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Casago Yellowstone

West Yellowstone, Montana Travel Guide

Your gateway to Yellowstone's West Entrance, about 30 miles from our Island Park cabins. Wildlife, history, dining and winter adventure.
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Welcome to West Yellowstone, Montana

West Yellowstone is the small mountain town right at the West Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Sitting at 6,667 feet with about 1,300 year-round residents, it fills up each summer with travelers heading to Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring and the Madison River. In winter it lives up to its nickname, the Snowmobile Capital of the World.

From most Casago Yellowstone cabins in Island Park, Idaho, West Yellowstone is about 30 miles north on US-20 over Targhee Pass, a drive of roughly 30 to 40 minutes. Spend the day in the park or in town, then come home to a quiet cabin with room to spread out.

This West Yellowstone guide covers the West Entrance, the town's top attractions and museums, where to eat, and how to plan your trip by season. For more on the park itself, read our Yellowstone National Park guide, or browse our Island Park cabins to start planning.

Things to Do in West Yellowstone

Wildlife, history, dining and winter fun just outside the park.

Yellowstone National Park entrance sign in West Yellowstone, Montana

Yellowstone West Entrance

Grizzly bear at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

Historic Union Pacific depot that houses the Museum of the Yellowstone in West Yellowstone

Museum of the Yellowstone

Guided snowmobile tour on the West Entrance Road in Yellowstone in winter

Snowmobile Rentals & Tours

Shops and restaurants on Canyon Street in downtown West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone Restaurants

Mountain Lake Lodge cabin exterior in Island Park, Idaho, near West Yellowstone

Island Park Cabins

Plan by Season

When to Visit West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone is open all year, but how you get into the park changes with the seasons.

Summer Cabins — When to Visit West YellowstoneWinter Cabins — When to Visit West Yellowstone

Summer in West Yellowstone

Peak season for driving into Yellowstone, spotting wildlife and spending evenings in town.

Every park road open to cars

Old Faithful about 30 miles from the West Entrance

Fly fishing on the Madison River

Museum of the Yellowstone open for the season

Spring and Fall

Quieter roads, fewer crowds and some of the best wildlife viewing of the year.

West Entrance opens to cars the third Friday in April

Elk bugling along the Madison River in fall

West Entrance closes to cars on October 31

Fewer crowds than July and August

Winter in West Yellowstone

Snowmobiles, snowcoaches and Nordic skiing in the Snowmobile Capital of the World.

Guided park tours from December 15 to March 15

Rendezvous Ski Trails on the edge of town

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center open all year

Ice fishing on nearby Hebgen Lake

Where to Eat in West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone has more restaurants than you might expect for a town its size, and most are within a few blocks of the West Entrance. These are our favorite West Yellowstone restaurants, grouped by the meal you're planning.

For more picks in West Yellowstone and Island Park, see our full restaurant guide and our list of the top restaurants near Yellowstone National Park.

Why Stay in Island Park When Visiting West Yellowstone

Close to the Park, With More Room Than a Hotel

  • About 30 Miles to the West Entrance

  • Room for the Whole Group

  • Two Mountain Towns in One Trip

  • Year-Round Adventure

Frequently Asked Questions