Yellowstone in January: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Harsh season · VisitWhen score 22/100 · #11 of 12 months

January is a harsh-season month at Yellowstone National Park: crowds run 5% of the July peak (42,153 average visits). Weather: highs average 23°F and lows 1°F, with 1.8″ of precipitation and 9.2 hours of daylight. Headline access is typically closed this month — see the access warning below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Bring for Yellowstone in January

Insulated parka + thermal base layersSee it on AmazonWhy: average lows of 1°F.
HeadlampSee it on AmazonWhy: only 9.2 hours of daylight in mid-January.
Bear spraySee it on AmazonWhy: recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry).

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Access warning: Most park roads close to regular vehicles at the start of November and reopen in stages: the West Entrance–Madison–Old Faithful–Norris–Canyon roads in mid-April (April 17 in 2026), the East and South entrances in early May, and Dunraven Pass in late May. The North Entrance–Northeast Entrance road is open all year; elsewhere winter access is by guided oversnow travel. That typically affects January — verify before planning. Current NPS conditions →

Yellowstone in January: what the park service says

January is the middle of Yellowstone's oversnow season, which the park service runs from mid-December to mid-March. The only road open to cars all year is the one between the North Entrance at Gardiner and the Northeast Entrance; the rest of the interior is reached by approved commercially guided snowcoaches and snowmobiles, or through the non-commercially guided snowmobile program. If you want to see the interior, book a guided snowcoach or snowmobile tour before you go.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

The sun sets behind the sharp point of a snow-covered mountain; pink clouds are reflected in a pond — Yellowstone National Park — photo: NPS / Jacob W. Frank (public-domain NPS media)

Crowds in January

Yellowstone averages 42,153 recreation visits in January — 5% of what July, the peak month, draws. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Average visits (January)

42,153 (mean 2021–2025, NPS)

Share of the year

1% of annual visitation

vs. peak (July)

Weather & daylight

It is properly cold (highs average 23°F), and nights are frigid (lows average 1°F). It is typically dry (1.8″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 9.2 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YELLOWSTONE LAKE, WY US (6 mi from park coordinates, 7,835 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of January.

What to pack for Yellowstone in January

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

Insulated parka + thermal base layers — average lows of 1°F
Headlamp — only 9.2 hours of daylight in mid-January (compare other options)
Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month
Bear spray — recommended by the park in grizzly country (check current park regulations before you carry)

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Yellowstone are May and June.

Also at their best in January

Other parks whose computed January verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

Channel Islands in January — 35% of peak crowds, highs 66°F, score 76/100
Zion in January — 23% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 76/100
Carlsbad Caverns in January — 38% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 73/100
Big Bend in January — 50% of peak crowds, highs 69°F, score 71/100

Common questions

Is Yellowstone crowded in January?

No — January is one of the quieter months: 5% of the July peak, averaging 42,153 visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Yellowstone.

What is the weather like in Yellowstone in January?

Average highs of 23°F, lows of 1°F, 1.8″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, YELLOWSTONE LAKE, WY US station). Compare it with other national parks in January.

What should I pack for Yellowstone in January?

Insulated parka + thermal base layers; Headlamp; Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in February instead? Yellowstone in February has its own list.

Is everything open at Yellowstone in January?

Most park roads close to regular vehicles at the start of November and reopen in stages: the West Entrance–Madison–Old Faithful–Norris–Canyon roads in mid-April (April 17 in 2026), the East and South entrances in early May, and Dunraven Pass in late May. The North Entrance–Northeast Entrance road is open all year; elsewhere winter access is by guided oversnow travel. Always check the park's live NPS alerts for current conditions.

See also: the best national parks to visit in January · Last verified 2026-09-24