PLAN YOUR TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE

 Start Planning Your Yellowstone Vacation 

Top 10 Things To See      When To Visit    

1 & 2 Day Itineraries     Frequently Asked Questions 

Keep an eye out for the  Quick Tips:   throughout this website for quick pointers about where to stay and other traveling tips for Your Yellowstone Vacation.

     Top 10 Things To See In Yellowstone                               

1. Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful Geyser is probably one of the most, if not the most, famous geyser in the world and holds its place as a natural icon for Yellowstone National Park.  Crowds by the hundreds gather on the boardwalk around the geyser...Learn more!

2. Lower Falls

The Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the biggest attractions in Yellowstone National Park.  After the Yellowstone River plummets over the Upper Falls, it flows for only about a half a mile before taking the 308 ft. plunge...Learn more!

3. Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is one of the most thermally active and diverse basins in Yellowstone.  Norris is comprised of two sections, the Back Basin and Porcelain Basin...Learn more!

4. Old Faithful Inn

Being one of the most famous and historical hotels in Yellowstone, the Old Faithful Inn is nothing short of an architectural masterpiece.  The Old Faithful Inn began welcoming guests in June of 1904 and has been a major attraction...Learn More!

5. Mammoth Hot Springs

The Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces are constantly changing, so what you are seeing on your vacation today might not be what others saw last year, month, or even last week.  Heat and water are hard at work building the travertine terraces up to 2 feet per year...Learn more!

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6. West Thumb Geyser Basin

This is one of the most picturesque geyser basins in the park.  With Yellowstone Lake as its backdrop, West Thumb Geyser Basin is full of colorful thermal features.  This is also where the famous Fishing Cone Geyser is...Learn more!

7. Artist's Paint Pots

The Artist's Paint Pots trail is so full of vibrant colors, comparable only to an artist's palette, it will be easy to see how they got their name.  The short 1/3 mile trail begins...Learn More!

8. Upper Falls

The Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is visible from the South Rim Drive just south of Canyon Village.  The flowing water of the Yellowstone River pours 109 ft. over the brink...Learn More!

9. Grand Prismatic Spring

Located at the heart of the Midway Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring is an amazing hot spring full of color that illuminates its steam to blue and green as it rises from the surface of the water.  As the 3rd largest hot spring in the world...Learn more!

10. Yellowstone Lake

Have you ever seen the largest alpine lake in North America?  Well, if you've seen Yellowstone Lake then the answer is "yes".  Yellowstone Lake is the biggest lake above 7,000 feet on the continent.  With shoreline geyser basins and...Learn more!

     When To Visit Yellowstone                                                                             

  Quick Tip:   Each season in Yellowstone is very different in terms of weather, crowds, and which roads & services are open.  The time of year you plan to take your vacation could affect what you are able to see, and where you are able to stay.  Read below about what to expect in each season to help you decide when you want to visit Yellowstone.

Spring - April & May (Chilly but Getting Warmer)                                                          

     The spring season in Yellowstone can bring on all sorts of weather. There is a good chance that there will be snow still falling from the sky and could accumulate and linger around. When you come to Yellowstone in April or May, you might think that you walked into the heart of winter because several feet of snow will still be around the park, especially at higher elevations like the Yellowstone Lake Region, Old Faithful Region, and Canyon Region. Temperatures can range between 30 degrees and 50 degrees Fahrenheit and rain showers could come on the warmer days and may last all day or for as little as only 10 minutes. 

April:  Avg. High Temperature 49.4 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 26.0 F

     Roads on the west side of the park begin opening to wheeled vehicles. There will most likely still be snow on the ground at all elevations. Some facilities are open within the park. Entrances that are open may open and close periodically due to weather conditions. Roads may also close temporarily if winter weather conditions persist. Wildlife is at lower elevations looking for food. Expect bison and other animals on the roads, drive with caution.

May:  Avg. High Temperature 60.4 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 34.3 F

     All park roads are opened to wheeled vehicles by the end of the month unless additional snowfall in the spring has created unsafe conditions, in which case some of the higher roads may still be closed for a week or two. Wildlife is active and easier to spot as they forage for food after a long winter. Snow and rain showers are possible. Lake and river levels are rising from snow melt. Some picnic areas, campsites, and trails may be muddy or closed due to high water.

Suggested items of clothing to bring:

 • During the day: Pants, long sleeve shirt or light sweater, t-shirt (some days might be warm enough for a t-shirt)

 • In the evening: Pants, long sleeve shirt or light sweater, light to midweight jacket or fleece

 • Just in case: Thin gloves, heavy jacket, lightweight breathable rain jacket, warm hat

Summer - June, July & August (The Warm Months)      

     Frequent rain showers are common in June but begin to taper off heading into July. Scattered thunderstorms are common and can blow in unexpectedly but may only be brief and the sun could be shining shortly after. Early June may still bring snow flurries with some accumulation possible at higher elevations. Although July and August are warmer months, snow flurries have fallen during this time. July through August tend to be drier months and precipitation is much less frequent.  All of the boardwalks and Natural Wonders should be accessible for visitors to enjoy, because in the summer months, Yellowstone is in full swing.

June:  Avg. High Temperature 70.0 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 41.2 F 

     All visitor facilities and services are open by the middle of the month. The last bit of snow left over from the winter will be melting away. Temperatures are warming up but snow flurries are possible at higher elevations. Wildlife is still at lower elevations and can be active near the roads and easier to spot. Lake and river levels may still be high from snow melt and some picnic areas, campsites, and trails may be closed due to high water.

July:  Avg. High Temperature 79.6 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 46.7 F

     The busiest month in Yellowstone. Expect traffic and lots of people.  Expect lines at the park's entrances, especially the West Entrance.  Allow plenty of time to travel through the park. Most wildlife have gone to higher elevations where it is cooler. It will be a little more difficult to see animals but you never know when you'll get lucky. All facilities and services are still open. All park roads are still open to wheeled vehicles.

 August:  Avg. High Temperature 78.3 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 45.3 F

     All facilities and services are still open. Early to mid August is still busy with visitation but starts to slow down slightly by the end of the month. The bison are in their mating season and there might be traffic delays through Hayden Valley if the bison are on or near the road. Yellowstone is usually pretty dry by this time of year and fire season has begun. Most fires are small and away from roads and guest areas. All park roads are still open to wheeled vehicles.

Suggested items of clothing to bring:

 • During the day: Shorts or jeans; t-shirt or a thin long sleeved top, comfortable sneakers or hiking boots.

 • In the evening: Shorts or jeans; t-shirt or a thin long sleeved top

 • Just in case: Lightweight jacket or fleece for windy or chilly mornings/evenings, lightweight breathable rain jacket or poncho.

     Madison Avenue Old Time Photos

     West Yellowstone, MT

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Fall - September, October & November (Warm but Getting Colder)            

      Weather can be variable and unpredictable at this time of year as summer is trying to hang on and winter is trying to take over. Snow flurries and small snow accumulation (especially at higher elevations) begin to fall intermittently. Unless there is a really heavy snowfall, the snow usually melts away by the warmer parts of the day, or at least within a couple days of it falling. Mornings and evenings are chilly. The daytime hours may be warm and sunny or they could be cold, rainy, and overcast.

September:  Avg. High Temperature 67.8 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 37.0 F

     The bison are still in their mating season and there might be traffic delays through Hayden Valley if the bison are on or near the road. Signs of fall will be apparent by the end of the month and the leaves on the trees will begin to change.

October:  Avg. High Temperature 55.7 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 29.4 F

     Some lodging and visitor facilities have begun to close for the season but there are still lodging accommodations available and food services within the park. The elk have begun their mating season and are more aggressive if disturbed. Temperatures are cooling down and precipitation will waver between light snow flurries and rain showers. Park visitation has slowed down and traveling will be quicker from one place to the next through the park. Most park roads are still open to wheeled vehicles.  By mid October, the road from Canyon Village to Tower Junction (Dunraven Pass) and the Beartooth Highway will close for the season.

November:  Avg. High Temperature 38.7 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 19.2 F

     By the end of the first week of the month the interior park roads are closed to wheeled vehicles. The North Entrance Road and the road from Mammoth Village to Cooke City, MT is still open to wheeled vehicles. All services are closed except for the Albright Visitor Center and the Mammoth General Store. Gas is available at the Mammoth Village and Tower Junction gas stations by paying with credit or debit card only.

Suggested items of clothing to bring:

 • During the day: Pants, long sleeve shirt or light sweater, t-shirt (some days might be warm enough for a t-shirt)

 • In the evening: Pants, long sleeve shirt or light sweater, light to midweight jacket or fleece

 • Just in case: Thin gloves, heavy jacket, lightweight breathable rain jacket, warm hat

Winter - December, January, February, & March (Cold & Snowy Months)

      If you are fortunate enough to experience a true Yellowstone winter, your definition of "a lot of snow" might change. Parts of Yellowstone can get 20 feet or more of snow in a single season. When visiting Yellowstone in the winter, expect deep snow and frigid temperatures with wind chill temperatures getting as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Warmer days of about 30 degrees Fahrenheit will occasionally make an appearance at lower elevations in the park but the temperature will drop rapidly as the sun begins to set.

December:  Avg. High Temperature 30.5 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 11.8 F

     In mid December the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and Old Faithful Snow Lodge open for the winter season. All interior park roads are still closed to wheeled vehicles. Over-the-snow travel begins. Food services are available at Mammoth Village and Old Faithful Village. Gas is available at the Mammoth Village and Tower Junction gas stations by paying with credit or debit card only.  There will likely be snow accumulated at all elevations. Most of Yellowstone's bears are hibernating for the winter, but there might be some bears still out and about.

January:  Avg. High Temperature 28.6 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 9.6 F

      Interior park roads are closed to wheeled vehicles but available to over-the-snow travel only. The North Entrance road and the road from Mammoth Village to Cooke City, MT are open to wheeled vehicles. Winter lodging is available at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Food services are also available at Mammoth Village and Old Faithful Village. Gas is available at the Mammoth Village and Tower Junction gas stations by paying with credit or debit card only.

February:  Avg. High Temperature 34.0 F,  Avg. Low Temperature 13.0 F

     Interior park roads are closed to wheeled vehicles but available to over-the-snow travel only. The North Entrance road and the road from Mammoth Village to Cooke City, MT are open to wheeled vehicles. Winter lodging is available at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Food services are also available at Mammoth Village and Old Faithful Village. Gas is available at the Mammoth Village and Tower Junction gas stations by paying with credit or debit card only.

March:  Avg. High Temperature 39.6,  Avg. Low Temperature 17.2 F

     Winter lodging and other facilities close early in the month. Roads close to over-the-snow travel and are beginning to be plowed for the spring. The North Entrance road and the road from Mammoth Village to Cooke City, MT is still open to wheeled vehicles. Gas is available at the Mammoth Village and Tower Junction gas stations by paying with credit or debit card only. The Mammoth General Store and Albright Visitor Center remain open as they are the only services available in the park after the lodging accommodations close for the season.

Suggested items of clothing to bring:

 • Dress in layers: This means putting on more than one layer of clothing which will make it easier to regulate your body temperature by taking a layer off or putting a layer on as you are moving around. It is also a good idea to wear items of clothing that are not made of cotton. Cotton dries slowly and looses most of its insulating ability when it gets wet.

- Long underwear, warm winter pants, fleece vest or jacket, or a light windproof jacket, heavy winter jacket (outer layer), warm gloves or mittens, warm hat, comfortable winter boots, and wool socks.

     Yellowstone Vacation Itineraries                                                             

      Yellowstone's road system resembles a figure 8 with 5 "arms" stretching out to each of the 5 entrances.  Most of the main attractions are located within the interior roads on the "8" portion of the road system which is refered to as the Grand Loop Road.   The Grand Loop Road is divided into 2 sections, the Upper Loop and the Lower Loop which make up the figure 8.

 Quick Tip:   In these sample itineraries, we suggest that you make these highlighted attractions your main destinations, and when possible, stopping at smaller attractions along the way as time allows. 

1 Day Itinerary

   If you happen to have only one day to visit Yellowstone, we recommend seeing the bigger attractions that will capture the essence of what makes Yellowstone unique.

Upper Loop

Mammoth Hot Springs

Norris Geyser Basin 

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - including the Upper Falls & Lower Falls and the North and South Rim Drives

Lower Loop

Old Faithful Geyser -  Before or after watching an eruption of Old Faithful, check out the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center which will give you a scientific look into the thermal features around Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Inn - Since you will already be in the area, after watching Old Faithful Geyser, walk over to the Old Faithful Inn and step inside the massive lobby.  This log structure which is more than 100 years old is an impressive piece of architecture.

Grand Prismatic Spring 

 2 Day Itinerary        

For this itinerary, we suggest staying at one of the central locations like Canyon Lodge, Canyon Campground, or Madison Campground inside the park, or in West Yellowstone, MT just outside of the park at the west entrance.                                               

Day 1:  Upper Loop

Mammoth Hot Springs and Upper Terrace Drive  

Petrified Tree  

Tower Fall   

Norris Geyser Basin    

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: including the Upper Falls & Lower Falls and the North and South Rim Drives

Day 2:  Lower Loop

Old Faithful Geyser -  Before or after watching an eruption of Old Faithful, check out the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center which will give you a scientific look into the thermal features around Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Inn - Since you will already be in the area, after watching Old Faithful Geyser, walk over to the Old Faithful Inn and step inside the massive lobby.  This log structure which is more than 100 years old is an impressive piece of architecture.

Grand Prismatic Spring 

Artist's Paint Pots  

Gibbon Falls  

Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin 

     Frequently Asked Questions                                                                             

1. Can you use credit cards and debit cards in Yellowstone?

     Yes, you can use credit and debit cards to pay for lodging, purchases made at general stores, gift shops, dining rooms, fast food, bookstores, and activities. There are also ATMs located in all of the lodging facilities and in most general stores.

2.  What is open year-round?

     The north entrance, the road from the north entrance to Mammoth Village, Mammoth Village to Tower Junction, Tower Junction to the northeast entrance, and the northeast entrance to Cooke City, MT.  Services open year-round include the Mammoth Hot Springs Campground, Albright Visitor Center, Mammoth Hot Springs General Store, Mammoth Post Office, and the Mammoth Clinic.  Most of the park roads, lodging facilities, campgrounds, restaurants, visitor centers and other services within the park interior open and close seasonally.

3.  Where is Yellowstone National Park?

    Yellowstone National Park is located in the Rocky Mountains in the United States, with the majority of the park located in the northwest corner of the state of Wyoming and a small portion of the park also being in the states of Montana and idaho.

4.  What services are available in Yellowstone?

There are 6 major areas, or villages, within Yellowstone where you will find visitor services like lodging, restaurants, general stores with souvenirs and groceries, gift shops, gas stations, and visitor centers. 

Major areas/villages in Yellowstone:

• Old Faithful Village   • Mammoth Village   • Lake Village

• Tower Junction   • Canyon Village   • Grant Village