United States, North America

Yellowstone in September

The elk rut echoes through Mammoth, bears feed hard before winter, and crowds thin every week. For many regulars this is the month.

BestCrisp, highs near 66F (19C), first dustings up high

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

The straight answer

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Yellowstone. The elk rut echoes through Mammoth, bears feed hard before winter, and crowds thin every week. For many regulars this is the month.

Weather: Crisp, highs near 66F (19C), first dustings up high
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What September is like in Yellowstone

September is a favorite month for regulars. Days are crisp, with highs near 66F (19C), and the first dustings of snow can show up high. The elk rut echoes through Mammoth Hot Springs, bears feed hard before winter, and crowds thin every week. Prices are still fairly high early in the month.

It suits couples, wildlife fans, and families with young kids not yet in school. All roads are usually open, and the second half of the month is the sweet spot. Pack for cold mornings and quick weather changes. If you need warm weather, go in June or July instead.

Make the most of September

What is especially good about Yellowstone this month.

Elk rut at Mammoth

Bull elk bugle and spar right on the lawns at Mammoth Hot Springs. Give them serious distance, as they can charge.

Bears on the move

Bears feed heavily before winter, so September is a good time to spot them from the road.

Thinner crowds

Each week of September brings fewer visitors, so the geyser basins and viewpoints feel calmer.

What to pack for September

A warm jacket, hat, and gloves for cold mornings
Layers for mild afternoons
Waterproof hiking shoes
Binoculars for elk and bears
Bear spray

Our timing tip

Come in the second half of September for thin crowds, and stay at least 25 yards from elk around Mammoth, where rutting bulls are unpredictable.

Book Yellowstone for September.

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

What's on in September

Elk rut

September into early October

Bulls bugle and spar, famously right in Mammoth Hot Springs. One of the great autumn wildlife shows in North America.

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.

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.