The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park

Glistening geysers bubbling up from colorful pools, afternoon light setting meadows aglow, and bison grazing next to a roaring river—Yellowstone has some of America’s most iconic and cinematic scenes, and every season brings its own beauty. But plenty of months have their tradeoffs, like crowds, bugs, or blazing heat. And other considerations like seasonal road access and wildlife migration can determine if you’ll get to experience the top thing on your bucket list, or leave with a let-down. So, what’s the very best time to visit in order to max out Yellowstone’s grandeur with the least downsides? We’ve got our vote here.

Yellowstone is basically known for two things: geothermal activity (hello, hot springs!) and rarely seen wildlife. April is our pick for the best time to visit because the wildlife is next level. Bears start to emerge from hibernation around March and April, and cute cuddly bison calves run after their burly parents. Also, the park is practically empty—just 30,000 visitors come during April, compared to 410,000 in July. That said, there are a few downsides to keep in mind with this window. First, it’s quite chilly still, think 40 degrees as a high. Also, you’ll need to wait for the West Yellowstone entrance to open, usually around April 15 or so.

October gets our vote for a similar reason. While many of the animals will be preparing for winter, fewer visitors means that sightings of bison, wolves, and elk are more likely. Much like April, it’ll be chilly—daytime highs are 47 degrees. But it’s worth braving the cool temps for a last glimpse at the park before most of the roads close for the winter season. Summer activities for the most part are still possible, too—kayaking, hiking, wildlife-spotting—provided you layer up for that cooler weather. Listen for the musical sound of elk bugling near Mammoth Hot Springs and keep your eyes out for the park’s few aspen trees, whose leaves turn a vibrant lemon-yellow.

Photographers will also appreciate the ease of catching sunrise and sunset for both months, which happen around 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (The sun doesn't go down until after 9 p.m. in the summer!)

Summer is the park’s busiest season for one good reason: weather—average high temperatures hover in the 70s, with cool evenings perfect for snuggling up by a campfire. But you’ll be sharing the park with 2.5 million other visitors. If you're seeking solitude on those ultra-busy days, try a longer hike or camping in the backcountry; most of the crowds don’t wander more than half a mile from the main park roads. Just be sure to bring bear spray and know how to use it.

Weather: Summer is as good as it gets when it comes to Yellowstone weather, with highs in the 70s (and sometimes 80s). Most of the snow has melted by July, which means you have your pick of the park’s 1,000-plus miles of trails. But don’t expect the weather to be nonstop paradise. You’ll still want to plan for rain—thunderstorms are common in the afternoons—and it gets cool at night. Pack warm layers, thick socks, and even gloves if you’re planning on camping. And you can really stretch a day trip during the summer—the sun doesn’t go down until after 9 p.m.

Activities: Where to even start? Yellowstone’s scenic roads are gorgeous on their own while also being the pathway to its most iconic features, like the kaleidoscopic pools at Grand Prismatic Spring, the frothy limestone layer cake at Mammoth Hot Springs, or the truly epic gorge framing Crystal Falls. You could easily make a day—or several—just stopping to enjoy the sights that are steps from a parking lot. If you’ve already covered the park’s main attractions, put on your hiking shoes to work on the 5.6-mile Fairy Falls Trail, which leads to its namesake 200-foot cascade as well as some lesser-known hot springs. If you get tired of land, take a kayak or paddleboard out onto Lewis or Yellowstone Lake. Or really get an Old West experience by taking a horseback ride with a local outfitter to Roosevelt Coral.

Wildlife: Wolves, bison, bears, oh my! Summer is a great time to visit for animal lovers. While it’s possible to spot wildlife any time of day, early birds especially catch the worm. Head to Lamar or Hayden Valley at the crack of dawn—or stay late enough for dusk—for the best chance of spotting wolves, bears, elk, moose, pronghorn, and foxes. And bison? You’re probably gonna see bison. They haven’t exactly learned to give cars “right of way” on the roads yet.

If you plan to do any hiking, it’s important to follow the basic safety rules set by the park. Stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards away from bison and elk. No, really. In 2022, three Yellowstone visitors were gored by bison in one month. The 2,000-pound animals can run at a speed of 35 miles per hour—don’t give them any reason to show off their sprint.

Access: If you want to avoid summer traffic jams, come before 9 a.m. or after 11 a.m. Arriving at peak hours can tack another 45 minutes onto your trip before you even get through the gate. Major destinations like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Norris Geyser Basin can also get crammed with people between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., so plan your route to save them for earlier or later in the day. Luckily, the sun is up early and out late, so you’ll have plenty of daylight to explore.

If you're the type that watches YouTube videos of baby animals on a loop, we have good news for you: Spring means an abundance of sweet baby animals in Yellowstone. Think bison calves and bear cubs. It’s also prime season for waterfall-chasers, as melting snow swells rivers into gushing cascades. But have a plan for where you’re going to stay—Mammoth Campground is the only campground open in April. Weather allowing, Madison, Bridge Bay, Canyon Village, and Fishing Bridge RV campgrounds open up in May. In-park hotels are closed in April and start to open in May. But you can still stay outside the park in places like West Yellowstone or Gardiner. You’ll want to plan ahead—even May dates can start to sell out in the park.

Weather: There’s really no telling what you’ll face in spring: sub-zero temps with a foot of snow? Possible. Cloudless days in the 60s? Definitely maybe. Pack your warmest clothes to stay comfortable whatever the situation.

Activities: Spring offers up a lot of different possible activities, many of them without another human in sight. Pack cross-country skis or snowshoes to take advantage of possible snow in March and April—and yes, even sometimes May. Cyclists can squeak in a visit during the spring sweet spot where cars aren’t yet allowed as roads are cleared, usually between late March and early April. Once roads open, you’ll bump into more people at major sights like Old Faithful, but still way fewer than summer months. North of the park in Gardiner, the Hell's A-Roarin' Horse Drive takes place over Memorial Day weekend and tends to draw in more crowds.

Wildlife: Birders, grab your binoculars. This spring window is a bonanza of sandhill cranes, red-tailed hawks and meadowlarks, all returning to Yellowstone around March, and peregrine falcons, osprey, warblers, flycatchers, tanagers, swallows, and loons head back here in April.

As for other wildlife, one of the best things you can do in May is to rise before the sun and head to Lamar or Hayden Valley with a pair of super-zoom binoculars. Keep your eyes peeled for playful bear cubs or “red dogs”—the nickname for bison babies thanks to their reddish coats. (Just be sure to bundle up for this expedition. That predawn chill factor can sneak up on you.)

Access: Time your visit around when the park roads start to open, usually around mid-April. The park's website is the best resource for opening dates for different sections of Yellowstone.

When you think about the word "solitude" you think: A) I prefer to be with others. B) Sometimes it's nice. C) Yes, please!

For all our C people, winter will be your favorite season. You’ll need to do some extra planning, since just a tiny portion of the roads are plowed. But don’t read closed roads as a closed park—visitors are still very much welcome in this winter wonderland. Two park hotels are even open for winter, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Weather: Reality check: It’s gonna be cold. Expect weather to be below freezing pretty much all winter, occasionally reaching sub-zero, with anywhere from 50 to 200 inches of snow each season. But it’s still totally possible to have a good time—you just need to keep your extremities from turning into popsicles. Pack super warm layers, including sturdy waterproof shoes, warm socks, warm waterproof gloves, and a warm hat that easily covers your ears. Wool clothing works especially well as a baselayer, since it tends to stay warmer even if it gets wet. And get moving! Snowshoeing or skiing goes a long ways toward keeping your body warm.

Activities: Break out your snow gear! Winter is the season for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. We’d recommend taking a coach or snowmobile into the park and then exploring by snowshoe or ski. Or skip the winter workout and take a coach to one of the geysers, which are spectacular in any season but create special “geyser rain” in the winter, when super hot geyser mist meets freezing air and creates sparkling ice crystals that float to the ground.

Wildlife: Coming to Yellowstone for wildlife spotting? Then welcome to your favorite season. Surprised? Well, harsh winter conditions drive many animals from higher altitudes down to the somewhat warmer valleys—and the snow makes their tracks so easy to spot. Wolf lovers will be in heaven, spotting their favorite animal all over the place, as their dark fur stands out against the white landscape. Look for them in Lamar Valley or in the open meadows of the Northern Range. Along the Yellowstone River, keep an eye out for bison, elk, and bobcats. Bison also like to hang out around geysers like Old Faithful, which acts as a big space heater for their wooly bodies. And don’t forget about the birds! Not all of them head south. Trumpeter swans and several species of owl stick around for winter.

Access: The only road open year-round in Yellowstone is from Gardiner, MT to Mammoth Hot Springs—not very far at all. So how do you get around if most of the roads are snowed in? Two ways, mainly: snowmobile or snow coach tours. Snowmobilers need to be on a guided tour, or you’ll need to enter a lottery for a permit with the park.