The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park for ideal weather are

June 18th to September 9th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Yellowstone National Park Travel Info

Weather in Yellowstone National Park

Temperature

Average temperatures in Yellowstone National Park vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold all year with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 11th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Yellowstone National Park, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 75.2°F (24°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 39.4°F (4.1°C) at night.

Yellowstone National Park Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Yellowstone National Park Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Yellowstone National Park Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Yellowstone National Park Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Yellowstone National Park Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 23 10.9 0.6
Feb 27.5 14.9 3.8
Mar 35.7 21.8 9.1
Apr 41.5 27.6 15.4
May 51.4 37.5 26.2
Jun 63.7 47.4 33
Jul 74.2 56.2 39.3
Aug 72.2 53.9 37.8
Sep 64.2 46 31.3
Oct 48 34 23.8
Nov 33.7 22.3 12.9
Dec 23.1 13.3 4.3

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan -5 -11.7 -17.4
Feb -2.5 -9.5 -15.7
Mar 2.1 -5.7 -12.7
Apr 5.3 -2.4 -9.2
May 10.8 3.1 -3.2
Jun 17.6 8.6 0.6
Jul 23.4 13.4 4.1
Aug 22.3 12.2 3.2
Sep 17.9 7.8 -0.4
Oct 8.9 1.1 -4.6
Nov 0.9 -5.4 -10.6
Dec -4.9 -10.4 -15.4

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Yellowstone National Park are July, August, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid July. For example, on the week of July 16th there is 1 day of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late December with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of December 24th.

When can you find snow in Yellowstone National Park? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Yellowstone National Park.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Yellowstone National Park (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 28% 0 3.8
Feb 21% 0 1.9
Mar 18% 0 2.2
Apr 28% 0 2.6
May 25% 0 2.5
Jun 21% 0 2.2
Jul 12% 0 1.4
Aug 13% 0 1.4
Sep 16% 0 1.4
Oct 19% 0 1.9
Nov 21% 0 2
Dec 34% 0 3.3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 28 0 9.7
Feb 21 0 4.8
Mar 18 0 5.6
Apr 28 0 6.6
May 25 0 6.4
Jun 21 0 5.6
Jul 12 0 3.6
Aug 13 0 3.6
Sep 16 0 3.6
Oct 19 0 4.8
Nov 21 0 5.1
Dec 34 0 8.4

 

Humidity and Wind

Yellowstone National Park has some very humid months, with other moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is July (43.5% relative humidity), and the most humid month is January (71.4%).

Wind in Yellowstone National Park is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is April, followed by June and March. April’s average wind speed of around 2.6 knots (3 MPH or 4.8 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late March where average top sustained speeds reach 8.9 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Yellowstone National Park.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 1.6 Barely noticeable 6 Light breeze
Feb 2.1 Barely noticeable 7.3 Gentle breeze
Mar 2.5 Barely noticeable 8.2 Light breeze
Apr 2.6 Barely noticeable 8.3 Gentle breeze
May 2.4 Barely noticeable 7.7 Light breeze
Jun 2.6 Barely noticeable 8.2 Gentle breeze
Jul 2.4 Barely noticeable 8.1 Light breeze
Aug 2.3 Barely noticeable 7.9 Gentle breeze
Sep 2.3 Barely noticeable 7.4 Light breeze
Oct 2.1 Barely noticeable 6.9 Light breeze
Nov 2.4 Barely noticeable 6.7 Light breeze
Dec 2 Barely noticeable 6.5 Light breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 71.4%
Feb 64.9%
Mar 58.9%
Apr 56.3%
May 55.9%
Jun 50%
Jul 43.5%
Aug 45.5%
Sep 48.4%
Oct 61.9%
Nov 67.2%
Dec 71.2%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Yellowstone National Park?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Yellowstone National Park, WY, US is July, followed by June and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Yellowstone National Park in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 36.5 in December means 36.5% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Yellowstone National Park Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel very cold. Highs range from 56.9°F (13.8°C) and 29.3°F (-1.5°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 6 to 8 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 4 to 6 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Yellowstone National Park, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 65.6°F (18.7°C) and 29.6°F (-1.3°C), which will feel very chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 5 to 6 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Yellowstone National Park to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 30.1°F (-1.1°C) and 19.6°F (-6.9°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 6 to 11 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Yellowstone National Park, WY, US