The Best & Worst Times to Visit Wyoming in 2025

Wyoming is one of the last vestiges of the Wild West, one of the few places in the United States where you can still experience the grit of the Last Frontier. The mountainous state has spectacular nature, which you can explore at national parks and reserves like Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

The state also has important historic sites and museums related to the Wild West, like the Buffalo Bill Center of the Wild West and Old Trail Town, a preserved Western town.

The spectacular nature and unique cowboy history of Wyoming make it a destination unlike any other in the United States. To make sure your trip goes off without a hitch, keep reading for the best time to visit.

The Overall Best Time to Visit Wyoming

The best time to visit Wyoming is in the summer, when the harsh mountain winter gives way to milder weather, and all the major attractions in the state are open.

According to the official State Climate Office, Wyoming’s climate is cool all year round thanks to its elevation—the median elevation throughout the state is 6,700 feet. Winters are particularly harsh, with cold temperatures and heavy snow, and they get more intense the further into the mountains you go.

Most of the state has summer temperatures similar to those in the capital, Cheyenne, where July average high temperatures are around 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Even during the summer, nights can get cold, as much as 30 degrees lower than the average daytime temperatures.

The warmer temperatures mean that it is far more pleasant to spend time outdoors and engage in plenty of adventurous activities, like:

• Hiking
• Mountain biking
• Camping
• Horseback riding

This is the best time to go to Wyoming’s many natural parks because you have so many more choices in terms of what to do. Plus, summer is the only season when the parks are fully open.

Famous destinations like Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park are located at high elevations, which means that snow closes many roads, trails, and campgrounds well into spring.

Summer is the high season for Wyoming’s national parks. This can be a downside for some visitors since it means that the parks host the most visitors during this time. However, it also means that you have the most amenities during this time.

Lodges and visitor centers have the longest hours in the summer, and places like Devil’s Tower only offer ranger programs and other interactive events in the summer. There are two other major reasons to visit Wyoming in the summer—rodeo season and powwow season.

Many rodeos are organized in the summer months by those proud of their cowboy heritage, while indigenous Native American tribes organize traditional powwows that are open to visitors who want to learn more about the culture.

Some dude ranches and towns organize weekly rodeo events and reenactments throughout the summer. Some of the biggest summer events are:

• Cody Plains Indian Museum Powwow (June)
• Lander Pioneer Days (July)
• Cheyenne Frontier Days (July)
• Wyoming State Fair (August)

Cheapest Time to Visit Wyoming

The cheapest time to visit Wyoming is during its shoulder seasons of spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November). Wyoming’s main tourist season is in the summer when most people come to visit the national parks.

There’s also a boost in visitor numbers in the winter when visitors flock to the popular ski resorts. During the shoulder seasons, you have a higher chance of scoring good deals throughout the state since everywhere will have fewer visitors.

In the spring, temperatures warm slowly and the snow begins to melt, making access to nature a bit patchy. However, if you are willing to risk the unpredictable weather, this is a great time to score deals. In March, hotels in Cheyenne are usually 25%–30% cheaper than during peak times.

You can also find discounted hotel rooms in early spring in popular ski resorts like Jackson Hole, where the ski season lasts until early April but winds down by March. Autumn is also a great month for saving money on visiting Wyoming.

Prices already start to drop in September as the crowds tend to go home after Labor Day and get even lower in October and November. This is the cheapest month to get to Wyoming if you are planning on flying because flights tend to be cheapest in October and November.

Least Busy Time to Visit Wyoming

The least busy times to visit Wyoming are the same as the cheapest times to visit—the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. Spring is slow to arrive in the mountains, and many of the frustrations associated with winter, like snow and cold temperatures, are present in the spring.

This drives away many potential visitors, but if you bring layers and a positive attitude, your reward will be nearly empty national parks.

Parks like Yellowstone and Grand Teton still close many of their trails in the spring (and Yellowstone has a complicated schedule where many amenities close in March and April in preparation for the high season).

However, there is plenty to explore, even if only parts of the national parks are open. Spring is the best time to see wildlife because it is baby season for many species, including bison, and there are fewer people around to scare away the wildlife.

Autumn in Wyoming is brief but spectacular. In September and October, fall foliage covers the mountains. Temperatures get chilly at night but are perfectly crisp during the day, making this one of the best times to go hiking in Wyoming’s beautiful landscape.

November is probably the quietest month throughout Wyoming because the winter season hasn’t started yet, but the foliage is gone.

There may not be as much to do, but it’s still a good time to go hiking—and you definitely won’t see other people around. Depending on the year, you may even be able to get a head start on winter activities if the state receives an early snowfall.

Worst Time to Visit Wyoming

If you don’t like winter sports, then winter is the worst time to visit Wyoming because there’s not much else to do. Winters in Wyoming are cold and harsh.

Nighttime temperatures are often around 5–10 degrees Fahrenheit, while daytime temperatures are rarely above freezing. The state is blanketed in snow for much of the season, especially in the mountains, where there is reliable snow cover from November to early April.

Due to the snow covering many trails and roads in the state, most activities revolve around snow. Even the official Wyoming tourism board admits that there are fewer choices for activities in the winter.

If you don’t like the cold or strapping various sports gear to your feet, this isn’t a great time to visit. On the other hand, if you love skiing and snowboarding, this is the best time to visit.

The state has many popular ski resort areas, like Jackson Hole, that have some of the top slopes in the country. You can also try your hand at less conventional winter activities, like snowmobiling, ice fishing, and bathing in hot springs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most common questions to help you pick the best time to visit Wyoming:

So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Wyoming?

Wyoming is gorgeous throughout the year; you just have to adjust your expectations depending on when you visit. Summer is the best time to visit for nature and local festivals, but winter is the best for skiing. Spring and fall are the best for savings.

So, with so much to see and do and plenty of amazing times to go, what are you waiting for — book your trip today and experience for yourself all that Wyoming has to offer. Happy travels!