Best Time to Visit Yellowstone: The Honest Guide for Families

Everyone wants to see Yellowstone. It was the first national park in the world. It has huge geysers and mud pots that bubble like a science experiment. Bison roam the fields and sometimes even walk on the road.

But between kids’ school schedules and work schedules, picking the right time to go can be tough.

If you go in July, you could be fighting crowds to see Old Faithful erupt or sitting in traffic, hoping you make it to Old Faithful in time for the next eruption.

If you go in May, there will be fewer people, but some roads may still be closed due to snow.

This guide breaks down the good and the bad of every month.

Executive Summary: The Quick Answer

If you are in a rush, read this part.

• Best Overall Time: September. The crowds are gone. The weather is cool. The animals are very active.
• Best for Wildlife: May and June. This is when the baby animals are born. You will likely see orange baby bison and maybe even bear cubs.
• Best for Saving Money: April and October. These are the “shoulder seasons.” Hotels outside the park are much cheaper.
• Worst Time for Crowds: July and August. This is when everyone is on vacation. If you want to stay in the park, you should try to make reservations 9-12 months in advance. That said, you can certainly plan with shorter notice, but you might not get your first choice in lodging.

The Geography of Yellowstone

Yellowstone is massive. It is bigger than Rhode Island. The park is shaped like a figure eight, called the “Grand Loop.”

• The Lower Loop: This has many of the famous spots. Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are all here.
• The Upper Loop: This is wilder. It has Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley. The Lamar Valley is the best place to see wildlife.

Most families try to do both loops. It’s a lot of driving and you can’t drive fast. Animals can block the road.

The Summer Season (July and August)

This is the most popular time to visit. Kids are on summer break, so it’s easier for many families.

The Good. Everything is open. All the roads are clear of snow. All the lodges are open. The days are very long. The sun does not set until 9 PM. You have plenty of time to explore.

The Bad. It is crowded. Parking at places like Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic Spring is hard. You might circle the lot for 45 minutes. The mosquitoes can be bad near the lakes.

My Advice. Wake up early. Find the balance between kids who might want to sleep in and beating the crowds. If you can get there before the buses arrive, you will enjoy it more. Try packing breakfast to go to get the kids out of the hotel faster in the morning, and enjoy it at an overlook.

The Fall Season (September and October)

This is my favorite time to visit.

The Good. The air is crisp, the trees turn yellow, and the bull elk start “bugling.” This is a loud sound they make to find a mate, which is really amazing to hear. The crowds are much smaller than in summer.

The Bad. The weather changes fast. It might be warm one day and snow the next. Some campgrounds close in September. You might have to pull kids out of school, but it’s worth it to enjoy Yellowstone without the crowds.

My Advice. Pack warm layers. Stay until sunset to hear the elk bugling near Mammoth Hot Springs.

The Spring Season (April, May, and June)

Spring comes late here.

The Good. Babies! This is the nursery season. It’s very common to see “red dogs.” That’s what baby bison are called because their fur is orange. It’s also the best time to see the waterfalls. Water levels are high because of the melting snow.

The Bad. Mud and snow. In April and May, many trails are muddy, and some roads will be closed. The highest roads might not open until late May. But Yellowstone is so big, you likely won’t be able to see it all in one trip, even if all the roads are open.

My Advice. Check the road status every day on the park website. Bring waterproof boots. Have an A-list of what you want to see and a B-list if you can’t get to the A-list.

The Winter Season (November to March)

This is a totally different experience. Snow-covered Yellowstone looks completely different from summer Yellowstone.

The Good. It is peaceful and quiet. The crowds are gone. The steam from the geysers looks huge in the cold air. You can take a snowcoach to see Old Faithful.

The Bad. Most roads are closed to regular cars. You can only drive the road from the North Entrance to Cooke City. You cannot drive to Old Faithful yourself.

My Advice. If you have the budget, stay at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Waking up in the middle of the park in winter is magic.

Where to Stay

This is the biggest question I get. Should you stay inside or outside the park? For Yellowstone, even though it’s more expensive and has limited food options, I’d strongly recommend staying inside the park for at least part of your trip to cut down on the driving.

If you don’t mind hopping hotels or can’t get a multi-day reservation in the park, you can stay 1-2 nights on the north side, 1-2 nights in the park, and 1-2 nights on the west side, planning what parts of the park you see based on where you are.

Staying Inside Yellowstone National Park

Even inside the park, you can drive hours from your lodge to what you want to see. Reservations open 13 months in advance. The mid-range price options tend to book up the quickest. But there are often cancellations. On my last trip there, I got a one-night reservation at the Lake Lodge Cabins at Yellowstone Lake less than two months before our trip. That one night cut hours of driving.

• Old Faithful Inn: It’s an iconic, but older hotel. You are paying for the experience and location, not modern luxuries. You can see Old Faithful from the patio. You can walk there when the crowds are thin. Pro-tip: If you opt not to stay here, get ice cream at the Inn and hang out on the public patio.
• Canyon Lodge: This is, without a doubt, the best located lodge. It sits in the middle of the Grand Loop, so you can easily get to the North and South loops. But it’s expensive ($500+ a night in peak season) and books up early.
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins: The cabins are one of the most affordable options in the park (other than camping). They are basic (no TV) but still well located on the South Loop.

Staying Outside of Yellowstone

Remember, when hotels say, “two blocks from the West entrance of Yellowstone,” that may be true, but the entrance can still be over an hour from where you want to go.

• West Yellowstone: This town is right at the West Entrance and is the most convenient for doing the Lower Loop, but it’s over 2 hours away from Lamar Valley. A few options popular with families include Hibernation Station and Kelly Inn. There are not a lot of cheap options in West Yellowstone in peak season, but Gray Wolf Suites and Mountain Vista Hotel are two of the more affordable options.
• Gardiner: This is at the North Entrance and much closer to the North Loop. It’s perfect for exploring Lamar Valley. It’s open all year and tends to be a bit lower-priced. The Roosevelt Hotel, Ridgeline Hotel, and Yellowstone Riverside Cottage (cottages sleep up to 6 with kitchens) are all great options. Absoraka Lodge is probably the best value option.

I always recommend Hotels.com for finding hotels. It’s the easiest way to compare independent and chain hotels. I find that they have the most competitive prices, the most flexible refund policies, and the best reward program (2% rewards for future hotel stays). I also love that they tell you if prices are high, normal, or low and allow you to put alerts on prices (like Google Flights).

Pro-tip: Go ahead and book the refundable room and then use a price alert. You can always cancel and re-book at the lower rate!

Common Mistakes Families Make

1. Rushing the Trip. Yellowstone is too big for 2 days. You need at least 3 or 4 days to see it all. If you are short on time, pick just one loop.

2. Skipping the Grand Tetons. Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are literally connected. Yellowstone is diverse and amazing, but I personally think the scenery of the Grand Tetons blows Yellowstone away.

3. Getting Too Close to Animals. I see this constantly. People want a selfie with a bison. Bison look slow, but they are actually very fast. They injure tourists every year. Stay 25 yards away from bison and 100 yards away from bears.

4. Forgetting the Elevation. Most of the park is over 7,000 feet. You might get a headache or feel tired from the elevation, so staying hydrated is really important.

5. Relying on Cell Service. Your phone will not work in most of the park. Download offline maps on Google Maps before you enter.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

Do I need a reservation to enter? Yellowstone does not require a timed entry reservation. They have in the past, when there was flooding and parts of the park were closed. You do need to pay the entrance fee.

Is it safe to hike with kids? Yes. Stick to the boardwalks and busy trails. Buy bear spray and learn how to use it. Make noise while you hike.

What if I only have one day? Drive the Lower Loop. See Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Paint Pots, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I don’t recommend trying to cram it all in in one day, but one is better than none!

Can I swim in the hot springs? No, never touch the water in the geyser basins. It is boiling hot and acidic. People have died falling in. If you want to swim, go to the Firehole River swimming area.

Stop Researching and Start Dreaming

Yellowstone is a bucket list trip. It is a place your kids will remember forever.

But planning the logistics is stressful. The lodging sells out fast. I can build a custom itinerary that hits the best spots. I will help you find lodging that fits your budget.

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