Yellowstone and Tetons-- June or July

[Jmort1754]

What months would be better to visit with the family?

 

[CorbLand]

June.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

September...

 

[Pony Soldier]

June maybe. Depends on the weather

 

[sierracharlie338]

We just went the first week of June and barely missed the madness. When we were leaving the line to get in the west entrance had to be 100 cars long already by 10am.

 

[Jmort1754]

This is good to know, I know it can be a madhouse.

Has anyone actually stayed on yellowstone?

 

[CorbLand]

This is good to know, I know it can be a madhouse.

Has anyone actually stayed on yellowstone?

Be willing to get up earlier and you will miss the crowds. Be in the park at sunup and be headed out by early afternoon.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Be willing to get up earlier and you will miss the crowds. Be in the park at sunup and be headed out by early afternoon.

...this...spent a fair bit of time in the parks last few years peak and off peak. Have a plan/itinerary and be in before sun up if your going peak season. Do the big draw stuff like Grand prismatic, old faithful, mammoth hot spring, etc early. Same with the high traffic areas in Teton. Have had good wildlife viewing in the mornings going in as well then go back in after dinner against the flow and tend to see more and more elusive critters dusk and dawn with less traffic. Not sure where your staying but if in Cody, West Yellow stone or Gardiner being out of the park and ready for dinner between 3-4 pm pays off too for dodging the crowds at eateries(if your in Gardiner and eat burgers, Id suggest The Corral)...watch out for the idiots, there are plenty of them both foreign and domestic especially peak season... we prefer shoulder seasons, cooler, less people...but you can be fighting smoke in September/early October also depending on fire situation in surrounding locations... or weather mid October on or earlier than mid june. We've been very fortunate weatherwise on all our park trips thus far short of Bryce Canyon being a snowy mess, but that was in March, so you'll have that.
Any specific questions I'm happy to give input. We've certainly not seen it all or any type of yellowstone/Teton experts, but may have some valid input for you depending on your plans/goals.

 

[Carpet Capital Shyster]

What months would be better to visit with the family?

If you want to do some fishing, a lot of the streams can be blown out from runoff through the end of June.

 

[Jaegerr]

We went back in July to visit friends in Montana during 4th of July, which you could argue is potentially one of the busiest times and while certain spots like old faithful and other popular areas were busy it wasn't as bad people make it out to be. Maybe we just got lucky but I never felt like I was missing out on anything if that makes sense? If you really want to avoid crowds do it in late season like late September or October. I did it in October when they re-opened after the flood when I was living out there and I borderline felt like I had the park to myself. Many of the visitor centers and attractions were closed by then, as well as a few sections of road form the snow, but it was still a cool experience. Now, if you REALLY want to avoid people, do it in winter and do the snowmobile trips. You will see the occasional other group but it's a whole different park in the winter, absolutely beautiful.

 

[archp625]

I have been twice with my family. Went once in September and it was great. Everyone was back to school and not huge crowds. With that being said I went this year around my birthday at the end of June and it was great as well. There were a lot more people and the parking lots were full at the known areas. Weather was great both times.

 

[3Esski]

We stayed in a campground, I think Madison, and there were videos playing at an outdoor theater at night which I thought was just great. I look forward to taking my kids there now that they are old enough to enjoy those kinds of things, hopefully next year. I went pretty early in the year, seemed the wolf pups were just coming out of their dens to play for a bit and it wasn't super busy. That was 20 years ago, but Yellowstone has to be one of the most memorable places I have ever been.

 

[S.Clancy]

I was gonna say late September, early October. Best time by far.