Yellowstone National Park

Daily weather ranking for Yellowstone National Park, based on temperature, sunshine, wind, precipitation and humidity.

Yellowstone National Park — 7-Day PWI

The table below shows Yellowstone's Perfect Weather Index (PWI) for the next 7 days. Higher scores indicate more comfortable outdoor conditions.

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How to use this: Days with higher scores are generally better for hiking and outdoor activities, with more comfortable temperatures, lighter winds, and fewer weather impacts.

→ View official National Weather Service forecast for Yellowstone National Park

When Is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park for Perfect Weather?

July offers the most consistently comfortable weather at Yellowstone National Park, while June and September provide excellent hiking conditions with fewer crowds.

Using 2025 Perfect Weather Index (PWI) data from a high-elevation Yellowstone climate site, the results reflect the park’s long winters, short summers, and narrow window of consistently comfortable conditions. Raw monthly totals were normalized into monthly PWI scores (percent of possible points) and paired with the count of rare Perfect 10 days.

Monthly Perfect Weather Summary (2025)

Month	Monthly PWI Score	Perfect 10 Days	What It Means
January	~50%	0	Deep winter, extreme cold
February	~44%	0	Coldest, least comfortable
March	~50%	0	Winter lingers
April	~59%	0	Slow thaw, limited access
May	~70%	2	Improving but variable
June	~81%	2	Excellent early-summer weather
July	~87%	2	Peak comfort, most reliable
August	~84%	2	Warm days, cool nights
September	~79%	2	Crisp, stable fall weather
October	~60%	0	Rapid cooling, early snow
November	~55%	0	Cold returns quickly
December	~45%	0	Harsh winter conditions

Monthly Visitor Statistics (2024 source:NPS)

Month	% of Visitors	# of Visitors
January	1%	42,740
February	1%	49,291
March	1%	32,862
April	2%	71,784
May	11%	522,450
June	19%	914,612
July	21%	992,352
August	18%	868,259
September	18%	852,435
October	7%	346,025
November	<1%	21,133
December	1%	30,410

Best Overall Months

July ranks highest overall, followed closely by August, June, and September. These months represent Yellowstone’s short but highly reliable window for comfortable temperatures, minimal snow disruption, and full park access.

Seasonal Weather Patterns & Outdoor Impact

Looking beyond individual months, Yellowstone's weather falls into four distinct seasonal patterns that directly affect hiking safety, comfort, and crowd levels.

Winter (December–February)

Winter dominates Yellowstone’s climate. Extreme cold, deep snowpack, and limited road access keep comfort scores low, though conditions are stable.

Best for: Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, wildlife tracking
Watch for: Severe cold, closures, limited services

Spring (March–May)

Spring arrives slowly. March and April remain winter-like, while May marks the transition, with improving comfort but frequent weather swings and lingering snow.

Best for: Wildlife viewing, lower-elevation hikes
Watch for: Mud, road and trail closures

Summer (June–August)

Summer delivers Yellowstone’s best weather of the year. Days are warm but rarely hot, nights are cool, and storms are typically brief. This is when PWI scores peak.

Best for: Hiking, geysers, camping, backpacking
Watch for: Afternoon thunderstorms, crowds

Fall (September–November)

Early fall remains excellent. September combines cool temperatures with strong reliability, but by October, winter conditions can return quickly.

Best for: Hiking, photography, wildlife activity
Watch for: Early snow, sudden cold snaps

Weather vs. Crowds: A Key Tradeoff

July & August: Best weather and highest visitation
June & September: Excellent weather with fewer visitors
Winter: Lowest crowds, lowest comfort

Bottom Line

For weather-driven planning, July is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park, with June, August, and September offering nearly as comfortable conditions and slightly lighter crowds. Outside of this window, winter conditions dominate quickly, reinforcing Yellowstone’s reputation for having one of the shortest perfect-weather seasons of any U.S. national park.

Explore more: All National Parks · Best Weather This Week · Other Mountain Parks