Yellowstone September or October

Early September is now - and has been "discovered." Mid-September (or even the 3rd or 4th week) might work well for you, and possibly a bit easier to find reservations. Good luck!

If the weather gives you a break, it is the best time to be there. The crowds are gone, and the animals are very active preparing for winter. I started going to Yellowstone over 50 years ago and visit every September/October now with the RV. My cousins worked in the park when I was a kid and I'd spend time harassing them there many years ago.

Spend a bit of time talking with the rangers about where to go away from the crowds. We've been directed to geyser basins (previously unknown to us) where we could walk around geysers and pools by ourselves.

We now stay with friends that have 40,000 acres (3 miles on the Yellowstone River) about 30 miles north of the park in the Paradise Valley (well named), and they have another 30,000 acres in the mountains with elk camps, and has been used in movies. The best dry camping that we have ever done.

With odd weather this year, who knows what you will find. Do it.

Thanks everyone. We have been there in winter, snowmobile trip for 3 days and also summer. Would love to see it in the fall and not take our fifth wheel. Looking like early September would be the time to look at. Thanks again

It has been quite warm this year but everything in Yellowstone pretty much closes down after 1st week of Oct. I would check with hotel you are planning on for their closing dates. We live at 5000 ft and usually get our 1st frost mid Sept. Yellowstone is about 3000 ft higher. It is difficult to forecast because sometimes we get heavy snow in Oct then a very warm November.

We were in West Yellowstone last Sept/October. When we got there and there was snow and 23* as a low, then 2 days later it was great weather until we left. Half of one loop was closed for road repairs so there was much more driving than expected but it was great. The city was in the process of closing shops so the wife found many great deals!

Closures of hotels and also trails will have to do a lot with weather, as well as schedules (for the hotels). By late October, very little is open, though you could stay in one of the gateway communities (West Yellowstone, for example) and take day trips into the park, as long as the roads aren't closed due to snow. Some of the lodging in the gateway towns closes in October as well, but rates are better for those that are still open.

Fall color is already starting in the park, just FYI. And the elk rut has started. Temperatures in the park will be below freezing most nights within a few weeks.

Uppercrust wrote:
Thinking of visiting Yelowstone again interested in September or October. We will not camp, but stay in a hotel. What can we expect in those months, is September better than October? Is there a lot of stuff closed or can we still do hiking trails and stuff? Thanks

Best time to be in Yellowstone is in the Shoulder season - Indian Summer for sure BUT if you are counting on the Lodges then you will be dictated by the closing dates, so look over and either make a reservation or rent an RV....

BOL,

When in Oct? The park really starts closing down in Sept. In fact Old Faithful in closes for the "summer" on 11 Oct
You need to understand that winter comer really early there. I've seen three ft of snow on their passes in mid Sept. Not common, but it happens.
Honestly this time of year (early Sept) is one of my favorite times of the year to visit

I lived near the park for many (many) years and love the "off season"

I'd say October especially the second half could be unpredictable- snow possible. I've been snowed on at two different July's so it snows any month of the year. But the more you get into Fall the more likely it will be. YNP is at 7000-8000 feet so that moves the climate north.