When to Visit Yellowstone: Best Times, Weather, and Seasons

By Victoria Boissonade · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide Yellowstone

The short answer: The best time to visit Yellowstone is late May through June or September. The roads are open, wildlife is at its most active, and crowds remain well below the summer peak. July and August work well too, as long as you book several months ahead and arrive early in the morning. Winter is dramatic and breathtaking, but it's best suited to prepared travelers.

Yellowstone Weather Month by Month

Yellowstone sits more than 7,200 feet above sea level on a volcanic plateau in Wyoming. The result is unpredictable mountain weather, with temperature swings of more than 18°F between morning and afternoon, snow possible in July, and winter nights that drop below 0°F. The table below gives you the big picture. For current forecasts and detailed monthly climate information, visit our Yellowstone Weather page.

Yellowstone Season by Season

Winter (December to March)

Winter in Yellowstone is an experience in its own right. Nearly all roads inside the park close to regular vehicles in November. Only the Gardiner-Cooke City route in the north of the park stays open year-round. To explore the rest of Yellowstone, you'll need oversnow transportation such as a snowmobile or snowcoach, generally from mid-December to mid-March, depending on weather conditions.

What you gain is hard to describe. White geyser steam stands out against the snow in cathedral-like silence. Bison paw through the powder beside the roads. Lamar Valley, inaccessible by car, becomes one of the best places in the world to watch wolves. During a February visit, I counted more than a dozen members of one pack in less than two hours. You won't get that experience in the middle of summer.

As for the budget, lodging at the park's gateways costs 30 to 40% less than in July. Be sure to factor in the extra cost of a snowcoach or snowmobile rental, and book ahead even in the off-season.

Spring (April and May)

Spring is the season of renewal. Roads gradually reopen starting in the third week of April, with the West Entrance usually the first to open to wheeled vehicles. Vegetation bursts into life, and wildlife puts on rare displays: bison giving birth in the meadows, grizzly bears emerging from hibernation, and bald eagles perched above swollen rivers.

April remains unpredictable and muddy, and some roads stay closed for several weeks after the official opening date. May is our favorite. Everything starts opening up, waterfalls such as Lower Falls and Tower Fall reach peak flow, and you'll see barely a third as many visitors as in July.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is peak season, with all its contradictions. Every entrance is open, the most remote trails are accessible, the weather is at its mildest, and roughly 4 million annual visitors are packed into two and a half months. At Old Faithful, it's not unusual to wait 30 minutes in the crowd for a good spot. The parking lots at Grand Prismatic Spring fill up before 8 a.m.

Our advice is simple: get up before dawn. The park at 6 a.m. feels like another world, with low-angle light, active animals, and easy parking. Afternoon thunderstorms, which are nearly daily in July and August, make exposed hikes dangerous after 1 p.m. Always bring a warm layer and a rain jacket, even under bright sunshine. A thunderstorm can send temperatures plunging from 68°F to 41°F within minutes.

Lodges and campgrounds book up several months ahead for July and August. You'll find practical details on our Yellowstone Camping page and in our Hotels & Lodges guide.

Fall (September to November)

In our view, September is Yellowstone's most balanced month. Crowds thin quickly after Labor Day, the first Monday in September, daytime temperatures remain comfortable at 59 to 64°F, and the elk rut fills the valleys with a one-of-a-kind sound. Golden aspens on the slopes make every photo stop memorable.

October is riskier. The first snow can arrive early, some roads close, and services such as restaurants and gas stations reduce their hours. November is pure adventure and worth considering only if complete solitude is the goal.

Crowds: When to Avoid the Crowds in Yellowstone

Yellowstone's monthly crowd patterns are fairly easy to read:

• Very crowded: July and August, the absolute peak, with most of the year's traffic concentrated in two months
• Busy: June and early September
• Moderate: May and late September to early October
• Low to none: November through April

In practice, avoid July and August weekends if you have a choice. Weekdays, especially Monday through Thursday, are much easier. The busiest sites, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Mammoth Hot Springs, fill up between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Arrive when they open or come in the late afternoon for a completely different experience.

The park is open year-round, but services vary widely by season. Our Practical Information, Rules & Safety guide covers hours and access throughout the year.

The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone on a Budget

Entrance fees don't change with the season: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days, or $20 per person arriving on foot or by bicycle. The $70 Yellowstone annual pass pays for itself on your second visit of the year. Our national parks fees and passes guide explains the options.

For lodging and flights, you'll find better prices outside the heart of summer:

• July and August: highest rates, with almost no availability if you book less than three months ahead
• June and September: 15 to 25% cheaper than July, with much easier booking
• May and October: very attractive prices, but some lodges and campgrounds are still closed
• Winter: low lodging prices at the park gateways, offset by the cost of snowcoaches

The most convenient airports, Jackson Hole in Wyoming, Bozeman in Montana, and Idaho Falls in Idaho, offer their lowest fares in May, early June, and after mid-September. Our Yellowstone lodging and budget page breaks down typical costs by season and lodging type.

The Best Time to Visit Based on Your Travel Style

Wildlife: May for newborn animals, including bison, elk, and bears; September for the elk rut; and January and February for wolves in Lamar Valley. Our Yellowstone Wildlife page lists species to look for month by month.

Hiking: June through September, with a preference for June if you want fewer crowds and peak waterfall flow. High-elevation trails can remain snow-covered into July. Our Yellowstone Hiking page ranks trails by difficulty and opening season.

Photography: September for golden light, fall colors, and the elk rut; January and February for the contrast between snow and geyser steam. June sunrises, with wet meadows and deer in the background, are among the most beautiful we've ever had the chance to photograph.

Families: July, without question. Junior Ranger programs are in full swing, all marked trails are open, and the weather is the most predictable of the year. Our Yellowstone Family Guide covers activities by age group.

Tight budget: May or late September. The park is less busy on paper, but often better in practice, with a peaceful atmosphere, animals on the roads early in the morning, and reasonably priced lodging.

Western road trip: If Yellowstone is part of an itinerary that includes Grand Teton or other parks in the region, the June-to-September window opens all roads and services. Our section on the regions of the American West can help you plan the stops around the length of your trip.

In Summary: The Best Time Based on Your Travel Style

You can visit Yellowstone year-round as long as you adjust your expectations to the season. To plan everything, including routes, access, lodging, and activities, start with our Complete Yellowstone Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions