day is enough. It covers the Mammoth terraces and a slow drive through Lamar Valley and back. A second day adds a second pass at the valley in the best light, or a quiet morning at Mammoth. A third day only makes sense if you're staying at the Mammoth hotel and want to go slowly, since the rest of the park is closed to cars.

Pick one day if you're in Gardiner for the night, two if you're staying at Mammoth, and skip three. My Yellowstone guide has nine one- to three-day itineraries built for summer roads, which is a good way to see what a return trip would add.

A One-Day Plan for November

• 7:30 a.m.: Coffee in Gardiner, then enter at Roosevelt Arch with a full tank.
• 8:30 a.m.: Walk the Mammoth boardwalks and stop at Albright Visitor Center.
• 10:30 a.m.: Drive to Tower Junction, then east into Lamar Valley.
• 11:30 a.m.: Work the pullouts with binoculars. Stay in the car near animals.
• 1:00 p.m.: Picnic in the car with something hot in a thermos.
• 2:00 p.m.: A second pass through the valley.
• 3:30 p.m.: Head back toward Gardiner and be off the road by dark.

Before you go: see Yellowstone National Park alerts and current conditions, checked daily, for current closures and what they mean for your trip.

For a full trip when the roads reopen, the Yellowstone National Park guide has the day-by-day plans.

This is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Conditions change; check the park's current alerts before you go.