Can you visit yellowstone in april

For reference, July saw , people visit the park. At that point, it becomes like a theme park. So, when we said April would be the perfect month for some visitors, we meant anyone who wants to avoid crowds at all costs. Weather conditions are a mixed bag at Yellowstone National Park in April. April is the transition month, whereby almost all snowfall for the season ends.

Temperatures both highs and lows increase by as much as 10 degrees between the beginning and end of April, which is quite a difference. Having visited the park in both April and October, we can tell you that it can be seriously cold in the morning. This is something you should consider if planning to visit at either time of year.

The thing about weather is even today with all the technology we have, it is still unpredictable. Wooden boardwalks transport people through most geyser basins at Yellowstone.

Some had already been cleared or melted but many of these boardwalks were completely covered in ice and snow when we visited in April. The snow had turned to ice and slush but it was deep in parts and slippery in others. Here comes the most important news : Yellowstone only opens up certain roads for the Summer season around the middle of April.

This is the main reason visitation numbers are so low in April. North Entrance is the only road open to vehicles year round. That is until the middle of April when some of the park re-opens for Spring.

Please bear in mind that only some of the park is open at this point but they are the most popular areas :. As a result, there is quite a bit of driving back on yourself as you explore the park. Grand Loop Road is shaped like the number 8. However, the park only just opening keeps the hordes at bay, and that means you should never encounter any traffic jams at least made up of other cars!

Are you planning to fly to a nearby airport and hire a car to explore Yellowstone? Read our in depth guide on the best airports near Yellowstone to help plan your visit. And rightly so, they should come as a pair. Grand Teton is one of our personal favorite national parks and we highly recommend you visit both on your trip to Wyoming. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit Grand Teton during our April visit to Yellowstone. On a road trip from New York to Washington which had a timeframe commitment, we were disappointed to learn that the South entrance to Yellowstone and connecting road through to Grand Teton remained closed until mid May.

We considered driving out of West Yellowstone and looping round through Jackson, but we discovered that Teton Park road is also closed until April Jenny Lake, String Lake, Signal Mountain and many of the best day hikes are along this stretch of road. So, if you have plans to visit both parks in one hit, it would be prudent to wait until later in May.

Alternatively, plan your trip for September or October instead. You have three options for lodging when you visit Yellowstone:. Important : All of the official national park lodging is closed in April, not opening until May, with the exception of Mammoth Hot Springs. Tent camping is far too cold for the majority of visitors. Even RV camping is going to be cold unless you have a good heating system in place. As a result, that means almost all of the 48, visitors to Yellowstone in the second half of April have to fight for hotel rooms in either West Yellowstone or Gardiner.

They are the two closest built up towns to the park and they both offer a wide range of hotel options. West Yellowstone is the larger town with more hotel and dining options. It is the most sought after place to stay near Yellowstone thanks to its central location, which makes access to more areas of the the park much more convenient. Just 5 miles from the North entrance to Yellowstone you will find the town of Gardiner. This town is smaller and has fewer amenities but is perfectly located for Mammoth and Lamar Valley top wildlife viewing.

In an ideal world, you will be able to book a night or two in each town to help split up the park and leave yourself with less driving time inside the park. A whole different Yellowstone experience awaits just a few steps away from the road.

Walk 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or a few hours from your car. Then sit…and watch. This 5-mile loop is one of our favorites to hike in the spring because of the varied terrain and the chance to see wildlife. The trail passes through forest and meadow, and past several ponds full of waterfowl. Elk, deer, and colorful spring wildflowers are also common.

In mid-summer, cars can line up for a half mile to get in to the parking lot at the Midway Geyser Basin. Spring weather is unpredictable—sunny and 60 degrees one day, snowing the next, and trails can be wet and muddy. Pack in layers, wear hiking boots, and carry a warm jacket. If you plan to hike, make sure to remember bear spray, water, sunscreen, and rain gear.

Jenny Golding is the founding editor of A Yellowstone Life and writes from her home at the north entrance to Yellowstone in Gardiner, Montana. Want to experience Yellowstone in-depth? See what makes Yellowstone National Park a great place to work for a season or longer! Rivers run high, snow lingers in the mountains, and baby animals speckle the landscape.

Get the most out of your national park experience by learning more about the spring packages we offer. The only drawback to visiting in April is that the park is still transitioning to spring in the beginning of the month. As the park starts to reopen in the middle of April, many of the trails at lower elevation are open.

April is a great month to go hiking or backpacking, since it may be warm during the day, and chilly in the evening. Trails at higher elevations are probably still covered in snow, so a long distance backpacking trip is not practical. This is also a wonderful time of the year for wildlife viewing. With the higher elevations cold and snowy, high concentrations are gathered in the meadows and valleys.

The bison a birthing calves during April, and it is quite a sight to see herds of bison, with little calves—also called red dogs, learning to walk and keep up with the herd. Research the current trail conditions before heading out on any hike. Many trails will still be snow-covered at high elevations, so you want to know what you are getting yourself into. You can also read the Backcountry Situation Report beforehand. Most trails through Lamar Valley and other meadows are great for day hiking in April, and will also provide the best chances to see wildlife.

The weather in Yellowstone during the month of April begins to warm up and become more spring-like.