Parks opening and warnings

Yellowstone will reopen its West Entrance to cars at 8 a.m. on Friday, April 17, starting the park’s 2026 spring road-opening schedule, weather permitting. (nps.gov) The April 17 opening also includes the North Entrance at Gardiner and the road segments from Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs to Tower-Roosevelt, Norris to Canyon Village, and Tower-Roosevelt to Lamar Valley. Visitors entering from the west or north will be able to reach places including Mammoth, Norris, Old Faithful, and Lamar Valley. (nps.gov) Yellowstone said additional roads are scheduled to open May 8, May 22, and June 5, with the Beartooth Highway into the Northeast Entrance targeted for late May, depending on conditions. The park said all spring openings remain subject to weather, road damage, and plowing progress. (nps.gov) Park officials are pairing those openings with safety warnings. Yellowstone told visitors to stay at least 25 yards from bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes, and at least 100 yards from bears, wolves, and cougars. (nps.gov) Acadia National Park is issuing a different kind of warning for 2026: crowds. In an April 14 notice, the National Park Service said it expects a busy summer season and told visitors to reserve camping, lodging, and Cadillac Summit Road vehicle access as early as possible. (nps.gov; publicnow.com) At Acadia, Park Loop Road largely reopened to motor vehicles on April 15, but the stretch from Kebo Street to Sieur de Monts is closed through June 12 except for Memorial Day weekend because of construction. The park said the Cadillac Summit Road reservation system will run from May 21 through October 26. (nps.gov; publicnow.com) The pressure is not new at Acadia. The park’s crowd-management page says peak season usually runs from June through September, parking fills early, and visitors are encouraged to use the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle to reach the Park Loop Road, carriage roads, and trailheads. (nps.gov) Yellowstone’s message is more seasonal than reservation-driven: spring access expands in stages, but wildlife hazards rise as animals move near roads and visitors return in larger numbers. Acadia’s message is logistical: even after roads reopen, construction, limited parking, and timed-entry rules can shape a trip. (nps.gov; nps.gov) For travelers heading to either park this week, the practical takeaway is the same one both parks are pushing now: check road status before you go, and do not assume an open gate means an easy day. (nps.gov; nps.gov)