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YellowStone area..Best time to visit?
- Thread starter Dbonzi
- Start Date
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Don't know how it fits the school schedule but the best time to visit the parks is after Labor Day. Crowds have cleared out and cooler overnight temps have killed the mosquitoes, daytime weather is perfect. If that doesn't fit go for as soon as you can after school lets out. July and August are the peak months and park roads can turn into a traffic jam zoo.
Dennis,
We were there in June of 2001. We pulled in on June 15th and stayed for 6 nights. We didn't have any problem getting in at that time of June without a reservation. Much later may have been a problem, though. The park was getting more and more full by the time we left (6 days later). One thing to consider if you go in early June - snow. They got 15" of snow the day before we pulled in there (June 14). It was all melted by the time we left, so it really wasn't a problem for us. The weather was actually quite good while we were there. We also have good heat in our camper.
Dave
We were there in June of 2001. We pulled in on June 15th and stayed for 6 nights. We didn't have any problem getting in at that time of June without a reservation. Much later may have been a problem, though. The park was getting more and more full by the time we left (6 days later). One thing to consider if you go in early June - snow. They got 15" of snow the day before we pulled in there (June 14). It was all melted by the time we left, so it really wasn't a problem for us. The weather was actually quite good while we were there. We also have good heat in our camper.
Dave
illflem is correct about the traffic, I was there last July and the Park was a Zoo, but I'm not a fan of the park! The Tetons are a different story, trying to get back there this summer, they rock!
Jim
Jim
I agree Jim, the Tetons are tops. Here's how I'd do it from MN. Plan on spending the night in Red Lodge, MT, leave early in the morning on the Beartooth highway, US 212, this road is fantastic. Drive all the way though Yellowstone not stopping much to Grand Teton and camp there. Day trip into YS. Grand Teton is lower elevation, the snow clears out sooner and is so much lower key than YS.
The fall or very early Summer is best
We have picked up fish in WY the last 10 years. Park is usually closed to just before or after Memerial Weekend. Everything is pretty "dead" looking in the spring but very little traffic. Made one trip in October. I would vote for as late in the summer as possible.
While I would love to recomend travelling through ND, it is a long way out of your way. I90 is your direct route. 950+ miles to Red Lodge. I would check out the Black hills or any MTs in WY. The Big Horns or Wind Rivers are very cool and less traffic. Good stop overs on your way to Tetons and Yellowstone. The NW side of Yellowstone (Ennis, Virgina City) are pretty neat to hange out.
jjw
ND
We have picked up fish in WY the last 10 years. Park is usually closed to just before or after Memerial Weekend. Everything is pretty "dead" looking in the spring but very little traffic. Made one trip in October. I would vote for as late in the summer as possible.
While I would love to recomend travelling through ND, it is a long way out of your way. I90 is your direct route. 950+ miles to Red Lodge. I would check out the Black hills or any MTs in WY. The Big Horns or Wind Rivers are very cool and less traffic. Good stop overs on your way to Tetons and Yellowstone. The NW side of Yellowstone (Ennis, Virgina City) are pretty neat to hange out.
jjw
ND
Took a seven week trip last year. Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower, Glazier Park, yellowstone and Teton. Saw two inches of snow fall July 22nd in higher elevation on northern loop. Did not find traffic to be nearly as bad as expected. See yellowstone at first light. Traffic doesn't start getting bad until about noon. Could not get reservations at Fishing Bridge so stayed at Grizzly in West Yellowstone. Very nice rv park. One of best parts to me was drive from Cody to Chief Joesph and Beartooth highway. Beautiful drive but don't take camper. Make that a day trip. By the way, if your into guns, don't miss Cody Mueseum.
Thinking of heading up there from May madness around 14 of May. Sounds like it could still be snow time and me with 2WD.
Funny you say that John, so am I! Looking at heading back to Oregon and Canada on that trip then come back by the Tetons on the way home.
Drive all the way though Yellowstone not stopping much to Grand Teton and camp there
Colter Bay is a nice spot, do a search for it on the net. It has most anything, General store, RV hookups, showers, a restaurant, cabins and my favorite the tent cabins... . fold up bunks, wood burning stove you get the picture. It's at the North end of Jackson lake say 30-40 Min from Old Faithful.
Jim
Funny you say that John, so am I! Looking at heading back to Oregon and Canada on that trip then come back by the Tetons on the way home.
Drive all the way though Yellowstone not stopping much to Grand Teton and camp there
Colter Bay is a nice spot, do a search for it on the net. It has most anything, General store, RV hookups, showers, a restaurant, cabins and my favorite the tent cabins... . fold up bunks, wood burning stove you get the picture. It's at the North end of Jackson lake say 30-40 Min from Old Faithful.
Jim
Dennis,
You didn't say (or I missed it) if you were RV'ing, so I'll just assume you are. I've been to Yellowstone 25 of the last 30 years and I don't really think there is a bad time to go, although September is my favorite weather-wise and crowd-wise. July and August seem to be the busiest, but they are also the warmest if you are tenting (like I did through my college years). Although be advised that it can snow 12 months out of the year there. Being as you need to go in the summer, I would suggest early to mid-June. I don't know how far in advance you need to plan your vacation time, but it depends on the weather on how early you want to get there. ONe other thing to watch for is road closures. As there is a very short construction season in YNP, they do a lot of the work on the shoulder seasons and it could make it a little tricky to get around (although I think they do more in the fall then the spring)
If you are going to camp in the park I suggest you make reservations the first night and then go find a nicer spot in one of the non-reservation campgrounds first thing the next morning. Again assuming you are RV'ing, the bigger your rig, the more trouble you will have finding a suitable spot.
One more misc thought, if this is your first time to YNP of course you'll want to see all of the big sites like Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth, etc, but to really enjoy the place I suggest getting off the beaten path. Either on your own or, one of the best ways to do this is with the ranger led interpretive hikes. Not sure how old your kids are but I went on a lot of those growing up and it was a great part of the trip. Another good reason to go in the summer is that they seem to be shortening the season for ranger activities too.
Have a great trip! Just expect lots of stupid people (those rental motorhomes scare me!) and kick back to enjoy the buffalo caused traffic jams.
-Vic
You didn't say (or I missed it) if you were RV'ing, so I'll just assume you are. I've been to Yellowstone 25 of the last 30 years and I don't really think there is a bad time to go, although September is my favorite weather-wise and crowd-wise. July and August seem to be the busiest, but they are also the warmest if you are tenting (like I did through my college years). Although be advised that it can snow 12 months out of the year there. Being as you need to go in the summer, I would suggest early to mid-June. I don't know how far in advance you need to plan your vacation time, but it depends on the weather on how early you want to get there. ONe other thing to watch for is road closures. As there is a very short construction season in YNP, they do a lot of the work on the shoulder seasons and it could make it a little tricky to get around (although I think they do more in the fall then the spring)
If you are going to camp in the park I suggest you make reservations the first night and then go find a nicer spot in one of the non-reservation campgrounds first thing the next morning. Again assuming you are RV'ing, the bigger your rig, the more trouble you will have finding a suitable spot.
One more misc thought, if this is your first time to YNP of course you'll want to see all of the big sites like Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth, etc, but to really enjoy the place I suggest getting off the beaten path. Either on your own or, one of the best ways to do this is with the ranger led interpretive hikes. Not sure how old your kids are but I went on a lot of those growing up and it was a great part of the trip. Another good reason to go in the summer is that they seem to be shortening the season for ranger activities too.
Have a great trip! Just expect lots of stupid people (those rental motorhomes scare me!) and kick back to enjoy the buffalo caused traffic jams.
-Vic
I was just thinking the last time I was @ the Yellowstone area. 1978 
We camped in West Yellowstone in a little trailer. We only had an electric portable heater, which took out the fuse. Talk about cold! We went late as illflem suggested. Great visit! The park people were celebrating & the park was "laid back".
By the way ... for your browsing pleasure ... http://www.nps.gov/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm
We camped in West Yellowstone in a little trailer. We only had an electric portable heater, which took out the fuse. Talk about cold! We went late as illflem suggested. Great visit! The park people were celebrating & the park was "laid back".
By the way ... for your browsing pleasure ... http://www.nps.gov/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm
Loren
TDR MEMBER
My wife and I stopped at Yellowstone on the way back to Washington State from Indiana many years ago. It was September, and it was a great time to visit.
Yes, it was cold, and I hadn't brought anything warmer than a sweatshirt. Mistake. Properly dressed, it would have been a dream, with the traffic and tourists mostly gone by then, but still early enough that we didn't see any snow or ice.
I would vote with Vic that September is the best time.
Loren
Yes, it was cold, and I hadn't brought anything warmer than a sweatshirt. Mistake. Properly dressed, it would have been a dream, with the traffic and tourists mostly gone by then, but still early enough that we didn't see any snow or ice.
I would vote with Vic that September is the best time.
Loren
dkosheba
TDR MEMBER
Forth of July Cody Parade
Last time I was out west from Michigan was for two weeks was the summer of 2001. We booked three nights in Cody around the 4th of July. Man let me tell you this, we went to the rodeo (the National event sponsored partly by Dodge). That's part of the reason we booked a room. Also they have the Buffalo Bill museum. But the highlight of the trip was the 3 hour 4th of July Parade without commercial semi trucks advertising like we get in Michigan. We had stopped two nights before in the evening to catch the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. Then this parade just topped that off. I never felt so Patriotic for America in My life. I found myself in tears! This was great for the kids to see and feel. I felt all of these emotions before Sept 11, 2001. Those are a must do for kids, both Mt. Rushmore and Cody 4th of July Parade. Plan around that either before or after to visit Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons. If you are camping out of your truck, and not a big trailer, Must set up tent and camp at Jenny Lake in the Tetons, this was the highlight our our trip camping. I did get to leave there with paw prints on the side of my Ram due to a hungry cub passing through the campsite while we slept. That will get the kids a little exited as well. Good Luck
Oo.
Last time I was out west from Michigan was for two weeks was the summer of 2001. We booked three nights in Cody around the 4th of July. Man let me tell you this, we went to the rodeo (the National event sponsored partly by Dodge). That's part of the reason we booked a room. Also they have the Buffalo Bill museum. But the highlight of the trip was the 3 hour 4th of July Parade without commercial semi trucks advertising like we get in Michigan. We had stopped two nights before in the evening to catch the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore. Then this parade just topped that off. I never felt so Patriotic for America in My life. I found myself in tears! This was great for the kids to see and feel. I felt all of these emotions before Sept 11, 2001. Those are a must do for kids, both Mt. Rushmore and Cody 4th of July Parade. Plan around that either before or after to visit Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons. If you are camping out of your truck, and not a big trailer, Must set up tent and camp at Jenny Lake in the Tetons, this was the highlight our our trip camping. I did get to leave there with paw prints on the side of my Ram due to a hungry cub passing through the campsite while we slept. That will get the kids a little exited as well. Good Luck
Oo.
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Thank you all for the input
Thats what I love about this place, there are so many different people located in differnt areas. That way you get a broad band of opinions. This will truely help us make a decision on not only when to go but, what to see when we get there.
Again Great Info.
I will be pulling and camping in a 28. 5ft fiver. I will be heading out there with another family, and they are driving a 2000 ford PSD, they are puling a 24ft travel trailer.
Hope they don't pass me up and leave me behind.
Thanks again and take care.
Dennis
Thats what I love about this place, there are so many different people located in differnt areas. That way you get a broad band of opinions. This will truely help us make a decision on not only when to go but, what to see when we get there.
Again Great Info.
I will be pulling and camping in a 28. 5ft fiver. I will be heading out there with another family, and they are driving a 2000 ford PSD, they are puling a 24ft travel trailer.
Hope they don't pass me up and leave me behind.
Thanks again and take care.
Dennis
Dbonzi
The “Park” is closed to ALL vehicular traffic (I. E. Snowmachines) about mid March so the park rangers can plow the roads. The west entrance (West Yellowstone, MT) is generally open for vehicular (facilities are still closed, NO GAS/DESIEL) traffic about the 1st or 2nd week in May. This would be from West Yellowstone, MT to Madison Junction to the Oldfaithfull areas only. The Morris Geyser (7,500’) area, Canyon (7700’), Lake and the road from Oldfaithfull to West Thumb (7,700) are the last to open. Remember the pass between O’Faith/West thumb is about 8,200’. The North entrance, Gardner, MT is open year around.
All the roads/facilities are open by Memorial Day weekend. This is of course depending on the weather. But so far it doesn’t look like Snow will be a problem. There must be a web site or phone # to call for information but I don’t know what it is. The road between Y/S and Grand Teton NP’s is generally open by M/D weekend. Our local TV/Newspaper is our source of up to date information.
We were on our annual pre-opening tour (in fact we went twice before M/D weekend) last year and saw the first Grizzly Bear we have seen in years. There were hundreds of baby Bison (NOT BUFFALO) some were so young, the umbilical cords hadn’t dropped off yet. Not many Elk though, I think that they were still in the “high” country. The Y/S site that is mentioned in one of the above posts is the best that I have seen. Maybe they have a “contact us” link.
When you are at Oldfaithfull be sure to go inside the O/F Inn! It is AWSOME!!! We eat lunch there often.
My email is: -- email address removed -- contact me and I will keep an eye open in our newspaper as spring progresses. I think that coming as soon after school is out is your best option.
If you have the time when in G/T NP and Jackson areas be sure to see The Bar-J Chuchwagon Show.
http://www.barjchuckwagon.com/
Excellent Show, Excellent Food, Excellent Price
Hope that this helps. Have a wonderful trip.
The “Park” is closed to ALL vehicular traffic (I. E. Snowmachines) about mid March so the park rangers can plow the roads. The west entrance (West Yellowstone, MT) is generally open for vehicular (facilities are still closed, NO GAS/DESIEL) traffic about the 1st or 2nd week in May. This would be from West Yellowstone, MT to Madison Junction to the Oldfaithfull areas only. The Morris Geyser (7,500’) area, Canyon (7700’), Lake and the road from Oldfaithfull to West Thumb (7,700) are the last to open. Remember the pass between O’Faith/West thumb is about 8,200’. The North entrance, Gardner, MT is open year around.
All the roads/facilities are open by Memorial Day weekend. This is of course depending on the weather. But so far it doesn’t look like Snow will be a problem. There must be a web site or phone # to call for information but I don’t know what it is. The road between Y/S and Grand Teton NP’s is generally open by M/D weekend. Our local TV/Newspaper is our source of up to date information.
We were on our annual pre-opening tour (in fact we went twice before M/D weekend) last year and saw the first Grizzly Bear we have seen in years. There were hundreds of baby Bison (NOT BUFFALO) some were so young, the umbilical cords hadn’t dropped off yet. Not many Elk though, I think that they were still in the “high” country. The Y/S site that is mentioned in one of the above posts is the best that I have seen. Maybe they have a “contact us” link.
When you are at Oldfaithfull be sure to go inside the O/F Inn! It is AWSOME!!! We eat lunch there often.
My email is: -- email address removed -- contact me and I will keep an eye open in our newspaper as spring progresses. I think that coming as soon after school is out is your best option.
If you have the time when in G/T NP and Jackson areas be sure to see The Bar-J Chuchwagon Show.
http://www.barjchuckwagon.com/
Excellent Show, Excellent Food, Excellent Price
Hope that this helps. Have a wonderful trip.
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: Thank you all for the input
Dennis,
My wife and I had gone out there in early Sept. about 5 years and the crowds were a little less and weather was great! I think from your quote above, you are sadly mistaken and your buddy will not be able to keep up with you!
:-laf
Good Luck!
Paul
Dennis,
My wife and I had gone out there in early Sept. about 5 years and the crowds were a little less and weather was great! I think from your quote above, you are sadly mistaken and your buddy will not be able to keep up with you!
:-lafGood Luck!
Paul
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