Yellowstone National Park (Yellowstone) weather in November
November in Yellowstone National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#9 of 12 months in Yellowstone National Park · #1236 of 1413 destinations to visit in November · comfort 55/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 1°C
- Nights
- -10°C
- Wet days
- 12
- Sun
- 6.6 h
- Humidity
- 82%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Yellowstone National Park in November
Other months in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone-forum threads on an April visit describe interior roads as genuinely opening on a staggered basis, posters naming the third Friday of the month as the historical start. Regulars call Mammoth Hotel and Cabins along with Old Faithful Snow Lodge as typically opening around the twenty-fourth, several posters naming this the real point when more lodging becomes available. Posters call the Lamar Valley road between Mammoth and Cooke City the real standout for wildlife, several regulars naming it the best route for wolf viewing alongside bears, bison, bighorn sheep, elk and coyotes. Regulars call the park genuinely not fully open in April, several threads naming closed gates, lodging and visitor centers as real limitations this early. Posters recommend May instead if bear sightings matter most, several regulars calling this the honest tradeoff for visiting in April rather than waiting. The record: 6.6C days, -9.3C nights, 57.4mm across over 11 days and 73 percent humidity.
Yellowstone-forum threads on a May visit describe the stretch from the third Friday of April through most of May as genuinely cold, posters calling not all roads and sights open yet during this window. Regulars recommend avoiding anything much earlier than May 20 for a spring trip, real risk of snow on roads and trails before that point. Regulars call lodging inside the park a genuine advantage for anyone touring multiple areas, cutting down drive time between geyser basins and wildlife-viewing stretches. Posters recommend planning a loop that balances lodges rather than backtracking, several forum regulars offering specific route suggestions based on which roads have reopened. Regulars call real layers essential regardless of a sunny afternoon, May mornings here still capable of a hard freeze. The record: 11.5C days feeling like 10C, -4C nights, an extraordinarily high 58.3mm across over 12 days and 58 percent humidity.
Yellowstone-forum threads on February describe this as genuinely one of the most scenic months for a winter visit, posters calling the geothermal features dramatically more striking with steam rising against snow and ice. Regulars call most roads closed to regular vehicles this time of year, a snow coach the standard way to reach Old Faithful and Norris Geyser Basin. Regulars describe wildlife as considerably more visible in February, animals pushed into lower valleys like Lamar making sightings genuinely easier than in summer. Posters call this the start of wolf mating season, pack activity and territorial behavior both more observable now. Regulars recommend a proper expedition-grade coat and real layers regardless of how short outdoor stops are, wind chill genuinely severe. Posters call a guided snow coach tour worth the cost for anyone unfamiliar with winter logistics. The record: -2.6C days feeling like -8C, -15.4C nights, 70.5mm across nearly 12 days and 80 percent humidity.
Yellowstone-forum threads on July weather call it the most reliable stretch of the year here, warm, sunny days that regulars still pair with a genuine overnight chill - temperatures can drop right near freezing after dark even as the afternoon runs comfortably warm. Posters describe a fairly common daily arc: a clear, mild morning, a warm midday, an afternoon thunderstorm that can drop hail with little warning, then a cool evening. The standing packing advice across threads is real layers regardless of the forecast - shorts and a t-shirt for the hike, a proper jacket for camp once the sun drops. July is also repeatedly named the best-weather month of the surrounding season, ahead of both June's lingering snowmelt and August's afternoon smoke risk some years. The record: 23.8C days feeling like 21C, 4.1C nights, just 22mm across 5.9 days, 47 percent humidity and 13.5 hours of sun.
Year-round notes are on Yellowstone National Park's overview. Add your own note from Yellowstone National Park's card on the map.
Yellowstone National Park climate normals — November
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Yellowstone National Park in November
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyThanksgiving break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Yellowstone National Park's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherYellowstone National Park's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Yellowstone National Park in November
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Bear management area closures
10 Mar – 10 Nov · usuallyClosuresParts of the backcountry shut on fixed spring and autumn dates to keep people off carcass sites and berry slopes. The dates are published and do not move for the weather, so check before planning a route. Source ↗
- Closure
Roads close for the season
12 Oct – 5 Nov · usuallyDunraven Pass and the Beartooth go first in mid-October, the rest of the interior at the beginning of November, and the park then sits empty until the oversnow season starts in December. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 56 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Yellowstone National Park — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park in November — FAQ
- Is November a good time to visit Yellowstone National Park?
- November in Yellowstone National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Yellowstone National Park on SeasonMap's comfort score (55/100).
- What is the weather like in Yellowstone National Park in November?
- In November, Yellowstone National Park averages a daily high of 0.8°C and a low of -10.3°C, with about 54.8 mm of rain over roughly 12 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Yellowstone National Park in November?
- Yellowstone National Park has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 43 in November.
- Does it snow in Yellowstone National Park in November?
- Yellowstone National Park sees roughly 56 cm of snowfall in November.
Within 300 km: Big Sky's Yellowstone roads open around 15 Apr – 5 Nov, and Jackson's Ski season around 27 Nov – 11 Apr.