by oomni<

Question by Avatar1: Why is Yellowstone so inaccessible by bus, train and plane?
There are no Amtrak routes that run through Wyoming, southeastern Idaho or southwestern Montana; the closest Greyhound stops are in Bozeman and Cody (they used to have one in West Yellowstone I believe); and the closest MAJOR airport is in SLC (there are smaller airports, but those cost more $ $ $ and have more connections).

What does it say about the shape of public transportation in our country when the so-called “crown jewel” of our National Parks System cannot be reached by any reasonable means other than by car?
Edit: I can understand the lack of airports because there are no major cities nearby, but why no trains (profitability?) or bus stations?
Jenn: Trains DID go to Yellowstone in earlier generations, and there are highways that go through the park that buses (as well as cars) can go.

Best answer:

Answer by Jenn
because we wouldn’t want to destroy the natural beauty & serentity by putting trains and bus lines through there??

Answer by Purple girl
I’m sorry I don’t agree with Jenn. Politicians don’t care about National Parks…only about the almight dollar. Which is why, in a not so out of the way park like Yellowstone, there’s no transportation facilities, but in the Alaska Wildlife Preserve, which is at the end of God’s green earth, we bent over backwards to facilitate the building of the pipeline that just spilled and is now closed down. Money talks, not nature.
BTW, rent a car,,,you’ll probably be glad you did. Have fun!

Answer by mr danger
It’s not just Yellowstone: most of the National Parks are inaccessible by public transportation the need simply isn’t there.. I would like to believe that in the not so distant future when park visitation declines due to higher fuel prices some one will have the courage to put rail lines into these places.

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