Yellowstone NP: Best Time To Visit?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yellowstone NP: Best Time To Visit?
I'm hoping to visit Yellowstone & GTNP next year. I would like to go when it is warm enough to be comfortable hiking in shorts and yet avoid the peak - season crowds and hotel rates of mid-summer. Wishful thinking on my part?
My two best windows of opportunity appear to be early June just before the schools let out or late August / early September when classes resume.
What am I likely to find out there in terms of weather, access, people, and prices if I go during these periods?
My two best windows of opportunity appear to be early June just before the schools let out or late August / early September when classes resume.
What am I likely to find out there in terms of weather, access, people, and prices if I go during these periods?
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How cold can it be and you will still wear shorts? You can never rely on the weather in Yellowstone! We've seen it snow a couple of inches in Mid July! We've also been twice in early June and once in September.
We were there the first week of June and we could really see the difference in the crowds by the second week! Nothing like the summer crowds thou!
If I had to guess, I'd say that fall might be your better chance at warmer weather...but don't hold me to it!
Utahtea
We were there the first week of June and we could really see the difference in the crowds by the second week! Nothing like the summer crowds thou!
If I had to guess, I'd say that fall might be your better chance at warmer weather...but don't hold me to it!
Utahtea
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Utahtea, I vividly remembering an early September day when we wore gloves and warm jackets for a 7 a.m. float trip in the Teton and then wore shorts that same afternoon when it was considerably warmer. And, oh yes, when we flew out of Jackson on September 10th or 11th, it was snowing! But, for the rest of the 10-day trip, the weather was wonderful.
We've also been to the area in the summer, and we'll take September any time!
We've also been to the area in the summer, and we'll take September any time!
#6
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 11,525
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We went in early June last year; we all packed shorts but didn't wear them until we were on our way home. It was still cold, especially in Yellowstone where some of the lakes were still partially frozen and there was still snow on the ground. It was lovely, though, and we had a great time.
Lee Ann
Lee Ann
#8
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went this year in early June. The temperature dipped below freezing at night, and I don't think it made it above 50 degrees during the day.
Last year I went in early September. I think I never got to wear shorts, and I remember having a fleece on most of the time. I drove through a snowstorm on my way out of the South Entrance. The next day I was hiking in Arches NP in 90-degree heat.
Last year I went in early September. I think I never got to wear shorts, and I remember having a fleece on most of the time. I drove through a snowstorm on my way out of the South Entrance. The next day I was hiking in Arches NP in 90-degree heat.
#12
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,904
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are positives to both June and September. June has baby animals and longer daylight hours, September has animals in rut and fall color. Both have fewer people than mid summer, take your pick and go and enjoy a beautiful park.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think it is definitely a choice between "crowds and shorts" and "no crowds and no shorts." Rather, I think we veterans of the area are saying that there's no guarantee of a certain type of weather, temperature-wise. As I previously mentioned, we definitely had no crowds and wore shorts most of the time during our early September visit. Meanwhile, others are saying that their weather wasn't was conducive to wearing shorts.
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking at our pictures for the first two weeks of June of 2006, it was mostly short sleeves shirts, jeans and light jacket weather. Looking at the first two week in Sept of 2008 it was mostly long sleeves, jeans and heavier jacket weather. If my DH has on a jacket....you know it's cold!
Utahtea
Utahtea
#16
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 877
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were there last week. First morning at Yellowstone it was 25 degrees at 6:30 am, next morning it was 27 degrees. High for the days was 68-70. Grand Tetons was slightly warmer. It didn't seem very crowded but we did have some waits at restaurants and we couldn't get a dinner reservation at Jackson Lake Lodge Mural Room the first night we were there. The restaurant situation seemed to be mostly a factor of staffing since there were empty tables. Perhaps the college kids had returned to school.
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow, thanks for the feedback. So, in a nutshell: all bets are off when it comes to the weather! I'll pack light on the shorts.
Part II: Finances. Any real difference in the trip costs of June vs. September?
Part II: Finances. Any real difference in the trip costs of June vs. September?
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
But, do take some shorts! While I seem in the distinct minority of posters in that I had warmer weather in September than the others, don't lose sight of the fact that it's a possibility that you could experience the same.
As I wrote earlier, we also did experience weather cold enough for us to wear gloves on an early morning float trip, but then experienced weather warm enough on the same day to wear shorts.
Keep your weather options open when it comes to packing clothes.
As I wrote earlier, we also did experience weather cold enough for us to wear gloves on an early morning float trip, but then experienced weather warm enough on the same day to wear shorts.
Keep your weather options open when it comes to packing clothes.