Visiting Yellowstone National Park in July
July is always a tricky time to visit the national parks. On one hand, the weather is great and if you have a family it’s the most convenient time to travel. On the other hand, everyone else is thinking the same way you are, and naturally this is the busiest time of year in most of the more popular parks. Yellowstone in no exception. The weather in Yellowstone is optimal in July, but as you can imagine, this is when the summer crowds reach their peak. It’s hard to go wrong visiting this incredible park, but make sure you know what to expect and plan the details of your trip well in advance.
Weather
July is the warmest month in Yellowstone with average high temperatures in the low 70’s. It’s also the driest month of the year with only 5 days of rain on average. If you’re looking for the best time of year to visit in terms of weather alone, then July is your best bet. That being said, the early mornings and evenings can get chilly, especially at the higher elevations, so be sure to pack layers.
Crowds
Yellowstone was the 6th most visited national park in 2017 with over 4.1 million visitors. The vast majority of these visitors come during the summer with July being the most popular month. While you may be picturing vast open spaces and remote wilderness, you will oftentimes feel like you’re in a dense urban area while struggling to find parking near the most popular attractions in the park (you’ll feel like you’re going to a concert when you go to see Old Faithful). Hotels and campgrounds will book well in advance and will be at their most expensive in July so make sure to make arrangements several months to a year in advance. If you’re hoping to escape the crowds, it’s not difficult to do. Most visitors don’t venture beyond the park’s paved roads, so getting out on the hiking trails is an easy way to experience the natural beauty in peace.
Wildlife
July is a great time to spot wildlife in Yellowstone. Bears emerge from hibernation in March/April and usually don’t head for higher elevation until later in the summer. If you go to Lamar Valley or Hayden Valley at dawn/dusk, you’ll have decent odds of spotting a grizzly off in the distance. If you’re lucky you’ll see one close to the road. Your odds of seeing Bison are 100% and you’ll likely have to stop at some point to let them cross the road. Elk and moose won’t have antlers at this time of year but they are still spotted frequently. Wolves are always hit or miss, but they are sometimes spotted hunting in Lamar Valley in the summer.