Yellowstone in Winter: What to Know Before You Go

Thinking about visiting Yellowstone National Park in winter? It’s quieter, wilder, and more deliberate than most people expect. Prepare for small crowds (but lots of wolf watchers) and magical views of America’s first national park under a blanket of white, sparkling snow. It’s a true winter wonderland.

On our first winter trip, we snowmobiled next to a herd of bison. We watched Old Faithful erupt with front-row viewing access. We spent nearly an hour watching a red fox hunt, eat, and nap right off the road. We ended our days soaking in hot springs surrounded by crisp mountain air.

Visiting Yellowstone is one of the best ways to enjoy winter… and winter is one of the best ways to see Yellowstone. As just about everyone told us, once you see Yellowstone through snow-capped mountains and frost-covered bison, you won’t want to see it any other way!

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Winter in Yellowstone, simplified

Winter in Yellowstone works differently than people expect. Here’s the simplest way to understand it: You can drive into Yellowstone in winter, but only across the Northern Range between Gardiner and Cooke City.

Everything else, including Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, requires over-snow transportation like a snowcoach or a guided snowmobile tour.

Once you understand that split, planning gets much easier.

Winter in Yellowstone is not the season for checking off everything on the map. It’s the season for picking a few unforgettable experiences and giving yourself the time to do them well.

If you want the full picture without getting overwhelmed, these pages break winter planning into clear pieces.

Road access and winter driving: Can you drive Yellowstone in winter? Here’s what’s open and how to get around

Where to stay: Where to stay in Yellowstone in winter

How to get here: How to get to Yellowstone in winter

Old Faithful logistics: How to See Old Faithful in the Winter

Snowmobiling in Yellowstone: Is It Worth It? (Our Honest Take + What to Expect)

Gardiner basecamp: 10 Best Things to Do in Gardiner, MT, in Winter

Packing: Yellowstone winter packing list

Monthly planning: Yellowstone in December, Yellowstone in January, Yellowstone in February

If you only read one thing before you arrive, read the road access guide. It prevents most winter confusion.

Why visit Yellowstone in winter

Here’s why we keep coming back: Fewer people, more space. You can pull into a turnout without fighting for space and take your time without feeling rushed.

Wildlife is also easier to spot against the snow. Animals move down into valleys and along plowed roads, and snow makes movement stand out. If wolves are on your list, winter gives you a better chance of spotting them.

Winter is naturally a slower time of year to visit Yellowstone. You do fewer things each day, but they tend to feel bigger. It’s a good trip for people who like quiet drives, winter sports, long looks through binoculars, and early nights.

Best time to visit Yellowstone in winter

There’s no bad month to visit Yellowstone, and that’s true in the winter, too. We’ve visited the park in every month, and there is always something special happening if you know where to look.

Yellowstone’s winter season typically runs mid-December through mid-March, when over-snow travel to the interior is operating.

Each month has a slightly different feel, mostly because of daylight, temperature swings, and tour availability.

December feels festive and quiet, with early sunsets and a mix of open ground and deep winter conditions depending on the year.

January is colder and more intense, with the most true-winter atmosphere.

February often hits the sweet spot for winter travel because days are a little longer, and wolf watching is excellent.

For a realistic look at what changes month to month, use these monthly guides: Yellowstone in December, Yellowstone in January, Yellowstone in February

Where to stay for a winter trip

In winter, lodging is strategy. Where you stay determines how your days work.

Most first-time winter trips go best with a split stay.

Gardiner, Montana, is the best base if you want to drive into the park daily for wildlife and scenery on the Northern Range.

West Yellowstone is the easiest base if guided snowmobile or snowcoach tours are a priority.

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is the only in-park lodging you can access by regular vehicle in winter.

Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the most immersive in-park winter stay, but it requires over-snow transportation to get there.

For the full breakdown and how to choose, start here: Where to stay in Yellowstone in winter

Gardiner is our main base for visiting Yellowstone in the winter. If you’re staying here, this guide walks through what you can actually do each day, from wildlife drives to hot springs: 10 Best Things to Do in Gardiner, MT, in Winter

We also host winter guests in Gardiner at our Cozy Yellowstone Compound and Yellowstone Christmas Cabin, just outside the North Entrance.

How to get to Yellowstone in winter

Most travelers fly into Bozeman and rent a car. It’s the most reliable setup and provides the flexibility winter trips typically require.

You can also road trip in winter. We’ve driven from Dallas to Yellowstone in winter twice, once in January and once in December. It’s doable, but it’s not our first recommendation unless you have buffer time and patience.

If you want the full breakdown on flying, rental cars, and routes to each winter base, use this: How to get to Yellowstone in winter

What you can do in Yellowstone in winter

Winter experiences fall into two buckets: what you can do with your own car, and what you can only do by over-snow transportation.

If you’re driving yourself, focus on the Northern Range. This is where winter wildlife watching happens and where the park stays accessible by regular vehicle.

If you want to see the interior, plan for a snowcoach or a guided snowmobile tour. That’s how you reach places like Old Faithful.

Here are the winter highlights we recommend most:

Drive the Northern Range

Driving from Gardiner, MT, to Cooke City, MT, is one of the very first things we recommend you do after arriving to Yellowstone in winter. This 55-mile drive between Yellowstone’s North and Northeast Entrances is magnificent!

Take in the views from the Gardner River Bridge (particularly when driving back toward Gardiner) and the Icebox Canyon (between Lamar Valley and the Northeast Entrance). These are two of my favorite views when driving through Yellowstone in the winter.

After you arrive in Cooke City, grab a hot chocolate at Cooke City Coffee before turning around. There are public restrooms at the Visitor Center in Cooke City.

Winter Wildlife Watching

If wildlife is your priority, you’ll want to spend a lot of time between Gardiner and Cooke City, especially in the world-famous Lamar Valley. This area offers the best year-round opportunities to see animals in Yellowstone.

Over our winter trips, we’ve seen wolves, red foxes, coyotes, bison, elk, pronghorn, moose, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and golden eagles.

The big thing to remember about winter wildlife is it’s a numbers game. Some days are quiet. Other days feel unreal. If wildlife is high on your list, give yourself extra days and plan to drive the Northern Range more than once.

For a deeper look at what winter wildlife watching is really like, including where to go, who you’ll meet, and what to expect day to day, read our full guide to winter wildlife watching in Yellowstone.

Beyond the Northern Range, wildlife can also be spotted near Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by taking a snowcoach or snowmobile tour.

Witness an Old Faithful Geyser eruption

Old Faithful erupts year-round, and winter offers a significantly less-crowded show than the summer months.

Getting to Old Faithful in the winter is an all-day commitment and requires over-snow transportation, but it’s absolutely worth the trek. We highly recommend booking a snowcoach tour to Old Faithful if this is your first time visiting Yellowstone in the winter.

Here’s exactly how it works: How to see Old Faithful in winter

Snowmobile through the park’s interior

This is the most adventurous way to see Yellowstone in the winter! Guided tours can take you to Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for views of iconic spots like Artist Point.

We had a blast snowmobiling through Yellowstone, but it’s not for everyone. Here’s our honest take: Snowmobiling in Yellowstone: Is It Worth It? + What to Expect

Walk the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

Mammoth is one of the easiest geothermal areas to access in winter. You can drive your own car to the parking lot and then enjoy a quiet boardwalk stroll through the Upper and Lower Terraces.

Having trails to yourself is one of the top reasons to visit Yellowstone in the winter, but it comes with a small tradeoff: Some trails and sections will be closed when you’re visiting. This is one of those things to remember about making a trip to Yellowstone in the winter: some roads, trails, campgrounds, entrances, restaurants, etc., will be closed.

That’s part of the fun (or maybe, the adventure?) of visiting during this quieter time of the year, so don’t fret when you stumble upon a closure notice at the Hot Springs Terraces or anywhere else. Listen to park rangers and abide by all signs to keep you and wildlife safe. Enjoy what is open and the front-row viewing access you’re offered!

Snowshoe or cross-country ski

If you like hiking during the summer, you’ll probably enjoy snowshoeing in the winter. It’s one of the best ways to get off the road during the winter months.

There are many trails near Mammoth Hot Springs and along Yellowstone’s Northern Range, including the Upper Terrace Loop, Blacktail Plateau Ski Trail, and the Barronette Ski Trail.

If you want to explore deeper into the park, guided snowcoach tours and ski shuttles depart from Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful. These provide access to trailheads throughout Yellowstone’s interior, such as Lone Star Geyser Trail and Biscuit Basin Trail.

💡 RTL Tip: On our first winter trip, we booked a snowshoe tour with Yellowstone Safari. We enjoyed it so much that we now have our own shoeshoes and head out solo every chance we get.

Soak in hot springs outside the park

A hot soak after a cold day is one of the best winter rituals in the area. Drive 10 minutes north of Gardiner to Yellowstone Hot Springs or about 40 minutes to Chico Hot Springs. It’s the perfect way to spend a relaxing afternoon or evening in the winter.

A simple Yellowstone winter itinerary

If you’re visiting for about a week, this structure works well for a first winter trip: 3 nights in West Yellowstone (or Old Faithful Snow Lodge) for interior tours and 3 to 4 nights in Gardiner (or Mammoth) for wildlife drives and Northern Range access.

This split gives you both sides of winter Yellowstone without trying to force too much into one base.

If you have an early flight out of Bozeman, spend your last night in Bozeman. Winter roads can be slow in the mornings, and it’s not worth adding stress at the end of your trip.

What to pack for winter Yellowstone

You don’t need a suitcase full of specialty gear, but you do need the basics that keep you warm while standing still.

Wildlife watching is the most common moment people underestimate. You’re often standing at a pullout, barely moving, with wind in your face. Don’t forget gloves, winter socks & boots, and a hat, neck gaiter, or buff to keep you warm.

For our full list, including what we always pack for Yellowstone winter, use this: Yellowstone packing list

How to dress for winter weather

Here’s exactly how we dress for Yellowstone in the winter.

For snowshoeing, we wear a thermal baselayer, wool socks, waterproof snow pants, two jackets (one lightweight and one winter jacket), a buff, earmuffs/hat, and winter boots. We’re usually comfortable in this (and even get warm) because we’re moving.

For snowcoach tours, we wear thermal baselayers, two jackets (me: lightweight and heavy, Jon: hoodie and jacket), sweatpants (mine: water-resistant, Jon’s: standard), winter boots, gloves, sunglasses, and buffs. We’re comfortable hopping in and out of the bus like this, and this is usually how we dress for driving days through the park.

For snowmobiling, we wear our normal winter gear, plus rent snowmobile suits and accessories from our guides.

Travel tips that make winter smoother

• Base yourself near the North Entrance if you want to self-drive

• Snowmobile tours run out of West Yellowstone

• Stay for at least one night in Old Faithful Snow Lodge for best Old Faithful access

• Drive the Northern Range on clear days for wildlife and scenery

• Use snowcoach tours or transportation to reach Yellowstone’s interior, including Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

• Book everything early, especially around holidays

• Build buffer time into your schedule. Weather changes fast, tours can cancel, and roads can close temporarily. Flexibility is the difference between stress and a great trip.

• Check the road status each morning. Don’t rely on Google Maps in winter, because it may route you through roads that do not exist for cars.

• Plan out-and-back days. Winter does not work like a loop. Pick one focus per day and give yourself room for weather and wildlife.

Is Yellowstone in winter worth it?

Yes, if you like quiet, wildlife, and winter landscapes. It’s truly a magical time of year and unlike any other season. Plus, snowcoach and snowmobile tours are fun and unique ways to experience the park. If you opt for exploring on foot, you’ll feel like you have the park all to yourself.

Just come with the right expectations. Winter Yellowstone is not built for speed. It’s built for wonder, patience, and a dash of adventure.

If winter Yellowstone already feels exciting but a little overwhelming, our All-Seasons Yellowstone Travel Guide pulls everything together in one place. It includes our exact winter routing, lodging strategy, wildlife-focused drives, and a realistic 7-day winter itinerary built around what’s actually open.

It’s the guide we wish we’d had before our first winter trip!

Is winter the best time to visit Yellowstone?

On our first Yellowstone winter visit, we asked almost everyone we met (including all of our tour guides) when their favorite time of year was in Yellowstone. Everyone we talked to said pretty much the same thing: You’re in for a special treat visiting Yellowstone in the winter and, once you see Yellowstone under a blanket of snow, you won’t want to see it any other way.

That said, there’s no bad day—or bad time—to be in the park. The best time to visit Yellowstone depends on what you want to do and see. (See our guide to the best and worst times to visit Yellowstone.) If your heart is set on a winter wonderland, everyone is right: Yellowstone under a blanket of snow is stunning!

Here’s what else I’d add if you’re thinking about planning a winter trip: Is it worth it to put a Yellowstone winter on your bucket list? 100%. No question. But would I plan my first trip to Yellowstone in the winter? No. Roads are closed, campgrounds are closed, and if you want to see as much of Yellowstone as possible, you’ll need a large budget to book things like snowmobile tours, snow coach tours, and snowshoe trips.

Plan your first trip to Yellowstone for the summer or fall, so you can see Yellowstone in its fullest, most colorful glory. Then, when you fall in love with America’s first national park (and you will), plan your winter trip next.

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