United States, North America

Yellowstone in November

Most park roads close to regular vehicles in early November, and winter tours have not started. Only the northern road remains open to cars.

Think twiceWinter takes over, highs near 37F (3C)

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

The straight answer

November is a month to think twice about visiting Yellowstone. Most park roads close to regular vehicles in early November, and winter tours have not started. Only the northern road remains open to cars.

Weather: Winter takes over, highs near 37F (3C)
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What November is like in Yellowstone

November is when winter takes over, with highs near 37F (3C) and snow on the ground. Most park roads close to regular vehicles in early November, and winter tours have not started yet. Only the northern road, from Gardiner through Mammoth to Cooke City, stays open to cars. Most services are closed.

We would steer most visitors away from November. There is very little to see beyond the northern road and few places to stay inside the park. For winter scenes and snowcoach tours, wait for mid December through February. For full access, come in late May, June, or September.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Yellowstone this month.

Northern road wildlife

Bison, elk, and pronghorn are still easy to see from the one open road across the north side.

Mammoth terraces

The travertine terraces near the North Entrance are open and steamy in the cold.

Near-total quiet

The few visitors who come have the northern valleys almost to themselves.

What to pack for November

A warm winter coat and boots
Traction devices for icy paths
Binoculars
Emergency supplies in the car: blanket, food, water

Our timing tip

If you come in November, base yourself in Gardiner and stick to the northern road, and check conditions before every drive.

Book Yellowstone for November.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

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

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.