Best Time to Visit Yellowstone: Month by Month

The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is September, followed by June: in both months all main park roads are normally open, daytime highs run from the upper 60s to about 70°F, and crowds are lighter than in July and August. Winter (mid-December to mid-March) is a separate trip, because most roads are then open only to guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles.

Yellowstone sits mostly above 6,000 feet, so weather swings fast and snow is possible in any month. The park counted 4,762,988 recreation visits in 2025 (NPS figures), the third-highest total of any national park, and most of those visits fall between June and September. The tables and month notes below use National Park Service data and road dates as of November 2026.

What is Yellowstone like each month?

Yellowstone has a short summer season, two quiet shoulder seasons and a long winter. The table sums up average temperatures published by the park (from a lower-elevation station; higher areas such as Canyon and Old Faithful are colder), road access, crowd levels and the wildlife highlights the park describes for each period.

Month	Avg high / low (°F)	Roads for regular cars	Crowds	Wildlife and highlights
January	29 / 10	Only North to Northeast entrance (Lamar Valley)	Very low	Wolves, bison in snow, guided snowcoach trips
February	34 / 13	Only North to Northeast	Very low	Wolves, steam and rime ice in geyser basins
March	40 / 17	Only North to Northeast; oversnow season ends mid-March	Very low	Grizzlies start leaving dens
April	49 / 26	Western loop opens mid-April (Mammoth, Norris, Madison, Old Faithful, Canyon)	Low	Bison calving, black bears emerge
May	60 / 34	East and South entrances open in May; Dunraven Pass late May	Moderate	Elk, moose and pronghorn calves, high waterfalls
June	70 / 41	All roads normally open	Busy	Baby animals, green valleys, peak waterfalls
July	80 / 47	All roads open	Busiest	Bison rut begins, wildflowers, afternoon storms
August	78 / 45	All roads open	Very busy	Bison rut, warmest water for boating
September	68 / 37	All roads open	Busy early, easing later	Elk rut (bugling), fall color starts
October	56 / 29	Most roads open; Dunraven Pass and Beartooth Highway close mid-month	Moderate	Elk rut, bears near roads, first snow
November	39 / 19	Most roads close to cars in early November	Very low	Bison move to lower ground
December	31 / 12	Only North to Northeast; oversnow season starts mid-December	Very low	Winter wildlife, Old Faithful by snowcoach

Which months are best overall?

September is the best single month for most travelers. Every main road is usually open until mid-October, campgrounds and lodges are still running in the first half of the month, and the elk rut brings bugling bulls to Mammoth Hot Springs and the meadows along the Madison River. Nights drop to the 30s °F, and an early snowstorm can close a pass for a day.

June is the second-best month. Bison and elk calves are everywhere in Hayden and Lamar valleys, waterfalls such as Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are at full flow, and the big summer rush has not peaked. Early June can still bring snow at Dunraven Pass and Sylvan Pass, and high water limits some trails and backcountry campsites.

July and August have the warmest, most reliable weather, but they are also the most crowded. The park advises arriving before 7 a.m. or after noon and visiting popular sites outside the 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. window.

When do Yellowstone roads open and close?

Yellowstone roads open in stages from mid-April to late May and close in stages from mid-October to early November. The only road open to regular vehicles all year is the stretch from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City, through Tower Junction and the Lamar Valley.

The park’s projected spring openings for 2027 follow the usual pattern:

Mid-April (April 16, 2027): West Entrance to Madison, Madison to Old Faithful, Madison to Norris, Mammoth to Norris and Norris to Canyon Village.
Early May (May 7, 2027): East Entrance over Sylvan Pass to Fishing Bridge, and Canyon Village to Bridge Bay.
Mid-May (May 14, 2027): South Entrance to West Thumb, West Thumb to Old Faithful over Craig Pass, West Thumb to Lake Village, and Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Fall.
Late May (May 28, 2027): Canyon Village to Tower Fall over Dunraven Pass, plus the Beartooth Highway and Chief Joseph Scenic Byway outside the Northeast Entrance.

All dates depend on snow and plowing, and storms can close a road for hours or days in spring and fall. Check the official Yellowstone park roads page before you drive.

Can you visit Yellowstone in winter?

Yes, but most of the park is reachable only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile. For the 2026–2027 season, groomed roads open to oversnow travel on December 15, 2026, and close in stages between March 7 and March 15, 2027. You can drive your own car only on the North to Northeast road, which is the best winter route for watching wolves in the Lamar Valley.

Winter trips usually start from Gardiner, West Yellowstone or Mammoth Hot Springs. Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel are the in-park winter lodgings; book both well ahead. Daytime highs are often between 0 and 20°F, subzero nights are common, and the park’s record low is −66°F. Our guide to national parks in winter compares Yellowstone with warmer winter options.

When is the best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone?

Late spring and early fall are the best times to see wildlife. Each season brings different animals into view:

Spring (April to June): grizzly and black bears out of their dens, bison calves from April, elk, moose and pronghorn calves in May and June.
Summer (July and August): the bison rut in Hayden and Lamar valleys; bears move to higher ground and are seen less often.
Fall (September and October): the elk rut and bears returning to lower elevations near roads.
Winter: wolves, coyotes and foxes hunting in snow, and bighorn sheep near Gardiner.

Dawn and dusk are the most active hours in every season. Park rules require you to stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from bison, elk and all other animals. Never feed wildlife, stay on boardwalks in thermal areas, and carry bear spray on trails; the Yellowstone safety page lists the full rules.

When is Yellowstone least crowded?

November and the March to April shoulder are the least crowded months, but much of the park is closed then. Among months when everything is open, late September and early October are the quietest. In summer, crowds concentrate at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring and the Canyon rims between mid-morning and late afternoon.

Lodging is the hardest part of a summer trip. In-park rooms for June to September often sell out many months ahead, and gateway towns such as West Yellowstone, Gardiner and Cody fill up too. Our Yellowstone trip cost guide compares lodging inside and outside the park, and the 5-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary shows how to split the loops.

How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone?

As of November 2026, Yellowstone charges $35 per private vehicle for a pass valid seven days. Grand Teton charges its own separate fee. The America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80 for U.S. residents and covers both parks.

Since January 1, 2026, visitors who are not U.S. residents and are 16 or older pay an extra $100 per person at Yellowstone and ten other busy parks, unless they hold the $250 nonresident annual pass.

Bottom line

Go in September for the best balance of open roads, mild days and smaller crowds, or in June for baby animals and full waterfalls. July and August work if you start early. Choose winter only if you want a snowcoach trip and plan it around the mid-December to mid-March oversnow season.

FAQ

What is the worst time to visit Yellowstone?

November and early December are the weakest months. Most roads have closed to cars, the winter oversnow season has not started, and few lodges or services are open.

Is May a good time to visit Yellowstone?

May is good for wildlife and smaller crowds, but some roads open only in mid or late May and snow is still common. Plan flexible days and check road status daily.

How many days do you need in Yellowstone?

Three to four days cover the main sights of the Grand Loop, such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lamar Valley. Two days is rushed because driving between areas takes one to two hours.

Is Old Faithful open in winter?

Old Faithful is reachable in winter only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile, or by staying at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, which is itself reached by snowcoach. Private cars cannot drive there from November to mid-April.