National Park Guidebook Updates

This page is your go-to resource for updates related to my series of US National Park Guidebooks & Itineraries. While the guides are updated annually, conditions in the national parks are ever-changing. This page is regularly updated and is your source for all must-know updates by park as you plan your trip.

Yellowstone National Park

Last Updated: September 2024

Yellowstone Closures & Alerts

Yellowstone experiences seasonal road, lodging, and amenity closures, typically from October/November to April/May. This section is not focused on those routine closures, instead focusing on closures or conditions that may impact your upcoming summer trip.

For more information on seasonal operating dates, head to the Yellowstone NPS website.

Biscuit Basin is closed for the remainder of the 2024 season due to the hydrothermal explosion in July 2024. In your itinerary, I recommend swapping Black Sand Basin for Biscuit Basin.
There are two road improvement projects that will cause traffic delays in 2024:
- Lewis River Bridge, located 10 miles north of the South Entrance. Expect up to 20 minutes delays when driving between West Thumb and the South Entrance.
- Yellowstone River Bridge, located near Tower Junction on NE Entrance Road. Expect up to 30 minutes delays when driving between Tower Junction and Lamar Valley.
Boiling River Is currently closed due to the impacts of the 2022 floods.
Norris Campground, Pebble Creek Campground, and Tower Fall Campground are all closed in 2024.
The Yellowstone River Picnic Area is currently closed.
The Uncle Tom’s Trail in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is permanently closed due to safety concerns.

Did you know you can monitor current traffic conditions at the North and West entrances to Yellowstone via the park’s traffic webcams? You can also look see webcams of other attractions in the park!

Yellowstone Guidebook Corrections

On page 63, “12:30 PM: Grand Prismatic Overlook via the Fairy Falls Trail” should read “1:45 PM” instead.