When is the best time to visit Wyoming?

The best time to visit Wyoming is during the summer months of June to August, when the weather is best for outdoor activities. However, if you are looking for a quieter time with fewer people on park trails and a better chance at seeing wildlife, consider the shoulder months of May and September.

Wyoming is also a beautiful winter destination as snow blankets the state and many animal inhabitants come out to play. For the best snow, January and February are the months to visit.

When is the best time to visit Wyoming for Yellowstone National Park?

Many people venture to Wyoming to step out into the iconic Yellowstone National Park. This national park is known for having excellent hiking trails, impressive sights like Old Faithful as well as great camping spots. To make the best of all the sights and services offered at Yellowstone, visit in the warmer summer months when there are around 10 hours of sunlight every day.

Yellowstone will close some of its services and most of its roads around mid-September to October when the weather gets cold. While some of the park is open for winter activities, such as snowmobiling, the weather can suddenly change and make areas unreachable. There are no campgrounds open in winter, and a small number of openings are available in the park for winter lodgings; you'll need to make a reservation well in advance to save your place.

Learn more about the weather in Yellowstone

When is the best time to visit Wyoming for Grand Teton National Park?

To make the most out of your time at Grand Teton National Park, the best time to visit will be the sunshine-filled summer months of June to August. With warmer temperatures and longer days, you'll be able to take in the sights from high and low - or even while cruising down Snake River.

The best time to visit Grand Teton for fewer crowds is the shoulder months outside of the peak summer holiday time. While winter can also be a magical time to see the park covered in snow (and even frozen over in some areas) some activities, roads and services won't be available or have reduced hours from September to April.

Our tours in Wyoming

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Tailor-Made trips

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Summer

Best for: hiking, kayaking and camping

Summer in Wyoming is for nature lovers and adventure seekers as the sunlight warms up this mountainous state, making it perfect for playing outside. The warmest month in Wyoming is July, with an average temperature of 73°F however, in the higher regions, there can still be temperatures below freezing - so don't forget warm gear while hiking.

It's not uncommon to see rain showers and thunderstorms in summer across Wyoming, but typically, summer is hot and dry. From March until September, you'll also be able to see visit some of the other great attractions around Wyoming. The annual season of the long-running Jackson "shoot-out" will start on Memorial Day (end of May) and run to Labour Day (start of September). This is a fun, free tradition put on by the town where you can see actors in Wild West garb act out an exciting show. It's so popular that it's been running for over 65 years.

Autumn

Best for: rock climbing, beautiful scenery and fewer crowds

Autumn in Wyoming usually comes and goes fast as snow begins to fall around October before a long winter period sets in. Although the weather is usually mild around this time, temperatures will be cooling across the state, so many summertime travelers will have left the national parks to return home. This makes it a great time to really appreciate the natural beauty of Wyoming, especially as the trails are quiet and the sun is still out. And what a beauty it is. With the changing of the seasons comes a myriad of autumnal colors that showcase just how much of this region is untouched wilderness.

The low tourist season will begin around November as the weather becomes less predictable. Watch for snow that begins to build up on the roads. However, now's a good time for animal spotting as the wildlife start to venture out a little more with fewer people around.

Winter

Best for: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and hot springs

While the snow usually starts falling around October, the winter has well and truly set in by December, with the ski season running from now until April. Winters in Wyoming are often cold, windy and long, with temperatures sitting between 19°F minimums in December to 40°F maximums in February. But that doesn't mean the fun stops. Make the most of the snow and get kitted out for a day exploring the snow with dog sleds, snowshoes, cross-country skis and more. You'll even be able to warm up after in one of the many hot springs around Wyoming.

Snow will likely be present on all motorways and roads, so getting around can be a little trickier, especially since the weather can change at any moment. But just because it's a little harder for humans to get around doesn't mean that others aren't out and about. Animal spotting is usually at its peak in winter as animals from bison, bighorn sheep and coyotes to red-tail hawks and owls can be seen among the snowy hills and valleys across Wyoming's natural hotspots.

Spring

Best for: baby animals, cycling and low crowds

Temperatures will start to get back into double digits in March, which will be goodbye to a lot of the low-lying snow. This is a perfect opportunity for cyclists to ride West Yellowstone Road as it will still be closed for motorized vehicles in March. The low season for Wyoming will come to an end around March as well as better weather and springtime newborns bring visitors in from far and wide. Keep an eye out for baby bison around April and May.

While spring is a beautiful time of year to see budding flowers and baby animals, it's also one of the wettest seasons, with the highest annual rainfall occurring from March to May. The basin area is usually the driest area in the state, while the mountain areas will see much higher annual averages of up to 15 inches. We'd recommend always bringing some rain gear - just in case of a sudden downpour.

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