Best time to visit Yellowstone

Yellowstone has three seasons, and roads decide which one you get

Most of the park sits above 6,000 feet, so the question is less about weather than about which roads are open. The National Park Service splits the year into three: a peak season from May to September with most services running, an off-peak season in spring and fall with limited access, and a winter season when most roads carry only guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles.

Only one road stays open to cars all year, from the North Entrance at Gardiner to Cooke City. The rest of the park opens in stages from mid-April. For the 2026 season, the West Entrance to Old Faithful road opened on April 17, the East Entrance on May 1, the South Entrance on May 8 and Dunraven Pass on May 22. Dates move with the snow each year, so check the park road status first.

The best month is September

September gives you the most for the least compromise. Roads are typically all open, days reach about 68°F (20°C) at Mammoth, and the elk rut starts around Mammoth Hot Springs. Bears come back down to roadside meadows, raptors migrate over Hayden Valley, and fall color starts above 7,000 feet.

It is still a busy month, and the park rates it that way. But an average September brings about 664,000 visits against 948,000 in July, roughly 30% fewer, and numbers fall as the month goes on. The trade-off is that some campgrounds and boat services begin closing, and nights fall to about 39°F (4°C). Our Yellowstone in September guide has the detail.

When Yellowstone is busiest

Visits are the National Park Service's average by month for 2014 to 2018. Four months, June to September, take in about 80% of the year's visitors.

• July: about 948,000 visits, the busiest month
• August: about 840,000
• June: about 781,000
• September: about 664,000
• May: about 401,000
• October: about 224,000
• November to April: under 45,000 in each month

To dodge the traffic in summer, the park advises reaching an entrance before 7 am or after noon, and staying away from the main sights between 10 am and 4 pm. Use those middle hours for a trail or a drive through a quieter valley.

The other good months

• June: all roads and facilities are typically open, and waterfalls run at full volume. It is the wettest month at Mammoth, snow is possible up high, and high water limits some backcountry sites. See Yellowstone weather in June.
• July and August: the warmest and most reliable months, with highs near 81°F (27°C) at Mammoth and everything open. They are also the busiest, with afternoon thunderstorms and a chance of wildfire haze.
• May: the wildlife pick. Bears, bison calves and wolf pups are out and visits are about half of June's, but snow lingers up high, and not every road opens until around Memorial Day.
• October: quiet roads and fall color below 7,000 feet. Most roads stay open until the end of the month, but Dunraven Pass usually closes mid-month and more services shut each week.

Best time to see wildlife in Yellowstone

Wildlife changes with the season, so pick the animal first. These are the National Park Service's own seasonal notes.

• Bears: May for black and grizzly bears along the road and in Lamar Valley, then September and October when they return to lower ground.
• Wolves: Lamar Valley, which the park lists from November to March, and again in May when pups emerge.
• Bison: calves in April and May, and the rut in Lamar and Hayden valleys in July and August.
• Elk: calves at Mammoth in May and June, and the rut at Mammoth and Grant Village in September and October.

Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from all other animals. Our guide to things to do in Yellowstone covers where to go for each.

Yellowstone in winter is a different trip

From mid-December to mid-March, guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles run on groomed roads to Old Faithful and the canyon, and only Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel are open inside the park. It is very cold, at about 31°F (0°C) for a January high at Mammoth, and few people are around. If that appeals, read our Yellowstone in winter guide before booking.

When to avoid

November is the hardest month, as most roads close to cars in early November but oversnow travel does not start until mid-December. Late March and April have a similar gap. See the worst time to visit Yellowstone for what still works in those weeks.

A few practical things

• Book rooms early. The National Park Service says lodging inside the park fills quickly, and campsites can be reserved six months ahead. See where to stay in Yellowstone.
• You need a car or a tour. The park has no public transportation, and Old Faithful and the canyon are about 50 miles apart with a 45 mph limit.
• Budget for the entrance fee. A private vehicle pays $35 for seven days. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person unless they hold an annual pass, and Grand Teton charges its own fee.
• Pack layers in any month. Check the live Yellowstone forecast before you set out.

The honest verdict

Go in September if you can, ideally after the first week. Take June if you want waterfalls and everything open, and May if wildlife matters most and you can live with some closed roads. Take July or August if those are your only dates, and start early each day. Compare it with other trips on the Best Time to Travel leaderboard.