Yellowstone's geothermal basins and wildlife-filled valleys sit two hours north of Jackson Hole's ranch-town square and ski slopes. Most park roads only fully open June through September, so summer and winter offer almost entirely different trips.
Month by month
Best: June, July, August, September
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
Worth avoiding: April, November.
How long to stay
5–7 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 4.5h from the US East Coast, 11h from Europe, 18.5h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Most Yellowstone park roads close mid-October through April/May — check NPS road status before planning a shoulder-season trip.
- Distances inside the parks are deceptively long; budget 45+ minutes to drive between major areas, more with wildlife-jam traffic.
- Book Grand Teton's Jenny Lake shuttle boat and any Jackson Hole lodging months ahead for July–August.
Plan a trip to Jackson Hole & Yellowstone
Pick your dates and Offdays builds a day-by-day itinerary from Jackson Hole & Yellowstone's best places.
Destination