Yellowstone National Park
Go for Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and wildlife that includes bison, elk, moose and grizzly bears.
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Yellowstone National Park covers about 3,468 square miles of high plateau in northwest Wyoming, with small parts in Montana and Idaho. It was the first national park in the United States, established when President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act on March 1, 1872. The geothermal features are the main draw. The park has at least 10,000 of them, including geysers, hot springs and mudpots, and Old Faithful in the Upper Geyser Basin is one of its most popular attractions.
Wildlife is the other draw. Bison, elk, moose, grizzly bears and wolves live in the park, and the Yellowstone River has carved the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as it flows north. Yellowstone suits travelers who want wildlife and geysers and are ready to drive, since there is no public transportation inside the park. Most park roads are open to wheeled vehicles from mid-April to early November, and July is the busiest month, with long delays around Old Faithful, Canyon and Mammoth Hot Springs. Allow several days, since the park is large.
Yellowstone National Park in five
- Non-US visitors pay $100 moreSince January 1, 2026, non-US residents 16 and over pay a $100 fee on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold an annual pass. The $250 non-resident annual pass waives it.The new fee for visitors
- No entry reservation neededYellowstone does not use timed entry. You still need an entrance pass, which you can buy online ahead or at the gate.NPS fees and passes
- Keep 25 yards from bison and elkStay at least 25 yards from most animals and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Bison injure visitors every year.
- Stay on the boardwalksThe ground around geysers and hot springs can be a thin crust over scalding water. Stay on the boardwalks and do not touch thermal features.
- Pick your gateway town by routeWest Yellowstone suits the geyser basins, Gardiner the north entrance and Lamar Valley, and Jackson the south via Grand Teton.
Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
See all attractions in Yellowstone National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- $35 per vehicle, 7 days. Non-US residents 16+ add $100 each Read more
- Permits
- Backcountry camping and fishing need permits; no entry reservation Read more
- Season
- Most roads mid-April to early November; Gardiner to Cooke City all year
- Nearest town
- West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cody or Jackson
- Getting there
- Bozeman (BZN) about 1.5 hours; Jackson Hole (JAC) for the south
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-6°Low-13°Snowcoach seasonJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -6°
- Low
- -13°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Snowcoach season
- FebruarySnow14 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh-5°Low-13°Snowcoach seasonFebruarySnow
Poor
- High
- -5°
- Low
- -13°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Snowcoach season
- MarchSnow14 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-9°Roads closedMarchSnow
Poor
- High
- -1°
- Low
- -9°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Roads closed
- AprilSnow13 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh3°Low-6°Roads start openingAprilSnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Roads start opening
- MayRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low-1°Baby bisonMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Baby bison
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy day1 day with stormsHigh16°Low4°All roads openJunePartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 1
All roads open
- JulyClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low8°Peak crowdsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak crowds
- AugustClear9 rainy daysHigh22°Low8°Busy, fire riskAugustClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, fire risk
- SeptemberClear8 rainy days1 snowy day1 day with stormsHigh16°Low5°Elk rut, quieterSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 1
Elk rut, quieter
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy days4 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh7°Low-2°Roads closingOctoberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 1
Roads closing
- NovemberSnow12 rainy days6 snowy days1 day with stormsHigh0°Low-7°Most roads closedNovemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -7°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 1
Most roads closed
- DecemberSnow13 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh-5°Low-12°Winter seasonDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- -5°
- Low
- -12°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter season
Average daily high and low in Mammoth Hot Springs, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Yellowstone National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-1
- Feels like
- -6°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
Yellowstone National Park
01:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today2°-5°10%Monday: Cloudy. High 2°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Tue5°-6°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed8°-4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu3°-4°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri3°-5°13%Friday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sat5°-4°11%Saturday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sun6°-3°1%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 1%.
Updated 09:20 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Yellowstone National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Yellowstone National Park, checked
- Stay at least 100 yards from bears, wolves and cougars and 25 yards from all other animals, including bison and elkChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Stay on boardwalks and designated trails in thermal areas; do not touch thermal features, and swimming or soaking in hot springs is illegalChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
- Nonresident fee: $100 per person aged 16 and over, on top of the entrance fee, unless you hold an annual passChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Yellowstone National Park
Entry rules, money and the park reservation picture
Read the guideGrand Teton National ParkThe peaks just south, on the Jackson route
Read the guideBozeman and Gallatin ValleyThe airport town about 1.5 hours north
Read the guideNational park fee for visitorsThe extra nonresident charge and the annual pass
Read the guideGetting around the USAFlights, rental cars and long mountain drives
Read the guideTravel insurance for the USARemote medical and evacuation cover
Read the guideYellowstone National Park FAQ
Do I need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?
No. Vehicle reservations are not required. You need an entrance pass, plus separate reservations for lodges and campgrounds.
How many days do I need in Yellowstone?
Three days covers the geyser basins, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and a wildlife morning in Lamar or Hayden Valley. Five days is more relaxed.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
June and September. All roads are usually open, and September has fewer people and the elk rut.
Which entrance should I use?
Use the West entrance for Old Faithful and the geyser basins, the North entrance at Gardiner for Lamar Valley, and the South entrance if you are coming from Grand Teton.
How close can I get to bison and bears?
Stay at least 25 yards from bison, elk and most other animals, and 100 yards from bears and wolves. Bison injure visitors every year, so treat a close approach as a hazard, not a photo.