United States, North America

Yellowstone in December

Oversnow season opens roughly mid month, weather permitting. Before that, access is the northern road only; after it, the interior becomes a guided winter wonderland.

TradeoffsFull winter, highs near 27F (-3C)

Aerial view of Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone — YellowstonePhoto: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Yellowstone. Oversnow season opens roughly mid month, weather permitting. Before that, access is the northern road only; after it, the interior becomes a guided winter wonderland.

Weather: Full winter, highs near 27F (-3C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Yellowstone

December is full winter, with highs near 27F (-3C) and snow everywhere. Oversnow season usually opens around mid month, weather permitting. Before that, only the northern road is open to cars. After that, guided snowcoach and snowmobile tours take visitors into the interior, to places like Old Faithful. Crowds are tiny.

It suits wildlife fans, photographers, and families who love snow and want a quiet holiday. Book snowcoach tours and winter lodging early, since capacity is limited and priced to match. If you want a road trip with every sight open, plan for late May, June, or September.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Yellowstone this month.

Winter season opens

Guided oversnow trips usually begin around mid December, opening up the snowy geyser basins.

Wolf watching begins

Winter wolf season starts in the northern valleys, with Lamar Valley the best place to look.

Holidays in the snow

A winter holiday week here means steam, snow, and wildlife with almost no one else around.

What to pack for December

An insulated parka and snow pants
Warm boots rated for deep cold
Goggles or sunglasses for snow glare
Hand warmers and a thermos

Our timing tip

Plan any December interior trip for the second half of the month, after oversnow season opens, and book snowcoach seats well in advance.

Book Yellowstone for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Yellowstone
Opens a hotel search for Yellowstone in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Yellowstone
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Yellowstone
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Yellowstone for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Winter wolf-watching season

December through March in the northern valleys

Snow concentrates prey and makes wolves visible; the Lamar Valley draws spotters from around the world all winter.

Things to do in Yellowstone

Full guide

Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin

See the famous eruption, then walk the basin's boardwalks, where Grand, Riverside, and Castle geysers reward those who check predicted times at the visitor center.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Grand Prismatic Spring

The boardwalk gets you close; the overlook trail from the Fairy Falls parking area gets you the postcard view. Midday color is best, midday parking is worst.

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Lamar Valley at dawn

The park's wildlife theater: wolves, bison, bears, and pronghorn. Bring binoculars, arrive before sunrise, and pull fully off the road to watch.

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Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Artist Point at sunrise is the classic. The Uncle Tom's area and North Rim viewpoints each frame the Lower Falls differently; give the canyon a half day.

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Hayden Valley

The central bison superhighway, best at dawn and dusk. Traffic jams here are caused by the residents; budget slack time in every drive.

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Mammoth Hot Springs

Travertine terraces near the year-round North Entrance. In September and October, rutting elk take over the lawns; give them serious distance.

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Beat the crowds

Work dawn to 10am and 5pm to dusk, and hide out midday: wildlife and parking both vanish in the middle of the day in summer, and both return in the evening.
Sleep inside the park or in Gardiner or Cooke City on the quieter north side; day-trippers from West Yellowstone and Jackson all surge in on the same schedule.
Drive the Grand Loop counterclockwise to the day-tripper flow and hit the marquee basins at breakfast or dinner time rather than at noon.
Walk ten minutes past any trailhead: even in August, the crowds evaporate a half mile from the road at spots like the Fairy Falls approach or the canyon rim trails.

Know before you go

Most park roads close to regular vehicles from about early November to late April, with openings staged through spring: west-side roads typically first in late April, higher passes like Dunraven last, into late May. Snow can delay any of it.
The one year-round road runs across the park's north side, from the North Entrance at Gardiner through Mammoth to the Northeast Entrance and Cooke City. In winter that is the only park road for regular cars, and the highway beyond Cooke City closes seasonally.
Winter interior access runs roughly mid December to mid March, by commercially guided snowcoach and snowmobile only, to destinations like Old Faithful. It is unforgettable, capacity-limited, and priced accordingly; book well ahead.
In-park lodges, campgrounds, and services operate seasonally, mostly from May or June to early October, with only limited winter operations. October and April visitors should expect most services closed even when some roads are open.