Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 34–51°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny48°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Partly sunny34°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny39°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny47°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny49°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Sunny49°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Sunny44°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny51°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Mostly sunny41°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Partly sunny36°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Mostly clear36°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain41°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny43°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny51°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny52°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Partly sunny49°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Partly sunny58°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Mostly sunny44°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny40°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Mostly clear41°F - ThuOct 15
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 41–61°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Partly sunny51°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny41°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny46°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Sunny53°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Sunny55°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Sunny60°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Sunny54°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny61°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Mostly sunny46°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Sunny47°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Clear46°F - FriOct 16
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–66°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny43°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly sunny46°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Sunny56°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Sunny60°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny64°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny66°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Sunny54°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Sunny53°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Clear49°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 43–67°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Chance of light rain56°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Chance of light rain43°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny47°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny59°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny61°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny57°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny67°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Mostly sunny55°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny52°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Mostly clear49°F - SunOct 18
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 38–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Mostly cloudy52°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Slight chance of light rain38°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Partly sunny43°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Mostly sunny52°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Mostly sunny53°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Mostly sunny55°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Mostly sunny52°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Mostly sunny63°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Mostly sunny55°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Mostly sunny53°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Clear51°F - MonOct 19
CautionRain likely near Snoqualmie Pass around 7:45 AM PDT. The forecast does not reach the last checkpoint yet.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Seattle7 AM PDT Chance of light rain52°F Snoqualmie Pass7:45 AM PDT Rain likely38°F Moses Lake9:45 AM PDT Mostly cloudy48°F Spokane11:15 AM PDT Chance of light rain showers49°F Washington–Idaho line11:30 AM PDT Chance of light rain showers50°F Fourth of July Pass12 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers50°F Lookout Pass12:45 PM PDT Chance of light rain showers47°F Missoula3:15 PM MDT Slight chance of light rain60°F Homestake Pass5 PM MDT Slight chance of light rain52°F US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone6:45 PM MDT Chance of light rain54°F West Yellowstone7 PM MDT Not forecast yet—
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 Seattle (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Seattle, WAStart 134 ftelevation
- Snoqualmie Pass, WAMountain pass · Mile 51 · 50 min 3,022 ftelevation
- Moses Lake, WAMile 177 · 2 h 44 min 1,068 ftelevation
- Spokane, WAMile 279 · 4 h 17 min 1,885 ftelevation
- Washington–Idaho lineState line · Mile 298 · 4 h 36 min 2,080 ftelevation
- Fourth of July Pass, IDMountain pass · Mile 326 · 5 h 3 min 3,081 ftelevation
- Lookout Pass, IDMountain pass · Mile 371 · 5 h 47 min 4,711 ftelevation
- Missoula, MTMile 476 · 7 h 13 min 3,198 ftelevation
- Homestake Pass, MTMountain pass · Mile 603 · 8 h 56 min 6,428 ftelevation
- US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone, MTMile 719 · 10 h 45 min 6,691 ftelevation
- West Yellowstone, MTMile 740 · 11 h 5 min 6,668 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Seattle, US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone and West Yellowstone.
| Month | Seattle Sea-Tac Airport station · 370 ft | US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone 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 | 48° / 38° | 0.4 | 23° / 4° | 11.8 | 27° / 0° |
| Feb | 50° / 38° | 0.7 | 28° / 5° | 8.6 | 31° / 2° |
| Mar | 54° / 40° | 0.1 | 38° / 14° | 6.1 | 40° / 9° |
| Apr | 59° / 43° | 0 | 47° / 23° | 2.9 | 48° / 21° |
| May | 66° / 49° | 0 | 58° / 32° | 0.4 | 59° / 29° |
| Jun | 71° / 53° | 0 | 68° / 39° | 0 | 68° / 34° |
| Jul | 77° / 57° | 0 | 79° / 45° | 0 | 80° / 39° |
| Aug | 78° / 57° | 0 | 78° / 43° | 0 | 78° / 36° |
| Sep | 72° / 54° | 0 | 68° / 37° | 0 | 68° / 30° |
| Oct | 61° / 47° | 0 | 51° / 28° | 1.1 | 51° / 21° |
| Nov | 52° / 41° | 0.1 | 34° / 18° | 6.6 | 36° / 11° |
| Dec | 47° / 37° | 0.6 | 23° / 6° | 11.4 | 26° / 3° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP (USW00024233, 370 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 Washington, Idaho and Montana rather than repeat them.
- For this passWSDOT Snoqualmie Pass report: cameras, restrictions, conditions
- Washington · WSDOTReal-time travel map
- Washington · winter rulesMountain pass reports and traction rules
- 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 Seattle 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 Seattle to West Yellowstone?
740 miles, about 11 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-90. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone, at 6,691 ft. It comes at mile 719, about 10 h 45 min of driving after you leave Seattle.
Does it snow on US-287 northwest of West Yellowstone 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).