Mountain Driving in Yellowstone: Safety Tips, Challenging Roads & Park Etiquette
- Eric Beuning
- Jul 1
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 1
Yellowstone's roads offer stunning natural beauty, but many stretches challenge even confident mountain drivers. Online forums are full of travelers saying things like, “Why didn’t anyone mention the winding road out of Gardiner?” or “Why aren’t there any guardrails on Dunraven Pass?”
Before you melt your brake pads behind a Kia Sorento, I thought I'd take a closer look at some mountain driving basics and a few of Yellowstone's more challenging roads.
Mountain Driving Experience
In a previous chapter of my life, I was a terrible mountain driver, too frightened to take on the switchbacks and steep grade changes of Yellowstone. It’s not that I lacked the skills for driving mountain roads. I simply lost my nerve trying to drive Utah’s icy mountain roads at 19 years old.
Determined to never be traumatized again, I did everything I could to avoid driving in the mountains. It wasn’t hard. I lived in lowland Minnesota and could go hundreds of miles in any direction without having to rise above more than a molehill.
After losing my agency job in the 2008 recession, I took a job as a travel writer. This thrust me behind the wheel to sell ads and write articles in places like the Black Hills of South Dakota, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, the Southwest, and the Great Lakes Region.
I did the wise thing and took it slow. I took a driving course and connected with people who had serious mountain driving experience. I made it a point to leave for business trips to the Black Hills and other mountainous places a day early. I’d go for a little joy ride in the wee hours to get to know the roads and get a feel for what they’d throw at me.
Mountain Driving Tips for Yellowstone and Beyond
Over the years, I’ve picked up a handful of helpful techniques for mountain driving that help safely navigate Yellowstone’s winding roads. These practical tips will help you stay safe, save wear and tear on your vehicle, and avoid becoming that guy on the road.
Lift Before the Curve, Power Out Smoothly
As you approach a curve, ease off the accelerator slightly. This lets natural rolling resistance reduce your speed without hitting the brakes or losing momentum. It also helps you stay in your lane and avoid drifting toward oncoming traffic.
At the curve’s apex, gently press the gas. This shifts the weight forward, improving steering control. Light acceleration through the exit increases traction and keeps your ride stable.
Tap Your Brakes, Don’t Ride Them
On Yellowstone’s long downhill sections, use short, firm taps on the brakes to slow down. This interval method gives the pads and rotors a chance to cool, reducing the risk of brake fading or failure.
If you ride the brakes the whole time like the Kia Sorento I got stuck behind in Gardiner, you can overheat your brakes. Too much heat can cause the pads to glaze your rotors, decreasing stopping power. Excess friction can even warp rotors or boil the brake fluid, leading to catastrophic brake failure.
Use Lower Gears to Control Speed
Instead of overusing the brakes, shift into a lower gear. This technique, called engine braking, lets your drivetrain help regulate your speed. It keeps you in control without overheating your brake system.
Don’t Use Cruise on Inclines & Curves
In Yellowstone’s steep terrain, skip the cruise control. Driving manually with your foot lets you better respond to curves, climbs, and variable speeds.
Outside the park, in places like the Paradise Valley or along the flat stretches near Grand Teton, I’ll sometimes use cruise control. Once I hit hills or curves, I always go back to driving with my foot.
Feather the Accelerator Uphill
Cruise control can’t predict how steep or long a hill is. When it senses lag, it might suddenly downshift or gun the throttle. This burns extra fuel while stressing your engine and transmission.
When I’m climbing a long incline with cruise control on, I feather the gas pedal myself. It prevents sudden gear changes and helps maintain a smooth, fuel-efficient climb.
Watch Your Temperature Gauge
Climbing high-elevation roads like Dunraven or Beartooth Pass can overheat your engine fast. Altitude reduces coolant efficiency, especially if your system hasn’t been flushed in a while.
Keep an eye on the temperature gauge. If it creeps past three-quarters, pull over. Enjoy a picnic or a trail break instead of risking a blown gasket or radiator hose.
Note: An overheated engine can also affect your transmission. If fluid breaks down, you’re looking at major repairs. Repeated redlining on your temp gauge usually means something's wrong under the hood.
Use Turnouts to Allow Faster Traffic to Pass
It’s fine to take your time on mountain roads if you’re not confident yet. But don’t block faster drivers. Use designated turnouts or parking blisters to let others pass. I appreciated this courtesy from other drivers on my last Yellowstone trip and always gave them a friendly wave.
Note: Don’t pull over on the shoulder. Use official turnouts and parking blisters for safety.
Downshift Before Steep Grades
If you drive a manual transmission, shift into a lower gear before you descend. Doing it mid-grade can make your vehicle lurch or lose control. It’s also very hard on a manual clutch and can cause excess wear on an automatic clutch. Especially in a somewhat older vehicle.
Slow Down in Wildlife Areas
Wildlife can appear anywhere in Yellowstone, but is more likely in Hayden and Lamar Valleys, where bison, bears, and even moose roam. So, if you're driving through a well-known wildlife hot spot, slow down before a random animal forces you to stop.
Start braking early and avoid slamming your brakes. Buffalo, in particular, can drop down from hillsides where you wouldn’t expect them. When in doubt, slow down. I watched an Audi Quattro nearly get turned into scrap metal in the Lamar Valley when buffalo came down off a high trail into the Lamar River Valley. The owner thought that bison were unfit for inclines and nearly paid a deadly price for it.
Watch the Weather
Mountain weather in Yellowstone changes fast. Sudden rain, hail, or sleet can make roads slick and reduce visibility. I had a mini panic when pea-sized hail came out of nowhere on one trip.
If the weather looks rough ahead, pull over at the next parking blister or pull out. Don’t just drive onto the shoulder, which narrows the road, and is technically illegal. Then wait it out, and let the other more-confident drivers pass.
Plan Your Fuel and Food Stops
Gas stations and grocery stores are few and far between inside Yellowstone National Park. Slowdowns from wildlife jams, bad drivers, and people squinting at elk on the horizon are bound to happen. Even if your gas tank is above half, fill up before you enter the park. It’s a good habit that’ll save you stress.
Toughest Driving Roads in Yellowstone
Some stretches of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road are tougher than others. The park is divided into an upper and lower loop, shaped loosely like a figure eight. Here’s a breakdown of some of the trickiest sections, organized by entrance and major attractions nearby.
Gardiner to Mammoth (North Entrance Road)
The steep switchback road from the Roosevelt Arch up to Mammoth Village surprises a lot of first timers. It’s tight, steep, and much easier to climb than to descend. People often emphasize arriving early at the North Entrance. Not just to beat the crowds, but to avoid getting stuck in traffic trying to inch up that hill.
Descending is a different beast. On my last trip, I got stuck behind a Kia Sorento that rode its brakes the entire way down. That forced me to ride mine too. At the bottom, I could smell hot brake pads and worried about warping my rotors.
Blacktail Plateau Drive
Located on the upper loop, just east of Gardiner, Blacktail Plateau Drive is a one-way, minimum-maintenance gravel road that offers some of Yellowstone’s most untouched wildlife viewing.
It runs east to west, exiting near Tower Junction. Back in the ’80s and ’90s, it was my late father’s go-to shortcut to “get away from all those guys squinting at elk on the horizon.”
Pro Tip: It’s not the curves or hills that make this road tough the surface. If the Park Service deems it too rough, they’ll block it with cones or a locked gate. Even if you think you can squeeze past, don’t. It’s not worth the risk.
Dunraven Pass (Between Tower Junction and Canyon Village)
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys unbanked, high-altitude corners with no guardrails while oncoming traffic barrels toward you, then you’ll love Dunraven Pass. If you’re slightly sane, you’ll wish there were another way to get from Tower Junction to Canyon Village.
I think the drive is easier to head north from Canyon Village to Tower Junction. That might just be me, but it seems like the poorly banked turns hug the cliff edge more tightly going southbound, putting you closer to the ragged edge of doom.
Sylvan Pass (East Entrance to Fishing Bridge)
Sylvan Pass is one of Yellowstone’s deceptively challenging roads. It often opens later in the season due to avalanche risk and rockslides. The road winds steeply through rugged terrain and often gets slick from rain or melting snow. It demands careful braking and attention to wildlife that might dart into the road.
Craig Pass (Between Old Faithful and West Thumb)
Craig Pass on Yellowstone’s lower loop climbs to nearly 8,300 feet and winds through tight, forested stretches with almost no shoulder. Morning fog and afternoon thunderstorms can reduce visibility dramatically. I avoid this section early in the day whenever possible as elk and bison frequently wander into traffic.
South Entrance Road (Between Grand Teton and Yellowstone)
The route connecting Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone is scenic but not easy. You’ll find winding curves along the river, potholes, and frost heaves. Especially in early spring or late fall. Traffic backs up fast during peak season, and wildlife frequently crosses the road. Stay sharp, particularly in low-light hours.
Tips for Getting Mountain Driving Experience
The best way to get ready for driving the mountain roads of Yellowstone is to get yourself some low-intensity experience. If you’re coming from the east, a day or two driving around the Black Hills of South Dakota is a great option.
The road infrastructure there is much better than Yellowstone, and it will give you time to get a better feel for how to handle slopes and curves on an incline or decline. The Needles Highway, in particular, is a great mountain road that will get you ready for Yellowstone’s roads. Then, on the way out of the Black Hills, drive down Spearfish Canyon from Lead to the Town of Spearfish.
If you’re flying into Yellowstone at Bozeman Airport, I recommend driving down the Gallatin Highway past Big Sky to West Yellowstone. Once you come through the park’s west entrance drive North to Mammoth Hot Springs and back to Norris. Then take the Norris Canyon Road to Yellowstone Canyon. These are two stretches of mountain road that are mildly challenging and will acclimate you. Without having to do things like tackle Dunraven Pass or Craig Pass right off the bat.
Final Thoughts on Driving Yellowstone’s Road
Driving through Yellowstone means navigating mountain passes, roads with no shoulder, and areas without guardrails. Getting some mountain driving experience beforehand is a wise idea. If that’s not possible, start out driving the northern and western parts of Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road. These are less challenging stretches that will get you ready for more challenging places like Dunraven Pass, Blacktail Plateau Drive, and Craig Pass.
Driving downhill, use engine braking to help manage your descent. Tapping the brakes as needed, without riding the brakes. Going uphill, keep a steady throttle, and try to shift up before the incline rather than during. When taking on curves, ease off the throttle going into the curve and lightly accelerate out of it to maintain control.
Remember, it’s OK to go slow for safety’s sake. Yet if you see traffic piling up behind, you pull over at the next blister or overlook parking spot to let more confident drivers by. Never pull over on the narrow shoulder of the road, as it’s dangerous and often steep.
If you want to learn more about Yellowstone and other outdoor adventures, you should follow Eric Beuning's Author Page.
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