Best time to visit Yellowstone
- Best time
- September
- Avoid
- Nov · Apr
- Warmest month
- July · 81°F
- Wettest month
- June · 1.9 in
- Peak crowds
- Jul · Aug
Yellowstone has two parks in one year. From late spring to mid-fall, the loop road is open and you drive between the geysers, the canyon and the wildlife valleys. From early November to mid-April almost every road is closed to cars, and the interior is reached only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile. Picking your month is mostly picking which of those two parks you want.
Yellowstone month by month
Average high / low and rain are NOAA 1991–2020 normals (Yellowstone Park Mammoth, Wy Us). Crowd levels and what is open are our reading of each season, not official counts.
January
Mixed- High / low
- 31° / 12°F
- Rain
- 0.9 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Winter season: oversnow only
Only the northern road (Gardiner–Mammoth–Lamar–Cooke City) is open to cars. Old Faithful by snowcoach or guided snowmobile. Best wolf watching in Lamar Valley.
February
Mixed- High / low
- 34° / 12°F
- Rain
- 0.8 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Winter season: oversnow only
Deep cold and steaming geyser basins. Lodging at Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth only.
March
Avoid- High / low
- 42° / 19°F
- Rain
- 1.1 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Roads closing for plowing
The winter season ends in early-to-mid March and interior roads close so crews can plow. Little is open.
April
Avoid- High / low
- 50° / 26°F
- Rain
- 1.4 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Roads reopen from mid-April
Western and northern roads usually reopen first, in stages. Snow is still common; many services stay shut.
May
Good- High / low
- 60° / 35°F
- Rain
- 1.8 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Most roads open by late May
Bison calves, bears out of hibernation, high waterfalls. East and south entrances and Dunraven Pass may open late in snowy years.
June
Good- High / low
- 70° / 42°F
- Rain
- 1.9 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything open
Long days and green valleys; crowds build after mid-June. Afternoon thunderstorms begin.
July
Mixed- High / low
- 81° / 48°F
- Rain
- 1.3 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything open
Peak season: traffic at Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic, full parking lots by mid-morning, lodging booked out a year ahead.
August
Mixed- High / low
- 80° / 47°F
- Rain
- 1.1 in
- Crowds
- Peak
Everything open
Still peak. Wildfire smoke possible in late summer. Bison rut in Hayden and Lamar valleys.
September
Best- High / low
- 69° / 39°F
- Rain
- 1.2 in
- Crowds
- Busy
Everything open
Crowds drop after Labor Day. The elk rut, golden aspens late in the month, first snow flurries possible.
October
Good- High / low
- 54° / 29°F
- Rain
- 1.3 in
- Crowds
- Moderate
Services close through the month
Quiet and cold. Lodges and campgrounds close progressively; snow can close Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway outside the park.
November
Avoid- High / low
- 39° / 19°F
- Rain
- 1.1 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Most roads close early November
Shoulder closure: only the northern road stays open to cars.
December
Mixed- High / low
- 30° / 12°F
- Rain
- 0.9 in
- Crowds
- Quiet
Winter season from mid-December
Snowcoaches and guided snowmobiles begin from mid-December, with the winter lodges at Old Faithful and Mammoth.
Temperatures and rain
Seasons and events to plan around
Spring road openings
Mid-April to late May
Roads reopen in stages after plowing, west and north first; the east and south entrances and Dunraven Pass usually follow. Dates depend on snow.
Source: Yellowstone current conditions & road status (NPS) · checked Oct 27, 2026
Fall road closures
Early November
Most park roads close to wheeled vehicles in early November so crews can prepare for winter. The road from the North Entrance through Mammoth to Cooke City stays open all year, weather permitting.
Source: Yellowstone current conditions (NPS) · checked Oct 27, 2026
Winter oversnow season
Mid-December to early March
Interior roads are groomed for commercially guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles; Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth host winter visitors.
Source: Yellowstone current conditions (NPS) · checked Oct 27, 2026
The wildlife calendar
| Season | What you are likely to see |
|---|---|
| May–June | Bison and elk calves, grizzlies and black bears in the valleys after hibernation |
| July–August | Bison rut (bellowing bulls) in Hayden and Lamar valleys; animals move higher in the heat |
| September–October | Elk rut around Mammoth and Madison; bears feeding before winter |
| December–March | Wolves on the snow in Lamar Valley, bison in steaming geyser basins |
Dawn and dusk are the times everywhere. Stay 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from bison and elk — the park’s rule, and the reason most injuries happen.
The verdict
Best month
September
Every road and most services are still open, crowds drop after Labor Day, and the elk rut fills the evenings around Mammoth with bugling. Nights can drop below freezing: pack layers.
Avoid
Nov · Apr
The “shoulder closures”: most park roads are closed to cars from early November until the winter season starts in mid-December, and again from early March until they are plowed open from mid-April into May.
When to visit Yellowstone: your questions
What is the best month to visit Yellowstone?
September: all roads are open, summer crowds have gone and the wildlife is active. June is a close second.
Is Yellowstone open in winter?
Yes, but differently: only the northern road is open to cars. The rest of the park is reached by guided snowcoach or snowmobile from mid-December to early March.
When do the Yellowstone roads open?
In stages from mid-April to late May, depending on snow. Most of the loop is usually open by Memorial Day weekend.
When is Yellowstone least crowded?
Outside June–August. Late September and October are quiet with roads still open; winter is the quietest of all.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Event dates move from year to year: always confirm on the organiser’s site.