Visiting Yellowstone National Park in October is an unforgettable experience with many amazing benefits, but the Fall season might just throw a few curve balls at your plans.
We know from first hand experience the ‘challenging’ impacts of visiting Yellowstone in October and we want you to be fully prepared for your own vacation.
This is a comprehensive guide to visiting the extraordinary geothermal landscape of Yellowstone national park in October, featuring the good, the bad and the … well, there is no ugly, this is Yellowstone after all!
There are 10 key things you need to know before you plan your Yellowstone itinerary. We’re going to explain everything you need to know with tips, advice and resources to get you ready for all eventualities.
Let’s get right into the Autumnal action!
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1. October Crowds Are A Joy At Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park leads the most popular places to visit in Wyoming race, hosting a little over 4 million tourists every year. That’s an enormous amount of people sharing attractions and cars sharing the Yellowstone grand loop road.
If you divide 4 million by 12 months you get 333,333 people per month or roughly 11,000 per day.
Sounds like you’ll be sharing the park with a lot of other people, right?
Well, more than 2 million visitors to Yellowstone arrive in June, July and August alone. Those 3 months account for well over 50% of total visits each year.
October and May are the two best months to visit Yellowstone if your top priority is avoiding huge crowds of tourists, while still benefiting from reasonable temperatures and the park being completely open.
Yellowstone Visitor Statistics In October
As you can see in the infographic above, October is the month of real transition in crowd numbers at Yellowstone National Park following the much busier Summer season.
We included data from 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, but didn’t include any data for 2020 or 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic significantly skewing results.
Visitor numbers to Yellowstone in October were as follows:
- 2016 – 242,005
- 2017 – 211,986
- 2018 – 218,076
- 2019 – 171,339
In October 2019, Yellowstone only welcomed 171,339 tourists for the entire month. A daily total of 5,527 people is pretty sparse for a park the size of Yellowstone.
July is consistently the busiest month at Yellowstone National Park, welcoming just short of 1 million visitors each year.
In July 2019, a total of 936,062 people visited Yellowstone. That makes for a daily average of 30,196 tourists, which is almost 5 and a half times more than October in the same year.
See more data and sourced statistics here.
How do fewer crowds in October benefit you at Yellowstone?
- Attractions will be free from overcrowding (for the most part).
- You stand a much better chance of booking into a hotel, cabin or campground inside the park.
- In Summer, you can expect to see anywhere between 70-100 thousand visitors per month just from tour buses. We saw a grand total of 1 tour bus in October.
- Hiking trails will be empty, which means better wildlife spotting opportunities.
- Photography will be much easier at the star attractions.
- The roads won’t be backed up every time you try to get anywhere.
Are there any other months you can visit Yellowstone without the crowds?
Yellowstone is one of the best national parks to visit in the USA and it will be extremely busy throughout Summer.
However, you can visit either in October as we are discussing in this guide, or you can visit Yellowstone in April to enjoy the freedom of the park right as it opens for the season half way through the month.
Just be aware there are a number of important things to consider before arriving, such as weather, roads access and lodging.
2. Weather is Unpredictable at Yellowstone in October
We typically recommend visiting US National Parks in April, May, September and October when appropriate. Shoulder seasons are far more relaxing than Summer.
However, Yellowstone is in Northwest Wyoming and in October the weather can be extreme and entirely unpredictable. Weather in other popular places like Yosemite National Park and Acadia National Park is more predictable at this time of year.
This is both good and bad. On one hand it keeps the hordes of tourists at bay but on the other hand it can impact your plans, like road closures, hiking trails closing and even safety.
If you visit Yellowstone in Summer, the likelihood is warm sunny days and occasional cloud or rain showers. But in October, anything can happen.
You could get lucky with clear blue skies during the day with chilly mornings and nights. Alternatively, you could end up having to scramble and adapt your itinerary last minute as we did.
Our Negative Experience With Weather
We had just finished an amazing 4 days road trip in South Dakota and drove West to Cody, Wyoming to spend a night before entering Yellowstone via East entrance on October 9th.
However, an almighty snow dumping overnight put the brakes on our visit. All roads in, out and around the park closed, with the exception of North entrance (Mammoth).
As a result, people in Southern parts of the park such as Old Faithful and Central parts like Canyon couldn’t leave. And of course, we couldn’t get in.
Fortunately, our bookings at each hotel inside the park were moved back by one night so we didn’t lose any money.
Instead of entering via East entrance, we had to drive North and then West over WY-296 (which turned out to be incredibly scenic) to enter the park via Northeast entrance (Cooke City) a day later than planned.
The extra 4 hours of driving didn’t concern us but we had to drive through Lamar Valley at lunch time. Lamar is the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone and midday is the worst time for animal activity!
That same downpour of heavy snow also caused the seasonal closure of the road between Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon, which meant the Mt Washburn hike wasn’t accessible.
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
With all that said, Yellowstone covered in snow is a magical place. We felt fortunate to see both sun and snow in the park.
Trees were covered in frozen snow, colorful hot springs were vibrant against white and it was like a Winter wonderland with eerie mist and dense fog creating a surreal but beautiful natural environment.
It never got above freezing during the 4 days we spent inside the park, which made mornings and evenings dangerously cold to be out taking photographs – but we had full ski gear on and didn’t have to share the photography dance floor with dozens of others.
How does this impact you?
- Pack for Winter but hope for Fall.
- Snow pants, Winter jackets and appropriate footwear are required. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Hiking trails may close without much warning.
- If Tower-Roosevelt (Tower Falls, Mt Washburn) is open when you arrive and the forecast looks ominous, prioritize this area.
- Have a backup plan in case roads in or out close unexpectedly.
- Keep a close eye on live Yellowstone weather reports in the days leading up to your visit and each day you are in the park.
Yellowstone is one of the most popular places to visit in the USA for domestic and international travelers. Planning your trip for October can be risky but if the weather plays ball it can significantly improve your overall experience at Yellowstone.
3. Logistics Can Be An Issue In Fall
Weather naturally leads us into travel logistics and planning for your visit to Yellowstone. It’s likely you won’t face any travel issues but in October it is prudent to keep on top of logistics updates around the park.
Roads don’t officially close until the beginning of November. It would take a snow dumping like we experienced to close any roads earlier but it can happen. Planning a USA road trip around the Yellowstone area in October is a gamble, but the rewards are great if you are lucky with weather.
If the weather plays nicely, you will enjoy freedom of the loop road and be able to park at all attractions without too much fuss.
Even if the weather doesn’t take a turn for the worse, it’s a good idea to always keep up to date with road openings / closures.
The positive side of logistics in Yellowstone during October is how empty the roads will be compared to Summer.
Are you planning to fly to a nearby airport and hire a car to explore Yellowstone? Read our in depth guide on the best airports near Yellowstone to help plan your visit.
What can you do to prepare?
- You can see a current road status report and map here. This also shows ongoing national park projects which also keep certain areas closed (not just in October but all year in some instances).
- Add a day or two of fudge around your itinerary if possible in case you can’t get in our out of the park.
- Have a backup plan for entering the park. For example, South entrance closes, so you will enter via West entrance.
- Read our detailed guides on how to plan a road trip and how to pack for a road trip.
4. Yellowstone Park Hotels Begin To Close Their Doors For Winter In October
All being well with the aforementioned weather and logistics, visiting Yellowstone in October has some serious benefits, including hotel room availability.
Getting booked into national park hotels is notoriously difficult for the majority of the year, but at the beginning of October right before the park closes for its Winter season, there are usually some rooms free even if you book late.
If you left things late in Summer you would have no chance getting a hotel room within the park and you’d have to leave each day to Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Cooke City or even Jackson.
However, this comes with a very important notice:
Most of Yellowstone’s hotel accommodation closes around October 11 each year. So if you’re planning a late October visit you have very limited options which can affect your itinerary.
Closing dates for most of Yellowstone’s popular accommodation
- Canyon Village – All lodges and cabins close mid-October (Canyon campground closes in Sept)
- Madison – Campground closes mid-October
- Mammoth – Campground open all year, cabins close Sept but hotel open until late November
- Inn at Old Faithful – Hotel closes mid-October
- Lodge and Cabins at Old Faithful – Cabins close mid-October
- Snow Lodge at Old Faithful – Hotel and cabins close mid-October
- Grant Village Lodge – Hotel closes early October
- Lewis Lake – Campground open until early November
Keep in mind these closing times will slightly differ each year.
Check this list of all Yellowstone accommodation opening/closing dates for your visit.
Mammoth hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge are your best bet for accommodation at Yellowstone if visiting mid to late October.
Book ahead of time if you know your dates in advance to guarantee your rooms.
Top Rated Accommodation Options In West Yellowstone And Gardiner
If national park hotels are closed, too expensive or fully booked during the dates you plan to visit Yellowstone, your next best option is to stay in either West Yellowstone or Gardiner.
West Yellowstone is the larger town with more hotel and dining options. It also has a central location which makes access to more areas of the the park much more convenient.
Gardiner is located just a few miles from Mammoth Hot Springs to the far Northwest of Yellowstone. Perfect for Mammoth and Lamar Valley (top wildlife viewing), but quite a drive to Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring.
Ideally, you would book a night or two in each town to help split up the park with less drive time required.
Read our popular guide on the best places to stay inside and near Yellowstone to help with booking your accommodation. This popular guide has helped thousands of visitors to Yellowstone work out the best place to stay.
Or if you’d rather see a quick summary, here are the top two hotels we see travelers book for both West Yellowstone and Gardiner (with guest ratings as per Booking.com):
West Yellowstone:
- Budget: Kelly Inn – Rating 8.6 / 10
- Luxury: Explorer Cabins – Rating 8.8 / 10
Gardiner:
- Mid-range: Yellowstone Riverside Cottages – Rating 9.1 / 10
- Mid-range: Yellowstone Gateway Inn – Rating 9.3 / 10
5. Fall Colors Are A Yellowstone Bonus In Autumn
Right before the huge snowfall we had in Cody, the entire grassy landscape around us was a stunning burnt orange color with yellow and green leaves glowing from trees.
You don’t need us to tell you about Fall colors but if you do visit Yellowstone in October, you can expect to see gorgeous colors bringing an already beautiful landscape even more to life.
Foliage isn’t going to be anything like New England but it will still be incredibly attractive and another feather in the cap of an October visit to Yellowstone.
6. Wildlife Is Abundant In October
Autumn brings out the best of Elk as they enter breeding season, called the rut.
This means visitors not only get to see Elk as they migrate from higher elevations to lower ground but also enjoy listening to male Elk bugling as they vie for female attention.
Bears are preparing for hibernation season, so expect to see them on the hunt for nuts to keep in their dens over the harsh Winter period. You will need binoculars and / or a telephoto lens for your camera if you want to see bears in the wild.
Bison are easier to see at Yellowstone than most other wildlife. They are numerous, feed throughout the day and tend to have a nonchalant approach to humans and traffic.
You will see Bison wandering around grassland across the park, elk freely roaming around built up areas (such as Mammoth hotel) and maybe catch a lone coyote or wolf prowling through long grass from the loop road.
Lamar and Hayden Valley are traditionally the best places to spot wildlife, but if hundreds of people and cars are in the area, expect wildlife to find quieter areas.
Wildlife Spotting Do’s and Don’ts
- Do not simply drive into Lamar and Hayden Valley and expect every animal in the park to walk by for your photographs!
- But Do hike a mile or so away from the roads to increase your chances of seeing wildlife exponentially.
- Do not abandon your vehicle in the road if you see a few people with cameras out.
- Instead Do drive to less well known spots where fewer people will be making noise.
- Do not go looking for animals.
- Rather Do quietly wait for them to come to you.
- Do not approach any wildlife if they are close by, especially for selfies. Not cool.
- On the contrary, Do watch quietly from your car and enjoy photographing animals in their natural habitat.
7. Hiking Is Peaceful in Fall
Hiking Yellowstone trails in October will quite literally be a breath of fresh air.
Trails will be unbearably busy in Summer months but in Fall you can expect far fewer tourists to be stomping the paths with you.
Mount Washburn is the quintessential hike at Yellowstone and one of the best hikes in the USA. If you get a clear day we suggest you hit the trail in case bad weather closes in during your visit in October.
There are a ton of other hikes you can choose between but be sure to check the current backcountry situation report for updates on trail closures and safety.
Even on a clear day, it will be cold in the morning so you will need to wrap up well with layers and take plenty of water and snacks.
Do not forget your bear spray if you intend to hike into backcountry and take everything back out of the wilderness with you.
Read our 21 tips for beginner hikers (applies to all hikers!) for more information.
8. Waterfalls Are Not In Full Flow In October
Autumn is most certainly not the best time to go waterfall hunting.
We can tell you from a lot of experience including visiting Yosemite National Park in October and the New York Finger Lakes waterfalls in September – water does not flow heavily … or sometimes even at all!
However, we’re talking about Northwest Wyoming here and Yellowstone’s waterfalls do still have a relatively high volume of water in October.
Tower Fall was inaccessible when we visited but Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River were both crashing immensely into the river below.
You won’t see waterfalls such as Mystic Falls and Fairy Falls in their full majesty if you visit in October but they will still be worth a visit. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is worth seeing on any day of the year, period.
Pro-tip: The best viewpoint / sunrise photography location for Yellowstone Falls is Artist Point on South Rim Drive.
9. Geysers and Hot Springs Can Be Less Impressive
Yellowstone National Park is famous and unique for its geothermal geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pots. However, time of year does matter for seeing them in all their glory.
For example, if you’ve seen images of Grand Prismatic Spring with incredibly bright colors in a huge circular shape – they were not taken in October. More likely they were taken on a sunny day in the middle of Summer, when the air is much warmer resulting in less steam.
When we visited, Grand Prismatic Spring was vibrant but covered in hot billowing steam and snow, thus preventing a clear picture of the hot spring. Cold air and hot water clash as Winter approaches.
On a brighter note, Old Faithful will be unaffected if you visit Yellowstone in October. The trusty geyser will blow almost right on schedule all day, every day and season will not impact on its majesty.
Many of the geyser basins were completely covered in snow when we visited. Frost and mist shrouded many of the major geysers which obstructed our views but gave us a unique experience.
If you visit before snowfall, you will have no issues being able to enjoy all of the geysers and hot springs in the park.
Best geothermal features: Steamboat geyser, artists paint pots and Turquoise Pool are some of the best lesser known attractions to include in your itinerary.
10. Photography Is Epic In October
Both Yellowstone and nearby Grand Teton National Park are staggering landscapes to photograph in October.
Fewer crowds is a big one to begin with, especially at sunrise. We had unlimited room from Artist Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Wildlife is abundant as they migrate or prepare for Winter. Telephoto lenses are required for wildlife photography and make sure you’re in the field at dawn and dusk for highest activity.
Changeable weather means you can shoot the park in snow, sun, fog, fall colors, heavy clouds, no clouds and many other scenarios. Remember your lens cleaning kit, it will be used a lot in Yellowstone.
Shorter daylight hours mean you don’t have to get up excruciatingly early for sunrise or stay out late for sunset. And the Milky Way appears around 8pm in Yellowstone during October so no waiting until 3am like Spring months.
Pro tip: Wide angle lenses work best for landscapes in the park but you will also need a telephoto lens for wildlife. Take both!
Read More About Yellowstone and Grand Teton
- Things to do: 30 Best Things To See And Do In Yellowstone National Park
- Itinerary: Ultimate First Time Visitor Guide and 4 Day Itinerary
- Spring: 10 Important Things To Know About Yellowstone In April
- Airports: Find The Best Airports For Your Trip (Arrival and Departure)
- Lodging: Where To Stay At Yellowstone – Best Places Inside And Near The Park
- Grand Teton: 7 Best Things to do and Epic 2 Day Itinerary
Read our road trips to Yellowstone:
- 7 day Salt Lake City to Grand Teton and Yellowstone road trip itinerary
- 10 day Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip itinerary
You May Also Like
- Grand Canyon: The Ultimate First Time Visitor Guide To Grand Canyon
- South Dakota: Epic 4 Day South Dakota Black Hills Road Trip Itinerary
- Utah: The Most Complete Utah Road Trip Planning Guide For All Visitors
We hope this guide helps you plan your visit to Yellowstone National Park in October!
Have you been to Yellowstone? Which is your favorite season?
Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your visit.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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