Overview
West Yellowstone, Montana, is a rustic mountain town nestled between National Forest lands and is the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. It is only a mile from the park entrance, and the town's airport is the closest to the park, and to attractions like Old Faithful.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 21 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about West Yellowstone
Museum of the Yellowstone
Shows a history of Yellowstone National Park and the tourist train service to West Yellowstone. Includes a collection of historic railway china.
Montana Whitewater Raft Company
Offering trips on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 12°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Yellowstone National Park)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- WYS Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone — 2 mi away. Directions
- JAC Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson — 75 mi away. Directions
- BOI Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, Boise — 265 mi away (major hub). Directions
Salt Lake Express provides intercity bus service from Idaho.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Museum of the Yellowstone
- Lunch Running Bear Pancake House
- Afternoon Montana Whitewater Raft Company
- Evening The Buffalo Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
West Yellowstone is a tourist town with tourist prices. You will find many souvenir items in the stores and specialty Montana-made products. During summer be prepared to wait in any restaurant.
This is the only place to gather supplies for quite a while in any direction. Be sure you are stocked up for whatever season. Water! There will be little opportunity to fill your water bottles so take more than you think you will need.
- Hebgen Lake District forest service office: West Yellowstone, +1 406 823-6961
Get in
By plane
Go Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Delta (SkyWest) flies from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) two or three times a day from June to September.
By bus
Salt Lake Express provides intercity bus service from Idaho.
Get around
West Yellowstone town center, including the museum, shops and restaurants, is small enough to easily walk around.
See
Do
Buy
There is a large variety of local souvenirs available from the many shops in West Yellowstone.
Eat
Eat Running Bear Pancake House
Excellent breakfast place. Known for their pancakes, but other items are delicious also.
Drink
Sleep
West Yellowstone is very much a tourist gateway to Yellowstone National Park and a large variety of accommodation options are available.
Stay Dude and Roundup Motel
Stay Kirkwood Resort & Marina
Offers well cared for cabin rentals (some with full kitchens), RV spaces, and tent sites. The property includes a boat launch, fuel station, and boat, equipment rentals and park with horseshoe throw, volleyball net, BBQ grills, and picnic tables. The Kirkwood Roadhouse Grill restaurant is onsite.
Campgrounds
Stay Baker's Hole Campground
Stay Rainbow Point Campground
Stay Lonesomehurst Campground
Stay Cherry Creek Campground
Stay Spring Creek Campground
Stay Cabin Creek Campground
Stay Beaver Creek Campground
Stay Red Cliff Campground
Nearby
Island Park
City / town · 1 listings · 16 mi away
Yellowstone National Park
Park · 177 listings · 28 mi away
Gardiner
City / town · 36 listings · 32 mi away
Ashton
City / town · 19 listings · 44 mi away
Big Sky
City / town · 10 listings · 45 mi away
Virginia City
City / town · 7 listings · 60 mi away
Grand Teton National Park
Park · 35 listings · 60 mi away
Nevada City
City / town · 3 listings · 61 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.