April in Yellowstone is one of the most magical and unpredictable times of year to visit.
The park is transitioning from winter to spring, which means a mix of snowy landscapes, emerging wildlife, limited access, and quieter roads and overlooks.
If you’re dreaming of geysers steaming against snowy backdrops and bison calves in Lamar Valley, April can be truly special — but you’ll need to plan for seasonal closures and chilly weather.
‼️ If you just want a quick snapshot about my thoughts on the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park, check out my Best Time to Go To Yellowstone National Park guide. ‼️
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Table of Contents
Yellowstone National Park in April
Weather in April
Expect highly variable conditions throughout the month:
Temperatures: Daytime highs are often in the 40s to low 50s°F (single digits to teens °C) but it can feel colder with wind chill or lingering snow. Overnight lows frequently drop below freezing.
Snow & Spring Transition: Snow is still likely early in April, and even into late April. As spring progresses, snow will melt and areas may become muddy.
Layers Are Mandatory: Dress in warm layers — waterproof jackets, warm hats/gloves, and good boots are essential.
🧊 Pro tip: Weather can flip in minutes — sunny and mild can turn to snow and wind quickly, especially at higher elevations.
Accommodations & Services
Lodging
Most in-park accommodations are closed in April.
✔ Mammoth Hot Springs (usually opens late April)
✔ Old Faithful Snow Lodge (usually opens late April)
❌ Old Faithful Inn (closed in April)
❌ Lake Yellowstone Hotel (closed in April)
❌ Canyon & Grant Village Lodges (closed in April)
❌ Roosevelt & other seasonal lodges (closed in April)
You can find accommodations in nearby gateway towns. Check my guides:
➡️ The Best Motels in West Yellowstone (West Entrance)
➡️ The Best Cabins in West Yellowstone (West Entrance)
➡️ The Best West Yellowstone Hotels (West Entrance)
➡️ The Best Hotels In Gardiner (North Entrance)
➡️ The Best Vacation Rentals Near Yellowstone National Park
Campgrounds
Most campgrounds do not open until late spring/early summer. However, Mammoth Campground is open year round.
➡️ See my Guide to the Yellowstone Campgrounds for more info.
Visitor Centers
Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center is open year-round — staffed and available for information, exhibits, maps, and trip planning. It’s the most reliable visitor center for early-season visitors.
Canyon Visitor Center usually opens mid- to late April.
Old Faithful Visitor Center Usually reopens around mid- to late April after the spring closure period.
West Yellowstone/Lobby NPS Desk (in West Yellowstone town) often reopens in mid- to late April to serve visitors entering through the West Entrance.
The other Visitor Centers are usually not open in April.
Stores & Gas
Services are limited early in the month — don’t count on 24/7 services everywhere. I recommend staying in gateway towns (Gardiner, West Yellowstone) if you want more options.
Wildlife & Nature
April is one of the best months for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone:
Bison Calving: Mid-April is prime time for seeing bison calves in Lamar Valley.
Bear Activity: Bears start emerging from dens — though still cautious and less visible early in the month.
Other Species: Elk, wolves, coyotes, and birds become more active as snow melts.
Things to Do in Yellowstone in April
While classic summer activities are limited early in the month, a lot is still possible:
Things available include:
⭐ Wildlife Watching: Especially in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, with early-season wildlife congregations.
⭐ Geyser Viewing: Thermal features like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic are accessible once roads open.
⭐ Short Walks & Boardwalks: Many boardwalk trails near geothermal areas are open year-round once the adjacent road is clear.
⭐ Photography: Snow + steaming geysers make dramatic spring images.
⭐ Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in still-snowy sections early in the month (especially around Mammoth).
Things Limited or Unavailable include:
⛔ Full backcountry hikes are often still snowbound.
⛔ Traditional camping won’t be fully available until later spring.
⛔ Most visitor programs and ranger stations only start later in the season.
Park Access, Roads & Entrances
Yellowstone is technically open year-round, but vehicle access is limited in April.
From mid-March until mid-April, most of Yellowstone is in a transition window. Oversnow travel (snowcoaches and snowmobiles) has ended, but most park roads are not yet open to regular vehicles. Plowing is underway, and access changes week by week.
Here’s how that plays out:
Expect limited vehicle access early in April.
Outside of the North Entrance corridor, you may not be able to drive deep into the park yet.
Plan around the North Entrance if visiting early April.
The road from Gardiner (North Entrance) to Cooke City (Northeast Entrance) is open year-round and is usually the only way to access Yellowstone by car during the early part of the month. Highlights accessible here are Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Note that although the Northeast Entrance is open all year, you can’t get to the Northeast Entrance form anywhere east because the Beartooth Highway is closed, so you have to enter and return through the North Entrance to get to the park.
Wildlife viewing can still be excellent.
Even with limited road access, Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs can offer incredible spring wildlife sightings — often with far fewer people than summer.
Flexibility is essential.
Road opening dates are weather-dependent. Late snowstorms can delay openings; early melt can move them up.
This is not the month for “see everything” itineraries.
April trips work best when you’re happy focusing on one region of the park rather than trying to loop the entire Grand Loop Road.
Entrance-by-entrance: “Neither oversnow nor cars” gap
| Yellowstone entrance | Last day of oversnow access | First day of regular vehicle access (subject to current conditions) | Gap when neither is allowed (can vary each year depending on current conditions) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT) | Mid-March | Typically third Friday of April | Mid-March – mid-April |
| East Entrance (Cody, WY → Sylvan Pass) | Mid-March | Typically first Friday of May | Mid-March – April |
| South Entrance (Jackson, WY) | Mid-March | Typically second Friday of May) | Mid-March – early May |
| North Entrance (Gardiner, MT) | Open Year Round | Open year-round to regular vehicles | Open Year Round |
| Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, MT) | Open Year Round | Open year-round (via the North–NE road corridor) | Open Year Round |
Is April a Good Time to Visit Yellowstone?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros
- Low crowds: Quiet roads and overlooks.
- Wildlife viewing: Bison calves, elk, wolves, and bears emerging.
- Photography opportunities: Snow + geysers = dramatic landscapes.
Cons
- Limited access: Most roads and services stay closed much of April.
- Cold, unpredictable weather: Prepare for snow early and chilly temps late.
- Planning challenges: You must check current road and facility statuses before travel.
Bottom line
April is a fantastic time to visit Yellowstone if you know what to expect.
Be prepared to see parts of the park only. Come for wildlife, quiet roads, and dramatic spring scenery — and save full-park sightseeing for later in the season. It’s not a “summer parks” experience — but the reward is a unique seasonal Yellowstone you won’t see at any other time of year.
Deciding when to go to Yellowstone National Park is a very important step in planning your trip, and I hope this guide is helping.
However, as I’m sure you’re very aware, this is just one thing of many to decide. Once you’ve decided the timing of your trip, you still need to make an actual plan.
In fact, the thing that most people ask me about is how to put it all together into an itinerary that makes sense. They decide when they’ll go and maybe even book their flights, but still worry about how to minimize the crowds, what to do – and when – and how to coordinate it all.
To help take away the overwhelm of planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park, I’ve created several super detailed itineraries.
Without them, people often feel stressed about planning their trip. With them, they have the confidence of getting all the info they need in one spot. Plus, there’s flexibility built in, so they can easily adapt them to their own interests and activity levels.
There are 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4- day options for Yellowstone National Park: all with detailed hour-by-hour schedules, including alternatives for different activity and fitness levels, plus trail maps and descriptions, driving instructions, important information, essential tips, and everything else you need to make the most of your time in Yellowstone National Park.
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
⭐ Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
⭐ Tips For Visiting Yellowstone National Park
⭐ 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.
💡 Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
‼️ Are you looking for helpful tips for visiting US national parks? Read articles that share useful tips on a range of national-park related issues
💻 Are you starting to plan a trip to Yellowstone National Park? Read my Guide to Yellowstone National Park
📋 Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Yellowstone? Get a detailed 1 – 4-day Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
🛏️ Are you looking for a place to stay in or near Yellowstone National Park? Find a vacation rental near Yellowstone National Park or ⛺ Find a campground inside Yellowstone National Park
💲 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 has traveled to 82 countries and all 7 continents. He has visited all of the main national parks in the United States, as well as many national monuments and state parks.
He has rafted through the Grand Canyon; rappelled down slot canyons near Zion and Arches; hiked among the hoodoos in Bryce and the enormous trees in Sequoia; admired the waterfalls in Yosemite and the colored hot springs in Yellowstone; seen moose in Grand Tetons and seals in the Channel Islands, and much more.
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