Yellowstone’s Grand Loop, the park’s figure-8 main road that passes by its most iconic sights, typically takes anywhere between 4 and 7 hours to drive in full. There is a flat $35 entry fee for all non-commercial vehicles entering Yellowstone National Park, which is valid for 7 days and also grants access to Grand Teton National Park just 31 miles away, if you are considering visiting both. If crowds are your nightmare, avoid July and August at all costs — the 2 busiest months of the year when families are off for the summer and stellar camping conditions attract an overwhelming number of road-trippers and outdoorsy types. As of reporting, 2 of 5 entrances are open as part of Phase 1 of a 3-phase plan, as well as resumed road access, approved tours, public restrooms, and gas stations. Spring is the best time to spot bears, who emerge from hibernation both curious and hungry, and bison during bison calving season, Summer is the best time to see big-horned mammals, including bison, elk, moose, and mountain goats, Fall is another great time to see bears, who often forage for food near the roads in preparation for winter, along with elk and birds of prey (including hawks and eagles), Winter is the best time to spot bighorn sheep and wolves. Clear skies and minimal humidity also mean you can enjoy incredible views of the park’s snow-capped mountains. Ad Choices, How to See Yellowstone Without the Crowds. By mid-morning, you can expect full parking lots at some of the major points of interest, including the waterfall at Artist Point and the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring—the largest hot spring in the park. Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and p. rior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position. Both Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins (reachable via the North Entrance access road) open for business in mid-December and remain so through February. If you do not stop for any reason, and do not encounter any traffic or delays along the way, 4 hours can be accomplished. Temperatures are still brisk — highs only reach the mid-40s, with lows in the 20s — which keeps crowds at bay. During the peak summer months, even Yellowstone’s scenic hiking trails can feel crowded. Use this strategy to lock in pennies-on-the-dollar pricing in 2021, all without being a frequent flyer... Disclaimer: Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. The best time to visit Yellowstone depends on whether you value warm weather, sparse crowds, baby animal sightings or brilliant fall foliage. In order words, driving the loop in a single day does not do the park justice. Tip to Avoid the Crowds: Crowds are largest between 10 am and 4 pm in the summer months. Due to construction, you’ll have to take the full 8.8-mile loop rather than the typical five miler. Factor in food, gear, tours, and souvenirs, and a trip to Yellowstone can get pretty pricey — or not. Peak time is between noon and 6 pm. How Much Does It Cost to Go to Yellowstone National Park? Grizzly bears reappear this month and are easily spotted while hunting for food with their newborn cubs. Ah, summer. That is why popular opinion suggests giving yourself 2 days minimum to check off the park’s most popular attractions including Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We settled on late spring before the peak season started and it was perfect! The best time to go is when you can. Yellowstone is obviously an iconic park and so I was really excited to see it! We take your comments very seriously as they really help us to improve the site. Yellowstone’s best-kept secret is no longer a secret. Elk and bison shed off their long winter coats and tend to their calves, who are still shaky on their feet, and the first of Yellowstone’s wildflowers begin to bloom. The popular answer is 2 days if you plan on driving the entirety of Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Loop and checking off all of its most famous sites. ), @caitlin_moscatello Found in the hot springs. For Artist Point, take the North Rim Trail to view the park’s Grand Canyon without having to elbow your way to the front. Just don’t forget your binoculars. A two-in-one sounded convenient. © 2021 Condé Nast. 5 Places Off The Beaten Path Still, major roadways (like Mammoth-Old Faithful and Norris-Canyon) won’t be fully open to vehicles until late April. Visiting Yellowstone in the Winter: pros and cons. If views are what you’re after, skip the more popular Mount Washburn Trail—you’re practically guaranteed to share the killer view from the top—and instead grab your bear spray and water bottle and head up Bunsen Peak. If you want to cross this one off your bucket list, wait until the day crowd is gone and visitors are eating their dinner—7p.m. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Unless you book months in advance—which, while we’re at it, isn’t a bad idea—you’re most likely to get two options: before 6 p.m. or after 8 p.m. Go for the latter, when big groups and most families with kids are already in their tents, RVs, or cabins for the night. How to Avoid the Crowds. How to Avoid the Crowds at Old Faithful. Please refer to the park’s COVID-19 Reopening Plan for further updates. Not so much a trail but rather a bunch of paved inclines followed by just over 300 steps, Uncle Tom descends more than… Campsites charge $15 to $32 per night, excluding taxes. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. © 2021 Upgraded Points™, LLC. America’s first national park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant, marked the beginning of one of the country’s greatest endeavors — protecting and preserving its most important natural landscapes. Although park lodges remain closed for the winter season, you can find some great deals at less commercialized accommodations in nearby towns like Gardiner and Jackson. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments. One million people visit in July alone, and.3 million visit during the entire winter season; thus making winter the best time of year to avoid the crowds. A hush falls over Yellowstone in September, especially after Labor Day, as the start of the school year lures reluctant kids and their families back home. Hot Tip: Are you interested in renting a camper or RV for a trip to Yellowstone, but you’re not sure where to start your research? But no matter what month you visit Yellowstone, it’s extremely important to remember that wildlife is just that: wild. As for accommodation, Yellowstone offers 12 campsites and a host of lodges with varying nightly fees. Forests and mountains become blanketed in powdery snow, frost from steaming hot springs materializes like tiny crystals on nearby trees, and, when it’s cold enough, water droplets from erupting geysers freeze in mid-air, putting on a show. Baby season is still in full swing, when bison and elk calves, wolf pups, and bear cubs can be easily spotted playing behind their parents. If seeing this phenomenon is important to you, research weather patterns and peak estimations to make sure you don’t miss it. If you get really lucky, you might catch Grand Geyser erupting; it only goes off every seven to 15 hours, but when it does, the water can reach a stunning 200 feet. Her second flight was for a high school field trip to Italy, though travel as a career didn't stick until she studied abroad in London during college and discovered the true power of her passport. Simply driving the distance of its Grand Loop takes a minimum of 4 hours, and that doesn’t even account for any stops, traffic, or construction delays you might experience along the way. If you’re worried about the snow conditions and icy temperatures of November, just wait until December rolls around. In this stretch at the north end of the park, you’ll find herds of bison, and can also potentially view elk, wolves, bighorn sheep, and even bears in their natural environment. Just be wary about packing too light: while June can be warm in the lower valleys, higher elevations still experience some light snow. Yellowstone does not offer regular shuttle or train service, so unless you sign up for a bus tour, cars are the main mode of transport here. The best time to visit Yellowstone to avoid crowds is mid-to-late September when temperatures begin to cool down and crowds recede. Ha! To that end, the weather in Yellowstone can be difficult to predict. By Memorial Day weekend, warmer temperatures and brighter days really hit their stride and last all the way through September, causing visitor numbers to swell late in the month. Otherwise, you might have to contend with mobbed boardwalks and platforms around attractions and traffic jams — especially if a slow-moving bison herd decides to cross the road. During the winter, animals including wolves, bighorn sheep, and bison migrate to the lower valleys where it is warmer, making them easier to spot. The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been provided by the credit card companies mentioned. The park's largest off-road geyser basin with some 500 features, Shoshone Geyser Basin is a good destination for a long day hike (about 17 miles round-trip). @caitlin_moscatello Old Faithful, from a distance, in the morning sun. #Yellowstone #wyoming #oldfaithful ☀️, If you’re planning to eat at one of Yellowstone’s restaurants (where the food’s not great but it’s certainly convenient) you’ll need to make a reservation ahead of time. Throughout the day and night, bull elks emit both low- and high-pitched bugles and fight other males with their now-fully-grown antlers to assert dominance (or newfound dominance) over a herd. The Cheapest Time to Visit Yellowstone Flights to the nearest major airport in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are typically cheapest between October and February, … Be prepared for anything by packing layers for all seasons, no matter where in the park you plan to roam — you’ll thank yourself later. Visiting outside the peak summer season is the best way to avoid the crowds. Just a little national park humor, there, Mark. Get an early start: the earlier you … Answer 1 of 28: We are planning a 4-6 day visit in 2014. For more information on our advertisers, see here. Editorial Disclosure: The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been provided by the credit card companies mentioned. If you’re looking for the best time to visit Yellowstone to avoid crowds, winter is the season for planning a tour. Since Yellowstone is not only the country’s first national park but also, with more than 4 million visitors, one of the most popular, you’re guaranteed to encounter more crowds than bison… unless you know a few key secrets. Best for: Hiking, elk rut, scenery (fall colors and snow-capped peaks), fly fishing. Email needed if you'd like comment updates. We flew to Yellowstone on the day after Labor Day one early September. In actuality, spring in Yellowstone can be downright unforgiving, chilly, and snowy right up until May. We respect your privacy. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The park is vast, sometimes requiring more than an hour’s drive to get between sights, so plan out your itinerary ahead of time to anticipate costs. (if you’re into avoiding crowds in National parks, check out this post for more tips) Unique (and more fun!) Really, truly, there are no crowds! A 5-day trip is considered ideal because you will feel far less rushed. Be sure to never feed or touch any animals and always view them from a safe distance. Spring weather in Yellowstone National Park could be unpredictable. virtual tours of iconic national parks around the U.S. Late-April to late-May is a great time to visit Yellowstone because roads, services, and major attractions are opening and you can enjoy the park without … However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. Spring (April and May until Memorial Day) and fall (after Labor Day and through October) are the 2 windows when visitors can enjoy Yellowstone’s mild weather while steering clear of the mobs. Please see our Advertiser Disclosure for more details! Instead, beat them to it and plan to arrive by 6 a.m. One way to do it: Spend the night in a cabin at nearby Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins or Roosevelt Lodge (from roughly $90 a night), then cut out early, taking your coffee to go. Spring tends to see more rain than the fall, though fall tends to be a bit busier. In addition, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Unlike the otherworldly beauty of a Yellowstone winter, spring is arguably the least scenic time to visit, so crowds are minimal. Visit early or late in the day; Watch the eruption from Observation Point; Visit Yellowstone during the off season; Since this is one of Yellowstone’s most popular spots, expect enormous crowds. Even so, most roads and facilities start to close during the second week of October in preparation for winter. However, if you visit there during the best time for your visit, you can watch the park turn from the winter to warmer without having to deal with many tourists. Delays and construction are common as the park recovers from winter and prepares for summer, and many lodges and restaurants still remain closed. Chances of an encounter are extremely rare; the park averages just one bear attack a year. What about September? Without summer’s endless crowds to contend with, those that brave winter’s elements might also discover the only ones they have to share Yellowstone with are the non-hibernating wildlife. Visiting Yellowstone in September and early October can be especially exciting because the elk are in rut and act a little crazy. Wildlife viewing and winter activities, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are still popular in February, when the park is still closed to car traffic and most lodges and tours remain closed. Temperatures hover around the mid-60s, though cooler nights signal a change of seasons is approaching. It will NOT be published. The Best Ways to Book Cheap Amtrak Train Tickets [Advance Bookings, Rail Passes, and Promo Codes], Dallas Love Field Airport [DAL] – Ultimate Terminal Guide, The Best Times to Visit Hawaii in 2021 [by Seasons and Islands], 62 Virtual Tours of Iconic National Parks Around the U.S. [2021], The Ultimate Guide to 59 U.S. National Parks, The 20 Most Popular Water Parks to Visit in North America [2020], The 15 Best Cheap Hotels in Manhattan, New York City, The 5 Best Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotels To Book With Points, The 12 Best Travel Mugs for Camping, Road Trips & More [2021]. The first week of the month sees the last of the season’s changing colors. Hardy species like bison and elk are not shy of visitors, nor do they hibernate, which means spotting them in Yellowstone National Park is pretty much guaranteed throughout the year. The Reasons It would be nice to avoid summer crowds, but is May too iffy on temps? Animals begin to stir out of hibernation and newborn babies make their first appearances. What You Need to Know . If you have to come in the summer, the keys to surviving the crowds are rise early, take hikes away from busy roadways, pack a picnic lunch, and take your time – don’t rush to get it all in. Between October and November, a drastic drop in temperature signals that winter is nearly here. Camping is especially popular as summer’s high temperatures drop back into the 70s, with cooler nights. These wildlife sightings, along with the season’s unique white landscapes, make winter a dream for photographers. I recommend spending time at Yellowstone in September if you’re looking for cheaper prices on hotels and activities or if you want to avoid the summer crowds. Click here to see a list of advertisers that we work with. The bighorn sheep rut occurs during the early winter months, too. Freezing temperatures, frequent snowfall, hibernating wildlife, and road and facility closures that render much of the park off-limits can be difficult to contend with for all but the most dedicated travelers. While the majority of roads remain open through the end of the month, an early snowfall can cause unexpected closures. Discover the real-life strategies that anyone can use to enjoy limitless travel (even on a limited budget!). Of course not. Winter is long and harsh in Yellowstone, making it the least popular season to visit. In June, temperatures in Yellowstone hover in the high 60s with minimal chance of rainfall. You’ll be taking in the views among your own herd of tourists. Our guide walks you through the various types of vehicles and trailers, as well as several websites to search for cheap rentals! Once Memorial Day weekend hits, rates to begin to rise and don’t come back down until the end of the fall. If summer is the only time you have to travel, you can still escape the crowds by visiting the popular attractions early in the morning or late in the evening, hiking … Perhaps because the amount of snowfall also doubles, with a monthly average of 9 inches, both the grizzly bears and black bears begin to hibernate at the end of the month and do not remerge from their dens until March. Because fall is getting to be a more popular time to visit because crowds are lower, you’ll still want to book your reservations months in advance. The best time to see the animals is at dawn and dusk—and so it’s no wonder that tours leave between 6:15 a.m. and 7 a.m., and then again in late afternoon. Download the Yellowstone app, which includes a helpful map and schedule of anticipated geyser eruptions. Limited availability at both hotels and campgrounds often forces travelers to preplan months — even a year — in advance. Straddling the borders of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the 2.2 million acres within Yellowstone’s borders attract upwards of 4 million visitors a year who journey from around the world to see its unique wonders, including active geysers, thundering waterfalls, steaming hot springs, and incredible (and abundant) native wildlife, such as herds of American bison. For the Grand Prismatic Spring, take the Fountain Freight Road Trailhead to Fairy Falls—but bring your good hiking boots. In fact, 3 out of the 4 million tourists Yellowstone welcomes all year — that’s 75 percent — arrive during the summer months. Some of my tips to help you avoid the crowds in Yellowstone will come as no surprise. Dawn and dusk are especially good times for photography and wildlife-spotting (particularly in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley) when animals are most active. Editor’s Note: Yellowstone National Park is slowly beginning to reopen since it shuttered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Peak time is between noon and 6 pm. Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. But the real treat is afterward, when you can walk the boardwalks from Old Faithful through the Upper Geyser Basin, seeing less frequented geysers with hardly another person in sight. Crowds become an increasing nuisance as June progresses. Still, better to be safe than mauled by a grizzly, wouldn’t you say? Hot Tip: If you’re taking planning a road trip into the park near the end of the year, make sure your drive begins and ends at Yellowstone’s North Entrance — the only entrance that remains open year-round because of its low elevation. By late May visitors to Yellowstone begin to increase but it’s still nowhere near the level of summer. is reliably less packed—and watch then. If you want to cross this one off your bucket list, wait until the day crowd is gone and visitors are eating their dinner—7p.m. The excitement culminates in the last week of September, Yellowstone’s “golden season,” when its aspen trees (especially in the northern reaches of the park) begin to change color. All park … Keep in kind that wildfire season is also still in effect, which may affect air quality. Please view our privacy policy here. But, deciding when to go was a little tricky. The only road in the park that is open year-round is from the Gardiner, Montana entrance down to Mammoth Hot Springs. Many of the hiking trails are still snowed in. Hot Tip: Yellowstone’s wildfire season starts around the end of July, when park rangers safely ignite designated areas of the park to promote habitat diversity. You’ll have to stake out room if you want a front-row seat to see Old Faithful erupt on schedule or the Grand Prismatic Spring, whose colors are brightest in the summer. Those hoping to avoid crowds would do better coming in early June or later in September. Avoiding The Crowds In Yellowstone! To revisit this article, visit My Profile, thenView saved stories. Nights cool down considerably, dipping into the 40s. At 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park is massive. #Yellowstone #Wyoming . Although dawn and dusk present your best chances at wildlife sightings, when animals are usually the most active, the frequency and specificity of sightings vary with the seasons: When viewing any kind of animal in the wild, be sure to keep a safe distance and do not approach them for any reason. That tops Old Faithful’s average by 60–70 feet. Temperatures continue to drop into the lower 50s, and nights are even chillier in the low 20s. Fair warning: A July hike started with warning signs that grizzly bears had been spotted in the area. But you’d never know that from the flocks of tourists who sit at its edge every 74 minutes or so waiting for it to erupt. The park’s vivid wildflowers that cover the hillsides typically last until mid-July. The bonus of the tours is that a guide will point out harder-to-spot wildlife in the distance. Once temperatures rise above freezing, thawing snow leaves trails and roads slick and slushy — if roads are open at all. You’ll bear witness to a snowy wonderland slowly melt away into green as well as signs of life emerging from their long winter’s slumber. (Kids or not, you can still order the huckleberry ice cream for dessert, a local specialty. Your one-stop shop for all the carry-on essentials, tech gear, travel-sized beauty products, and luggage that will make you an even better traveler, delivered weekly to your inbox, 100th anniversary of the U.S. National Park Service.