Yellowstone Webcam for West Entrance & More: Scroll down and get an idea of the traffic at the west gate. Mornings are tough...make that tougher. https://www.yellowstone.co/webcams.htm...

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Scroll down and get an idea of the traffic at the west gate. Mornings are tough...make that tougher.

https://www.yellowstone.co/webcams.htm

14 miles in, the real fun starts at Madison Junction.

From about 7-11 am it is solid four lanes all the way back to town.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DaveO wrote:

Scroll down and get an idea of the traffic at the west gate. Mornings are tough...make that tougher.

https://www.yellowstone.co/webcams.htm

14 miles in, the real fun starts at Madison Junction.

From about 7-11 am it is solid four lanes all the way back to town.

Um, how far is it "back to town"?

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Longshadow wrote:

Um, how far is it "back to town"?

If you look at the traffic coming in, the traffic light is just behind the end of the line, so it's only 1/4 to 3/8 of a mile. The problem is that every vehicle is stopped and passes checked or sold and questions get asked. It's a long process, so during busy times, we would not even think of leaving or entering the park.

We never go to town and prefer to lodge in Gardiner, Mt. We have stayed in most of the park lodging and visit the thermal areas early and basically visit north and Lamar Valley for hiking and animals.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Yeah, we just drove from East Entrance to North Entrance to exit the park on the way to Glacier N.P. yesterday. Based on experience gained after spending several days visiting the park from both Red Lodge and Cody we knew we had to get an early start to make any progress. We started out at 5: AM from Cody and hit traffic about 7:30 AM where the Northeast Entrance road joins the Grand Loop after transiting Lamar Valley. It wasn't bumper to bumper but it was still a LOT of vehicles.
I can see a day in the future when it will be required to have a reservation to get into the park. Maybe a good thing. At least that way you could get a camping spot too. None to be had anywhere in the park from 2 July to yesterday.
We were really disappointed with how few animals we saw on that early morning drive. We expected to see a lot of stuff having reached the park at a bit after 6 AM.

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

Thanks for that info and the link. looks like a sensible option

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Retired CPO wrote:

Yeah, we just drove from East Entrance to North En... (show quote)

Nice drive!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Wow!. That is some line. I went with a tour group a few years ago - Labor Day weekend, and I don't remember it being that crowded.

DL Loc: St. Petersburg, Fl and Island Park, Idaho

I Stay in Island Park Idaho for the summer. We go into the park often. Never go on the weekend or a holiday. Always be at the entrance by 6 am. We have never experienced bad crowds. This year half the park is closed due to road work and other projects so even with the same amount of visitors it seems twice as crowded since everyone is on the same side of the park. We went in last Thursday and saw lots of Elk and Bison but no Bears.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

DL wrote:

I Stay in Island Park Idaho for the summer. We go into the park often. Never go on the weekend or a holiday. Always be at the entrance by 6 am. We have never experienced bad crowds. This year half the park is closed due to road work and other projects so even with the same amount of visitors it seems twice as crowded since everyone is on the same side of the park. We went in last Thursday and saw lots of Elk and Bison but no Bears.

Slip down 20 to Ashton and Frostop, Mesa Falls and the sixth entrance at Bechler. LOL, not an official entrance, but they charge you to go to it for Cave and Bechler Falls.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

jerryc41 wrote:

Wow!. That is some line. I went with a tour group a few years ago - Labor Day weekend, and I don't remember it being that crowded.

LOL, check between 0700 and noon MST.

redtooth

Thanks DavidO for the link ----- is there a link for a webcam at Arches N.P. ?

Thanks

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

redtooth wrote:

Thanks DavidO for the link ----- is there a link for a webcam at Arches N.P. ?

Thanks

I don't know. Check the National Park Service sites and Arches in particular.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

redtooth wrote:

Thanks DavidO for the link ----- is there a link for a webcam at Arches N.P. ?

Thanks

Ask Cany143. He should be up to date on that.