Transportation and Tourism

Black and white photograph of tourists on a stagecoach near the Gardiner train depot

Stagecoach at Gardiner Train Depot; Photographer unknown; 1904

Traffic jam of cars near Chittenden Road

Bear jam near Chittenden road; Jim Peaco; October 1992

About

Although tourism has been a constant part of Yellowstone's history from the beginning, the transportation options available to tourists have undergone significant changes since the park opened in 1872. Early visitors could only access the park on horseback or in a carriage until the Northern Pacific Railroad reached Livingston, Montana in 1883. A branch of the rail was eventually extended to Gardiner, creating the north entrance to the park. Tourists could take the train directly to the entrance of the park, where they were picked up by stagecoaches that would take them on multi-day tours around the park. Popular tour groups included the Shaw and Powell Camping Company and Wylie Camp Company. The two companies would eventually merge in 1916, forming the Yellowstone Park Transportation Co. 

Rail travel continued to expand for the next few decades until the invention of the automobile. Despite some resistance from stagecoach operators, the first cars were allowed into Yellowstone in 1915. This dramatically changed the economics of tourism within Yellowstone, as visitors were no longer reliant on public transportation like railroads and stagecoach tours to take them to and around the park. The rise of automobiles was also a key factor in making the park more accessible to middle class families. Today, transportation in Yellowstone is dominated by motorized vehicles, including cars, campers, and tour buses.

Helpful Resources

From the Museum

Library Resources

Ask a Question

Submit questions to yell_research_library@nps.gov. You can alternatively call the library at (307)344-2264, or visit us in person.