Exploring the influence of climate factors on vegetation coverage in the Loess Plateau can enrich the ecological restoration theory. In order to provide a scientific basis for the ecological construction of the Loess Plateau, the direct and indirect effects of temperature and precipitation on vegetation were analyzed by using the path analysis, based on MODIS NDVI and corresponding meteorological data from 2001 to 2017. The findings are as follows the annual fluctuation growth of vegetation in the Loess Plateau were obvious, and the precipitation variation was like that of vegetation. Precipitation played a more important role than temperature overall. The maximum correlation between vegetation and temperature was found at the spatial scale of 80 km. At the spatial scale, vegetation and precipitation decreased from southeast to northwest, but the distribution of temperature was not significant. Precipitation presented a promoting effect on the whole while temperature mainly showed an inhibiting effect, and there was obviously spatial difference. On the temporal and spatial scale, vegetation was mainly affected by the promoting effect of climate factors, especially precipitation. The direct promoting effect of precipitation on vegetation is much greater than the indirect effect of temperature. Regardless of ecological areas or vegetation types on the Loess Plateau, the main effect of climate factors is promoting type, but there are obvious differences. On the spatial and temporal scales, the effects of meteorological factors obviously show the spatial difference. The main control factors affecting the vegetation are different in different regions, which has a theoretical guiding significance for the ecological management of the Loess Plateau and related problems in the process of management.