One of the first things you need to decide when planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park is when to go. When the best time is may vary depending on your interests, preference for weather, and tolerance for crowds.
I’m James and I’m a national park expert. In this article, I’ll give you a quick summary of the best times to visit Yellowstone National Park so you can make the right decision.
‼️ While this is my choice for the best time to go to Yellowstone National Park, the park is great throughout the year. I’ve provided a detailed breakdown by season so you can easily see what to expect and then make your own choice. ‼️
If you’re planning to visit Yellowstone National Park in spring, summer or fall, make your planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary. I have 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day itineraries for Yellowstone National Park that include all the park highlights, give you choices based on your preferred activity level, and take all the stress out of planning your trip.
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The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
Table of Contents
The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park in a Nutshell
If you want to see the whole park and experience all aspects of the park (the lake, the canyon, the waterfalls, the geothermal features, and the wildlife), then you’ll want to visit between late spring and early fall. Trails are often still snow covered and/ or muddy well into spring and snow starts to fall as early as September (I was caught when they closed a mountain pass due to snow in mid-September (and my campground was on the other side of the pass!)
However, Yellowstone is one of the most visited national parks in the country and it gets very crowded in summer.
So personal favorite time to visit is very early September, right after Labor Day. Everything is still open, there’s plenty of wildlife, the summer crowds are over, and – in general – the winter weather hasn’t yet arrived. But keep an eye on the weather.
If you’re looking for a different experience, winter in Yellowstone is an amazing experiecnce. most of the park’s roads close and instead it is open to over snow travel. December – February are best for winter travel.
When to Visit Yellowstone (for different interests)
Best season to visit Yellowstone National Park
The best season to visit Yellowstone Park is early fall.
The best time to visit Yellowstone for fall colors
The best time to see fall colors in Yellowstone is the last week of September and the first week of October.
The best time to visit Yellowstone for wildlife
The best time of year to see wildlife in Yellowstone is generally spring (to see the baby animals) and fall.
🔹 The best time of year to see bears in Yellowstone is spring.
🔹 The best time to see wolves in Yellowstone is winter.
🔹 The best time to see bighorn sheep in Yellowstone is also winter.
🔹 The best time to see bison in Yellowstone is throughout the year.
🔹 The best time to see elk in Yellowstone is fall for the rutting season.
The best time to visit Yellowstone to avoid crowds
The least crowded time to visit Yellowstone is winter, though spring and fall are much less crowded than July and August.
The cheapest time to visit Yellowstone
The cheapest time to go to Yellowstone is spring.
The best time to visit Yellowstone in summer
If you need to travel in summer, when is the best time to visit Yellowstone? June is best, if possible, as there are fewer people.
Have a great trip to Yellowstone no matter when you go!
More Planning Resources for Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Yellowstone National Park Guide
⭐ Yellowstone Itineraries
⭐ 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ How Many Days in Yellowstone National Park?
⭐ Guide To Camping In Yellowstone National Park
⭐ How to Visit Yellowstone in Winter
⭐ Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park
⭐ The Best Yellowstone Scenic Drives
⭐ Lamar Valley Scenic Drive
⭐ Best Waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail Guide
⭐ Tips For Visiting Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Visiting Yellowstone Throughout the Year
⭐ How To Get To Yellowstone National Park
⭐ All The Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport to Yellowstone National Park
⭐ 10 Fun Facts about Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Best Books about Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Vacation Rentals Near Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Yellowstone Packing List
➡️ If you’re also planning to visit the Grand Tetons, read my Guide to Grand Teton National Park and get a detailed Grand Teton itinerary.
Do you have any thoughts on the best time to travel to Yellowstone? I’d love to hear them. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know.
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The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
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💲 Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
📖 Do you want to read a book about Yellowstone National Park? Check out my Recommended Reading List for Yellowstone National Park
About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
I’m a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.