Yellowstone Iconic Sights Tour from West Yellowstone
Start right at the West Entrance and let a guide handle the driving and the parking.
Good for: No car needed
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Check availabilityThe town at Yellowstone's West Entrance is the gateway to Old Faithful and the geyser basins—and in winter the base for guided snowmobile and snowcoach trips into the park. Head south on US-191 through the Gallatin Canyon and past Big Sky.
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr) · about 90 miles via US-191
Hours, dates and seasons change—please check current schedules with each business or event before you go.
Plan your visit
- Worth visiting? Yes, as the West Entrance gateway to Old Faithful and the geyser basins, and the winter base for snowcoach and snowmobile tours.
- How long: A full day from Belgrade; consecutive park days are easier staying nearer the park.
- With kids: the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, open in summer and winter.
- Combine with: Big Sky on the way down US-191.
- Bad-weather option: the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and the Museum of the Yellowstone (seasonal).
Late spring to fall
West Yellowstone in summer
Book tours from West Yellowstone
Guided Hiking Adventure in Yellowstone with Lunch
Hike with a naturalist guide who knows the trails and carries the bear spray.
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West Yellowstone tours
Tours from the West Entrance: geyser basins, wildlife and, in winter, over-snow trips.
Good for: Wildlife
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Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)AZA-accredited, not-for-profit wildlife park next to the West Entrance. Open 365 days a year (its bears don't hibernate); admission is good for two consecutive days. Yellowstone rangers typically host free evening 'fireside chats' in the amphitheater in summer. Hours vary with the seasons.
Museum of the Yellowstone (Yellowstone Historic Center)
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)In the historic Union Pacific Depot at 104 Yellowstone Ave, telling the story of travel to Yellowstone and of West Yellowstone. Open seasonally, mid-May to mid-October.
Earthquake Lake Visitor Center (Quake Lake)
🚗 107–121 min (~1.8 hr)On August 17, 1959 a magnitude 7.5 earthquake sent 80 million tons of rock into the Madison Canyon in under a minute, damming the river and creating Earthquake Lake; 28 people lost their lives. The Forest Service center overlooks the slide, with exhibits, a working seismograph and a walk to the Memorial Boulder. Open daily 10am–5pm from Memorial Day weekend to Sept 15; free.
Hebgen Lake paddling & boating
🚗 105–114 min (~1.8 hr)Kirkwood Marina rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards by the hour or day; Madison Arm Resort rents kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and SUPs (generally May 15 – Oct 1, weather permitting).
Fly fishing the Madison
The Madison River runs through this corner of Montana; Bozeman-based guide services such as Fins & Feathers and Montana Angling Company run guided trips on it.
Biking the Rendezvous Trails
🚗 99–114 min (~1.6 hr)The 35+ km Rendezvous trail system on Forest Service land right outside town becomes a hiking and mountain-biking network in summer; trails open to bikes June 15 (bikes not allowed Oct 15 – June 15).
Rental cars
Rent a car in Bozeman
Most visitors fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), where the major rental counters sit next to baggage claim. A car is the easiest way to see the region: the West and North entrances of Yellowstone are roughly 1½–2 hours away, Big Sky about an hour, and there is little public transport between them.
- Compare offers before you fly in
- Drive Yellowstone, Big Sky and Paradise Valley at your own pace
- In winter, ask for AWD/4WD and good tires
Enter “Bozeman” and your dates to see prices & availability
🚗 Compare rental carsAffiliate link: if you rent through GetRentacar we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Mid-December to mid-March
West Yellowstone in winter
Plan it: West Yellowstone snowmobile tours · Snowcoach tours · Old Faithful in winter
Book winter tours
West Yellowstone tours
Tours from the West Entrance: geyser basins, wildlife and, in winter, over-snow trips.
Good for: Wildlife
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Yellowstone Winter Wildlife Safari from Bozeman
Look for wolves, bison and elk in the snow with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityPrivate Yellowstone Winter Safari & Wolf Watching
A private winter wildlife safari into Lamar Valley with a guide, optics and lunch.
Good for: Wildlife
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Check availabilityAffiliate links: if you book through Viator or GetYourGuide we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Snowmobile & snowcoach tours to Old Faithful
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)From mid-December to mid-March most Yellowstone roads are open only to over-snow travel: the only way to reach Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is on a guided snowmobile or snowcoach tour (or the non-commercial permit program). Winter travel hours are 7am–9pm. Local operators such as Yellowstone Vacation Tours run daily tours from West Yellowstone—reserve ahead.
Rendezvous Ski Trails
🚗 99–114 min (~1.6 hr)Over 35 km of gently rolling, groomed cross-country ski trails through lodgepole pine and meadows, managed by the Forest Service, the Chamber and the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation. Regular season typically December 1 – March 31; a day pass is required. Also open to snowshoers.
Kids 'N' Snow weekends
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)Typically one weekend a month from December to March, kids and families can try ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more with local experts; there's also a March ice-fishing camp. Registration opens a few weeks before each weekend.
Snowmobile expo (early March)
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)West Yellowstone typically hosts a snowmobile expo in early March—in 2026 the Octane Expo (March 6–7) at Heritage Park featured vintage racing, kids' racing and a freestyle show. 2027 dates pending confirmation.
Ice fishing on Hebgen Lake
🚗 105–114 min (~1.8 hr)Madison Adventures offers guided ice fishing on Hebgen Lake.
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in winter
🚗 99–113 min (~1.6 hr)Open every day of the year, including holidays—a warm-up stop between snowy adventures.
The former Yellowstone Giant Screen (IMAX) Theatre closed permanently in January 2026 and has been demolished. source
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Yellowstone day trips, rafting, horseback rides, fly fishing and winter tours, all in one place.
