United States, North America

Yellowstone in March

Oversnow travel ends mid month and spring plowing begins. The park enters its awkward in-between; only the northern road serves regular cars.

Think twiceStill winter, highs near 39F (4C)

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

The straight answer

March is a month to think twice about visiting Yellowstone. Oversnow travel ends mid month and spring plowing begins. The park enters its awkward in-between; only the northern road serves regular cars.

Weather: Still winter, highs near 39F (4C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Yellowstone

March is still winter, with highs near 39F (4C) and snow on the ground. Oversnow travel ends in the middle of the month and spring plowing begins, so the park enters an awkward in-between. Only the northern road serves regular cars, and most services are closed.

We would steer most visitors away from March. There is little you can reach and few places to stay inside the park. Wolf watchers on the northern road can still have good days early in the month. For a full trip with open roads and baby animals, come in late May or June instead.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Yellowstone this month.

Last weeks of wolf season

Early March can still be excellent for wolf watching along the northern road through Lamar Valley.

Final snowcoach trips

If you come in the first half of the month, you may catch the last guided oversnow trips into the interior.

Near-empty park

The few visitors who come have the northern road almost to themselves, a quiet time for photographers.

What to pack for March

A warm winter coat and boots
Binoculars for wildlife
Traction devices for icy paths
Warm gloves and a hat

Our timing tip

If you must come in March, go in the first half of the month so you can still book a snowcoach trip before oversnow season ends.

Book Yellowstone for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Yellowstone
Opens a hotel search for Yellowstone in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
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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 March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

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.