Best time to visit Yellowstone
Yellowstone has its best weather in July and August. Peak season is June to September.
Yellowstone weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F | 12°F | 2.6 in | 13 | 5.7 h |
| February | 25°F | 13°F | 3.8 in | 15 | 6.3 h |
| March | 33°F | 18°F | 3.1 in | 13 | 8.7 h |
| April | 40°F | 23°F | 2.8 in | 13 | 10.1 h |
| May | 49°F | 31°F | 2.4 in | 13 | 11.7 h |
| June | 64°F | 41°F | 2.2 in | 11 | 13 h |
| July | 74°F | 50°F | 1.1 in | 9 | 14.1 h |
| August | 72°F | 49°F | 1.5 in | 8 | 12.3 h |
| September | 63°F | 42°F | 2.2 in | 7 | 10.7 h |
| October | 46°F | 29°F | 2.8 in | 11 | 8.3 h |
| November | 32°F | 18°F | 2.7 in | 12 | 6.3 h |
| December | 24°F | 12°F | 3.3 in | 14 | 4.7 h |
Yellowstone month by month
Yellowstone in January
Highs around 24°F, lows near 12°F. About 13 rainy days and 5.7 h of sunshine a day.
Winter road closures
Hardest monthYellowstone in February
Highs around 25°F, lows near 13°F. About 15 rainy days and 6.3 h of sunshine a day.
Winter road closures
Hardest monthYellowstone in March
Highs around 33°F, lows near 18°F. About 13 rainy days and 8.7 h of sunshine a day.
Winter road closures
Hardest monthYellowstone in April
Highs around 40°F, lows near 23°F. About 13 rainy days and 10.1 h of sunshine a day.
Spring road openings · Bison calving
Hardest monthYellowstone in May
Highs around 49°F, lows near 31°F. About 13 rainy days and 11.7 h of sunshine a day.
Spring road openings · Bison calving
Mixed weatherYellowstone in June
Highs around 64°F, lows near 41°F. About 11 rainy days and 13 h of sunshine a day.
Good weatherPeak seasonYellowstone in July
Highs around 74°F, lows near 50°F. About 9 rainy days and 14.1 h of sunshine a day.
Bison rut
Best weatherPeak seasonYellowstone in August
Highs around 72°F, lows near 49°F. About 8 rainy days and 12.3 h of sunshine a day.
Bison rut
Best weatherPeak seasonYellowstone in September
Highs around 63°F, lows near 42°F. About 7 rainy days and 10.7 h of sunshine a day.
Elk rut
Good weatherPeak seasonYellowstone in October
Highs around 46°F, lows near 29°F. About 11 rainy days and 8.3 h of sunshine a day.
Elk rut
Mixed weatherYellowstone in November
Highs around 32°F, lows near 18°F. About 12 rainy days and 6.3 h of sunshine a day.
Winter road closures
Hardest monthYellowstone in December
Highs around 24°F, lows near 12°F. About 14 rainy days and 4.7 h of sunshine a day.
Winter road closures
Hardest month
Seasons and events
- Apr and May
Spring road openings
Roads begin opening to regular vehicles in mid-April, weather permitting. All roads are typically open by Memorial Day weekend.
Source: National Park Service - Apr and May
Bison calving
Bison calves appear in Lamar Valley in spring, and black and grizzly bears emerge from their dens.
Source: National Park Service - Jul and Aug
Bison rut
Bison rut in Lamar and Hayden valleys in July and August.
Source: National Park Service - Sep and Oct
Elk rut
Elk rut around Mammoth Hot Springs and Grant Village in September and October, when bears are often visible in roadside meadows.
Source: National Park Service - Nov–Mar
Winter road closures
Most park roads close to regular vehicles from November. Some open to guided snowcoach and snowmobile travel from late December. Few facilities are open.
Source: National Park Service
Plan Yellowstone for July
Lay the trip out day by day in Waiz, on a timeline and a map, and plan it with friends in real time. Pro adds AI itineraries and the forecast for every day.
Questions about visiting Yellowstone
August scores highest for weather in Old Faithful, with highs around 72°F and about 8 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is July and August.
February is the wettest month in Old Faithful, with about 3.8 in of rain over 15 days. July is the driest, with about 1.1 in.
Peak season is June to September, according to National Park Service. The best-weather months overlap with it, so book early.
July is the warmest month in Old Faithful, with average highs of 74°F. December is the coolest, at 24°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
