Yellowstone National Park in August
August at Yellowstone National Park averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 37°F, with about 1.3" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 2.3× the park's average month, which makes August a very busy month here.
- Average low
- 37°F
- Average high
- 71°F
Range across the year: 1°F to 72°F
- Precipitation
- 1.3 in
- Daylight
- 13.9 hours
Roughly 20% of the park's yearly visitors come in August: about 835,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.
That makes August the 2nd-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the July peak (2.7×) and the November low (0.1×).
On our Best Time to Visit score August rates 45/100 ("Fair"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.
The daily average of about 54°F is a comfortable range for hiking and being outdoors all day. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.2 miles from the park.
August falls inside the park's busiest stretch: June, July and August together pull about 61% of the year's visitors, so a visit this month means sharing the park with the peak-season crowd.
You'll have about 13.9 hours of daylight in August to explore — between the 8.6-hour midwinter low and the 15.4-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 4,762,988 recreation visits, about flat from 4,744,353 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has risen about 7.5%, so a August visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.
How August compares with the months around it
| Month | Avg high / low | Crowds | Best-time score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July | 72°F / 39°F | 2.6× Very busy | 42 Poor |
| August | 71°F / 37°F | 2.3× Very busy | 45 Fair |
| September | 61°F / 30°F | 2.1× Very busy | 37 Poor |
All twelve months at Yellowstone, with the best time to visit.
Things to do at Yellowstone in August
The National Park Service tags 65 Yellowstone activities for summer. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.
- Mount Washburn Bike Trail · 2-5 hours
- Abandoned Railroad Bed Bike Trail · 2-4 hours
- Cascade Lake Trail · 2-3 hours
- Elephant Back Mountain Trail · 2-3 hours
- Lone Star Geyser Bike Trail · 2-4 hours
- Old Faithful Lower General Store to Morning Glory Pool Bike Trail · 1-2 hours
- Ribbon Lake Trail · 3-4 hours
- Slough Creek Trail · 2-5 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
August averages a daytime high near 71°F and an overnight low around 37°F at Yellowstone National Park, with about 1.3 inches of precipitation. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.2 miles from the park, so conditions inside the park can differ, especially at other elevations.
August is very busy at Yellowstone National Park (about 2.3× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Fair" at 45/100. Our recommended month is September.
The busiest month is July and the quietest is November. August sits at about 2.3× the park's average, or 20% of annual visitation.
A typical August sees about 835,000 recreation visits at Yellowstone National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.
Where to stay near Yellowstone in August
Booking a August trip to Yellowstone National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live August availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Yellowstone
Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in August.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.