Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park

We get a lot of questions asking about the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park and what to expect each month of the year. Deciding when to visit this amazing place can be difficult – each season adds a unique touch to the park.

Use this Yellowstone National Park travel guide to learn more about what it’s like to visit the park during various seasons and months of the year to help you decide the best time for YOU to plan your vacation.

yellowstone national park best time to visit

When planning an Yellowstone National Park vacation, figuring out the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park is a big deal. Yellowstone is always inviting and full of adventure no matter when you visit!

Spring brings the rebirth of plants and the appearance of animals, a great time for nature lovers eager to see grizzly bears waking up. Summer shows colorful flowers and flowing waterfalls, perfect for hiking and picnics under the clear sky. In fall, the bison and elk rut is an exciting time! And winter brings a peaceful snowy landscape, great for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

We live only a few hours away from Yellowstone and have visited the park many times during all four seasons. The number one tip for visiting Yellowstone any time of year is to pack clothing for the weather and temperatures you’ll be at the park. Take a look at our Yellowstone National Park Packing List and grab your free printable checklist by clicking the image below!

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A Photo Tour of Yellowstone Waterfalls

Take a visual tour through Yellowstone National Park to see the stunning landscape and waterfalls you’ll find in the park!

When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone

Determining the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park all depends on what you want to see, do, and photograph! Yellowstone seasons range from warm summers to extremely cold winters, with unpredictable spring and fall weather.

Below you’ll find articles with detailed information on what to expect when visiting Yellowstone in the spring, summer, fall or winter… and various months of the year. It’s important to know what the Yellowstone National Park weather is like for the time of year you’ll visit.

Our favorite times to go are May, October and winter! Be sure you wear winter clothing if you plan to go during that time.

If you’re interested in seeing and photographing wildlife, we’ve detailed everything you need to know here: best time to visit Yellowstone for wildlife!

Yellowstone & Grand Teton AUDIO TOUR
(GuideAlong)

“Download the app to your phone – no cell or wifi service needed. Based on your GPS location, the app takes you on a guided tour of the park and points out all the interesting features and stops. It’s like having a park ranger in the car with you.”

Yellowstone National Park by Season

There are important things to know about visiting Yellowstone during each season. Check out these lists of the things to do and what to expect at the park during the spring, summer, fall and winter.

Yellowstone Activities and Hikes by Season

Yellowstone National Park by Month

Check out these articles to know all about planning a trip to Yellowstone during a specific month so you know in advance what to expect. You’ll find general travel information, list of things to do, packing checklist, travel tips and weather information for each month at the park.

Man with camera in a snowcoach at Yellowstone in the winter — Yellowstone winter snowcoach tour

Yellowstone in January and February

Visitation: Low
Weather: High 28° / Low 3°
Services: Limited
Roads: Yellowstone winter travel restrictions for all areas except Mammoth to northeast entrance
Activities: Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, Yellowstone snowcoach tours, overnight at Old Faithful, ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Coyotes and foxes hunting (snow-covered meadows throughout the park), rime ice and steam inversions (thermal areas), trumpeter swans (rivers with open water), and wolves (Lamar Valley)

photographing wildlife in Yellowstone — Photographing wildlife in Yellowstone

Yellowstone in March

Visitation: Low
Weather: High 31° / Low 4°
Services: Limited
Access: Yellowstone winter travel restrictions for all areas except Mammoth to northeast entrance.
Activities: Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, Yellowstone snowcoach tours, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Grizzly bears emerge from dens, migrants begin to arrive (bluebirds, meadowlarks, osprey, robins), and wolves (Lamar Valley)
Interior Yellowstone roads close for spring plowing (check the website for the exact dates)

Yellowstone in April

Visitation: Low to moderate
Weather: High 39° / Low 10°
Services: Limited
Access: Yellowstone roads begin opening to regular vehicles
Activities: Hiking (lower elevations), skiing and snowshoeing (higher elevations), and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bison calving (Lamar Valley), black bears emerge from dens (Lamar Valley), bull elk antlers in velvet (Northern Range), chorus frogs (wetlands throughout the park), grizzly bears (roadside meadows), and wildflowers (buttercups, shooting stars, pasqueflower)

two-bison-lock-horns-during-the-bison-rut-at-yellowstone-by-photo-jeepers — Bison at Yellowstone

Yellowstone in May

Visitation: Moderate (Memorial Day is very busy)
Weather: High 53° / Low 28°
Services: Limited
Access: All Yellowstone roads open by Memorial Day weekend
Activities: Hiking and backpacking (lower elevations), guided trips at Yellowstone, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Black bears (Lamar Valley), bison calving (Lamar Valley), campgrounds begin to open, chorus frogs (wetlands throughout the park), elk calving (Mammoth Hot Springs), grizzly bears (roadside meadows), moose calving (Lamar Valley), pronghorn calving (Lamar Valley), wildflowers (glacier lilies, bitterroot), and wolf pups emerge from dens (Lamar Valley)
All roads open, fishing season opens, and some bear-management closures lifted (Memorial Day Weekend)

Yellowstone in June

Visitation: Moderate to high
Weather: High 63° / Low 34°
Services: Limited to full
Access: All roads open
Activities: Boating, camping, fishing (lakes), hiking and backpacking (lower elevations), ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bears less visible as they move to higher elevations, bighorn sheep calving (Lamar Valley, Calcite Springs Overlook), elk calving (Mammoth Hot Springs), mountain goats calving (northeast entrance), wildflowers (arrowleaf balsamroot), songbirds in full song, waterfalls flowing at full volume, and high water limits access to backcountry campsites and popular swimming areas

Yellowstone in July

Visitation: High
Weather: High 73° / Low 39°
Services: Full
Access: All roads open
Activities: Boating, camping, fishing (lakes, rivers, and streams), Yellowstone guided tours, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bison rut (Lamar & Hayden valleys), mosquitos, wildflowers (at higher elevations), and river levels drop (opening up many backcountry campsites)

Yellowstone in August

Visitation: High
Weather: High 71° / Low 37°
Services: Full
Access: All roads open
Activities: Hiking, backpacking, boating, camping, fishing, Yellowstone guided trips, horseback riding, ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Wildfire smoke can obscure views and bison rut (Lamar & Hayden valleys)

Yellowstone in September

Visitation: High to moderate
Weather: High 62° / Low 31°
Services: Full to limited
Access: All roads open (weather may cause temporary closures)
Activities: Camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, guided trips, ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Campgrounds begin to close for season, elk rut (Mammoth Hot Springs, Grant Village), black and grizzly bears (roadside meadows), raptor migration (Hayden Valley), fall color (above 7,000 feet), and fewer mosquitos
Significant Dates: Boating services close for season on Yellowstone Lake (Mid-September)

Yellowstone in October

Visitation: Moderate to low
Weather: High 48° / Low 24°
Services: Limited
Access: Yellowstone roads begin closing for winter season (and weather causes many temporary closures)
Activities: Hiking, backpacking, fishing, ranger-led programs, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bears return to lower elevations and are more visible along roads, elk rut (Mammoth Hot Springs, Grant Village), raptor migration (Hayden Valley), fall color (below 7,000 feet), and snow begins to accumulate (above 7,000 feet)
Significant Dates: Dunraven Pass and Beartooth Highway (outside northeast entrance) close (Mid-October)

bighorn sheep at Yellowstone — Bighorn sheep at Yellowstone

Yellowstone in November

Visitation: Low
Weather: High 34° / Low 13°
Services: Limited
Access: Yellowstone winter travel restrictions for all areas except Mammoth to northeast entrance
Activities: Hiking and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bighorn sheep rut (north entrance), bison begin migrating to lower elevations, snow begins to accumulate (below 7,000 feet), wolves (Lamar Valley)
Significant Dates: Interior roads close to vehicles and fishing season ends (Early November)

Yellowstone in December

Visitation: Low
Weather: High 26° / Low 4°
Services: Limited
Access: Yellowstone winter travel restrictions for all areas except Mammoth to northeast entrance
Activities: Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowcoach tours, overnight at Old Faithful, and wildlife watching
Highlights: Bighorn sheep rut (north entrance), rime ice and steam inversions (thermal areas), trumpeter swans (rivers with open water), and wolves (Lamar Valley)
Significant Dates: Interior roads open to oversnow travel (Mid-December)