Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park

Crowds and weather by month · Wyoming, Montana, Idaho · NPS visitor counts through 2025

The short answer

Mild weather, fewer people: May — 55% as busy as July, about 17,622 visitors a day, average high 55°F (13°C).

Quietest month: November — about 783 visitors a day, average high 35°F (cold).

Busiest month: July — about 31,847 visitors a day.

Best balance of crowds and weather (May)Other monthsNumber = visitors per day as % of the busiest month (100)

Yellowstone month by month

MonthCrowds · visitors/dayHigh / low · precip.
January× Cold Very quiet5% of peak · 1,474/day28° / 1°F-2° / -17°C · 2.1 in · 7 wet days · snow 36 in
February× Cold Very quiet5% of peak · 1,735/day31° / 2°F0° / -17°C · 2.1 in · 7 wet days · snow 30 in
March× Cold Very quiet3% of peak · 1,071/day39° / 10°F4° / -12°C · 2.2 in · 7 wet days · snow 27 in
April× Cool Very quiet8% of peak · 2,534/day46° / 19°F8° / -7°C · 2.4 in · 7 wet days · snow 17 in
MayBest◎ Mild weather, fewer people Moderate55% of peak · 17,622/day55° / 29°F13° / -2°C · 2.7 in · 7 wet days · snow 5 in
June○ Mild weather, busy Peak95% of peak · 30,304/day65° / 35°F18° / 2°C · 2.4 in · 7 wet days · snow 1 in
July○ Mild weather, busy Peak100% of peak · 31,847/day76° / 39°F24° / 4°C · 1.3 in · 4 wet days
August○ Mild weather, busy Peak89% of peak · 28,329/day75° / 37°F24° / 3°C · 1.4 in · 4 wet days
September○ Mild weather, busy Peak89% of peak · 28,301/day65° / 30°F18° / -1°C · 1.7 in · 4 wet days · snow 1 in
October× Cool Quiet33% of peak · 10,645/day50° / 22°F10° / -6°C · 2.3 in · 6 wet days · snow 9 in
NovemberQuietest× Cold Very quiet2% of peak · 783/day35° / 10°F2° / -12°C · 2.2 in · 7 wet days · snow 26 in
December× Cold Very quiet4% of peak · 1,152/day26° / 1°F-3° / -17°C · 2.8 in · 8 wet days · snow 45 in

Crowds = visitors per day as % of the busiest month: ●●●●● Peak (85–100) · ●●●●○ Busy (60–84) · ●●●○○ Moderate (35–59) · ●●○○○ Quiet (15–34) · ●○○○○ Very quiet (under 15). ◎ mild weather, fewer people · ○ mild but busy · △ very few visitors (often seasonal closures) · × cold or hot. Wet days = days with at least 0.1 in of rain or melted snow.

Yellowstone by month

Visitors per year

YearRecreation visits
20154,097,710
20164,257,177
20174,116,524
20184,115,000
20194,020,288
2020pandemic3,806,306
2021pandemic4,860,242
20223,290,242
20234,501,382
20244,744,353
20254,762,988

Where the weather numbers come from

Temperatures and precipitation are 30-year averages (1991–2020) from the NOAA station OLD FAITHFUL — Old Faithful area, at 7,352 ft (2,241 m). Higher viewpoints and trails can be much colder and snowier than the station.

Months with very few visitors often have roads, campgrounds or visitor centers closed for the season. Check current conditions on the official Yellowstone National Park website before you go.

Other parks at their best in May

All parks in May →

How “best” is chosen: the least crowded month with an average high between 55°F and 85°F (13–29°C), skipping months with under 30% of peak visitors because those are often seasonal closures. Crowds compare visitors per day, so short and long months are treated fairly.

Sources. Visitor counts: National Park Service, Visitor Use Statistics (recreation visits, final figures through 2025; typical months use 2022–2025). Weather: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station OLD FAITHFUL, USC00486845, 7,352 ft / 2,241 m). Both are U.S. Government works in the public domain. How we calculate.

Park Months is an independent site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or NOAA.