Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
CautionLight snow showers likely near Teton Pass around 3 PM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Partly sunny47°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Isolated light rain showers40°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Isolated light rain showers45°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Partly sunny51°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Chance of light rain showers48°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Light snow showers likely36°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Slight chance of light rain50°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny39°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny41°F - WedOct 14
CautionLight snow showers near US-287 near Tie Siding around 8:45 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Light rain showers46°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Light rain showers42°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Light snow showers35°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Light snow showers37°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Light rain showers43°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Partly sunny49°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Mostly sunny42°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny52°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny45°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny47°F - ThuOct 15
CautionLight snow showers likely near US-287 near Tie Siding around 8:45 AM MDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers43°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Chance of light rain showers40°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Light snow showers likely34°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Light snow showers likely36°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Chance of light rain showers44°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Sunny52°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Sunny46°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Sunny59°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Sunny50°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Sunny54°F - FriOct 16
CautionFreezing, 30°F near US-287 near Tie Siding around 8:45 AM MDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny40°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Mostly sunny35°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny30°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Mostly sunny34°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny41°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Sunny50°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Sunny49°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Sunny61°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Sunny53°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Sunny58°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 38–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny39°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny38°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Sunny40°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Sunny56°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Sunny59°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Sunny52°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny56°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny43°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Mostly sunny46°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Mostly sunny58°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny61°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Sunny53°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Sunny58°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 44–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Denver7 AM MDT Mostly sunny49°F Fort Collins8 AM MDT Sunny45°F US-287 near Tie Siding8:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny44°F Quealy Gap10 AM MDT Mostly sunny48°F Rock Springs12 PM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Pinedale1:30 PM MDT Sunny56°F Teton Pass3 PM MDT Mostly sunny47°F Ashton4:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Targhee Pass5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny51°F West Yellowstone5:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny56°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Denver (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Denver, COStart 5,276 ftelevation
- Fort Collins, COMile 60 · 56 min 4,983 ftelevation
- US-287 near Tie Siding, WYMile 109 · 1 h 46 min 8,071 ftelevation
- Quealy Gap, WYMountain pass · Mile 190 · 2 h 57 min 7,453 ftelevation
- Rock Springs, WYMile 336 · 4 h 56 min 6,272 ftelevation
- Pinedale, WYMile 436 · 6 h 32 min 7,180 ftelevation
- Teton Pass, WYMountain pass · Mile 523 · 8 h 5 min 8,432 ftelevation
- Ashton, IDMile 572 · 9 h 9 min 5,609 ftelevation
- Targhee Pass, MTMountain pass · Mile 628 · 10 h 11 min 7,080 ftelevation
- West Yellowstone, MTMile 637 · 10 h 22 min 6,668 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Denver, Pinedale and West Yellowstone.
| Month | Denver 5,228 ft | Pinedale 7,210 ft | West Yellowstone W Yellowstone Gateway station · 6,679 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 49° / 21° | 2.4 | 28° / 2° | 4.7 | 27° / 0° |
| Feb | 49° / 22° | 2.6 | 31° / 4° | 4.6 | 31° / 2° |
| Mar | 58° / 30° | 2.5 | 41° / 14° | 3.6 | 40° / 9° |
| Apr | 64° / 36° | 1.5 | 51° / 23° | 3.0 | 48° / 21° |
| May | 73° / 46° | 0.3 | 61° / 30° | 0.9 | 59° / 29° |
| Jun | 85° / 56° | 0 | 71° / 38° | 0.3 | 68° / 34° |
| Jul | 91° / 62° | 0 | 80° / 43° | 0 | 80° / 39° |
| Aug | 90° / 60° | 0 | 78° / 40° | 0 | 78° / 36° |
| Sep | 82° / 51° | 0 | 69° / 33° | 0.3 | 68° / 30° |
| Oct | 68° / 38° | 0.8 | 55° / 24° | 1.4 | 51° / 21° |
| Nov | 56° / 28° | 1.6 | 40° / 13° | 3.8 | 36° / 11° |
| Dec | 47° / 21° | 2.2 | 29° / 3° | 5.3 | 26° / 3° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: DENVER WATER DEPT (USC00052223, 5,228 ft); PINEDALE (USC00487260, 7,210 ft); W YELLOWSTONE GATEWAY (USC00248858, 6,679 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana rather than repeat them.
- Colorado · CDOTCOtrip conditions and cameras
- Colorado · winter rulesTraction and chain laws
- Wyoming · WYDOTWyoming 511 road conditions
- Idaho · ITD511 Idaho road conditions
- Montana · MDT511MT road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Denver to West Yellowstone with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Denver to West Yellowstone?
637 miles, about 10 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-80 and US-191. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Teton Pass, at 8,432 ft. It comes at mile 523, about 8 h 5 min of driving after you leave Denver.
How cold is West Yellowstone in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, W Yellowstone Gateway (6,679 ft), averages a high of 27°F and a low of 0°F in January (1991–2020 normals).