Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
November Weather in Yellowstone National Park
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
32°F (0°C)
High Temp
14°F (-9°C)
Low Temp
1.8 inches (46 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Whiteouts explode on the lone open road. Pack sleeping bags. Stash extra food. You could spend the night between Mammoth and Cooke City. Be ready.
Is November Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + You'll have the park almost to yourself. Wildlife sightings feel like private viewings. Wolves and bison around Lamar Valley at dawn. Snow muffles every footstep.
- + Roads that are jammed in summer are empty. The Grand Loop between Canyon and Fishing Bridge. Pull over for that perfect shot. Frozen Yellowstone River. No traffic jam.
- + Most lodging inside the park drops to shoulder-season rates. Last-minute cabins at Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Often open up a week out. Not six months.
- + Steaming geothermal features against fresh snow. Most dramatic contrast. Nothing prepares you. A bison emerges ghost-like from the mist. 74 °C (165 °F) runoff stream near Norris.
- + Park rangers run free indoor programs on winter ecology. Warm up with hot chocolate. Albright Visitor Center. Learn how elk conserve energy at -12 °C (10 °F).
Considerations
- − Only one plowed road stays open. Northern entrance-Mammoth-Northeast exit. Every other well-known drive is closed. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Hayden Valley. Beartooth. Snowcoach or skis needed.
- − Daylight shrinks to 9.5 hours. Miss the 7:45 AM sunrise wildlife window. You're racing darkness by 4 PM. Sightseeing feels compressed.
- − Temperature swings are brutal. -1 °C (30 °F) in sunny parking lot. -18 °C (0 °F) with wind on exposed ridge. Within minutes. Layer failure equals trip failure.
Best Activities in November
Top things to do during your visit
Snowcoach day tours to Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic
November is the shoulder before full winter service. Ride on freshly packed snow. No December holiday crowds. 32 km (20-mile) crawl from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful. Silent caldera. Geyser steam hangs at -7 °C (19 °F). Freezes on eyelashes. Coach heater blasts.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead. Handful of operators run in November. Vehicles fill with photographers. Chasing first-snow look. Check for small-group 12-seaters. Not 30-seat buses. Quicker photo stops.
Wildlife watching drives between Gardiner and Cooke City
Only open road (US-212) becomes 80 km (50-mile) safari route. Dawn patrol delivers bison herds roadside. Coyotes trotting center line. Patient? Lamar Canyon wolf pack crosses valley floor. Before sun hits river.
Booking Tip: Drive yourself. No permits needed. Bring spotting scope. Join roadside 'wolf paparazzi'. They'll share looks through setups. Ask politely.
Guided cross-country skiing from Mammoth Hot Springs
Novice-friendly groomed trails. 6 km (3.7-mile) Upper Terrace Loop. Glide past limestone formations. Elk bugle in meadows below. Snow is dry and powdery. Not heavy spring stuff.
Booking Tip: Rent gear in Bozeman or Gardiner night before. Park ski shop doesn't open until mid-December. Morning tracks after overnight grooming. Smoothest glide.
Photography workshops focused on geothermal winter abstracts
Steam clouds form hoar frost on twigs near Fountain Paint Pot. Low sun angle at 45 °N latitude. Golden light for hours. November's thin tourist footprint. No neon jackets in long exposures.
Booking Tip: Look for small-group tours (max six). Depart before sunrise. Instructors help expose for white snow. Without blowing out mineral oranges of bacterial pools.
Evening ranger-led astronomy at 2,200 m (7,200 ft)
Cold, dry air and early nightfall. Clearest Milky Way views in North America. Park's dark-sky program wheels out 16-inch telescopes outside Madison Campground. Temps hit -15 °C (5 °F). Saturn's rings sharper than ever.
Booking Tip: Programs run only Fri/Sat in November. Reserve at visitor desk same morning. Spaces are free. Capped at 30.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park in November
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for November travellers.
★★★★
Mid-Range
Gesang International Hotel (Wuwei Tianzhu Railway Station)
From $48 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →
Public Holidays in November
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Veterans Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Thanksgiving Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Veterans Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Thanksgiving Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Veterans Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Thanksgiving Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Yellowstone National Park Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Stop at small pullout 1.6 km (1 mile) east of Blacktail Plateau turnout at dawn. Locals call it 'Coyote Alley'. Lone hunter silhouetted against steam. Distant thermal feature.
Storm rolls in? Duck into historic Chico Hot Springs. 48 km (30 miles) north of Gardiner. Day-use soaks allowed. Cost of a drink at bar. 37 °C (99 °F) pool. Snow piles outside.
Gas up in Cooke City before northeast gate. Mammoth station closes early in November for refurb. Running fumes at 1,900 m (6,200 ft) is expensive. And cold.
Bring collapsible cooler bag. Buy bison chili from Mammoth General Store. Thick enough to stay warm two hours. In backpack while you photograph elk on parade ground.
Avoid These Mistakes
Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes in winter? Cold water slows interval to roughly 105 minutes. Standing outside Snow Lodge for an hour in -10 °C (14 °F) without checking predicted time. Avoidable misery.
Book your flight out of Jackson for the same evening you leave the park. Teton Pass can slam shut with the first October snow. That forces a 480 km (300-mile) haul through Idaho Falls. Plan for it.
Do not attempt the 0.5 km (0.5-mile) Midway Geyser boardwalk without microspikes. November ice is slicked daily by steam. People slide into 70 °C (160 °F) runoff every year. Bring traction.
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Top-rated things to do in Yellowstone National Park this November
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