All of Yellowstone's roads and entrances are open for the season. Even the Beartooth Highway has opened to visitors ahead of schedule because of the quick snow melt. As the summer days are heating up in Yellowstone, so are construction projects in the park. Expect possible delays and nightly road closures on Dunraven Pass between Tower Junction and the Old Chittenden Road. Click here for updates on road construction in the park.
You can still expect scattered rain showers through out the day with a chance of snow flurries on colder days and nights. The number of visitors begins to increase as the month continues and wildlife will still be exploring and feeding at lower elevations for most of the month. The elk are beginning to give birth to their young, who can be seen staying close to their mothers for protection. All of the water provided by the snow melt will make the wateralls in the park look very impressive this time of year. By June 10th all of the lodging in the park will be open for the season and all of the campgrounds will be open by the end of the month. Bridge Bay Marina and the 3 horse corrals in Yellowstone will also open up by the middle of the month. Various types of wildflowers will be blooming all over the park which will make your landscape pictures even more stunning.
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$25 - private non-commercial vehicle
$20 - per motorcycle or snowmobile
$12 - each visitor entering by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.
Each entrance pass will give you a 7 day pass into both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.
Annual Pass - $50: An annual pass will grant you entrance to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park and will be valid for 12 months after the day you purchase it. Back to top
Services In Yellowstone
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In addition to lodging, restaurants, dining rooms, gift shops and visitor centers, other services in Yellowstone include YPSS Gas Stations, General Stores, Clinics, and Post Offices.
YPSS Gas Stations
There are seven Yellowstone Park Service Stations conveniently located around the park so you can keep your gas tank full during your vacation. Five of these service stations offer vehicle repair, oil changes, and wrecker services. These service stations offer shelves of snacks and amenities, cold drinks for the thirsty traveler, and coffee to get you started in the morning. All of the service stations around the park open and close seasonally. The gas pumps at Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction stay on year-round where you can fill up in the winter using a credit or debit card only. For assistance at any of the Yellowstone Park Service Stations call (406)-848-7548.
General Stores
Yellowstone General Stores has a total of 12 stores conveniently located around the park in all major areas. All Yellowstone General Stores offer a food and beverage service of some kind that range from sit-down diners to snack shops that serve ice cream and hot dogs. Come in and discover the wide selection of souvenirs that will serve as take-home memories for yourself or as gifts for friends and family back home. Items include Yellowstone themed apparel, mugs, posters, nic nacs, and a variety of Yellowstone books that cover many different subjects. You can quickly and easily print out vacation photos at the digital photo processing kiosks so you can show off those amazing pictures you just shot. Yellowstone General Stores also offer groceries as well as gear and supplies needed for camping, fishing, hiking, cookouts, wildlife watching, and boating to help prepare you for days of adventure in the great outdoors.
Clinic
Hopefully you will never need to use this service, but there are three medical clinics in Yellowstone just in case. The Mammoth Hot Springs clinic is open year-round while the Old Faithful and Lake Village Clinics open and close seasonally. To contact the Mammoth Hot Springs Clinic, call (307)-344-7965
Post Office
Stay in touch with friends and family through one of the five post offices in Yellowstone. Send postcards, or ship souvenirs and gifts home to minimize the number of items you are traveling with. Post Offices are located in all developed areas except for the Tower/Roosevelt area. The Mammoth Hot Springs post office is open year-round and the other four open and close seasonally. Back to top
Roads / Driving & Drive Times
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Speed Limits: Yellowstone's roadways will get you from one exciting feature to the next, and doing it safely is important. The maximum speed limit on all park roads is 45mph and sometimes lower where posted.
Driving through the park: Bison, elk, and other large and small animals are often crossing the roads, or in some cases, just standing on the road throughout the park. Drive even more cautiously at dawn and dusk when visibility is limited and animals are more active. During peak visitation around July and August, the roads are filled with vehicles. To help keep traffic moving smoothly, please use one of the many roadside pullouts when stopping to see wildlife or other features. Stopping in the middle of the road is illegal, dangerous, and disruptive to the flow of traffic. Click here to see a map of estimated drive times through the park.
Road Construction: Occasionally, road construction projects will be under way in the park to improve Yellowstone's roads, and summer time provides a narrow window for road crews to get the job done. In the section(s) of the park where road improvements are being done, expect possible delays. Check back with us frequently to get updated information on road improvements throughout the park to help better prepare you for your vacation. Click here to stay updated with road construction projects taking place in Yellowstone.
Road openings and closings: In the early spring when the park roads and entrances begin to open, it is not uncommon for some entrances and roads to close suddenly due to avalanches on the road or even additional snowfall creating hazardous conditions. As spring and summer gain a tighter grip and the snow melts, the entrances and roads rarely close suddenly and you should be able to enter the park with ease. Back to top
Elevations
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At higher elevations there is less oxygen in the air than there would be at low elevations or at sea level. Everyone's body reacts to higher elevation in different ways. Sometimes it could take a few days for your body to adjust to the thinner air, so it is recommended that you go at a slower pace than you normally would until you get used to the thinner air.
The roads in the park range in elevation from just over 5,000 feet to 8,859 ft. The highest road in Yellowstone is a section of road between Tower Junction and Canyon Village called Dunraven Pass. Dunraven Pass reaches its highest point of 8,859 feet near the trailhead for the Mt. Washburn hiking trail. Below is a list of park locations and the elevations of those locations.
• Canyon Village (Canyon Region): 7,980 ft. / 2,432 meters
• Grant Village (Yellowstone Lake Region): 7,733 ft./ 2,357 meters
• Lake Village (Yellowstone Lake Region): 7,784 ft./ 2,373 meters
• Mammoth Village (Mammoth Hot Springs Region): 6,239 ft. / 1,902 meters
• Old Faithful Village (Old Faithful Region): 7,365 ft. / 2,254 meters
• Tower/Roosevelt Area (Tower/Roosevelt Region): 6,270 ft. / 1,911 meters
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Weather, what to wear, and what to expect in the month you're visiting.
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If you were to ask someone that has been to Yellowstone in June and has seen fresh snowflakes falling from the sky, "what kind of weather should I expect?" They will probably tell you to be prepared for anything. The weather in Yellowstone has a mind of its own and can be quite different from what you're used to in your home town.
It can snow in any month of the year and sudden rainstorms can blow in with little warning and then the sun will be shining 10 minutes later. It is recommended to come to Yellowstone prepared for any type of weather, but here we will give you a little run-down of what typical weather conditions are like at certain times of the year. Back to top
Which month will you be visiting?
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, Old Faithful, and Canyon Regions. 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: Roads on the west side of the park begin to open 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. Back
May: 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. 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 and flooding. Back
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 Back
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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.
June: 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 or flooding. Back
July: The busiest month in Yellowstone. Expect traffic and lots of people. 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. Back
August: 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. Back
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. Back
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: 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. Back
October: 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. All park roads are still open to wheeled vehicles. Back
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 Back
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.
November: 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 YPSS and Tower Junction YPSS by paying with credit or debit card only. Back
December: 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. The gas pumps at the Mammoth YPSS and Tower Junction YPSS are available for use 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. Back
January: 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 YPSS and Tower Junction YPSS by paying with credit or debit card only. Back
February: 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 YPSS and Tower Junction YPSS by paying with credit or debit card only. Back
March: Winter lodging and other facilities close early in the month. Roads close to over-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. The gas pumps at Mammoth Village and Tower Junction are still available 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. Back
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. Back
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Just by clicking on this page it shows that you really want to be prepared for your trip to Yellowstone. It doesn't really matter where you're from, Yellowstone will likely expose you to a variety of situations that you haven't experienced before, or wouldn't even have expected before you found this page. For example, a herd of bison walking towards you in your lane of the road, or 7 inches of snow in June when all you brought were flip flops and a t-shirt..jpg)
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