Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park: July and August. Month-by-month temperature, rainfall and crowd guidance.
Best time to visit Yellowstone National Park
Go in July and August. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: February, March and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
Climate in Yellowstone National Park month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 7° | 1,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 26° | 13° | 3,0 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 34° | 17° | 2,7 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | 40° | 19° | 2,6 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| May | 49° | 28° | 2,1 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 61° | 39° | 1,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 72° | 47° | 1,8 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 69° | 47° | 1,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 61° | 41° | 2,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 47° | 31° | 2,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| November | 33° | 21° | 1,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| December | 28° | 14° | 3,2 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Subarctic. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
How Yellowstone National Park compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Yellowstone National Park.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone (UNESCO World Heritage Site) | 0 mi | 36°F | about the same | 25 in |
| Grand Teton National Park | 44 mi | 39°F | +35°F warmer | 30 in |
| Grand Teton | 49 mi | 18°F | 50°F cooler | 51 in |
| Teton County | 66 mi | 41°F | +37°F warmer | 26 in |
| Jackson | 66 mi | 41°F | +37°F warmer | 26 in |
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- Layers - the daily swing is 63°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- If your dates are flexible, avoid February, March and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Yellowstone National Park is a national park in Wyoming. Yellowstone National Park is a US national park known for Old Faithful, geysers and megafauna.
Right now it is 71°F (22°C) in Yellowstone National Park with clear sky. It feels like 64°F. Today runs from 46°F to 71°F. Chance of precipitation is 36%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.2/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is July and August. The climate is subarctic. February, March and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 72°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 7°F.
The closest major airport is Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), about 261 mi away. Nearby highlights include Yellowstone (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton and Missouri River.
In plain terms. Today is about average for August. The forecast high of 71°F is in line with the 69°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 12 PM to 3 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Yellowstone National Park today at 8.9/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Weather in Yellowstone National Park right now
Wear sunglasses and use SPF 30+ if you are outside for long.
Source: Open-Meteo. Updated 3:46 PM, Aug 23 local time.
Weekend outlook
🌥️ 71° / 46°
Fog · 36% rain · wind 17 mph
☁️ 75° / 47°
Overcast · 19% rain · wind 15 mph
Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Attractions, parks and landmarks in and around Yellowstone National Park.
Quick facts about Yellowstone National Park
| Type | National park |
|---|---|
| State | Wyoming |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 44°25′40.8″N 110°35′18.6″W (44.428, -110.5885) |
| Established | 1872 |
| Known for | Old Faithful, geysers and megafauna |
| Local time | 3:46 PM (UTC-06:00) |
| Best months | July and August |
| Climate | Subarctic |
Explore Yellowstone National Park
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Best Time to Visit for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park is a national park in Wyoming. Its coordinates are 44.428, -110.5885. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Yellowstone National Park right now?
It is currently 71°F (22°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 35% and wind is 17 mph.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park?
July and August offer the most comfortable conditions in Yellowstone National Park, which has a subarctic climate. February, March and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Yellowstone National Park in?
Yellowstone National Park observes America/Denver (UTC-06:00). The local time is 3:46 PM.
What is the nearest airport to Yellowstone National Park?
The closest airports are Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), 261 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Yellowstone National Park?
Popular options include Yellowstone (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton, Missouri River and Antelope Island State Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (national-parks) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 3:46 PM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
