What is the cheapest time to visit Yellowstone?

April to early May and October are the cheapest months when the park is actually drivable: gateway-town hotels (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cody) drop their rates well below summer, and you'll have the boardwalks close to yourself. The trade-off is weather - snow showers are possible in both windows - and in October services inside the park progressively close. July-August is the most expensive stretch by far.

When do Yellowstone's roads open and close?

Most park roads close to regular vehicles in early November and reopen in stages from mid-April through late May, with the West Entrance road usually first. The one exception is the north road between Gardiner and Cooke City through Lamar Valley, which stays open to cars all year. In winter (mid-December to February) the interior is accessible only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile. Always check the park's current road status before booking an early- or late-season trip.

What months should you avoid in Yellowstone?

November and March to early April are the gap months: the roads are closed to cars but winter touring either hasn't started or has just ended, so very little of the park can be reached. If crowds are what you want to avoid, skip mid-June through August - or go anyway but do the famous sights at dawn. The park is glorious in July; it's just shared with the most people.

When is the best time to see bears and wolves in Yellowstone?

For bears, late April through June is prime - grizzlies and black bears are out of hibernation, often with cubs, and feeding in open valleys. For wolves, the cold months are best: January-February wolf-watching in Lamar Valley (reachable by car year-round) is world-famous, and early mornings in spring and fall are also productive. Bring binoculars or a scope - sightings are typically at a distance.

How far in advance should I book a Yellowstone trip?

For June to August, book six to twelve months ahead if you want to stay inside the park - the historic lodges sell out first - and three to six months for the gateway towns. May and September need less lead, and the winter snowcoach season is capacity-limited, so book tours two to four months out. The nearest major airport is Bozeman (BZN), about 90 minutes from the West Entrance.

What is the weather like in Yellowstone year-round?

Yellowstone sits at 2,000m+ and behaves like it: summers bring warm 20-26°C days with cold nights and afternoon thunderstorms, spring and fall swing between sun and snow showers, and winters are long and hard, with lows below -15°C and deep snow from November into April. Snow is possible in any month, so pack layers even for an August trip.

Month by monthUSA2026

The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone

Best: Late April–May & SeptemberCheapest: April–early May & October

Photo: Jim Peaco, National Park Service · Public domain

Yellowstone is really a summer park with two golden shoulders. Roads open in stages through spring, the crowds peak hard in July and August, and by November most of the park closes to cars. Get the month right and you'll have geysers, bears and bison without the gridlock.

Updated 7 July 2026

In Brief

When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?

The best time to visit Yellowstone is late April to May and September: park roads are open (or opening), wildlife is at its most active - spring babies and the fall elk rut - and the crowds and prices sit well below the July-August peak. Summer (June to August) has the best weather and full access, but it's the busiest window by far. Most park roads close to regular cars from early November to mid-April, when the park becomes a snowcoach and snowmobile trip instead.

Sweet spots: late April-May (baby wildlife, opening roads) and September (elk rut, fewer people).
Full access: June to August - all roads and services open, but the biggest crowds of the year.
Road closures: most of the park is closed to regular vehicles from early November to mid-April.
Winter option: mid-December to February by guided snowcoach or snowmobile - a different, spectacular trip.

Best time to go

Late April–May & September

Cheapest time

April–early May & October

When to avoid

November & March–early April (roads closed)

Yellowstone climate at a glance

Avg daytime high (°C / °F) · rainfall · season

Peak seasonGreatShoulder / valueOff-peakmore drops = wetter

-1°30°F
Jan
2°36°F
Feb
6°43°F
Mar
10°50°F
Apr
15°59°F
May
20°68°F
Jun
26°79°F
Jul
25°77°F
Aug
19°66°F
Sep
12°54°F
Oct
4°39°F
Nov
-1°30°F
Dec

Find your month

Every month in Yellowstone is rated for weather, crowds and price. Drag the slider to find your sweet spot — the greener the month, the better value the trip.

Sweet spot — best value

Cheapest window: April–early May & October

October: $ · Low crowds · 12°C, cold nights

See October hotels

Flights to YellowstoneCompare fares for your month on Trip.com Hotels in YellowstoneBook earlier for peak-season dates Things to doTours & tickets in Yellowstone

Yellowstone month by month

Every month rated for weather, crowds and price, so you can match the trip to the month.

Peak seasonGreatShoulder / valueOff-peak

Month	Weather	Crowds	Price	What it's like
Jan	-1°C, deep snow	Low	$$	Winter season: the interior is reachable only by guided snowcoach or snowmobile from West Yellowstone. Steaming geysers in the snow are unforgettable.
Feb	2°C, snowy	Low	$$	Still full winter and prime for wolf-watching in Lamar Valley - the north road to Cooke City stays open to cars all year.
Mar	6°C, melting snow	Low	$	The awkward gap: winter touring ends mid-month but the roads haven't opened for cars. Little of the park is reachable.
Apr	10°C, thawing	Low	$	Roads begin reopening from mid-April (West Entrance first). Bears emerge with cubs, bison calves arrive - and almost nobody is there yet.
May	15°C, fresh, showery	Moderate	$$	One of the best months: most roads open by late May, wildlife-watching peaks with spring babies, and summer crowds haven't landed.
Jun	20°C, mild	High	$$$	Everything is open, waterfalls run at full force and days are long. Crowds build fast after mid-month as school lets out.
Jul	26°C, warm, dry	Peak	$$$	The warmest month and the busiest of the year - expect full parking lots at Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic by mid-morning.
Aug	25°C, warm, dry	Peak	$$$	Peak season continues: superb weather, big crowds. Go at dawn and dusk for wildlife and the famous sights to yourself.
Sep	19°C, crisp, clear	Moderate	$$	The connoisseur's month - the elk rut echoes through the valleys, aspens turn gold and the summer crowds fall away fast.
Oct	12°C, cold nights	Low	$	Quiet and cheap with real solitude, but services wind down and roads start closing from early November - check dates.
Nov	4°C, snow arriving	Low	$	Most roads close to cars in early November and the winter season hasn't started - the park is largely inaccessible.
Dec	-1°C, deep winter	Low	$$	Winter touring starts mid-December: snowcoach trips to Old Faithful and frozen waterfalls, booked as guided tours.

Time it right: Yellowstone's seasonal highlights

Baby wildlife season
Late April–June
Bison calves, bear cubs and elk calves fill the valleys - the best wildlife-watching of the year, before the biggest crowds arrive.
Elk rut
September–early October
Bull elk bugle across Mammoth and the northern valleys - autumn's signature spectacle, in crisp weather with golden aspens.
Road opening season
Mid-April–late May
Roads reopen in stages (West Entrance usually first, Beartooth Highway last). Check the park's road status page before an early trip.
Winter snowcoach season
Mid-December–February
The interior opens to guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours only - steaming geysers, frozen falls and wolf-watching in Lamar Valley.

Best time to visit Yellowstone: FAQ

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The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone

When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?

Yellowstone climate at a glance

Yellowstone month by month

Time it right: Yellowstone's seasonal highlights

Baby wildlife season

Elk rut

Road opening season

Winter snowcoach season

Best time to visit Yellowstone: FAQ

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Yellowstone climate at a glance

Yellowstone month by month

Time it right: Yellowstone's seasonal highlights

Baby wildlife season

Elk rut

Road opening season

Winter snowcoach season

Best time to visit Yellowstone: FAQ

What is the cheapest time to visit Yellowstone?expand_more

When do Yellowstone's roads open and close?expand_more

What months should you avoid in Yellowstone?expand_more

When is the best time to see bears and wolves in Yellowstone?expand_more

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