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.

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

Welcome sign West Yellowstone, Montana

By plane

• 1 Yellowstone Airport (WYS  ^IATA) (is one mile north of the CBD). Delta (SkyWest) flies from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC ^IATA) 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

• 1 Museum of the Yellowstone, 104 Yellowstone Ave (in the old Union Pacific Station Building). Mid-May to mid-Oct. Shows a history of Yellowstone National Park and the tourist train service to West Yellowstone. Includes a collection of historic railway china. $6. 

Do

• Montana Whitewater Raft Company, Mile 64 on highway 191 between Bozeman and Big Sky; North of West Yellowstone, the West Entrance to the Park, toll-free: +1-800-799-4465. Offering trips on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers. 

Buy

There is a large variety of local souvenirs available from the many shops in West Yellowstone.

• 1 Seldom Seen Knives and Gifts, 115 Yellowstone Ave (on street that goes into Yellowstone National Park across from the museum), ☏ +1 406-646-4116. Handcrafted gifts. Montana made, unique and usable. 

Eat

• 1 Running Bear Pancake House, 538 Madison Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7703, runningbearph@aol.com. Excellent breakfast place. Known for their pancakes, but other items are delicious also. (updated Oct 2020)

Drink

• 1 The Buffalo Bar, 335 Hwy 20, ☏ +1 406 646-1176. (updated Oct 2020)

Sleep

West Yellowstone is very much a tourist gateway to Yellowstone National Park and a large variety of accommodation options are available.

• 1 Best Western Crosswinds Motor Inn, 201 Firehole Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-9557, fax: +1 406 646-9592. 
• 2 Best Western Desert Inn, US 20, 191 & 287, ☏ +1 406 646-7376, toll-free: +1-800-574-7054, fax: +1 406 646-7759. 
• 3 Best Western Weston Inn, 103 Gibbon St, ☏ +1 406 646-7373, toll-free: +1-800-599-9982, fax: +1 406 646-7572. 
• 4 Dude and Roundup Motel, 3 Madison Ave. 
• 5 Faithful Street Inn, 120 N. Faithful St, toll-free: +1-866-646-4329. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Unique cabin lodging for couples, families and large groups. Cabins include wireless internet, ample parking, mountain views and modern rustic charm. 
• 6 Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort, 315 Yellowstone Ave, ☏ +1 406 646-7365. 
• 7 Kirkwood Resort & Marina, 11505 Hebgan Lake Rd, ☏ +1 406 646-7200. 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. 
• 8 Madison Hotel, Motel, and Hostel, 139 Yellowstone Ave (at Dunraven St). Hostel dormitory rates start at $30, hotel/motel rates start at $59. 
• 9 Stage Coach Inn, 209 Madison Avenue, P.O. Box 169, ☏ +1 406-646-7381, toll-free: +1 800-842-2882, fax: +1 406-646-9575, sci@yellowstoneinn.com. (updated Oct 2020)
• 10 Travelers Lodge, 225 West Yellowstone Ave. 
• 11 Yellowstone Country Inn, 234 Firehole Ave. 
• 12 White Buffalo Hotel, 236 Dunraven St, ☏ +1-406-646-7681. 

Camping

• 13 Yellowstone RV Park and Cabins, 210 S. Electric St, ☏ +1 406 646-4466, camp@grizzlyrv.com. Less than a mile from west entrance to Yellowstone NP. Very clean; 50 amp service and full hookups. Can walk to downtown and shops. 

Go next

Routes through West Yellowstone

Idaho Falls ← Island Park ←	W  E	→ Yellowstone N.P. → Casper
Bozeman ← Big Sky ←	N  S	→ Yellowstone N.P. → Grand Teton N.P.
Helena ← Three Forks ←	N  S	→ Yellowstone N.P. → Grand Teton N.P.