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October Continued To Bring Crowds To Yellowstone National Park

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Published Date

November 13, 2020

Yellowstone National Park saw a record number of visitors in October/Rebecca Latson file

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, despite the shortage in lodging, and despite the school year being underway in places, Yellowstone National Park was a popular place in October.

During the month, the park counted 360,034 recreation visits. That's up 110 percent from October 2019, the staff reported, and marked the busiest October on record in Yellowstone. The old mark of 252,013 was set in 2015.

So far this year Yellowstone has seen 3,743,907 recreation visits, down 6 percent from the same period last year. Of course, the park was closed due to health and safety reasons related to COVID-19 beginning March 24. Two Wyoming entrances opened on May 18 and three Montana entrances opened on June 1, 2020. All five entrances have been open since June 1.

The list below shows the year-to-date trend for recreation visits over the last several years (through October):
  • 2020 – 3,743,907
  • 2019 – 3,979,153 
  • 2018 – 4,078,771
  • 2017 – 4,084,762
  • 2016 – 4,212,782
  • 2015 – 4,066,191
All roads in Yellowstone, with one exception, are now closed to automobile traffic until late April. The road from the park’s North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through Mammoth Hot Springs to the Northeast Entrance and the communities of Cooke City and Silver Gate, Montana, is open year-round, weather-permitting.

Conditions permitting, most park roads will open to oversnow travel (snowmobiles and snowcoaches) on December 15, 2020. Visit Explore in Winter for details. 

If you plan to visit the park this winter, have flexible travel plans and prepare for changing weather conditions. Temporary travel restrictions or closures can occur at any time without notice. Visit Park Roads for the status of Yellowstone roads, or call (307) 344-2117 for recorded information. To receive Yellowstone road alerts on your mobile phone, text "82190" to 888-777 (an automatic text reply will confirm receipt and provide instructions).

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