Visiting Yellowstone in May: What You Need to Know
May is a great month to visit Yellowstone National Park—summer crowds haven’t arrived yet and you’ll see spring blooming and newly born wildlife. Here’s how to make the most of your trip to Yellowstone in May.
Weather
Expect unexpected weather in Yellowstone in May. This transitional month can have big temperature swings—highs can reach into the 60s (Fahrenheit) or only top out in the 30s. Yellowstone’s average high temperature in May is 58ºF and the average low is 28ºF.
Prepare for sunshine, rain and snow—possible all in the same day!
Have contingency plans in case of a snowstorm or other bad weather. There are plenty of things to do in and near Yellowstone when the weather is bad.
Packing Tips
Bring warm layers, hats, gloves, boots and rain gear.
Don’t forget your sunscreen. Even when it’s cool, the sun’s rays are very strong at Yellowstone’s high elevation.
Save time and buy your Yellowstone entrance pass online.
Planning Your Trip to Yellowstone in May
While the majority of the park is typically open in May, check the NPS Yellowstone Current Conditions Report for alerts, construction warnings and road closures in areas you plan to visit.
No matter where you go in Yellowstone, you’ll have access to plenty of wildlife, geothermal features (there are over 10,000 throughout the park!), ranger programs and visitor centers.
Helpful tips to make the most of your trip
Double-check that your preferred park entrance is open. The North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana and the Northeast Entrance in Silvergate, MT are open year-round. The West Entrance (West Yellowstone, MT) opens the third Friday in April, while the South and East Entrances open in early May.
Check campground opening dates. Only a few campgrounds inside the park are open in May. Towns near each park entrance offer excellent RV campgrounds near Yellowstone if you can’t find a spot in the park.
Download the NPS App for self-guided tours, interactive maps, and activity suggestions for Yellowstone and 400+ national parks in the US.
Bring food and snacks with you, since not all park concessions will be operating at a full schedule.
Fuel your vehicle. Gas is available in the park, but some stations don’t open until June. Fill up your tank before you enter Yellowstone to avoid running out of gas.
Muddy trails and bear management areas may limit hiking access in May. Check the Yellowstone Backcountry Report for trail conditions and closures.
Call Yellowstone’s main number for any questions since phone service is very limited inside the park: 307-344-7381.
Advantages of Visiting in May
The benefits of coming to Yellowstone in May are: enjoying popular sites without big crowds, watching baby animals, and taking incredible photos with snow-capped peaks in the background.
Fewer People and Less Traffic
Yellowstone visitation in May is much lower than summer months. You’ll spend much less time waiting to enter the park, watch wildlife, eat, see popular sites, explore walking paths, find a parking spot and more.
While you won’t have the park’s 2.2 million acres to yourself, you will avoid the summer throngs and heavy traffic.
See Baby Wildlife
Another big perk of a May visit is the profusion of newly born animals. Many of Yellowstone’s most beloved wildlife have babies in the spring. Seeing a wobbly-legged bison calf (called a red dog) trying to walk next to its mother is unforgettable.
Expect to see newborn and young wildlife like bison and elk calves, wolf and coyote pups, bear cubs and others. Remember to always keep a very safe distance from wildlife, especially in the spring when baby animals are around—mamas can be fiercely protective of the tiniest hint of a perceived threat!
Spend time in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley for excellent spring wildlife viewing. You may even see newly- awakened grizzlies still hungry from their winter hibernation, looking for easy prey and leftover winter kill.
Bring a good pair of binoculars or a viewing scope.
Consider hiring an expert private guide for a day to help you spot and learn about wildlife. Good Trip Adventures offers private naturalist guides—even bear experts—for tours in Yellowstone.
Unique Photography Opportunities
With smaller crowds, early spring wildflowers, and snow-capped mountain peaks, May is a perfect time to capture gorgeous Yellowstone photographs.
Whether you’re an amateur or a professional, be aware of your surroundings at all times since mother animals can be fiercely protective of their babies
Check Yellowstone’s Opening Dates page to make sure areas you wish to visit are open and accessible. Lower-elevations melt out sooner in the season.
Must-See Sites in Yellowstone in May
Lamar Valley – This gorgeous area in the northeast part of the park has some of the best wildlife viewing in all of Yellowstone. Elk and bison have calves in the spring and early summer, and you may spot young bear cubs, wolf pups and other youngsters. Of course, keep a safe distance from all wildlife, especially when babies are around.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone – this stunning canyon created from millions of years of erosion is even more dramatic in May when there is still snow to contrast with the red orange rock walls.
See Geothermal Features – while the Old Faithful geyser (which erupts every 90 minutes or so) is the most famous of Yellowstone’s 10,000 geothermal features, you don’t want to miss Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, West Thumb Geyser Basin, and many others. Yellowstone’s bubbling mud pots, hot springs, steam vents, and geysers are spread throughout the park, which sits atop a supervolcano.
Scenic Drive on the Grand Loop Road - Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road covers 142 miles in the park and provides access to several major sites in the park. It’s in the shape of a figure-eight, and can be split into an Upper Loop and a Lower Loop, if you can’t cover the whole thing. Depending on road conditions, much or even all of the Grand Loop may be accessible. With less traffic in May, you can easily cover many miles—though you will certainly be stopping every mile or so to look at wildlife, geothermal features, budding trees, soaring eagles, roaming bison, and much more!
Popular Activities in Yellowstone in May
While the weather in May is cooler than in summer months, there are still several fun things to do in Yellowstone.
Learn About Yellowstone – Spend time at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center (opens mid-April) to uncover the science and history behind the world’s first national park. The education center has interactive exhibits, historic photographs, and fascinating information about ongoing research in Yellowstone.
Enjoy a Picnic – Although many campgrounds aren’t open until the summer, Yellowstone’s many vehicle pullouts and day-use areas have picnic tables and spots to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery of this unique place. Make sure to take all of your uneaten food with you, and dispose of any trash in locked bins.
Take a Hike – Check with park rangers and at Visitor Centers for the best hikes that are open when you visit. Hiking boots are recommended given trails being muddy from snowmelt and rain. Be bear aware when hiking in May and always carry bear spray!
Go Biking – While biking is permitted on established roads all summer, the park allows spring biking on roads closed to regular vehicles, as weather conditions allow. Read Yellowstone's Biking Regulations for open biking routes. Bikers love May since there are fewer vehicles on the road.
Plan Your May Trip to Yellowstone Now
May is a great time to visit Yellowstone: The smaller crowds, the gorgeous spring landscapes, and the chance to see newly born wildlife make it special.
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