Yellowstone by Month: Weather, What’s Open & When to Go (2026)
Yellowstone National Park · every month
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Average temperatures from the park's Mammoth weather station, daylight from the sun's math, road and season dates from the park's own pages. Choose a month and the page changes to what Yellowstone is actually like then.
average highaverage lowprecipitationsnowhours across the top = daylight
park weather station near Mammoth Hot Springs (NPS Yellowstone weather page). Tap a column or pick a month below.
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Last updated September 3, 2026 How we research
Yellowstone runs on a road calendar more than a weather calendar. From late May to the end of October the whole figure-eight is drivable and every lodge on it is open; from December 15 to March 15 the interior belongs to snowcoaches and snowmobiles; and the one road that never closes to cars is the northern one, Gardiner through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley to Cooke City. The gaps between those seasons, mid-April to mid-May and November, are when the park is smallest.
The chart shows the whole year at the park's weather station near Mammoth Hot Springs. Most of Yellowstone sits above 7,000 feet and runs 10 to 20 degrees colder than that station, snow can fall in any month, and an afternoon storm can drop the temperature 20 degrees in minutes. Below the chart every month answers the same questions: what it feels like, how much daylight you get, what is open, how busy it is, and what to do.
When does it first snow?
At the Mammoth station, September averages half an inch of snow and October is the first month over an inch, at 3.7. November brings the first heavy snow at 9 inches, and January (14.5), December (13.5) and March (13.1) are the big months. Measurable snow runs September through May, with a trace in June and none in July and August. That is the low corner of the park: the old guides are blunt that snow can fall in Yellowstone in any month of the year, and the high country runs 10 to 20 degrees colder.
Yellowstone National Park in January
January: the coldest month, and the wolves' month
Highs under 30, lows around 10 at Mammoth and regularly below zero elsewhere, with 14.5 inches of snow, the most of any month, and barely nine hours of daylight. The interior is steam and silence reached by snowcoach; the northern road is where the spotting scopes line up at dawn.
- 29° / 10°avg high / low
- 9.2 hdaylight, 7:55 am to 5:05 pm
- 1.1 inprecipitation, 14 in snow
What’s open
- Only the Gardiner to Cooke City road through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley is open to cars. Every other park road is closed to wheeled vehicles.
- The 2026-27 oversnow season runs December 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027: the interior is reachable only by guided snowmobile or snowcoach from the West, South and East entrances.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge are the two winter lodges. Mammoth Campground stays open year-round, first-come first-served October 15 to April 1.
- Entry is $35 per vehicle for 7 days; no timed-entry reservation in 2026.
How busy
Winter visitation is minimal: skiers, snowmobile groups and guided tours. The old guide rated it Low.
Best for
- wolves
- solitude
- steam and snow
What to do
- Wolf watching in the Lamar Valley at dawn: winter concentrates animals on the northern range.
- A snowcoach or snowmobile tour to Old Faithful and the geyser basins in snow.
- Base in Gardiner and drive the northern road yourself every morning; no oversnow tour needed.
Pack
- Cold-weather gear rated to -20°F or colder
- Insulated boots and thermal base layers
- Spotting scope or binoculars for Lamar at dawn
Yellowstone National Park in February
February: still deep winter, an hour more light
Highs in the low 30s, lows in the teens, 10 inches of snow and about an hour more daylight than January. Same two lodges, same one road, same oversnow tours; the difference is longer days for the people who came for wolves and photographs.
- 34° / 13°avg high / low
- 10.4 hdaylight, 7:24 am to 5:48 pm
- 0.8 inprecipitation, 10 in snow
What’s open
- Oversnow season continues through March 15: guided snowmobile and snowcoach only into the interior from the West, South and East entrances.
- The Gardiner to Cooke City road stays open to cars; Mammoth Campground is open first-come first-served.
- Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge are the in-park beds; West Yellowstone and Gardiner hold the rest.
How busy
Low. Estimate: the winter pattern of January continues.
Best for
- winter photography
- wolves
- skiing
What to do
- A snowcoach day to Old Faithful from West Yellowstone, or a night at the Snow Lodge.
- Cross-country ski trails off the northern road, such as the Blacktail Plateau.
- Lamar Valley wolf watch at dawn, then the Mammoth terraces on foot.
Pack
- Full winter kit rated to -20°F
- Traction for icy boardwalks
- Hand warmers and a thermos
Yellowstone National Park in March
March: winter ends on the 15th, then the gap
Highs near 40, lows still in the teens, and 13 inches of snow, nearly as much as January. The oversnow season ends March 15, and after that the interior is closed to everyone until the plows open the first roads in mid-April. Late March is the quietest the park gets.
- 40° / 17°avg high / low
- 11.8 hdaylight, 7:36 am to 7:26 pm
- 1.1 inprecipitation, 13 in snow
What’s open
- Oversnow tours run through March 15; after that there is no access to the interior until spring plowing opens the first road segments in mid-April.
- The Gardiner to Cooke City road stays open; Mammoth Campground is open first-come first-served through April 1.
- Both winter lodges, Mammoth Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, close briefly in the March to April gap; check dates before booking late March.
How busy
Low. Estimate: after March 15 there is almost nobody.
Best for
- last snow
- empty roads
What to do
- Last snowcoach trips of the season before the 15th.
- Northern range wildlife from the road; Lamar at dawn.
- Mammoth terraces and the Gardiner corridor; the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone on a storm day.
Pack
- Winter layers: March snows as hard as January
- Sunglasses for snow glare on 12-hour days
- A lodging plan outside the park after mid-month
Yellowstone National Park in April
April: the first roads open on the 17th
Highs near 50, lows in the mid 20s, and nearly 6 inches of snow at Mammoth. This is the honest gap: cold, muddy and mostly closed, until April 17 when the first two road segments open and Old Faithful becomes drivable from the West Entrance.
- 49° / 26°avg high / low
- 13.4 hdaylight, 6:39 am to 8:05 pm
- 1.2 inprecipitation, 6 in snow
What’s open
- April 17, 2026: West Entrance to Madison to Old Faithful, and Mammoth to Norris to Canyon, open to cars. Everything else waits for May. A late storm can delay an opening by 1 to 3 weeks.
- Expect muddy trails, late-spring storm closures and maintenance work. The Beartooth Highway is closed November through April.
- Services reopen gradually; most lodges and campgrounds are still closed. Base in Gardiner or West Yellowstone.
- The Gardner River High Bridge runs single-lane with delays of up to 15 minutes from April through late October 2026.
How busy
The old guide rated April Moderate; most of that arrives after the 17th. Estimate.
Best for
- empty roads
- wildlife
- the first geysers
What to do
- Drive to Old Faithful after the 17th with almost no one else on the road.
- Northern range wildlife from Mammoth to Lamar as the snow retreats.
- Low walks around Mammoth, the terraces and the Beaver Ponds loop, while the high country is months away.
Pack
- Waterproof boots for mud
- Warm mid-layers and a rain shell: sun at breakfast, snow by lunch
- Flexibility for an opening delayed by a storm
Yellowstone National Park in May
May: the park opens in four steps
Highs around 60, lows just above freezing, the wettest month of the year by precipitation and still an inch and a half of snow. The road system opens in stages on May 1, 8 and 22, the waterfalls run at their hardest, and the crowds sit a tier below July.
- 60° / 34°avg high / low
- 14.8 hdaylight, 5:55 am to 8:41 pm
- 2.0 inprecipitation, 2 in snow
What’s open
- May 1: East Entrance to Fishing Bridge, and Canyon to Bridge Bay. May 8: South Entrance to West Thumb to Old Faithful, and Tower to Tower Fall. May 22: Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway, the last pieces of the loop.
- Madison Campground opens May 1 (through October 17) and Bridge Bay on May 15. The Old Faithful Inn runs May to mid-October. Pebble Creek Campground is closed.
- Campsites book on a rolling 6-month window; entry is $35 per vehicle for 7 days with no timed-entry reservation in 2026.
- May 25 is a free entrance day in 2026.
How busy
Building through the month; the old guide rated May Moderate to High.
Best for
- waterfalls
- first full-park weeks
- fewer people
What to do
- Waterfalls at peak snowmelt: the Lower Falls from Artist Point, and Tower Fall once its road opens on the 8th.
- Old Faithful and the geyser basins before the summer lots fill.
- Hayden and Lamar valleys for spring wildlife at dawn.
Pack
- Rain shell and waterproof boots
- Warm layers for dawns near freezing
- The opening date of every lodge and campground on your list
Yellowstone National Park in June
June: everything open, the longest days, the park waking up
Highs around 70, lows about 40, and fifteen and a half hours of daylight with sunset after 9. Every road is open from the first of the month, the waterfalls are still running hard, everything is green, and afternoon storms build fast and pass.
- 70° / 41°avg high / low
- 15.5 hdaylight, 5:36 am to 9:08 pm
- 1.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- The full road system, including Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway, has been open since May 22.
- Roosevelt Lodge opens in early June; Grant Village Campground opens June 26. Madison and Bridge Bay campgrounds are open.
- No timed-entry reservation; $35 per vehicle for 7 days. Book beds first: in-park lodges and the 6-month campground window sell through for summer.
How busy
High and rising, but the old guide puts June a clear step below July and August.
Best for
- long days
- waterfalls
- full access before peak
What to do
- Mount Washburn from Dunraven Pass, the flagship hike, now that the pass is open.
- Grand Prismatic and the Lower Falls in late light: sunset is after 9.
- Lamar and Hayden valleys at dawn, the best hour for wildlife in any month.
Pack
- Rain shell for afternoon storms
- Warm jacket, hat and gloves: nights sit near 40
- Sunscreen for 15-hour days
Yellowstone National Park in July
July: peak everything, and the bison rut
Highs near 80, nights in the mid 40s, no snow, and afternoon thunderstorms that can knock 20 degrees off the day in minutes. Every service in the park is running, every lot is full by mid-morning, and Hayden Valley fills with the central herd for the rut.
- 80° / 47°avg high / low
- 15.3 hdaylight, 5:50 am to 9:05 pm
- 1.5 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Full road access, all lodges and campgrounds open. Entry is $35 per vehicle with no timed-entry reservation, but July rooms and campsites are claimed the moment the 6-month window opens.
- The Midway Geyser Basin lot fills from 10 am to 6 pm; the classic midday hours are the worst for parking and weather alike.
- Hayden Valley bear management area: no off-trail travel July 15 to September 15. Keep 100 yards from bears and wolves, 25 yards from bison and everything else.
How busy
Peak. Old Faithful and Canyon see their biggest crowds of the year; July 3 to 5 are free entrance days in 2026 and spike further.
Best for
- bison rut
- every service open
What to do
- The bison rut in Hayden Valley: thousands of animals, bulls bellowing and sparring, watched from the road corridor and pullouts.
- Flip the day: boardwalks and valleys at dawn, lake or lodge at midday, a second shift after 4 pm.
- Yellowstone Lake by kayak, or the view from Lake Butte Overlook, when the geyser lots are full.
Pack
- Rain and wind shell for afternoon storms
- Warm layer for 45-degree nights at 7,000 feet
- A dawn alarm
Yellowstone National Park in August
August: the second peak month, with the days already shortening
Highs in the upper 70s, lows in the mid 40s, no snow, and more than an hour less daylight than June. The rut carries on in Hayden Valley, the crowds match July, and by the end of the month the first closing dates are a week or two away.
- 78° / 45°avg high / low
- 14.1 hdaylight, 6:23 am to 8:30 pm
- 1.4 inprecipitation
What’s open
- Full road access; all lodges and campgrounds open. The 6-month booking window and the in-park lodges sell through for August.
- The Hayden Valley off-trail closure runs through September 15.
- Roosevelt Lodge closes in early September and Bridge Bay Campground on September 13: a late-August trip is the last full-service week for both.
How busy
Peak, the same tier as July.
Best for
- hiking
- the rut
- lake days
What to do
- A sunset paddle on Yellowstone Lake; sunset is around 8:30.
- Mud Volcano and Hayden Valley in the same dawn drive.
- Avalanche Peak or Mount Washburn while the high country is most reliably open.
Pack
- Layers for 45-degree dawns and 78-degree afternoons
- Rain shell
- Water and sun protection for exposed high trails
Yellowstone National Park in September
September: the insider month, with a countdown
Highs in the upper 60s, nights near freezing, half an inch of snow on average, and sunset back at 7:35. Elk bugle through the Mammoth mornings, the aspen turn, the whole road system stays open, and the crowds thin week by week while the closing dates start to fall.
- 68° / 37°avg high / low
- 12.6 hdaylight, 6:59 am to 7:35 pm
- 1.3 inprecipitation
What’s open
- All roads open through the month, including Dunraven Pass.
- Roosevelt Lodge closes in early September, Bridge Bay Campground on September 13, Grant on September 26. Lake Hotel makes it to early October, the Old Faithful Inn to mid-October, Canyon Lodge to late October.
- The Hayden Valley off-trail closure ends September 15. Entry is $35 per vehicle, no timed entry.
How busy
Drops sharply after Labor Day; weekends stay busy. The old guide rated it Moderate to High.
Best for
- elk rut
- thin crowds
- full access
What to do
- The elk rut at Mammoth and along the northern range; wolves and bison in Lamar at dawn.
- Mount Washburn via Dunraven Pass before the pass closes in October.
- Sunset from Lake Butte Overlook or the lake shore, now at a civilised hour.
Pack
- Layers for frost at dawn and 60s by noon
- Rain shell: snow is possible
- The closing date of every lodge and campground on your list
Yellowstone National Park in October
October: the park closes piece by piece
Highs in the mid 50s, nights below freezing, and nearly 4 inches of snow, the first month over an inch. Dunraven Pass closes early in the month and most of the road system on October 31, so every week you book later, the park you get is smaller.
- 56° / 29°avg high / low
- 11.1 hdaylight, 7:35 am to 6:39 pm
- 1.0 inprecipitation, 4 in snow
What’s open
- Dunraven Pass closes in October ahead of the rest of the roads; most other park roads close to cars on October 31, 2026. After that only the Gardiner to Cooke City road stays open.
- Madison Campground closes October 17. Mammoth Campground goes first-come first-served from October 15 and stays open all winter.
- Lake Hotel closes in early October, the Old Faithful Inn in mid-October, Canyon Lodge in late October.
- One October storm can close a high road early; check road status before you drive. The Gardner River High Bridge delays run through late October.
How busy
Low and falling; the old guide rated October Moderate. Wildlife viewing improves as the temperature drops.
Best for
- quiet
- wildlife
- the last full-park days
What to do
- One last full-loop drive before the 31st: Norris, Canyon, the lake, Old Faithful.
- Northern range wildlife as animals move down; Lamar at dawn.
- Aspen colour in the high country; the park is mostly conifer, so the show comes in pockets.
Pack
- Cold-weather layers and rain gear for freezing nights
- Traction for icy boardwalks
- A plan B for a road closed by snow
Yellowstone National Park in November
November: one road, the first heavy snow
Highs in the upper 30s, lows around 20, and 9 inches of snow, the first heavy month. The drivable park is essentially one northern road, oversnow travel does not start until December 15, and sunset is before 5. These are the quietest weeks the park has.
- 39° / 19°avg high / low
- 9.6 hdaylight, 7:18 am to 4:56 pm
- 1.0 inprecipitation, 9 in snow
What’s open
- All park roads are closed to cars except Gardiner to Cooke City through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley. The Beartooth Highway is closed November through April.
- No oversnow travel until December 15. Services are mostly closed; Mammoth Campground is open first-come first-served.
- November 11 is a free entrance day in 2026.
How busy
Low. Almost nobody comes between the road closures and the start of oversnow travel.
Best for
- solitude
- wolves
- the cheapest trip
What to do
- Wolf and wildlife watching on the northern range from a Gardiner base; Lamar at dawn.
- The Mammoth terraces in snow and the Albright Visitor Center.
- A guided wildlife day if you want a scope, a driver and a warm van.
Pack
- A car ready for snow on the northern road
- Headlamp: dark before 5
- Cold-weather kit for lows around 20
Yellowstone National Park in December
December: the oversnow season opens on the 15th
Highs around 30, lows near 10, thirteen and a half inches of snow, and the shortest days of the year with sunset at 4:42. On December 15 the snowcoaches and snowmobiles start running and Old Faithful becomes reachable again, in steam and snow.
- 30° / 12°avg high / low
- 8.8 hdaylight, 7:51 am to 4:42 pm
- 1.0 inprecipitation, 14 in snow
What’s open
- The oversnow season opens December 15, 2026 from the West, South and East entrances; the interior is guided snowmobile or snowcoach only.
- The northern road is open to cars year-round; Mammoth Campground is open first-come first-served.
- The winter lodges are Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
How busy
Low. Estimate: quiet until the oversnow season opens, then holiday-week tour groups.
Best for
- steam and snow
- wolves
- winter photography
What to do
- Old Faithful in snow by snowcoach, with a night at the Snow Lodge.
- Lamar Valley at dawn for wolves; the light is short, so start in the dark.
- Ski trails off the road system, such as the Riverside trail near West Yellowstone.
Pack
- Everything rated to -20°F: lows reach that and colder
- Insulated boots and thermal base layers
- Headlamp: under 9 hours of daylight
Which month is yours?
Questions people ask about Yellowstone’s seasons
What is the best month to visit Yellowstone?
Late May through June or September, when every road is open, the lodges and campgrounds are running, and you skip the July and August crush. Wolf watchers should go in winter instead, when animals concentrate on the northern range; anyone chasing the bison rut wants July or August in Hayden Valley, crowds included.
When do Yellowstone's roads open in 2026?
In stages. April 17: West Entrance to Madison to Old Faithful, and Mammoth to Norris to Canyon. May 1: East Entrance to Fishing Bridge, and Canyon to Bridge Bay. May 8: South Entrance to West Thumb to Old Faithful, and Tower to Tower Fall. May 22: Dunraven Pass and the Beartooth Highway. Dates depend on snowmelt and a late storm can push an opening back 1 to 3 weeks.
When do the roads close for winter?
Dunraven Pass closes in October ahead of the rest, and most other park roads close to cars on October 31, 2026. The Beartooth Highway is closed November through April. Only the Gardiner to Cooke City road through Mammoth and the Lamar Valley stays open to wheeled vehicles all year. Oversnow travel into the interior runs December 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027.
Can you visit Yellowstone in winter?
Yes, as a different park. The northern road from Gardiner through Mammoth and Lamar to Cooke City is open to cars year-round, and that is the wolf watcher's season. Old Faithful and the interior are reachable only by guided snowmobile or snowcoach from the West, South and East entrances, December 15 to March 15. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge are the winter lodges; Mammoth Campground stays open first-come first-served.
When does it first snow, and how cold does it get?
At the Mammoth station, September averages half an inch of snow, October 3.7 inches and November 9, with January the biggest month at 14.5. Snow can fall in any month at elevation. The January average low is about 10°F, but temperatures can reach -20°F or colder, and higher ground runs 10 to 20 degrees colder than Mammoth.
What time is sunset in Yellowstone in September?
Around 7:35 pm in mid-September, with about 12.6 hours of daylight, down from a 9:05 pm sunset in July. By mid-October it is 6:39, and by November it is before 5. Dawn is the better wildlife hour in any month, but September sunsets from Lake Butte Overlook or the lake shore come at a reasonable hour.
Every month on this page is built from NOAA-derived climate normals for the park's Mammoth Hot Springs weather station, the sun's position, and the park's published road, lodge and season dates, not from a visit, and the page says so where it matters. Temperatures: park weather station near Mammoth Hot Springs (NPS Yellowstone weather page).
