Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

We are planning a trip to Yellowstone national Park and up to Canada next year. Our most important question is " when is the best time "? I heard from some people that it can be verry cold . Boer. my e-mail is: aimejosee@skynet.be

If you're planning on going this year, I'd say the best time to go is September or October. However, if you plan to go next year, then May or June are perfect months. The summers are extremely hot.

We did a motorcycle ride up that way in late August and early September. It was hot. Until we got up to Jasper and Banff it did not cool off and then only during the early AM.

Early June, in my opinion. The Park is fully operational at that time. My wife and I just got back and loved every aspect of the park. The only "crowd" was at "Old Faithful" and that was only about 150 people. The weather was touch and go, but did not bother us. Up to 80F in day to 31F at night. A chance of a shower (a little on one day) or a snow flurry (two hours worth of white stuff one night) but not anything big to worry about weatherwise. The animal babies are out and about, so it is a double treat. The rivers and falls are near peak and the boardwalks around the many sights are almost empty of fellow tourists.

I've traveled the park over 20 times and throughout different times of the year, including dead of winter on snowmobile.
In my opinion, Early - late August is the best.

Days are warm, bright and sunny. Seldom rains.
Nights are crisp, bright and clear.
Tourist crowds has ebbed as school is back in session.
Animals are out in full force stocking up for the upcoming winter months and you see a lot with their babies.
Elk are starting to bugle, especially in Mammoth area and in Grand Teton National Park.
Aspen have begun turning gold in the higher elevations.

I hope this helps.
Homer