West Yellowstone, Montana · field elev 6,649 ft
Density Altitude at Yellowstone (KWYS)
Yellowstone is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 6,649 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (80 °F) pushes density altitude to about 9,441 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,792 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5 | 5,193 ft | 26.8 | 6,103 ft ▲ |
| February | 16.4 | 5,394 ft | 31.2 | 6,398 ft ▲ |
| March | 24.4 | 5,941 ft | 39.7 | 6,957 ft ▲ |
| April | 34.2 | 6,597 ft | 47.7 | 7,473 ft ▲ |
| May | 43.9 | 7,229 ft | 59.2 | 8,198 ft ⚠ |
| June | 51.2 | 7,696 ft | 68.4 | 8,763 ft ⚠ |
| July | 59.4 | 8,210 ft | 79.7 | 9,441 ft ⚠ |
| August | 57.0 | 8,061 ft | 77.9 | 9,334 ft ⚠ |
| September | 48.6 | 7,531 ft | 67.6 | 8,714 ft ⚠ |
| October | 36.1 | 6,722 ft | 50.8 | 7,670 ft ▲ |
| November | 23.6 | 5,887 ft | 35.9 | 6,709 ft ▲ |
| December | 14.2 | 5,242 ft | 25.8 | 6,036 ft ▲ |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KWYS
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 6,649 ft — the air behaves like 9,459 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 6,651 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Montana fields
- 29S — Gardiner
Gardiner · elev 5,286 ft
- KEKS — Ennis Big Sky
Ennis · elev 5,433 ft
- KBZN — Bozeman Yellowstone International
Bozeman · elev 4,473 ft
- KLVM — Mission Field
Livingston · elev 4,659 ft
- 4U9 — Dell Flight Strip
Dell · elev 6,007 ft
- KDLN — Dillon
Dillon · elev 5,245 ft
- KRVF — Ruby Valley Field
Twin Bridges · elev 4,789 ft
- 9S5 — Three Forks
Three Forks · elev 4,089 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KWYS in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 80 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Yellowstone reaches roughly 9,441 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KWYS on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 5,193 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 8,210 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 6,649 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Yellowstone?
6,649 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KWYS (ICAO) / WYS (FAA), in West Yellowstone, Montana.