Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 50–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Partly sunny64°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Partly sunny62°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Partly sunny54°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Sunny50°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 49–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Mostly sunny61°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny60°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Sunny55°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Sunny49°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Sunny54°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny55°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–66°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Mostly sunny66°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Partly sunny57°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Partly sunny60°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Partly sunny54°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Partly sunny56°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Partly sunny59°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 55–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Mostly sunny64°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny62°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Sunny59°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Sunny55°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Sunny56°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny58°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–62°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Sunny62°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Sunny60°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Sunny54°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Sunny57°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Sunny53°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny55°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Sunny61°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Sunny59°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Sunny54°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Sunny58°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Sunny53°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny55°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny56°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 53–60°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Salt Lake City7 AM MDT Mostly sunny60°F Ogden7:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny59°F Utah–Idaho line8:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny54°F Pocatello9:15 AM MDT Mostly sunny58°F Idaho Falls10 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F Targhee Pass11:30 AM MDT Mostly sunny53°F West Yellowstone11:45 AM MDT Mostly sunny55°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 Salt Lake City (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Salt Lake City, UTStart 4,264 ftelevation
- Ogden, UTMile 36 · 35 min 4,302 ftelevation
- Utah–Idaho lineState line · Mile 94 · 1 h 22 min 4,507 ftelevation
- Pocatello, IDMile 163 · 2 h 17 min 4,464 ftelevation
- Idaho Falls, IDMile 212 · 2 h 57 min 4,705 ftelevation
- Targhee Pass, MTMountain pass · Mile 311 · 4 h 32 min 7,080 ftelevation
- West Yellowstone, MTMile 320 · 4 h 42 min 6,668 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Salt Lake City, Targhee Pass and West Yellowstone.
| Month | Salt Lake City 4,225 ft | Targhee Pass Hebgen Dam station · 6,489 ft | West Yellowstone W Yellowstone Gateway station · 6,679 ft | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 39° / 24° | 3.6 | 23° / 4° | 11.8 | 27° / 0° |
| Feb | 45° / 29° | 3.0 | 28° / 5° | 8.6 | 31° / 2° |
| Mar | 55° / 36° | 2.3 | 38° / 14° | 6.1 | 40° / 9° |
| Apr | 62° / 42° | 1.0 | 47° / 23° | 2.9 | 48° / 21° |
| May | 73° / 50° | 0 | 58° / 32° | 0.4 | 59° / 29° |
| Jun | 84° / 59° | 0 | 68° / 39° | 0 | 68° / 34° |
| Jul | 94° / 68° | 0 | 79° / 45° | 0 | 80° / 39° |
| Aug | 92° / 67° | 0 | 78° / 43° | 0 | 78° / 36° |
| Sep | 81° / 56° | 0 | 68° / 37° | 0 | 68° / 30° |
| Oct | 66° / 44° | 0.3 | 51° / 28° | 1.1 | 51° / 21° |
| Nov | 51° / 33° | 2.1 | 34° / 18° | 6.6 | 36° / 11° |
| Dec | 39° / 25° | 3.8 | 23° / 6° | 11.4 | 26° / 3° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SALT LAKE CITY INTL AP (USW00024127, 4,225 ft); HEBGEN DAM (USC00244038, 6,489 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 Utah, Idaho and Montana rather than repeat them.
- Utah · UDOTUDOT Traffic road conditions
- Utah · winter rulesTraction law summary
- 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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone?
320 miles, about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-15 and US-20. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Targhee Pass, at 7,080 ft. It comes at mile 311, about 4 h 32 min of driving after you leave Salt Lake City.
Does it snow at Targhee Pass in November?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Hebgen Dam (6,489 ft), averages 20.9 inches of snow in November, with about 7 days of 1 inch or more (1991–2020 normals).
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).