A Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole or Grand Teton National Park is a long day, but with an early start and a well-planned route, you can see many of Yellowstone’s most iconic sights. On this itinerary, you’ll drive Yellowstone’s Lower Loop, visiting Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and several geothermal areas along the way.
This is the exact route we followed on a day trip from Grand Teton National Park. We designed it based on what we learned on previous visits to Yellowstone, prioritizing the most worthwhile sights while keeping the driving and stops manageable for one very full day.
Our Yellowstone Experience
We did this Yellowstone day trip on our third visit to Grand Teton National Park, which was also our third visit to Yellowstone. By that point, we already knew the park well enough to choose the sights we thought were most worthwhile and put them together into an efficient one-day route.
Tim and I returned to Yellowstone again one year later, bringing our total to four visits to the park. The itinerary in this guide is not a theoretical route: it is exactly how we did this day trip, using what we had learned from our earlier Yellowstone trips to decide where to go, what to skip, and how to make the most of one day.
Yellowstone Day Trip: At a Glance
START/END | Jackson Hole or Grand Teton National Park
DISTANCE | ~260 miles round trip from Jackson
DRIVING TIME | ~6 hours
TOTAL TIME | 12–14 hours
BEST TIME | Late May through September
TOP SIGHTS | Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful
ROUTE | Yellowstone Lower Loop
OUR EXPERIENCE | We drove this exact day trip in September
Can You Take a Day Trip to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole?
Yes. A day trip to Yellowstone from Jackson Hole or Grand Teton National Park is very doable, but expect a long, full day. With an early start, you can drive Yellowstone’s Lower Loop and see several of the park’s highlights, including Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Old Faithful.
The key is having a realistic itinerary and knowing what to skip. You won’t see all of Yellowstone in one day, but you can see an impressive amount.
For a day trip from Jackson Hole or Grand Teton National Park, we recommend driving Yellowstone’s Lower Loop, which connects many of the park’s most famous sights without requiring you to venture all the way to Mammoth Hot Springs or Lamar Valley.
We drove the loop counterclockwise, entering Yellowstone through the South Entrance and heading first toward Hayden Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. From there, we continued west to the geothermal areas before finishing the day at Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful.
This route worked especially well because it put Grand Prismatic Spring later in the day, when the air is typically warmer and there is less steam obscuring the colors of the hot spring. It also saves Old Faithful for one of the final stops before the drive back to Grand Teton and Jackson Hole.
If you’ll be spending one day in Yellowstone but don’t need to return to Jackson or Grand Teton that evening, see our One Day in Yellowstone guide, which has six itineraries based on your starting and ending point.
Yellowstone Day Trip Itinerary
Total Mileage and Time
You will spend a lot of time in your car on this day trip. The stats below are for the round trip distance from Jackson, Wyoming.
- Driving Distance: 260 miles
- Total Driving Time: 6 hours
Most of this drive is to get you to and from Yellowstone National Park. You will drive up through Grand Teton National Park, which is a gorgeous drive. There is even a spot in Grand Teton which we highly recommend adding to your day trip, which I will discuss later.
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Here is the Yellowstone day trip itinerary, with rough estimates on timing for each sight. The time of year that you do this day trip will impact how much time you have. Those doing this in June will have much more daylight than those doing this in September.
Early Morning: Drive to Yellowstone
Driving Distance: 80 miles
Driving Time: 1.75 hours
Leave at 7 am and arrive by 9 am
Get a very early start. This will maximize your time in Yellowstone and let you visit the first one or two sights relatively crowd-free. I recommend starting no later than 7 am. With a quick stop at Oxbow Bend, you’ll be in Yellowstone by 9 am.
Optional: Oxbow Bend
Located near the north end of Grand Teton National Park, this is a popular sunrise destination for photographers. It is also a great place to spot wildlife. Since you will be driving right past this point near sunrise, it’s worth a quick stop.
Oxbow Bend
North of Jackson Lake, you will exit Grand Teton National Park and then enter Yellowstone through the south entrance station. Then it’s a straight shot up to Yellowstone, on the John D. Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway.
Once you arrive at Grand Loop Road, turn right to drive the lower loop in a counter-clockwise direction. It’s at this point that you have another optional detour.
Why do we recommend driving the loop counter-clockwise? You can drive the loop in either direction and both have their advantages. Seeing the Grand Prismatic Spring from the overlook is best in the afternoon, once the morning mist has burned off of the hot spring. So, by driving this loop counter-clockwise, you get the timing right for this. If that’s not such a big deal for you, you could drive the loop clockwise and visit Old Faithful first, before it gets crowded. But we think Grand Prismatic Spring is worth the wait.
West Thumb Geyser Basin (Optional)
Driving Distance: less than one mile once you turn onto Grand Loop Road
Driving Time: 2 minutes
Timing: 9 am to 9:30 am
West Thumb Geyser Basin is a small collection of hot springs located right next to Yellowstone Lake. If you got an early start and like the idea of seeing brilliantly blue hot springs, West Thumb Geyser Basin is worth the visit. But if you got a late start, or if you don’t want to this to be a very long day, this is one of the sights that I recommend skipping (skipping West Thumb saves about 30 minutes).
This geyser basin is located within one mile of the junction of Grand Loop Road and the John D. Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway.
Note: This is your first chance to use a toilet, if you need one. Your next chance will be at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Hayden Valley
Driving Distance: 28 miles
Driving Time: 40 minutes
Timing: 9:30 am to 11 am (40 minutes to get here and almost one hour in Hayden Valley)
If you stopped at West Thumb Geyser Basin, you will drive through Hayden Valley just past 10:00 am.
Hayden Valley is one of the best places in Yellowstone to see bison. Keep your fingers crossed that the bison are hanging out along the roadside for the best experience. In recent years, our luck has been 50/50. Half the time the bison are lingering along either side of the road, creating traffic jams but also amazing viewing opportunities. The other half of the time we could see the herds in the far off distance.
A visit here typically lasts 30 to 60 minutes if the bison are near the road.
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Driving Distance: 7 miles
Driving Time: 15 minutes
Timing: 11:00 am to 12:30 pm (15 minutes to get here and an hour and fifteen minutes on the South Rim)
This is one of Yellowstone’s most iconic destinations. The Yellowstone River has been at work for thousands of years, carving out this canyon.
The view from Artist Point
There are scenic drives, overlooks, and short hiking trails on either side of the canyon. It takes roughly half a day to visit both rims. Since time is short today, we recommend only visiting one rim, the South Rim. However, you can spend more time here, if you don’t mind giving up Norris Geyser Basin and Artists Paintpots later today.
Drive South Rim Drive to the very end and park in the large lot. It’s a short walk out to the Artist Point viewpoint for one of the most famous views of Yellowstone National Park.
Optional: Add One or Two North Rim Viewpoints
If you are doing well on time and would like to see more of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, you can add one or two viewpoints on the North Rim. However, doing this will take the place of visiting Norris Geyser Basin or Artists Paintpots later in the day.
Neither option is necessarily better. It comes down to what you would rather see: another dramatic view of Lower Falls and the canyon, or another of Yellowstone’s geothermal areas. If waterfalls and canyon views are more appealing, spend additional time here. If you would rather see more hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots, continue with the itinerary as written.
For the North Rim, our two picks are:
Brink of the Lower Falls: This short but strenuous trail descends about 600 feet to a viewpoint right at the brink of Lower Falls, where you can watch the Yellowstone River plunge into the canyon. Plan on roughly 30 to 60 minutes for this stop. The climb back to the parking lot is steep.
Lookout Point: For an easier option, visit Lookout Point. From here, you get a classic view of Lower Falls from across the canyon, giving you a very different perspective than Artist Point.
Our advice: If you add one North Rim stop, choose Brink of the Lower Falls for the more memorable experience. If you want something quick and easy, choose Lookout Point.
For more information on how to plan your visit, with maps, and photos from all of the overlooks, take a look at our guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone ↓
Exactly How to Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Best things to do on both the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and how to plan your time.PRO TRAVEL TIP: There are restrooms in this parking lot. If you need food, you can get snacks or lunch at the General Store or Canyon Lodge in Canyon Village, which is a 5-minute drive from the South Rim.
Choose One: Norris Geyser Basin or Artists Paintpots
At this point in the day, we recommend choosing Norris Geyser Basin or Artists Paintpots rather than trying to do both. Either one gives you another look at Yellowstone’s geothermal activity, but they are very different experiences.
Option 1: Norris Geyser Basin
Driving Distance: 15 miles
Driving Time: 30 minutes
Timing: 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm (30 minutes to get here and 1 hour at Porcelain Basin)
Norris Geyser Basin is the better choice if you want a larger, more extensive geothermal area. Boardwalk trails wind past steaming vents, hot springs, and geysers in one of Yellowstone’s most active thermal areas.
Back Basin is the larger of the two parts. It is here that you can see Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest geyser. However, eruptions are unpredictable so you will have to be extremely lucky to see one. You will also walk a series of boardwalk trails to other smaller basins.
Porcelain Basin is the smaller and more exciting basin and it’s the one that I recommend you visit. Steaming hot springs, light blue thermal pools, and noisy fumaroles are what you will see here.
Porcelain Geyser Basin
Option 2: Artists Paintpots
Driving Distance: 20 miles
Driving Time: 45 minutes
Timing: 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm (45 minute drive plus 45 minutes at the Paintpots)
Artists Paintpots is a shorter, easier stop and a good choice if you are starting to run behind schedule. A short loop trail leads past colorful hot springs and bubbling mud pots, with an overlook along the way.
We like Artists Paintpots because it adds something a little different to the day without requiring as much time as Norris. If you want to keep the itinerary moving and save plenty of time for Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful, this is the better choice.
Midway Geyser Basin
Driving Distance: 20 – 25 miles*
Driving Time: 30 – 40 minutes*
Timing: 2:00 to 3:00 (30-minute drive plus 30 minutes to walk the boardwalk trail)
*distance and drive times vary based on whether you visited Norris or Artists Paintpots
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States. A visit to this technicolor thermal-pool is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park. There are two ways to see it: from the boardwalk trail at the Midway Geyser Basin and from the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook.
Midway Geyser Basin
Start first at Midway Geyser Basin. Walk the 0.8 mile boardwalk trail and get up close to the Grand Prismatic Spring. Along the way, you will also get to see a few smaller hot springs, such as Excelsior Geyser Crater, Opal Pool, and Turquoise Pool. It takes about 30 minutes to visit the Midway Geyser Basin.
Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook
Driving Distance: 1 mile
Driving Time: 2 minutes
Timing: 3:00 to 3:45 pm
Park in the Fairy Falls parking lot. From here, it is a 0.8 mile walk to get to the overlook (one-way). Most of the walk is flat, with the exception of the final 0.2 miles, which is a strenuous uphill walk on a dirt trail. Once on the viewing platform, enjoy the jaw-dropping view!
A visit here lasts about 45 minutes.
Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Driving Distance: 6 miles
Driving Time: 15 minutes
Timing: 3:45 pm to 6:00 pm (15 minutes to get here and 2 hours at Old Faithful)
Now is the moment that you may have been anticipating all day…watching an eruption of Old Faithful.
Old Faithful erupts roughly every hour and thirty minutes, +/- 10 minutes. The eruption usually lasts 3 to 4 minutes. You can get predicted eruption times here.
Most people view the eruption from the boardwalk trail and benches that circle the geyser. Plan to get a seat 20 to 30 minutes early since it will fill up with other visitors. This is a good spot to be if you want to get as close as possible to Old Faithful.
You also have the option to hike up to Observation Point, for a bird’s eye view of the eruption. It is a 1.1 mile round trip hike. It’s a short, strenuous uphill walk to get here, but with only a handful of people, this is a great place to escape the crowds and still get a great view of Old Faithful.
If you get lucky, Old Faithful could erupt right when you get here. Or, you could get here just minutes after an eruption. So, a visit could last as little as 20 minutes or as long as two hours.
If you still have the energy and the desire to see more geysers and hot springs, take a stroll through the Upper Geyser Basin. It takes about 2 hours to walk the boardwalk trails if you thoroughly explore the area. However, you can just walk a short distance away from Old Faithful to Castle Geyser and Spasmodic Geyser, which would take about 30 minutes of your time.
For more information on how to visit Old Faithful and how to plan your time, read our Guide to Old Faithful ↓
How to Visit Old Faithful in Yellowstone: Best Views, Timing & Tips
Important things to know as you plan your visit to Old Faithful.Note: There are restrooms here, as well as restaurants and a General Store, if you need food or dinner, before you head back to Grand Teton National Park.
Return to Grand Teton National Park
Driving Distance: 98 miles
Driving Time: 2.25 hours
Timing: 6:00 pm to 8:25 pm
Old Faithful is the final stop on this Yellowstone day trip. From here, drive directly back to Grand Teton.
As you drive through Yellowstone, you will see signs for more attractions, such as Mud Volcano, the Fountain Paint Pots, and Black Sand Basin. These are all great, but with limited time, the sights we list on the itinerary are more worthwhile. Plus, the geysers, thermal pools, and hot springs do get to be repetitive after you see a bunch of them, so we saved the best ones for this day trip.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Before you do this day trip, I recommend getting updates on park conditions, just to avoid any surprises. National parks can close at any time due to weather events, wildfires, or other unforeseen events.
Tips for Your Yellowstone Day Trip
A Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole is a long day, and a little preparation goes a long way. These are the things we recommend doing to keep the day running as smoothly as possible.
Start as early as you can. The earlier you leave Jackson Hole or Grand Teton National Park, the more flexibility you will have for wildlife sightings, traffic delays, and extra stops. An early start also helps you reach some of Yellowstone’s busiest sights before peak crowds.
Bring a picnic lunch and plenty of snacks. You can buy food in Yellowstone, but stopping for a sit-down meal takes valuable time. Packing lunch allows you to eat at a scenic stop or in the car while moving between sights.
Fill up your gas tank before entering Yellowstone. Gas is available inside the park, but starting with a full tank eliminates one more stop from an already busy day.
Expect wildlife delays. Bison jams are part of the Yellowstone experience, and they can add significant time to your drive. Treat the times in this itinerary as estimates rather than a strict schedule.
Be willing to skip something. If you are running behind, don’t rush through Grand Prismatic Spring or Old Faithful just to check another stop off the list. This is why we include optional sights throughout the itinerary. Prioritize the places you most want to see and let the rest go if necessary.
Download maps before your trip. Cell service is limited in many parts of Yellowstone, so download an offline map or save your route before leaving Jackson Hole.
Pack layers. Even in summer, mornings can be chilly, while afternoons can feel quite warm, especially on the boardwalks and exposed trails.
Bring binoculars if you have them. They are especially useful in Hayden Valley, where wildlife may be far from the road.
Most importantly, don’t try to see everything. Yellowstone is enormous. The goal of this day trip is to see a collection of its best sights while still having enough time to enjoy them.
Best Time for a Yellowstone Day Trip
The best time for a Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole is late May through September, when the South Entrance and the roads used on this itinerary are generally open and the major sights are accessible by car.
June through August gives you the longest daylight hours and the most reliable access, but these are also the busiest months in Yellowstone. Expect heavier traffic, crowded parking lots, and the possibility of delays at Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
If you have some flexibility, September is our favorite months for this day trip. You still have plenty of daylight, but crowds can be lower than in July and August. September also brings cooler temperatures and beautiful fall conditions, although snow and temporary road closures become increasingly possible later in the season.
Late May and early October can also work, but they are less predictable. Snowstorms can temporarily close park roads in spring and fall, so check current road conditions before setting out.
Self-Drive vs. Yellowstone Day Tour from Jackson Hole
Here are several highly rated tours. These start and end in Jackson and take you around the southern loop of Yellowstone, which is very similar to our itinerary above. This is a great option for those who want to learn more about Yellowstone from a guide and/or don’t want the hassle of driving and parking.
Tours of Yellowstone
Yellowstone Day Trip FAQs
Is a day trip to Yellowstone worth it?
Yes, a Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole or Grand Teton is worth it if this is your only opportunity to visit the park. It is a long day and you will only see a portion of Yellowstone, but you can still visit several of its highlights, including the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and Hayden Valley. If you have two or more days available, we recommend spending more time in Yellowstone, but for a one-day visit, this itinerary gives you an excellent introduction to the park.
Can you visit Old Faithful on a day trip from Jackson Hole?
Yes. Old Faithful fits very well into a Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole, and on our itinerary it is one of the final major stops of the day before driving back through Grand Teton. Allow enough time not only to watch an eruption but also to walk through a portion of the Upper Geyser Basin if your schedule permits.
How far is Yellowstone from Jackson Hole?
Yellowstone’s South Entrance is roughly 60 miles from Jackson, but reaching the major sights requires considerably more driving. Yellowstone is enormous, and popular destinations can be dozens of miles apart. This is why a full Yellowstone day trip from Jackson involves substantially more driving than the distance from Jackson to the park entrance suggests. The National Park Service notes that even Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are about 50 miles apart.
How long does a Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole take?
Plan on a full 12- to 14-hour day for a Yellowstone day trip from Jackson Hole. Your exact timing will depend on where you are staying, how many optional stops you make, traffic, parking, and wildlife delays. Leaving early gives you the most flexibility and makes it easier to enjoy the major sights without feeling rushed.
Do you need a reservation to enter Yellowstone?
No. Yellowstone National Park does not require a vehicle reservation or timed-entry reservation. You do need a valid park entrance pass, which you can purchase in advance or at the entrance station. Reservations are required for some activities and overnight stays, such as most campgrounds, but not for a day trip into the park.
Plan Your Trip to Yellowstone
- Staying longer than a day? → Our Yellowstone Itinerary covers 1 to 5 days in the park, with day-by-day routes and recommendations for where to stay each night.
- Want the full list of things to see? → Our Best Things to Do in Yellowstone guide covers Yellowstone’s top sights, hikes, geothermal areas, and wildlife-viewing spots.
- Need a place to stay? → Our Where to Stay in Yellowstone guide covers the best places to stay inside the park and in the gateway towns.
- Combining Yellowstone with Grand Teton? → Our Yellowstone Grand Teton Itinerary shows you how to plan 1 to 5 days in the neighboring park.
- Planning more time in Grand Teton? → Our Best Things to Do in Grand Teton guide covers the park’s best viewpoints, hikes, scenic drives, and wildlife experiences.
- Want the big-picture overview first? → Our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide brings together our itineraries, planning advice, and Yellowstone guides in one place.
If you have any questions about how to plan your Yellowstone day trip, let us know in the comment section below.
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