What to Expect Visiting Yellowstone National Park in May

Spring is a special time to visit Yellowstone National Park. As the snow melts and the days grow longer, the park comes alive with new growth and abundant wildlife.

While wildlife watching in Yellowstone is incredible year-round, spring months offer something particularly special: wolf pups, bison calves, and bear cubs… oh my! (In fact, here’s how the National Park Service introduces Yellowstone in the Spring… “Spring in Yellowstone, and you know what that means… BABY ANIMALS.”)

Mid-May to early June brings the babies and the best time of the year to spot bear cubs, wolf pups, bison calves, pronghorn fawns, and coyote pups, among others.

Spring also brings new plant growth, wildflowers, and flowing waters. The park's hot springs, geysers, and other thermal features are particularly active in the spring as the snow melts and rivers and waterfalls swell with water.

Exploring Yellowstone during spring offers a unique and intimate experience with smaller crowds, stunning scenery, and playful wildlife. Here’s how to plan your spring trip to Yellowstone National Park!

welcome sign Yellowstone north entrance — North entrance to Yellowstone National Park in May.

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Cliffs Notes

Plan your trip for mid-May (between the second and third weeks of May). We recommend a week-long trip when possible, but aim for at least 4 full days in the park.

If you’re most interested in wildlife, book more nights in Gardiner or North Yellowstone (Mammoth Lodge).

If you’re most interested in viewing Yellowstone Canyon and geysers, spend more time in West Yellowstone (or Madison Campground, Canyon Lodge, or Old Faithful Lodge).

For a little bit of everything, book a few nights in Gardiner (Mammoth Lodge) and a few nights in West Yellowstone (Madison Campground). (This is our recommendation.)

When to Visit Yellowstone in the Spring

We highly recommend planning your spring trip for mid-May (between the second week of May and Memorial Day).

May is the best time of year to see baby animals in Yellowstone National Park! It’s also one of the best months of the year to spot bears and a great time to drive through Yellowstone, as most roads reopen to personal vehicles in May, but the summer crowds haven’t quite arrived.

If you want to visit Yellowstone in the spring but aren’t interested in wildlife viewing, March and April are generally quieter months than May. However, treat March like visiting Yellowstone in the winter, and prepare for most roads to be closed until the end of April. (More information on road openings and driving through Yellowstone in the spring can be found below.)

RTL Tip: For 2023, we’re on a mission to visit Yellowstone National Park in all four seasons in one calendar year. When planning our spring trip, we originally booked our trip for the end of April. However, when visiting Yellowstone during our winter trip, we spoke to numerous wolf watches and guides who recommended we move our trip to mid-May instead. So, that’s what we did, and we’re so glad!

How to Get to Yellowstone National Park

The most popular way to get to Yellowstone National Park is to fly into Bozeman Airport, then rent a car to drive to the park.

If you visit after April 21st (generally speaking, check the park’s website for current year road openings), you will likely be able to drive through the park between West Yellowstone and North Yellowstone.

However, if you visit in March or generally before April 21st, most park roads will still be closed to personal vehicles, so you should expect to drive from Bozeman to West or Gardiner, then back to Bozeman, and around to the other entrance to visit both sides of the park.

If you’re coming from a nearby state and can drive to Yellowstone in the spring, the roads to and around the park were clear and easy to drive while we visited in mid-May.

Where to Stay

You have many options for where to stay to visit Yellowstone National Park in the spring, but the two most popular areas are West Yellowstone (for access to the west entrance of Yellowstone) and Gardiner (for access to the north entrance of Yellowstone).

The later you visit in the spring, the more lodging options become available.

Check here for current opening dates for lodges inside the park. You can also stay in the towns of Gardiner (for access to the North entrance), Cooke City (for access to the Northeast entrance), or West Yellowstone (for access to the West entrance).

For a general reference on opening dates, Mammoth Lodge (North Yellowstone) and Old Faithful Lodge (West Yellowstone) typically open the earliest (around the end of April). More and more lodging options open in the weeks following until all lodges are generally open by mid-June.

Campgrounds generally open in May, with Madison Campground (West Yellowstone) kicking things off the first week of May.

We recommend a few nights at Mammoth Lodge to visit North Yellowstone and a few nights at Old Faithful Lodge or Madison Campground to visit West Yellowstone and Canyon Village.

Note: We originally booked our stay for Mammoth Lodge because we wanted to be as close to the best spots for spring wildlife viewing as possible, but unfortunately, the flooding from 2022 delayed the hotel's reopening. We stayed in the town of Gardiner instead. Although that put us a little bit further from the main viewing areas, Gardiner sits right next to the North Entrance, and the views as soon as you arrive at this part of the park are absolutely gorgeous. After our Mammoth stay was canceled, we considered staying at Old Faithful to stay inside the park, but it would be an approximately 1.5-hour drive, and that was too far for the early morning wildlife watching we wanted to do.

You can also look further outside the park and beyond the town of West Yellowstone to Island Park. We spent one of our spring nights at SpringHill Suites in Island Park, but while the hotel we stayed in was beautiful, and so was the drive into the park, it’s a loooong drive. We’d have preferred to spend that time on one of the many amazing things to do in Yellowstone!

What to Do in Yellowstone in May

Wildlife watching is by far our favorite thing to do in Yellowstone National Park in May. Snow-capped mountains leave some of the magic from Yellowstone’s winter wonderland, but then in May, the bears are out to play!

One of the most fun things about our winter trip was meeting those who also braved the cold (and the logistics of planning a winter trip), many of whom did so to stand in below-freezing temperatures for hours and days on end.

While visiting in May, we also enjoyed meeting travelers and were surprised to hear how many shared similar things about their favorite time of year to visit Yellowstone. Meaning if you ask a guide or a ranger about the best time of year to visit, you’ll probably hear, “Well, it depends on what you want to see…” And that’s true!

But if you ask a regular visitor or a wildlife watcher about the best time of year to visit Yellowstone, they’ll probably tell you they’re partial to whatever season they’re visiting right now. We met a handful of visitors who, just like those in the winter, come back every year at this same time of year.

Those we met in February love visiting in February (particularly wolf watchers), and those we met this May love visiting in May (particularly for bear viewing and the babies).

While we did find some wolf watchers in May, we more so found professional photographers (shockingly enough, now that I think back… I don’t remember seeing many photographers during our winter trip, but they were definitely out and about this May!), wildlife watchers, and regular vacationers (meaning those who regularly visit Yellowstone) who love visiting Yellowstone in the spring, mostly for the abundant bear activity and baby animals this time of year.

All this is to say that May is a very special time of year to visit Yellowstone. You can feel the new life in the air; It’s a playful time to be in the park!

But bears and their playfulness are not all that awaits when you travel to America’s first national park in May. This time of year is also amazing for viewing Yellowstone’s hot springs, geysers, and other thermal features as the snow melts and rivers and waterfalls swell with water.

April, May, and June are arguably the best months for viewing Yellowstone's geysers, including Old Faithful, as cooler temperatures and higher groundwater levels can lead to more active and predictable eruptions.

Spring also offers the advantage of fewer crowds compared to the peak summer season, allowing for a more immersive and intimate geyser viewing experience. (Plus you’re more likely to have an easier time driving through Yellowstone National Park in the spring and having access to pull-offs and parking at all the main attractions.)

Two bison calves playing near Mammoth Hot Springs.

Watch for Wildlife

Soooooo, can you tell how much we love wildlife watching in Yellowstone National Park and how fun the babies and bears are to see in May? I should have warned you sooner that we’ll be talking about wildlife A LOT in this post because it’s one thing that makes spring in Yellowstone so special.

So let’s kick off your spring trip to Yellowstone with what we think is the best reason to visit this time of year: BABY ANIMALS.

Most likely, if you’re planning a trip to Yellowstone specifically during the spring, you’re on a mission to see some pups, cubs, and calves. (And if that’s not what brought you here… Welcome to this insider Yellowstone tip: The spring is the best time of year to visit Yellowstone National Park to see wolf pups, bear cubs, bison calves, and all the baby animals!)

May also offers one of the best months of the year to see bears in general in Yellowstone National Park, as they’re coming out of hibernation and typically more active, foraging for food.

In just one day, we saw a mama bear and her two cubs (and got to watch them play, forage, and sleep in a tree for hours!), a cinnamon black bear walking about 200 yards from the road, and a grizzly bear hanging out in Lamar Valley.

We also saw a wolf, moose, bison and bison calves, pronghorn antelope, and elk. Particularly in the morning, we had good access to overlooks and pull-offs, but the park definitely gets busier as the day goes on. (For the best wildlife watching and access to safe parking spots, be out from sunrise to 10am in May.)

Where to Watch for Wildlife in Yellowstone

These suggestions are all thanks to the friendly and helpful guides, rangers, and wildlife watchers we’ve met in Yellowstone, who have been so kind to share their experience and knowledge with us.

If you engage in wildlife watching in Yellowstone, always be respectful of the wildlife and other visitors by (1) Keeping a safe distance from ALL wildlife and avoiding loud noises and (2) Parking off the road [fully to the side of white lines] to get out of the way of traffic before taking photos or watching wildlife.

Here are some of the best places in Yellowstone to spot wildlife in May!

Tower-Roosevelt Area: The Tower-Roosevelt area is known for its black bears, and in May, it’s known as a great place to spot cubs. Drive the open road from Tower-Roosevelt to Tower Falls (where you’ll find a huge parking lot with restrooms). If you see cars pulled off in overlooks, there is probably something nearby! (We saw a moose and a cinnamon black bear along this road. Further down the road, we saw a mama bear and her two cubs. We could safely park, along with many others, to watch them play, sleep, and forage. Watching them wake up from their naps and climb down the tree was such a cool experience!)
Lamar Valley: Lamar Valley is a great place to see wildlife year-round in Yellowstone National Park, and that’s especially true in May. During our trip, a grizzly bear hung out in the open in Lamar Valley for most of the day. There were plenty of safe spots to pull over and watch for a while (plus tons of photographers there snapping pictures). Head to Lamar Valley and keep driving toward the Northeast Entrance for many great pull-offs to spot wildlife. (Look both in the valley and up high on the mountain ridges if you have a scope.)
Slough Creek: We were told during our winter trip that Slough Creek is a great place for spotting wolves in the spring, as there’s a den nearby. We got lucky during our trip; A family spotted wolves in this area while we were passing by and let us take a peek through their scope! Note: There’s a good parking area down the road if you turn onto Slough Creek and keep driving past the restrooms. This is where we recommend you head for wolf-watching in May. We’ve also been told great things about the Old Faithful area for spotting wolves.
Hayden Valley: Keep driving past Canyon Village and Artists Point to Hayden Valley for another great spot to view wildlife in Yellowstone during the spring.

These are just a few places well-known for wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. North Yellowstone (the Tower-Roosevelt Area, Lamar Valley, and generally driving from the North to Northeast Entrance) typically offers the most consistent and abundant wildlife sightings year-round.

Plus, this part of the park’s landscape is grand and dramatic, meaning you’ll enjoy breathtaking views waiting for wildlife!

We recommend starting at the North Entrance, driving to Tower Fall, then driving through Lamar Valley to the Northeast Entrance (keep going to Cooke City for a cup of coffee or a snack) and back. Ask other visitors about any sightings that day to help you know where exactly to go.

In fact, here’s another pro tip rangers and wildlife watchers have shared with us: Pay special attention whenever you see a lot of cars, people, or photographers on the side of the road. Look in whatever direction they’re looking, or ask what they’re looking at!

Next, head toward Mammoth Hot Springs and West Yellowstone, then toward Canyon Village and Artist’s Point, and drive through Hayden Valley.

Of course, Yellowstone is a large park, and wildlife can be anywhere. So be aware when you’re on foot, and if you want the absolute best opportunity to spot wildlife (particularly in West Yellowstone along the Yellowstone River or in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone), reach out to Yellowstone Vacation Tours and ask for Gypsy. (Not sponsored. We toured with Gypsy during our winter trip, and he got us to all the best spots. Plus, he takes the most incredible wildlife pictures and is very tuned into sightings!)

Local Tip: If you're looking for more wildlife viewing opportunities, consider visiting Grand Teton National Park, too. We talked to many wildlife watchers who brought up the Grand Tetons as another great place to spot bears and bear cubs this time of year.

Walk the Mammoth Hot Springs

You’ll also find Roosevelt Arch, the picturesque drive through Icebox Canyon, Lamar Valley, and Mammoth Hot Springs from the North Entrance of Yellowstone.

Your drive from the North Entrance to Tower Falls and the Northeast Entrance will take you through three of these four sights, so next it’s time for a short stroll along the Mammoth Hot Springs Boardwalk.

Note: There’s a Lower and Upper Terrace for the Mammoth Hot Springs. While a boardwalk connects them, sometimes portions of the boardwalk are closed to foot traffic. If this happens during your visit, you can drive to the Lower and Upper Terraces.

Walk the Lower Terraces first, then keep driving (as though driving from Mammoth Hot Springs to West Yellowstone), and you’ll come across the Upper Terrace area. You can park and hop out of your car here to view the Canary and Cupid Springs and get gorgeous panoramic views of Mammoth Hot Springs.

Enjoy your time on foot via the boardwalks as the sound of bubbling water and the strong scent of sulfur fills the air, creating a unique sensory experience.

Mammoth Hot Springs upper terraces overlooking Mammoth Village.

Drive the Grand Loop

Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road is a 142-mile scenic drive through some of the park's most iconic landscapes and attractions. Along the way, you'll see geysers, waterfalls, wildlife, and many pull-offs to enjoy the park's vast wilderness.

The Grand Loop is actually made up of two loops: (1) The Upper Loop, connecting Canyon Village, Tower-Roosevelt, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Norris, and (2) The Lower Loop, connecting Norris, Madison, Old Faithful, West Village, Lake Village, and Canyon Village.

We highly recommend driving as much of the Grand Loop as possible during your spring visit.

Unless you’re visiting at the end of May, the road between Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon Village will likely be closed, which means the recommendations above for driving through North Yellowstone will be as much of the Upper Loop as you can drive during your trip.

Generally, all roads for the Lower Loop are open by mid-May; however, check with park rangers or the park’s website, as sections of the Grand Loop can be closed for weather, repair, or another reason. (While we were visiting, Craig Pass was closed, so we couldn’t make a full loop from Canyon Village to Lake Village to Old Faithful.)

Driving the Grand Loop is a great way to experience Yellowstone and is one of the best ways to see the majority of Yellowstone’s iconic landmarks, such as Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, Artist’s Point, Lamar Valley, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, and Grand Prismatic Spring.

Below is a tentative road opening schedule for the 2023 Season. Click here for an up-to-date schedule for the year of your visit. Generally, the later you visit Yellowstone in the spring, the more roads will be open.

Note: Another scenic drive on the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park is Beartooth Highway. However, due to high elevation and snow, Beartooth Highway is generally closed until Memorial Day (then open until mid-September).

A snapshot of the road between the Northeast Entrance (Cooke City) and North Entrance (Gardiner) in mid-May.

Marvel at Artist’s Point

As you drive from North Yellowstone to West Yellowstone, you’ll find the “Lower Loop” section of Yellowstone National Park. (Note: This road generally opens around April 21st.) This is where you can visit Artist’s Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, and the Grand Prismatic Spring.

After wildlife, seeing Artist’s Point along South Rim Drive was my next favorite thing to do in Yellowstone in May! It is absolutely stunning! Because while Artist’s Point is beautiful year-round, in May, you have an amazing opportunity to enjoy Artist’s Point with minimal crowds.

While we were visiting, only about 10 cars were in the lot, and most people were leaving as we arrived, so we got to enjoy this famous viewpoint for as long as we liked without any crowd. You can’t even get this kind of solitude when visiting in the winter, as you generally have to visit alongside a tour group.

Spring offers the best opportunity to have this magical viewpoint all to yourself… and it does not disappoint. Just wow!

Note: One of the tradeoffs of quieter crowds in May is more closures. During our visit in mid-May, Inspiration Point along North Rim Road was one of many viewpoints not accessible by car. (Instead, consider walking the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail while you’re on North Rim Road.) If you want to do and see absolutely everything Yellowstone offers, you’ll want to visit in the summer or early fall.

See the Grand Prismatic Spring

Compared to winter, which is not a great time of year to visit Yellowstone’s most famous hot spring, the Grand Prismatic Spring begins showing off its vibrant blue, green, and orange hues in the spring!

You will want to wait until July if you’re set on peak vibrancy, but by then, you’ll also have to navigate peak crowds.

Visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring in May is best for a more intimate experience and cooler temperatures (which add an additional dynamic to your photos as steam rises from the hot spring's water and seemingly hovers in the cool air).

Like many of Yellowstone’s most famous attractions, you’ll still want to get up and out early, even when visiting the Grand Prismatic Spring in May. By noon on the Sunday we were in town, the parking lot was completely full. There’s quick turnover since the boardwalk trail to the Spring is short, but if this lot is full by noon in May, you can imagine how early it fills up in the summer!

Watch an Old Faithful Eruption

Since the Old Faithful Geyser erupts with steam and hot water approximately every 90 minutes, there’s generally no bad time of year to view Old Faithful.

That is, of course, unless you happen to catch Old Faithful off-schedule… While we were visiting in February, one of our tour guides mentioned that Old Faithful had been shaking things up and waiting as long as three hours between eruptions!

The best way to know when Old Faithful is predicted to erupt next is to check the NPS website here (or on Twitter here) before entering the park (or when you have service inside the park) or to drive to Old Faithful and check in with a ranger or the posted informational boards.

Even if you’re early or just missed an eruption, you can always walk the trails while you wait or head to the nearby Grand Prismatic Springs or Lower Geyser Basin.

Visiting Old Faithful in the spring is generally quieter than visiting during the summer or fall which means easier access to front-row viewing areas!

Hike the Frontcountry

Although hiking in Yellowstone is generally best in the summer or fall, the hiking season does begin in late spring as snow melts and trails open. Many of Yellowstone’s trails sit above 7000 feet, so snow can impact trail accessibility until late May or early June and later. Check trail conditions before your visit here.

Since spring brings bears out of hibernation, also make sure to carry bear spray with you and hike in groups of four or more as much as possible.

Here are four hikes to consider in Yellowstone National Park during the spring.

Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful Observation Point Loop: This trail takes you through one of the park's most famous and geothermally active areas. Beginning near the Old Faithful Visitor Center, this approximately 5-mile loop brings you through various geysers, hot springs, and thermal pools, each with its own distinctive characteristics. The trail is well-maintained and mostly consists of boardwalks and well-defined paths and is best done alongside a visit to Old Faithful.

Fairy Falls Trail: This trail generally opens in late May, although you’ll want to check this bear closures list for possible delayed opening due to bear activity. This popular, moderate hike offers beautiful waterfall views and a distant view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. This hike is best alongside a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin.

Brink of the Lower Falls Trail: This is a short but steep trail with an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. You’ll find the start of this trail along North Rim Drive and is best to do alongside Artist’s Point on South Rim Drive.

West Thumb Geyser Basin: If you’re driving the full Grand Loop during your visit, consider a stop at the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail for more geysers and a view of Yellowstone Lake. The famous Abyss Pool, with its deep blue hue, is one of the highlights of the area.

Always check closures and conditions here!

1-Day North Yellowstone Itinerary

There is so much to do and see in Yellowstone during the spring, particularly if you visit in mid to late-May when most roads are open.

Here’s a one-day potential itinerary for North Yellowstone.

Wake at sunrise to watch wildlife in the north part of the park. Drive from the North Entrance to Tower Falls. Take your time, stopping to take photos or watch for wildlife at various overlooks and pull-offs along the way.

Continue driving toward the Northeast Entrance of Yellowstone (Cooke City), passing by Slough Creek, Lamar Valley, and Icebox Canyon along the way. Look for wildlife and enjoy the stunning mountain views. (The drive from Lamar Valley to Cooke City is my favorite section of this part of the park; the mountain backdrop takes your breath away!)

Grab a coffee or snack at Cooke City Coffee before turning around and making your way back toward Mammoth Hot Springs. Continue to enjoy the views and wildlife as you go.

Hop out of your car to walk the Mammoth Hot Springs boardwalk, strolling along both the Upper and Lower Terraces.

Head to West Yellowstone or back to your favorite wildlife spot for sunset.

1-Day West Yellowstone Itinerary

Here’s a one-day potential itinerary for West Yellowstone and Canyon Village.

Drive from West Yellowstone or Madison Campground to Canyon Village and Artist’s Point. Along the way, drive North Rim Drive to hike the Brink of the Lower Falls Trail.

Then enjoy the Artist’s Point Overlook on South Rim Drive before continuing to Hayden Valley.

Next, head to the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail for a short walk and view of Yellowstone Lake.

If Craig Pass is open, keep driving clockwise toward Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Upper Geyser Basin.

Stop by the Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Center on your way back to West Yellowstone.

What to Wear to Visit Yellowstone in the Spring

When visiting Yellowstone in the spring, be prepared for various temperatures and weather conditions. Layers are everything!

While we were visiting, we were told temperatures were much milder than they generally are this time of year, and we were comfortable without any winter gear. (We brought gloves, buffs, and thick wool socks but used none of it.) Temperatures ranged between the low 30s and high 60s.

We did keep on a light jacket for much of our trip, but occasionally the sunshine plus short hikes would warm us up enough to enjoy short sleeves.

Here are some items to consider packing for your spring trip to Yellowstone National Park.

Wool socks (one winter pair for cold early mornings; otherwise, mid-warmth or light hiking socks are great)
Warm Pants / Sweat Pants
Light but warm jacket
Rain jacket
Buff, Gloves, Hats/Ear Muffs (for chilly mornings)
Hiking boots
Camera gear/scopes (If you’re interested in seeing wildlife, you can also rent cameras and scopes in Gardiner.)
Sunglasses
Long sleeves and T-shirts (layers are key!)

For 80% of our trip, we wore hiking boots, crew socks, sweat pants, a t-shirt, a long sleeve, and a light jacket. Although we brought gloves, hats, and buffs, we never needed them. We were comfortable without our jackets and just in a long sleeve or t-shirt for a few short hikes. (Layers are key for visiting Yellowstone in May!)

Is Spring the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park?

Each season in Yellowstone is unique. But if you want to see bears or baby animals in Yellowstone National Park, May is the best time of year to visit.

During the spring (particularly early May onward), you’ll also get a more intimate Yellowstone experience, but with most of the park open to exploring and generally more comfortable temps than you’ll find during the winter.

If you want to visit Yellowstone to see bears…

Or you’re looking for a fun, playful time of year to visit (you can truly feel the new life in the air!)…

Or you want to visit Yellowstone’s most iconic landmarks before summer crowds arrive… We highly recommend visiting Yellowstone National Park in May!

Mountain peaks and crevices are shaded by snow and contrasted by bright green pine trees, making the mountains appear even more grand and imposing. This was one of my favorite things about visiting Yellowstone in May!

Keep Planning Your Trip to Yellowstone

Here’s our guide to visiting Yellowstone National Park in the winter!

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