Winter
Dec → Feb-4°
nights -11°
- 14 rainy days · 82 mm
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
- Jan-4°not recommended
- Feb-4°not recommended
- Mar1°not recommended
- Apr4°not recommended
- May10°fair
- Jun18°recommended
- Jul23°recommended
- Aug22°recommended
- Sep17°recommended
- Oct8°fair
- Nov0°not recommended
- Dec-4°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Yellowstone, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4° | -11° | 66 mm | 13 d | |
| February | -4° | -11° | 96 mm | 15 d | |
| March | 1° | -8° | 79 mm | 13 d | |
| April | 4° | -5° | 71 mm | 13 d | |
| May | 10° | -1° | 60 mm | 13 d | |
| June | 18° | 5° | 57 mm | 11 d | ✓ |
| July | 23° | 10° | 29 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| August | 22° | 10° | 38 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| September | 17° | 6° | 55 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| October | 8° | -2° | 70 mm | 11 d | |
| November | 0° | -8° | 68 mm | 12 d | |
| December | -4° | -11° | 84 mm | 14 d |
The four seasons in Yellowstone, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Old Faithful) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May1 to 10°
nights -8 to -1°
- 13 rainy days · 70 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug18 to 23°
nights 5 to 10°
- 9 rainy days · 41 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov0 to 17°
nights -8 to 6°
- 10 rainy days · 64 mm
Book early for June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Yellowstone, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 15h31 of daylight, in December 8h51, a difference of 6h40.
9h11Jan
10h23Feb
11h47Mar
13h24Apr
14h46May
15h31Jun
15h13Jul
14h01Aug
12h27Sep
10h53Oct
9h31Nov
8h51Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Old Faithful" (44.46°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Yellowstone, month by month
EventsBison calving seasonApril to MayPark roads reopenApril to MayElk rutSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: July, August, September
- Towns & culture: June, July, August, September, October
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Yellowstone, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- April to MayBison calving season
Bison give birth in spring in the Lamar Valley, and the reddish calves follow the herds along the roads.
- April to MayPark roads reopen
Interior roads reopen as the snow is cleared from mid-April, section by section until late May.
- September to OctoberElk rut
Bulls bugle and clash around Mammoth Hot Springs and in the Madison Valley, from September to mid-October.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended-4°-11° at night
- 66 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended-4°-11° at night
- 96 mm · 15 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Not recommended1°-8° at night
- 79 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Not recommended4°-5° at night
- 71 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair10°-1° at night
- 60 mm · 13 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended18°5° at night
- 57 mm · 11 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended23°10° at night
- 29 mm · 9 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended22°10° at night
- 38 mm · 8 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended17°6° at night
- 55 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair8°-2° at night
- 70 mm · 11 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended0°-8° at night
- 68 mm · 12 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended-4°-11° at night
- 84 mm · 14 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -11 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (66 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -11 °C at night. A very wet month, 96 mm of rain over 15 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Deep winter: 1 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (79 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -5 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (71 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 10 °C at best, -1 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (60 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 5 °C early in the morning. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (57 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (29 mm). High season: book early.
August. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (38 mm). High season: book early.
September. Cool: 17 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 55 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 8 °C at best, -2 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (70 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Deep winter: 0 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (68 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: -4 °C at the warmest of the day, -11 °C at night. A very wet month, 84 mm of rain over 14 days. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
June to September: over these months, recorded highs range from 17 to 23 °C, with 9 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Old Faithful).
Which month should you avoid in Yellowstone?
February: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 96 mm over 15 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Old Faithful).
What is the hottest month in Yellowstone?
July, with 23 °C on average in the afternoon and 10 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Old Faithful).
What is the coldest month in Yellowstone?
January, with -4 °C at best during the day and -11 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Old Faithful).
What is the driest month in Yellowstone?
July: 29 mm over 9 days of rain, against 96 mm in February, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Yellowstone?
The gap between day and night reaches 13 °C in June: 18 °C in the afternoon, 5 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Yellowstone?
July, August, September: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Old Faithful), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Yellowstone guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Laura Rudi / Pexels · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Marije Kouyzer / Pexels · Brett Buskirk / Pexels · Mark Direen / Pexels