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Yellowstone National Park in January

Very quiet0.1× average month · best-time score 2/100

January at Yellowstone National Park averages a daytime high near 23°F and an overnight low around 1°F, with about 1.8" of precipitation. Visitation runs about 0.1× the park's average month, which makes January a very quiet month here.

Average low
1°F
Average high
23°F

Range across the year: 1°F to 72°F

Crowds
0.1× averageVery quiet
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D
Precipitation
1.8 in
Daylight
9.0 hours

Check access before you plan around January

January draws about 10% of the visits Yellowstone sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around January. Official Yellowstone park page.

Roughly 1% of the park's yearly visitors come in January: about 36,000 recreation visits in a typical year, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979 to 2025.

That makes January the 9th-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 January rates 2/100 ("Poor"). Our recommended month is September: the lightest crowds of the park's good-weather months.

The daily average of about 12°F is cold, with winter conditions likely on higher ground. These figures are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals from the nearest station, about 7.2 miles from the park.

Because June, July and August together draw about 61% of annual visitors, choosing January instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.

You'll have about 9 hours of daylight in January 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 January visit is likely to feel busier than it did a few years ago.

How January compares with the months around it

MonthAvg high / lowCrowdsBest-time score
December23°F / 3°F0.1× Very quiet1 Poor
January23°F / 1°F0.1× Very quiet2 Poor
February26°F / 1°F0.1× Very quiet4 Poor

All twelve months at Yellowstone, with the best time to visit.

Seasonal closures in January 2027

The National Park Service lists these Yellowstone facilities as closed during January 2027. The dates are the park's own, read on October 11, 2026. A facility that is not listed here may still be closed, so confirm on the park's site before you go.

1 more facilities are listed as closed in January.

Things to do at Yellowstone in January

The National Park Service tags 45 Yellowstone activities for winter. Here are 8 of them. Each links to the park's own page for it.

Reviewed by WhenToVisitParks Editorial Team · Updated

Frequently Asked Questions

January averages a daytime high near 23°F and an overnight low around 1°F at Yellowstone National Park, with about 1.8 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.

January is very quiet at Yellowstone National Park (about 0.1× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Poor" at 2/100. Our recommended month is September. January draws about 10% of the visits Yellowstone sees in an average month. Numbers that low usually mean limited access: closed roads, closed facilities or deep-winter conditions. The count alone does not say which, so check the park's current conditions before planning around January.

The busiest month is July and the quietest is November. January sits at about 0.1× the park's average, or 1% of annual visitation.

A typical January sees about 36,000 recreation visits at Yellowstone National Park, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1979–2025.

Where to stay near Yellowstone in January

Booking a January trip to Yellowstone National Park? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live January availability and prices.

Top-rated places to stay near Yellowstone

Prices for Oct 30–Nov 1, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Visiting Yellowstone in January?

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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in January.

Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020. Updated 2026-10-11.