Yellowstone National Park sits at the top of nature lovers’ bucket lists around the world, and for good reasons! The region, situated in Wyoming and small pieces of Idaho and Montana, is home to some of America’s most breathtaking nature. From mountains to hot springs, waterfalls, and vast canyons, few places in the world house such a diverse landscape in such a small area. There’s plenty of wildlife for visitors to see, too.
The best months to visit Yellowstone are October and May for the perfect ratio of good weather to low prices. These months have the cheapest flights since they fall during the park’s shoulder season. They remain mostly dry and the cold temperatures are bearable with only a few layers.
Summers in Yellowstone are nice and warm, with clear skies and longer sunlight hours. Winters, on the other hand, become extremely cold with temperatures sometimes below freezing all day. Does that make the winter a no-go time for the park? Of course not! It all depends on what kind of tourist you are. Not all hiking trails are accessible in snowy weather, but the season offers unique opportunities to see local wildlife. Each season has something special to offer.
Traveling in the summer also means facing the park’s biggest crowds. It can be hard to get some peace of mind in nature while bumping elbows with thousands of others trying to do the same. Moreover, when the crowds come out, prices for rooms skyrocket. Visiting Yellowstone affordably can prove challenging. However, it’s not impossible!
This article assesses the average weather and tourist season trends to determine the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park for good weather and low prices. To do this, we will look at the climate and weather patterns the area experiences year-round. Additionally, we analyze tourism trends in these areas to determine how traffic reflects in pricing.
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Average Temperature In Yellowstone
Yellowstone gets all four seasons, and some are felt more intensely than others. The park’s warm season lasts three months, spanning mid-June through mid-September. However, no matter the season, be prepared for cold nights!
Summers are generally mild, with high temperatures peaking in mid-July at 76°F. Summer nights, on the other hand, get chilly as temperatures drop to the low 40s.
Winters in Yellowstone are generally harsher. The cold month lasts about three and a half months, from mid-November through February, but cold weather is always around the corner. January’s average high temperatures only reach 25°F.
At night, they drop as low as 4°F. Though the park is a massive attraction for tourists from around the world, only those with experience in such temperatures should spend an extended amount of time there. You wouldn’t want to get stuck in below-freezing temps!
What about the rest of the year? Late spring and early fall are also mild, especially compared with winter’s temperatures. Though often below freezing at night, May temperatures reach the mid-50s and the upper 60s in September.
The spring months experience a steady increase in temperatures until the summer, and the fall months are the inverse. The area warms up to more comfortable temperatures as spring progresses into summer, then cools off significantly towards the end of fall.
Daily Chance Of Precipitation In Yellowstone
Light precipitation happens throughout the year, so don’t be surprised by a few scattered showers. However, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll encounter heavy rain that’ll ruin your hike.
Yellowstone’s wet season runs through the late spring, peaking in mid-May. This period has a maximum 38% chance of precipitation, but in total only receives about 2.1 inches of rainfall. The rest of the year’s precipitation levels vary between 17% and 26%, and besides May, none of them receive over an inch of rain. Each month still gets a few rainy days, though, so plan accordingly by packing a raincoat!
Snowfall is common and the winter months of December and January get the most of it. December gets an average of 13 inches, and January 11.8. Despite the thick blanket of snow, it’s still a popular time for visitors to visit and see bison and other wild animals. The snow-covered park itself is a unique sight, too. Just don’t forget a thick coat and boots!
Humidity Comfort Levels In Yellowstone
Hate muggy weather? Be forewarned- you might never want to leave Yellowstone after your trip! The area gets no humid weather year-round. In fact, the average chance of humidity stays a zero all the time. With one less weather problem to worry about, you can focus your efforts instead on staying warm and dry!
Best Time Of Year To Yellowstone For Great Weather
Yellowstone’s climate makes it relatively comfortable to visit for most of the year. While heat and humidity shouldn’t worry you, chances are you will encounter rain and seriously cold temperatures. Though winters may be harsh, people prepared for this type of weather can have a fantastic time. When is the best time to visit Yellowstone and keep as warm and dry as possible? Though challenging, it’s not impossible!
There are two factors used to decide the best months for weather called the “tourism score” and the “beach/pool score,” respectively. The first is used to determine how pleasurable outdoor activities like sightseeing tours are in a given month. Clear skies and temperatures between 65°F and 80°F are the criteria here.
Because of its low average temperatures, Yellowstone only scores a maximum of 4.6 in mid-July. This is the best month for tourists to do some light, casual hiking if they don’t have a lot of outdoor equipment. You’ll still get beautiful conditions for sightseeing with relatively warm temperatures and clear skies, but you’ll be met with cold evenings.
The beach/pool score, on the other hand, favors hotter temperatures ranging from 75°F to 90°F. Yellowstone scores even lower here, with only 2.1 in mid-July. However, keep in mind that the park isn’t a seaside resort and these types of activities are unusual. It’s still a fantastic place to enjoy the outdoors and get some fresh air.
In the end, July is the best month to visit Yellowstone for great weather. It’s the warmest month of the year, but not too hot. Moreover, rainfall is at a low point, so you’re unlikely to get wet if visiting during this period.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Yellowstone For Low Prices
Not everyone who visits Yellowstone is a seasoned outdoor enthusiast. Luckily, there’s a variety of comfortable accommodation options for people, ranging from basic campsites to historic lodges and hotels.
Getting to the park has never been easier, with the park having several nearby airports with multiple connections. The closest, West Yellowstone, connects domestic carriers via Salt Lake City. Jackson Hole is the next closest option, with connections through SLC and Denver.
Bozeman, Montana, located 1.5 hours from the park by car, has the busiest airport in the region. You’re most likely to get the biggest savings here, and bus connections to get you the rest of the way to the park are plentiful.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many direct connections to any of the airports surrounding the park. The Delta Airlines flights between Salt Lake City and West Yellowstone cost around $186 or more and only run in the summer. Flying to Bozeman most likely means having to connect in SLC or Denver, meaning your trip requires at least two flights.
This makes airfare rather costly. Flying in a low-season month like November or January will run you about $164 if you’re lucky. If traveling in shoulder season months like April or May, you may find the same prices, but on average they climb to $275. Peak season is the priciest for flights! Flying to Bozeman in June usually costs at least $400.
Nowadays, there is one alternative! Frontier Airlines runs daily flights between Denver and Bozeman for extremely low prices. If Frontier services your city, you can make the journey for less than $100 round trip any time of the year if you book in advance.
Accommodations near the park vary in price, too. Camping is an affordable option, but if you prefer something more comfortable, expect to dish out more in peak season. The average price ranges between $100 and $400 per night for a room in the area in June.
Off-season and shoulder season, on the other hand, are both cheaper and the same as each other. These same rooms cost between $75 and $100 if traveling in November, January, or April! If you want to maximize savings, the best months to take advantage of Yellowstone’s low prices are January and October.
When Is The Peak Travel Season In Yellowstone?
Yellowstone’s peak season of June, July, and August has the most ideal conditions for a visit! Temperatures are very agreeable with highs only in the mid-70s. Nights can get chilly, so prepare for hot and cold days. It’s also the driest period of the year, so people hit the trails en masse.
Prepare for huge crowds. Popular sites in the park like Old Faithful will have groups of people huddled around as if you were at the Eiffel Tower or Times Square. This means that rooms and campsites near the park fill up and become pricey.
Rented tents and shared rooms could still cost you $100, and a lodge or hotel room is in the range of $300 to $400. Domestic flights from most origins in this period cost over $400. Most are serviced by United and Delta. However, if you’re lucky, you can fly with Frontier via Denver for $50-100! See if Frontier offers connections from your city.
When Is The Shoulder Travel Season In Yellowstone?
The late spring and early autumn months of April, May, September, and October make up Yellowstone’s quiet shoulder season. Visit during this period and you’ll get fair weather, smaller crowds, and some great deals!
The weather can be chilly, but not nearly as cold as in winter. Bring thin layers for the day, and a thick coat if you’re out at night. You’re more likely to encounter rain in the spring months, especially in May.
However, these showers aren’t likely to last the whole day and you’ll still get plenty of good weather for spending time outdoors! September and October are drier with only occasional scattered showers.
The park is still popular for tourists in the shoulder season, but it’s much quieter than in the summer. Accommodations of all types are available for good prices. Rooms and tent rentals range from $75 to $100 per night for two people, and more upscale options range from $150 to $200 per night.
Expect a good deal for flights to Bozeman to run you about $275 if your city doesn’t have Frontier connections. From there, you can take a bus the rest of the way for $30.
When Is The Low Travel Season In Yellowstone?
Yellowstone’s cold, dark off-season spans the coldest period of November through March. Though temperatures can be unfriendly, the incredible opportunity to see the park covered in snow and dodging crowds can be rewarding for the hardcore travelers who go!
Temperatures are seriously cold the whole period. For a significant amount of the season, temperatures stay below freezing the whole day. Days are short, meaning hikers need to get up early to take advantage of the precious, little sunlight. Snowfall is common and the region gets blankets of it from December through February.
Flight prices are at their lowest here. Getting to Bozeman via Denver, San Francisco, or Salt Lake City can run you as little as $164 depending on your origin point. Frontier doesn’t always run their Bozeman connection through the winter, so you may have to go with the former option.
Accommodations cost roughly the same as in shoulder season. If you’re feeling brave, you can spend a crisp winter’s night in a tent for $75! However, the cozy lodges lower their prices to $100-150 per night for two in the winter.
Best Months To Travel To Yellowstone
Visiting Yellowstone requires smart spending to make it a cheap destination. The season you travel in greatly impacts travel costs. It also determines whether you’ll be warm, cold, dry, or wet.
For the perfect ratio of good weather to low prices, the best months to visit Yellowstone are October and May. These months have the cheapest flights since they fall during the park’s shoulder season. They remain mostly dry and the cold temperatures are bearable with only a few layers. Rooms are as cheap as in the off-season months, and crowds are much smaller than in peak months like June or July.
There’s no real bad time to visit for good weather. The winter months offer something unique with its winter wonderland views. However, some parts of the park are difficult to reach due to the weather. Visiting in the low season presents a unique opportunity to get the same beautiful scenery but for a much lower price and with smaller crowds.
