Weather in Yellowstone National Park

Before you visit Yellowstone, it’s a good idea to learn about the weather to plan your trip accordingly and make the most of your time. The park looks very different from season to season and the weather can change quickly, so you can’t always rely on forecasts. Even in the summer, it’s not rare to experience four seasons in a week, or even a day!

The peak season is from June to September when the days are long, warm and relatively dry. The best time to go depends on what you’d like to experience. Are you hoping to see certain wildlife? Do you need plenty of daylight to hit the hiking trails? Would you prefer to beat the crowds and have the park (almost) all to yourself? We’ve broken down Yellowstone weather by season to help you plan your trip.

Average temperatures in Yellowstone National Park

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
January	-1	-12
February	-15	-10
March	4	-8
April	9	-3
May	16	1
June	21	5
July	27	8
August	26	7
September	20	3
October	13	-1
November	4	-7
December	0	-11

Spring

March and April can feel more like winter in Yellowstone because the park doesn’t thaw fully until late spring/early summer. The ice is still melting on the mountains, the valleys are covered in snow and Yellowstone Lake can still be frozen. The beauty of visiting in spring is that you’ll see life in full bloom with bear cubs, wolf pups, elk and bison calves in the valleys and meadows. Waterproof shoes (with good tread!) and a rain jacket are a must, as April and May are the peak runoff months and the flow of major waterfalls can be intense enough to splash you as you pass.

Summer

Summer is a great time to visit Yellowstone with warm and dry(ish) weather that creates perfect conditions for hiking. However, you need to be prepared for the occasional afternoon thunderstorm. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might spot incredible rainbows after a downpour. It can still get quite chilly during the night, with temperatures dropping to single digits or below freezing at higher elevations, so layer up when setting off on a hike!

Autumn

Autumn is a glorious time of year in Yellowstone. The landscapes turn golden, the crowds start to thin and the animals retreat to lower ground. The weather can be a bit all over the place and warm temperatures during the day can drop drastically as soon as the sun goes down. While the days get shorter, you’ll generally have clear blue skies on your excursions. Snow starts to cover the ground by the end of autumn.

Winter

Yellowstone has an otherworldly feeling all year round, but winter is a magical time with frozen waterfalls, snow-covered peaks and hardly any other souls around. This makes snowshoeing and cross-country skiing a great option to explore. You can also see ‘geyser rain’ – the ice crystals that form when the boiling water erupts from a geyser and hits the freezing air.

It’s chilly during the day and even colder at night, with temperatures reaching as low as -12°C at higher elevations. Most roads are closed during winter and the only areas with facilities open to the public are Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful. If you want to visit in winter, you must book a snowmobile or snow coach tour.

No matter when you visit Yellowstone, bringing the right footwear and clothing is essential. Ensure you bring a warm jacket, waterproof gear and warm layers (even in the summer).

You can stay updated with the latest forecast for Yellowstone National Park with the National Weather Service.

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