Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in America, and for Yellowstone National Park it marks the beginning of one of the busiest stretches of the entire year. Families are hitting the road, RVs are rolling out of driveways, and the call of the wild Wyoming backcountry is getting harder to ignore with every passing day.
If you are planning a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend trip this year, you are in for something truly spectacular. Yellowstone in May is one of the most magical times of the entire season: baby bison calves wobbling alongside their mothers, grizzly bears that have emerged hungry and are actively foraging after a long winter, wolves moving their pups toward summer rendezvous sites, wildflowers carpeting the meadows, and snowcapped Absaroka peaks reflecting in the stillness of Yellowstone Lake.
But here is the thing most Memorial Day weekend Yellowstone visitors discover too late: where you enter the park and where you stay makes all the difference. The visitors who enter through the crowded West Gate and stay in a tourist-town hotel often spend more time in traffic than in the park. The visitors who enter through the East Gate near Cody, Wyoming and stay at Old Faithful RV Park on the North Fork of the Shoshone River experience something completely different.
This is your complete guide to making the most of a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend.
What to Expect at Yellowstone on Memorial Day Weekend
Let us start with an honest picture of what Memorial Day weekend looks like at Yellowstone so you can plan accordingly.
Major holidays and school vacations such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day attract large crowds to the park. Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend is the first major holiday surge of the season and it catches many visitors off guard because the park still feels like spring right up until the crowds arrive.
Yellowstone can get incredibly crowded with the park seeing over 4.7 million visitors in 2024 alone, with the majority visiting during the summer months. July is the peak with nearly 1 million people visiting that month alone. Memorial Day weekend is the opening bell for that summer surge and visitor numbers spike significantly compared to the preceding weeks.
What this means practically: The West Entrance line builds quickly during Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend. Parking lots at major attractions including the Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful fill early. Daily visitor counts routinely hit 30,000 and parking at major thermal areas fills completely by 9am. Memorial Day weekend previews exactly that kind of pressure, which is why choosing the East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage is so important for a holiday weekend visit.
The good news: if you know where to go and how to time your days you can have an extraordinary Memorial Day weekend at Yellowstone without the frustration that catches most visitors off guard. And if you are entering through the East Gate the crowd equation looks very different from day one.
The East Gate Yellowstone Crowds Advantage on Memorial Day Weekend
This is where staying at Old Faithful RV Park and entering through the East Gate completely transforms your Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend experience.
While Memorial Day weekend visitors are stacking up at the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, guests driving up the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway from Old Faithful RV Park are rolling straight through the East Gate with minimal wait and heading directly into some of the finest Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day viewing country in the entire park. The East Gate Yellowstone crowds difference on a holiday weekend is dramatic, we are talking seconds versus potentially an hour of waiting at the West Gate.
The difference is not subtle. It is the difference between spending your Memorial Day morning in a line of vehicles and spending it watching a grizzly bear that has emerged hungry and is actively foraging in the meadows of Hayden Valley in the golden morning light.
Read our complete Best Yellowstone Entrance Guide for the full side by side comparison of all five entrances. But for Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend specifically, the East Gate advantage is even more pronounced than usual because holiday crowds concentrate almost entirely at the western entrances.
Yellowstone Spring Wildlife: It Starts Before You Even Reach the Gate
Here is one of the most exciting and under-appreciated aspects of a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend trip from Old Faithful RV Park: the Yellowstone spring wildlife watching begins the moment you leave camp, a full 32 miles before you ever reach the East Gate.
The Wapiti Valley corridor along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway and through the Shoshone National Forest is one of the most wildlife-rich landscapes in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. This entire stretch of the North Fork of the Shoshone River valley is prime habitat for an extraordinary diversity of species that are actively moving and feeding in late May. Yellowstone spring wildlife does not wait for you to enter the park — it meets you on the road.
What you can expect to see on the drive from Old Faithful RV Park to the East Gate:
Pronghorn Antelope: The fastest land animal in North America is a regular sight in the open sagebrush flats of the Wapiti Valley throughout spring and summer. Late May is an excellent time to spot pronghorn does with their newborn fawns, some of the most delightful Yellowstone spring wildlife sightings of the entire season.
Bighorn Sheep: The dramatic canyon walls and rocky terrain along the North Fork corridor are prime bighorn sheep habitat. Keep your eyes on the cliff faces above the road and you are very likely to spot a band of bighorn on the canyon walls above you.
Bald Eagles: The North Fork is outstanding bald eagle habitat. Eagles are regularly spotted perched in the large cottonwoods along the river and soaring above the water searching for fish. Late May is an active time for eagles as they are feeding actively after the long winter.
Mule Deer: Mule deer are abundant throughout the Wapiti Valley corridor and are frequently spotted in the open meadows and brushy draws along the highway, particularly in the early morning and evening hours.
Black Bears: The Shoshone National Forest sections of the drive to the East Gate provide excellent black bear habitat, particularly in the areas where berry-producing shrubs are abundant along the lower slopes. Late May sees bears actively foraging after hibernation.
Osprey: The North Fork is outstanding osprey habitat and these spectacular fishing birds are a regular sight hovering above the river before plunge-diving for trout throughout the late spring and summer season.
By the time you reach the East Gate you have already had a Yellowstone spring wildlife experience that most West Entrance visitors will never have. And then Yellowstone itself begins.
What Makes Yellowstone in May So Special on Memorial Day Weekend
Yellowstone in May is genuinely unlike any other time of the season and has qualities that peak summer simply cannot match. Here is why a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend visit delivers experiences you will not find in July or August.
Baby Season is in Full Swing Late spring is baby season when you can see bison calves and bear cubs. Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend falls right in the heart of baby season. The famous Red Dog bison calves, born with their distinctive reddish coats, are wobbling alongside their mothers throughout the Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. Grizzly bears have emerged hungry and are actively foraging after a long winter. In May moose and pronghorn calving begin and the wolf pups emerge from the den. There is simply no better time of year to witness the raw renewal of life in the Yellowstone ecosystem than Yellowstone in May.
Less Crowded Than Peak Summer While Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend is undeniably busy, it is still significantly less crowded than the July and August peak. The best time to visit Yellowstone to avoid crowds is during the shoulder seasons of April-May or late September-October. Memorial Day weekend sits right at the tail end of that shoulder season window, giving visitors a combination of extraordinary Yellowstone spring wildlife activity and more manageable crowds than the full summer peak.
The Light is Extraordinary Yellowstone in May delivers some of the most beautiful photographic light of the entire year. The low angle of the morning sun, the contrast of fresh green meadows against snow-capped peaks, and the active wildlife in open habitats create conditions that landscape and wildlife photographers travel from around the world to capture. Read our Yellowstone Packing List for camera and photography gear recommendations before your trip.
All Main Roads are Open By Memorial Day weekend the main park roads are open and operational, giving visitors access to the full loop road system. The road linking Canyon, Fishing Bridge and the East Entrance opens on May 8th giving East Gate visitors immediate access to Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone corridor from opening day. Yellowstone in May means you get the full park experience without the full summer crowds.
Yellowstone Wildlife Memorial Day: What to See and Where
Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day weekend viewing is some of the finest of the entire season. Here is where to focus your time and energy for the best possible wildlife encounters:
Hayden Valley: Your First Stop Every Morning Hayden Valley is the crown jewel of Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day viewing from the East Gate. The vast open meadows and Yellowstone River corridor provide habitat for some of the densest concentrations of wildlife in the entire park. Bison herds with Red Dog calves, grizzly bears that have emerged hungry and are actively foraging, wolves moving through the valley, coyotes hunting the meadow edges, and waterfowl filling the river. Dawn is one of the best times of the day for wildlife watching in Yellowstone. Be in position at Hayden Valley before sunrise for the most spectacular Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day experience possible.
The Wapiti Valley Corridor: Wildlife Before the Gate As we covered in the Yellowstone spring wildlife section above, the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway between Old Faithful RV Park and the East Gate delivers outstanding wildlife watching completely independent of the national park. Pronghorn, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, mule deer, black bears, and osprey are all regularly spotted along this corridor in late May. Your Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day experience starts 32 miles before the gate.
Yellowstone Lake and Fishing Bridge: Otters, Eagles, and Waterfowl The Yellowstone Lake area is outstanding for spotting river otters, bald eagles, ospreys, trumpeter swans, and a spectacular diversity of waterfowl. The morning light on Yellowstone Lake in late May is simply extraordinary. Combine a lakeside wildlife watching session with the Storm Point Trail for one of the best easy morning hikes accessible from the East Gate.
Sylvan Pass: High Country Wildlife The dramatic Sylvan Pass corridor just inside the East Gate is excellent territory for Yellowstone spring wildlife including black bears foraging on the steep slopes, Clark’s nutcrackers and other high-elevation bird species, and the possibility of grizzly bears in the open avalanche chutes above the road.
Read our complete Yellowstone Wildlife Watching Guide for the full season by season and location by location breakdown of Yellowstone wildlife watching.
Your Memorial Day Weekend Itinerary from Old Faithful RV Park
Here is a suggested three day Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend itinerary for guests staying at Old Faithful RV Park:
Friday: Arrive and Explore the Wapiti Valley Arrive at Old Faithful RV Park, get set up, and spend your first afternoon exploring the North Fork of the Shoshone River corridor. Take a drive up toward the East Gate and back, keeping your eyes on the canyon walls for bighorn and the meadows for pronghorn. Stop at the river access via our adjacent BLM land if you want to cast a line on one of the top fly fishing rivers in the northern Rockies. Read our complete Fly Fishing Guide to the North Fork Shoshone River for everything you need to know. Later that evening step outside and look up: your first Bortle Class 1 dark sky experience awaits.
Saturday: East Gate to Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Up before sunrise and on the road by 5:30am. Drive the spectacular Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway to the East Gate with eyes wide open for Yellowstone spring wildlife along the entire corridor. Enter the park and head straight to Hayden Valley for the morning’s best Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day watching: bison herds, Red Dog calves, and grizzly bears that have emerged hungry and are actively foraging after a long winter. Mid-morning move to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for the spectacular Lower Falls and Artist Point views. Afternoon back through Hayden Valley for the late day wildlife activity and back to camp for the evening.
Sunday: Yellowstone Lake, Fishing Bridge, and Sylvan Pass A slightly more relaxed day exploring the stunning Yellowstone Lake area, the Fishing Bridge historic district, and the spectacular Sylvan Pass high-elevation corridor just inside the East Gate. Pack a picnic lunch and find a spot on the Yellowstone Lake shoreline. Check out the Storm Point Trail for one of the best easy hikes in the eastern park. Back to camp by mid-afternoon and evening at the Cody Nite Rodeo or a quiet evening on the banks of the North Fork under the Bortle Class 1 dark sky.
Monday: A Final Morning in the Park One last early run up to the East Gate for sunrise Yellowstone spring wildlife watching before packing up and heading home. The East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage holds even on Memorial Day Monday morning, making this final session in the park a peaceful and unhurried farewell to one of the most extraordinary places on earth.
Essential Tips for a Yellowstone Memorial Day Weekend Trip
Tip #1: Start every day before sunrise. Getting out early is truly one of the best ways to beat the crowds in Yellowstone. Dawn is one of the best times of the day for wildlife watching. The East Gate sees virtually no line even on Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend at dawn, and being in position at Hayden Valley as the light comes up is one of the great Yellowstone experiences.
Tip #2: Use the East Gate to avoid Memorial Day crowds. The East Gate Yellowstone crowds difference on a holiday weekend is significant. While the West Gate backs up with Memorial Day traffic, the East Gate rolls you straight into the park and directly to the finest Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day viewing areas without the wait.
Tip #3: Check road and area conditions before you go. Several areas including Midway Geyser Basin and Fountain Paint Pots will remain closed through the Friday of Memorial Day weekend 2026. Always check the NPS current conditions page before heading out each morning.
Tip #4: Download the NPS app before you leave camp. Cell service is unreliable throughout much of Yellowstone. The Yellowstone NPS app includes offline maps, geyser eruption predictions, and current road conditions. Download it in Cody or at camp before heading up the North Fork where service gets spotty.
Tip #5: Pack for all weather. Yellowstone in May means cold mornings, warm afternoons, and the very real possibility of snow at any time. Layers are essential. Check our complete Yellowstone Packing List for a full gear breakdown.
Tip #6: Carry bear spray every time you leave your vehicle. Grizzly bears have emerged hungry and are actively foraging throughout the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in late May. Every adult must carry bear spray. Read our complete Bear Safety in Yellowstone Country guide before your trip.
Tip #7: Stock Up in Cody Before Heading Up the North Fork Everything you need for a great Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend is available in Cody, Wyoming before you head up the road. Bear spray, groceries, hiking supplies, and last-minute gear are all available at better prices than anything inside the park. Stock up the night before each big park day and you will save time, money, and frustration. Check our complete Yellowstone Packing List for everything to grab before you go.
Tip #8: Stop at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center First The Fishing Bridge Visitor Center is your first stop inside the East Gate and one of the most valuable resources for any Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend visitor. Rangers have real-time information on wildlife activity, trail conditions, and current bear sightings throughout the eastern park. Five minutes here can dramatically improve your entire day.
Tip #9: Give Yourself Time on the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway Do not treat the drive from Old Faithful RV Park to the East Gate as simply a commute. The Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway is one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich drives in America. Pull over when you spot something. Yellowstone spring wildlife does not begin at the gate — it begins the moment you leave camp.
Tip #10: Book Your Cody Evening Entertainment in Advance Cody’s evening entertainment is the perfect complement to a big day in Yellowstone. The Cody Nite Rodeo and Wild West Spectacular are both outstanding but fill up quickly during peak season. Plan your evenings in Cody as thoughtfully as your days in the park for a truly complete Wyoming adventure.
Yellowstone Memorial Day Weekend with Kids
Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend is one of the most family-friendly times to visit the park. The Yellowstone spring wildlife baby season alone makes it absolutely magical for children, and the more manageable Memorial Day crowds compared to peak July make the park more relaxed and enjoyable for families.
Pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the Fishing Bridge Visitor Center the moment you enter the park. Kids who work toward their Junior Ranger badge are dramatically more engaged and observant throughout the visit, noticing Yellowstone spring wildlife that adults walk right past.
Read our complete Yellowstone with Kids Guide for everything families need to know about a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend visit, including our specific tips for hiking with kids in bear country and how to structure your days for maximum family enjoyment.
Your Yellowstone Memorial Day Weekend Basecamp
Old Faithful RV Park is open and ready for your Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend adventure. Our full hookup RV sites are big rig friendly with spacious pull through sites and stunning Absaroka Mountain views. Our rustic cabins sleep up to 6 guests with a main floor bedroom, a loft bedroom the kids absolutely love, a sofa sleeper, full bathroom, and kitchenette.
Step outside your door and the North Fork of the Shoshone River is running alongside the park. The Absaroka Mountains are spectacular Yellowstone in May with fresh snow on the peaks and green flooding the valleys. And every clear night the extraordinary Bortle Class 1 dark sky blazes above you in one of the darkest locations in the lower 48 states.
Yellowstone is just 32 miles up one of the most beautiful drives in America. The Yellowstone spring wildlife starts the moment you leave camp. The East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage rolls you straight into the park without the Memorial Day weekend lines. And the Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day viewing in Hayden Valley at sunrise is something you will never forget.
This is the Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend trip you have been dreaming about.
Open now for the 2026 season 👉 Book your RV site or cabin at Old Faithful RV Park
Frequently Asked Questions: Yellowstone Memorial Day Weekend
How crowded is Yellowstone on Memorial Day weekend? Major holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day attract large crowds to the park. However Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend crowds are significantly lighter than the peak July and August surge. The key is using the East Gate near Cody, Wyoming to avoid the worst of the East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage and starting each day before sunrise.
Is Yellowstone in May worth visiting on Memorial Day weekend? Absolutely. Yellowstone in May is genuinely spectacular: baby bison calves, grizzly bears that have emerged hungry and are actively foraging, Yellowstone spring wildlife at its most active, wildflowers, fresh snow on the peaks, and less crowded conditions than peak summer. The key is entering through the East Gate near Cody, Wyoming to avoid the West Entrance crowds and starting each day before sunrise.
What is open in Yellowstone on Memorial Day weekend? The main park loop roads are open by Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend. Several areas including Midway Geyser Basin and Fountain Paint Pots will remain closed through the Friday of Memorial Day weekend May 22nd 2026. Always check the NPS current conditions page for the most current information before your trip.
Do I need a reservation to enter Yellowstone on Memorial Day weekend 2026? Yellowstone does not require timed entry in 2026. You drive in with a valid pass at any time. However accommodations fill up months in advance for Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend. Book your stay at Old Faithful RV Park as early as possible. U.S. National Park Service
What Yellowstone wildlife can I see on Memorial Day weekend? Yellowstone wildlife Memorial Day weekend viewing is outstanding. Baby bison calves, grizzly bears that have emerged hungry and are actively foraging after a long winter, wolf pups, moose calves, and pronghorn fawns are all active in late May. The entire Wapiti Valley corridor between Old Faithful RV Park and the East Gate delivers exceptional Yellowstone spring wildlife viewing before you even enter the park.
What is the best entrance for Yellowstone on Memorial Day weekend? The East Gate near Cody, Wyoming is the best entrance for a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend trip. The East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage is most pronounced on holiday weekends when West Entrance lines build significantly. Read our complete Best Yellowstone Entrance Guide for the full comparison.
Where is the best place to stay for a Yellowstone Memorial Day weekend trip? Old Faithful RV Park in Cody, Wyoming offers full hookup RV sites and rustic cabins sleeping up to 6 guests just 32 miles from the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. Open now for the 2026 season with spacious pull through sites, Bortle Class 1 dark sky stargazing, direct access to the North Fork of the Shoshone River, and the best East Gate Yellowstone crowds advantage of any basecamp in the region.
Rest. Explore. Repeat.
