Not for nothing is Yellowstone National Park America’s first and oldest national park. The wild, beating heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has been captivating intrepid travelers and nature lovers like us since the 1870s. While its showstoppers are the hot springs and geysers, there’s a lot more to see and do here: diverse wildlife, forests, meadows, thundering waterfalls, lofty mountain peaks — you name it, Yellowstone has it. So naturally, the first thing that comes to everyone’s minds, including ours, is: when is the best time to see Yellowstone National Park? As someone who has visited this gorgeous wonderland in all seasons, we’re going to say that the answer isn’t as simple as naming a specific month. When we sat down to think about our favorite time to visit the park, even we were flummoxed and couldn’t nail down any one time period.
Truth be told, there’s something to see and do in Yellowstone at any given time of year. Keeping that in mind, we’ve decided to share the best things to experience through each of Yellowstone’s seasons and in every month. That way, you can choose which time of the year you want to go based on what it’s that you’re seeking: wildlife opportunities, open roads, fewer crowds, etc. Here’s a useful guide to visiting what is one of the most amazing national parks on earth.
Table of contents
- Best things to see in Yellowstone by month/season
- When should you avoid heading to Yellowstone National Park?
- Cool Facts About Yellowstone National Park
- Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park?
- What is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park?
- What is the best time to visit Yellowstone for wildlife?
- When are roads open in Yellowstone?
Best things to see in Yellowstone by month/season
January and February
January and February are the months to go for those who are seeking a truly wintry experience of Yellowstone. With average high temperatures of 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 degrees Celsius), these months are when you need to break out the very best winter gear you have, along with waterproof layers. Think winter coats for warmth, winter mittens, warm winter hats, and the like. If you’re interested in wintertime photography, then you might also want to invest in winter photography gloves. Also, the valley floors could have accumulated as much as 2-3 ft of snow, or perhaps even more, so invest in good winter waterproof boots too.
Since Yellowstone is a veritable winter wonderland, January and February can also be some of the clearest months. So, it’s the perfect time to click photographs of the landscape and go about spotting wildlife. The chilly, white layer is the perfect backdrop for elusive animals, like wolves, to stand out against and be observed even from a great distance. Another animal to seek out during this time is also the park’s largest — the bison. You could even spot large herds moving into areas like the Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs to forage easier in lesser snowy terrain.
March
March is the first month when spring begins peeking out from behind Yellowstone’s wintry veil. With average high temperatures of 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3.8 degrees Celsius), the ice and snow begin to recede while leaving behind potential mud and slush. So, you’ll be needing waterproof boots for this month as well. Since snow coach/snowmobile entry ends by mid-March, do check the dates of any winter tours that you might have planned around these dates. If you’re planning to head to Yellowstone this winter, check out this Winter Wildlife & Snowshoe Adventure Tour.
So, what happens in Yellowstone in March? This is when elk begin their famous seasonal antler shedding. Antlers, which are bony structures growing from the male elks’ heads, could potentially weigh up to as much as 30 lbs each! They usually drop them around March and take nearly half a year to fully grow back.
April
April is one of Yellowstone’s famous shoulder seasons. This spring shoulder season sees the icy remnants of winter thawing more rapidly. In fact, we could even see the bare ground at some lower elevations. Despite the scene still being snowy and quieter, winter tourism starts decreasing, with deer and elk migrating back into Yellowstone. But you’ll be able to see black bears emerging from their dens and bison calving in the Lamar Valley. Due to the relatively warmer weather, many other animals are livelier and we would even be able to see their tracks in the snow sometimes.
However, one of the most important things to happen in Yellowstone in winter is that some of the roads begin opening up. Thus, they offer opportunities to explore those areas of the park that were closed over the winter to private vehicles. That means that more roads, other than the one between the north and northeast entrances, will open up. More specifically, the roads from Norris to Canyon, from Madison to the West Entrance, and from Mammoth to Old Faithful open up in mid-April; check out the road opening dates here. Just ensure that you have a 4WD vehicle in case of inclement weather and ice, or you could hire a knowledgeable guide who possesses lots of experience in navigating the wintry roads.
Did you know that Yellowstone also sees intrepid cyclists touring the park beginning in April? Yes!
May
The month of May is true spring in the national park, with grizzly bears emerging from their hibernation dens and making for excellent viewing opportunities. The vegetation starts getting back its greens, overcoming the wintry whites and muddy browns. In fact, we’ve even spotted some early-season wildflowers in places. Keep your eyes peeled out for baby animals as it’s bison birthing season in May. Or, you could even see mother grizzlies with cubs trailing after her as she begins foraging for food after winter’s hibernation. The most exciting aspect of May is that most roads in Yellowstone open by the end of the month. The East Entrance opens around May 6th, followed by the South Entrance from Jackson the following week. By the end of the month, you might even find Dunraven Pass to Tower Falls to be accessible via private vehicles.
June and July
June is when Yellowstone’s summer season begins, and it’s the perfect way to avoid the wintry weather and summer crowds. With average highs of 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 degrees Celsius), the weather is relatively fair, with sunnier days continuing to melt any remaining snow and wildflowers growing about rampantly. Come July, and Yellowstone it’s all about busy roads (expect bear and bison jams!), crowds, and crowded boardwalks. The weather at Yellowstone National Park in July could reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) at some elevations, making it one of Yellowstone’s warmest months. Hiking is one of the most immersive experiences, so ensure that you pack waterproof summer shoes, hiking socks, and tents for hiking, if you plan to camp in the park.
What’s more, July is one of the best months to see the park’s geothermal features, like the geysers and the hot springs. These include some of the best must-see attractions in Yellowstone National Park, including the Old Faithful geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Upper Geyser Basin, including the Morning Glory Pool, among others. This is also when the scenery in the park is at its absolute finest. Think brilliant white snow-capped mountains with lush, verdant forests on the slopes, green hilly meadows bursting with vibrant wildflowers, and bright orange, red, and yellow sunrises and sunsets every day.
That being said, July is when the crowds in Yellowstone are at their peak, so there will be long jams and long lines for parking and entrance stations. Here’s a detailed 4-day Yellowstone itinerary if you’re planning to visit the park for an extended vacation, allowing you to plan your visit better.
August
August is usually just like July, with sun-kissed, warm days and still lots of places to visit in the park. While there are chances of drought and wildfires, just ensure that you follow all posted fire restrictions if you’re going camping during this time. What’s more, August is still a great time to view the park’s geothermal features, since the steam is still mild.
That being said, the month is one of the most exciting times to catch sight of the great American Bison. This is when their breeding season, or rut, begins. During the rut, mature bulls start intermingling with herds of cows. They single out one female at one time, persistently courting her with vicarious wallowing and bellowing vocals! The males compete with each other in the form of head butting, trying to gore each other with their horns. It’s an exhilarating, once-in-a-lifetime, and potentially volatile experience.
September and October
September brings with it the cooling trend that inevitably leads Yellowstone back into winter. The daily high temperatures could vary between 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). So, the weather could be unpredictable, ranging from clear and sunny skies to sudden blizzards. It might not be as inviting as the summer, but the cooler temperatures encourage more wildlife to be active throughout the day, unlike summer when many animals come out only at dawn and dusk. While the bison rut dies down, the moose and elk will begin getting into action, having grown their antlers for this very occasion to attract mates!
When it comes to the scenery, you’ll see a lot of berries, even as the trees, like cottonwood and aspen, begin changing color into golden yellow hues. October is much the same, with the time being perfect to enjoy the autumn colors and the peaceful scenery with fewer crowds around.
November and December
November is when Yellowstone’s roads, except the route between the North and the Northeast entrances, begin shutting down for private vehicles. Despite limited access, you could still spot animals such as bison, elk, and wolves in the Lamar Valley. Sometimes, even bighorn sheep migrate to lower elevations, as this is the start of their breeding season. Interestingly, the amazing Mammoth Hot Springs are still accessible at this time of the year too.
Can you visit Yellowstone in December? Of course! December is officially when winter starts in Yellowstone, with snow coach and snowmobile tours beginning by mid-December. They operate from the South, West, and North entrances and are an incredibly unique way to experience the national park. What’s more, there are even wildlife-based snow tours and snowshoeing adventures for those who are interested in wintry Yellowstone experiences.
When should you avoid heading to Yellowstone National Park?
Again, this answer could be different for different travelers. We, for one, wanted to avoid the crowds as much as possible. At the same time, we weren’t interested in winter sports. So, for us, the worst time to visit Yellowstone National Park would be winter for more than just the above reasons. The park would be very difficult to access at this time since most of the lodges and roads are closed. Moreover, temperatures remain below freezing point for most of the season, making it difficult for some people, like us, to enjoy the beauty of the park.
Generally, the best time to visit Yellowstone without crowds, road closures, or extreme weather is the shoulder seasons of fall and spring. When we visited Yellowstone during fall, the summer crowds had thinned and it was still warm enough for us to explore. While summer is the best time to visit in terms of roads being open and the weather being clear, the crowds are a lot and it could get scorching in the park at times. Finally, spring, despite the tempestuous weather sometimes, is also great since everything is just beginning to bloom and the ice and snow have begun melting.
Cool Facts About Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone National Park encompasses a whopping 3,472 sq mi and spans three states — Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, even though it’s mostly in Wyoming. Also, it’s larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Interestingly, it became a national park two decades before even the three states were established!
- Yellowstone has the largest concentration of mammals, 67, in the lower 48 states. This is apart from the 16 types of fish and 300 bird species. Bison are one of Yellowstone’s biggest draws and the park is the only place in the country where they’ve lived continuously since the prehistoric era.
- The national park sits over a supervolcano capable of an eruption measuring 8.0 on the magnitude scale. It has erupted thrice in the past, with the first one occurring 2.1 million years ago. Even today, the volcano remains active and geologists always monitor it. The coolest bit, though, is that experts estimate that magma lies just a mere three miles below some parts of Yellowstone.
- Finally, experts estimate that Yellowstone has half of the hydrothermal features in the world, from geysers to hot springs. It preserves more than 10,000 hydrothermal features, including travertine terraces, mudpots, fumaroles, geysers, and hot springs, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park?
- 11 Best Cheap Accommodation in Yellowstone National Park
- 11 Best Hotels Near East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park
- 11 Best Hotels Near North Entrance Yellowstone National Park
- 11 Best Hotels to Stay Near Yellowstone National Park
- 11 Best Hotels Near Yellowstone West Entrance
What is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park?
It could be different for different types of travelers and what they want to do. Those who want to avoid crowds can go in April/May and September, while those who want to indulge in winter activities can head to Yellowstone during December.
What is the best time to visit Yellowstone for wildlife?
The best time of year to visit Yellowstone to watch wildlife also depends on what you’d like to see. While bison can be seen throughout the year, so can bears. Wolves are trickier to spot, but the Lamar Valley is teeming with them throughout the year.
When are roads open in Yellowstone?
All roads in Yellowstone usually open towards the end of May and stay that way until September-October. Then, everything except the road between the North and Northeast entrances generally shuts. Come December, the snowy routes open up, shutting around February.
