Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Wyoming and the largest. Visitors find it 39 mi southeast of Mammoth. Our list goes on with Yellowstone, 11 mi away.
A lake, 39 mi southeast of Mammoth
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is West Yellowstone, 39 miles west. Where to stay ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 11°, with about 72" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Best months: Jul and Aug
July and August are the mild months, with highs of 80–81°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Choosing a month
Here are the months at Yellowstone Lake, with their weather.
Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the largest body of water in Wyoming and the largest in Yellowstone National Park. The lake is 7,732 feet (2,357 m) above sea level and covers 136 square miles (350 km2) with 110 miles (180 km) of shoreline. While the average depth of the lake is 139 ft (42 m), its greatest depth is at least 394 ft (120 m). Yellowstone Lake is the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) in North America.
In winter, ice nearly 3 ft (0.91 m) thick covers much of the lake except where shallow water covers hot springs. The lake freezes over by early December and can remain frozen until late May or early June.
- Type
- Lake
- Area
- 137 square miles
- Elevation
- 7,733 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 34K a year
Hotels and campgrounds near Yellowstone Lake
The closest lodging is in West Yellowstone (57) and Silver Gate (7).
West Yellowstone
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
1,191 people · 25% vacation homes
39 mi west of Yellowstone Lake
Compare 3 towns
| Town | From Yellowstone Lake | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Yellowstone 25% vacation homes | 39 mi west | 1 hr | 57 20 hotels · 14 motels · 6 inns & B&Bs · 10 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 3 RV parks | 1,191 | $504K | B |
| Silver Gate 67% vacation homes | 43 mi northeast | 1 hr | 7 6 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel | 114 | $587K | — |
| Mammoth 58% vacation homes | 39 mi northwest | 1 hr | 2 1 hotel · 1 campground | 62 | — | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Nearby, too
These well-known sights sit within 70 miles.
Big draw111 mi National ParkYellowstone National Park4.8M visitors a year
Big draw217 mi MountainYellowstone volcano
Big draw47 mi National ParkGrand Teton National Park3.8M visitors a year
56 mi Scenic driveBeartooth Highway
70 mi DamTeton Dam
318 mi Canyon & gorgeGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone
31 mi Park & preserveParting of the Waters
418 mi WaterfallYellowstone FallsPhoto credits
Yellowstone National Park: James St. John from Newark, Ohio, CC BY 2.0 · Yellowstone volcano: Ed Austin/Herb Jones, Public domain · Grand Teton National Park: Jon Sullivan, PD Photo., Public domain · Beartooth Highway: Phil Armitage, Public domain · Teton Dam: WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Parting of the Waters: Ericshawwhite, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yellowstone Falls: Unknown, Public domain
_Teton_Dam_Flood_-_Newdale.jpg){kind=link}
Visiting Yellowstone Lake: the answers
What town is Yellowstone Lake near?
Mammoth, WY, about 39 miles northwest.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone Lake?
July and August, with highs of 80–81°.
What is the closest airport to Yellowstone Lake?
Yellowstone (WYS), about 40 miles away.
Where should I stay near Yellowstone Lake?
West Yellowstone (39 mi, 57 places to stay) and Silver Gate (43 mi, 7 places to stay).
Tips for visiting, from Mammoth
People in Mammoth have not posted tips yet; their Town Square is open.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.