Yellowstone National Park is located primarily in the northwest corner of Wyoming , with smaller portions extending into Montana and Idaho.

Park Boundaries

This iconic park spans nearly 3,500 square miles (about 2.2 million acres), making it one of the largest in the lower 48 states. Roughly 96% lies in Wyoming , 3% in Montana (mostly the northern section), and 1% in Idaho (western edge). It's situated on the Yellowstone Plateau at an average elevation of 8,000 feet, surrounded by the Middle Rocky Mountains.

Entrance Gateways

Access the park via five main entrances, each near gateway towns:

  • North Entrance : Near Gardiner and Livingston, Montana.
  • Northeast Entrance : Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana.
  • East Entrance : Cody, Wyoming.
  • South Entrance : Jackson Hole, Wyoming (connects to Grand Teton).
  • West Entrance : West Yellowstone, Montana.

These gateways lead to key areas like Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Quick Facts Table

Aspect| Details
---|---
Total Area| 3,472 sq mi (8,987 sq km)3
States Covered| Wyoming (96%), Montana (3%), Idaho (1%)1
Dimensions| 63 mi N-S, 54 mi E-W1
Visitor Areas| 8 developed (e.g., Old Faithful, Canyon)3

Planning a trip? Roads between entrances can take hours—check NPS updates for seasonal closures, especially in winter. As of February 2026, it's a prime time to research spring visits amid ongoing conservation talks.

Bottom TL;DR : Yellowstone straddles Wyoming (main), Montana, and Idaho—enter via five gates from nearby towns.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.