Families and groups
Leans DIY on entry cost
One $35 vehicle fee covers everyone in the car, so a party of five pays $7 each to enter. A per-seat tour price has no such discount, so compare it with your whole-car cost.
Source: NPS fees, Oct 26, 2026
Idaho · Montana · Wyoming · National Park
Yellowstone: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
Yellowstone charges $35 per private vehicle, good for 7 days, according to the National Park Service (checked Oct 26, 2026). Visitors 16 and older who live outside the US pay an extra $100 unless they hold a pass. One fee covers the whole car, so a party of four pays $8.75 each to enter, which favors driving yourself.
Our verdict, from the fee data
DIY wins on entry cost for groups
The $35 vehicle fee is paid once for everyone in the car. A tour only beats driving yourself if it saves you real money or time on fuel, parking, shuttles and planning.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
| Party | Entrance total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35 | $35 |
| 2 people | $35 | $17.50 |
| 4 people | $35 | $8.75 |
| 6 people | $35 | $5.83 |
Arithmetic on the NPS fee of $35. The vehicle fee covers all passengers, so cost per person falls as the group grows. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each.
Entrance fees
| Fee | Cost | Notes from NPS |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35 | 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. |
| Entrance - Non-commercial Groups | $20 | Non-commercial group (e.g. church groups, scouts) traveling in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 or more people. Cost is per person. Unlimited entry for one vehicle and all passengers for seven consecutive days, beginning on the day of purchase. |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Snowmobile | $30 | Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 snowmobiles with up to 4 total passengers. |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20 | Entry for visitors on foot, bicycle, ski, etc., when 16 years of age or older. |
| Commercial Entrance - Sedan | $20 | A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or recreational purposes by an organization that realizes financial gain through the provision of the service. |
| Commercial Entrance - Van | $125 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 7-15 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
| Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus | $200 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 16-25 passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
| Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach | $300 | Based upon the total capacity of a vehicle that can carry 26 or more passengers, regardless of the actual number of passengers. A commercial tour is defined as consisting of one or more persons traveling on an itinerary that has been packaged, priced, or sold for leisure or… |
| Nonresident | $100 | Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Yellowstone National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. |
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for Yellowstone via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Visiting from outside the US? Yellowstone is one of 11 parks that charge non-US residents aged 16+ a $100 nonresident fee on top of the regular entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. The Non-Resident Annual Pass costs $250. Source: nps.gov passes, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Pass math
- The $80 America the Beautiful Resident Annual Pass equals 3 visits at $35 per vehicle, here or at any other fee site.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
- Yellowstone also sells its own pass: Annual Entrance - Park, $70.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. July had 20% of the year; November was the quietest month, with about 3% of the busiest month’s visits.
BusierQuietest month
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 40,363 |
| February | 44,133 |
| March | 33,284 |
| April | 78,529 |
| May | 566,363 |
| June | 928,250 |
| July | 975,109 |
| August | 881,936 |
| September | 839,579 |
| October | 313,959 |
| November | 26,961 |
| December | 34,522 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
4 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026, including 1 closure. Showing the most serious first.
Park Closure Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion
The parking lot, boardwalk, and Firehole River at Biscuit Basin, located north of Old Faithful, is closed to all travel until further notice due to the possibility of another event at the site of a hydrothermal explosion that occurred July 23, 2024. Details on nps.gov
Caution Stay Away From Bull Elk
Bull elk are fast and unpredictable this time of year and can seriously injure people. If an elk charges, run. In addition to staying at least 25 yards (23 m) away from elk and bison, always stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. Details on nps.gov
Information Traffic Delays - Gardner River High Bridge
Expect a single lane of traffic with up to 15-minute delays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 through late October 2026. Oversized/overweight vehicles (8'6"+ wide, 75'+ long, 80,000 lbs+ gross vehicle weight) will not be able to cross the bridge during this time. Details on nps.gov
Information Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed
Although an entrance pass is required to enter Yellowstone National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to purchase an entrance pass before arriving, but you may also purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
Yellowstone is open daily, year-round, although activities and services are limited at night and certain times of year. The park has five entrance stations, but not all entrance stations are open year-round. Make sure to carefully read about access at each station at different times of year. And remember, all dates are weather-dependent. Please note that camping is possible only in designated campgrounds.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Crafts
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry Hiking
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Boat Tour
- Boat Tour
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Canoeing
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Dining
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Freshwater Fishing
- +29 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for Yellowstone?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for YellowstoneWho fits what at Yellowstone
Built from NPS and NOAA data, not opinion. “Leans” is a plain reading of the fee model, not a recommendation.
Seniors (62+)
A senior pass cuts DIY cost
US residents aged 62 and over can buy an annual pass for $20 or a lifetime pass for $80. The NPS API we use has no per-park accessibility data, so check the park page for trail and shuttle accessibility before choosing.
Source: nps.gov passes, Oct 26, 2026
Visitors without a car
Transit is listed
The NPS tags “Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour” here. Guided options tagged: Arts and Crafts, Boat Tour, Boat Tour and Boating. Confirm routes and seasons on nps.gov.
Source: NPS activities, Oct 26, 2026
First-timers
Start at a visitor center
The NPS lists 11 visitor centers, 10 with passport stamps. It also publishes 8 self-guided tours, taking 20 min to 8 h, which cost nothing beyond entry.
Source: NPS visitor centers and tours, Oct 26, 2026
Short visits
Entry is valid 7 days
The vehicle fee is good for 7 days, so a one-day trip pays the same gate fee as a long one. NPS self-guided tours here run up to 8 h. November was the quietest month in 2025, which helps if you only have a day.
Source: NPS fees and IRMA Stats, Oct 26, 2026
What to book ahead
Check reservations early
NPS alerts mention reservations, permits or shuttles: “Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed”. The NPS campground listings (12) tag 2149 sites as reservable and 0 as first-come; those tags can lag, so confirm on the park page.
Source: NPS alerts and campgrounds, Oct 26, 2026
Season
July is busiest
July drew 20% of 2025 recreation visits; its average high is 72°F at the nearest NOAA station. November was quietest, with an average high of 32°F.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats; NOAA normals 1991–2020 (YELLOWSTONE LAKE, 12 km away)
Parking and shuttles
2 related alerts
“Biscuit Basin Closed Due to Hydrothermal Explosion” and “Vehicle Entrance Reservation Not Needed” (active NPS alerts on Oct 26, 2026).
Source: NPS alerts, Oct 26, 2026
Questions
How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone by car?
The NPS lists $35 per private vehicle for 7 days (checked Oct 26, 2026). The fee covers every passenger in the vehicle.
Is there an extra fee for visitors from outside the US at Yellowstone?
Yes. Yellowstone is one of 11 parks where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay a $100 nonresident fee on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass (NPS, checked Oct 26, 2026).
When is Yellowstone busiest?
July had the most recreation visits in 2025 (20% of the year). November had the fewest, so July drew about 36.2 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
More parks in Montana
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.