Julie Itinerary, United States 175 Comments

If you are planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park, this is a great place to start. There are many different ways to plan the “perfect Yellowstone itinerary,” depending on your interests and how much time you have.

Yellowstone is the second largest national park outside of Alaska. With over two million acres of land, five park entrances, numerous geyser basins to visit, and scenic drives through valleys filled with elk and bison, there is A LOT to do here.

Ideally, you need at least three or four days to visit Yellowstone National Park. However, if you are short on time, you can get to the main highlights, even if you just have a day or two. 

About this Yellowstone Itinerary

This Yellowstone itinerary works best during the months of June through October. From early November through late-May, many of the park roads will be closed due to snowfall. It’s still possible to visit the park in the winter, but you will get around by snowmobile or snow coach, which of course will be a much different experience than the summer months. You can get the status of road openings and closures here, a good idea if you are contemplating a visit in May or October into November.

With that being said, you should know that crowds are huge during the summer months (especially July and August). In 2021, Yellowstone was the 3rd most visited park in the USA, receiving 4.9 million visitors. In 2022, visitation dropped to 3.3 million, but that was because of the flood that occurred in June. In 2023, there is a good chance that visitation will approach 5 million visitors again and I recently read that 2024 is expected to be a record breaking year. Expect major difficulties finding a parking space midday and be prepared to share walking trails with many other visitors.

If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park for at least three days, we recommend staying in two different locations. Yes, it can be a hassle packing and unpacking, but Yellowstone is so large that switching accommodations can minimize travel time in the park. I give recommendations on where to stay in each itinerary. However, if you want to stay in one place for your entire visit, Canyon Village is the most centrally located village in Yellowstone. 

Currently, you do not need an advance reservation to enter Yellowstone, but if you have plans to visit one of these other US National Parks, you will need to make a reservation in advance.

A Quick Geography Lesson

Yellowstone is the second largest US national park outside of Alaska. With over 2 million acres of land and 5 park entrances, this place is massive.

Yellowstone National Park is primarily located in Wyoming, although it does spill over, just a little bit, into Idaho and Montana.

If you look at the map of Yellowstone below, you will see that the network of roads inside the park forms a figure of eight. The main loop is called Grand Loop Road. Bisecting this loop, and making the park roads resemble a figure of eight, is Norris Canyon Road. The majority of sights you will visit are located on Grand Loop Road.

Yellowstone Map

I modified this nps.gov map to highlight Grand Loop Road, the park entrances, and the main sights in Yellowstone. The pink lines are Grand Loop Road and Norris Canyon Road.

There are five park entrances, one on each side of the park (north, east, south, and west), with an additional entrance on the north side. Because of the park’s location, and the multiple entrances, it makes an awesome road trip destination. A visit to Yellowstone is usually combined with Grand Teton National Park, Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore, and Glacier National Park.

It takes three to five days to see and do everything inside of the park. If you are staying for 3 or more days, I recommend staying at two different locations in Yellowstone to minimize driving time. You can get recommendations on where to stay in our Where to Stay in Yellowstone article.

Best Things to Do in Yellowstone

Here is a list of the best things to do in Yellowstone:

  • Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
  • Grand Prismatic Spring & Midway Geyser Basin
  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
  • Wildlife sightings in Hayden and Lamar Valleys
  • Norris Geyser Basin
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • Go for a hike (Mt. Washburn & Fairy Falls are popular options)

The wildlife spottings in Yellowstone are incredible and every day offers a different experience. The best time of day to see the bison, elk, and bear are early and late in the day, so plan your visits to Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley during these times. But it is possible to spot wildlife anywhere in the park, so always be on the lookout.

Things to Do in Yellowstone

How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone?

You need a minimum of three full days to see the top sights in Yellowstone. Since Yellowstone is so large, you will potentially spend several hours each day driving from sight to sight. Add in extra time for wildlife sightings, animal traffic jams, and maybe even circling the parking lots midday for an empty space.

If you want to thoroughly explore Yellowstone, I recommend spending at least four to five days here. That’s plenty of time to visit the top sights without feeling like you are in a race.

How to Get to Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Here are the distances and driving times from nearby airports:

  • Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho: 110 miles, 2 hours
  • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana: 80 miles, 1.5 hours
  • Yellowstone Airport, West Entrance of Yellowstone: 3 miles, 10 minutes
  • Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody, Wyoming: 55 miles, 1.25 hours
  • Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming: 70 miles, 1.5 hour
  • Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah: 325 miles, 5 hours
  • Rapid City Regional Airport, South Dakota: 440 miles, 7.5 hours

Both Yellowstone Airport and Yellowstone Regional Airport are very small airports, so your options will be limited. You might have better luck finding convenient and economical flights at Bozeman, Idaho Falls, and Jackson Hole. We usually fly into Salt Lake City and visit Grand Teton National Park on the drive up to Yellowstone.

Yellowstone is a very popular road trip destination. Here are nearby travel destinations which you can visit before or after Yellowstone:

  • Grand Teton National Park: 60 miles, 1.5 hours
  • Jackson, Wyoming: 80 miles, 2 hours
  • Cody, Wyoming: 80 miles, 1.5 hours
  • Devils Tower, Wyoming: 375 miles, 7 hours
  • Mount Rushmore & Rapid City, South Dakota: 450 miles, 8 hours
  • Glacier National Park: 380 miles, 6 hours

Note: This driving distances and times are estimates and will vary according to your starting/ending location inside of Yellowstone National Park.

If you have plans to visit Yellowstone National Park on a road trip with Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and/or the Black Hills of South Dakota, you have several scenic drives to choose from that cross Wyoming. In our guide about how to drive from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore, we cover the two routes that cross the Bighorn Mountians: Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway.

One Day Yellowstone Itinerary

Where should you go if this is your first visit to Yellowstone and you only have one day? In my opinion, the must-see sights for a first-timer are Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and a drive through either Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley to spot wildlife.

If you only have one day, most likely you are on a road trip through the USA. Most people visit Yellowstone on a big road trip that includes Grand Teton National Park. If that is your plan, you can start in Grand Teton, hit the main sights in Yellowstone, and end the day in either Mammoth, West Yellowstone, or in one of the lodges inside of the park.

Below is an itinerary that starts in Grand Teton and ends in central/north Yellowstone. We also have an article with six different ways to spend one day in Yellowstone National Park. This article includes many different routes through the park to fit your road trip itinerary. 

Here is a map if you start in Grand Teton and end in Mammoth (but it also works if you are traveling in the opposite direction).

How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest.
 
If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

One Day Yellowstone Itinerary

Here is a sample one day Yellowstone itinerary. All times are approximate, to give you an idea of how to plan your time.

7 am: Drive from Jackson/Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone. From Jackson, it is a 60-mile drive to the south entrance of Yellowstone and takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes (95 miles, 2.25 hours to Old Faithful).

9:30 am: Old Faithful. Old Faithful is the world’s most famous geyser. It erupts every hour and half, give or take ten minutes. While you are here, you can also explore the Upper Geyser Basin. A visit to Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin typically lasts two hours.

Old Faithful Yellowstone Itinerary

Old Faithful | Yellowstone Itinerary

 
Yellowstone Boardwalk Trail

Boardwalk trail on the Upper Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary

12:30 pm: Grand Prismatic Spring. Take in the breathtaking view from the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. It’s a 1.6-mile round trip walk from the Fairy Falls parking lot. Then, brave the crowds at Midway Geyser Basin for an up-close view of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring Yellowstone Itinerary

The view from Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook

 
Midway Geyser Basin

Midway Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary

4:00 pm: Hayden Valley. Hayden Valley is one of the best places in Yellowstone to see bison. If you are lucky, there will be a large herd on the roadside so you can get up close with these animals.

Yellowstone Itinerary Summer

Bison in Hayden Valley | Yellowstone Itinerary

5:30 pm: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You can visit both rims of the canyon, either driving or hiking to the overlooks. If you are doing good on time, it is worth it to see both sides of the canyon. But if you are short on time (or low on energy), go to the south rim and visit Artist Point, the iconic view of the waterfall and one of the most popular sites in Yellowstone.

Artist Point Yellowstone Itinerary

Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | Yellowstone Itinerary

Once finished at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, check into your hotel. Canyon Village is the most convenient place to stay. If you have plans to drive on to Glacier National Park, stay in West Yellowstone or Gardiner, Montana.

Doing this in Reverse Order: You can also do this in reverse order, starting in West Yellowstone, Mammoth, or Gardiner, and ending in Grand Teton. Go first to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, drive through Hayden Valley, visit Grand Prismatic Spring when the sun is still high in the sky (to see the most vibrant colors) and end with Old Faithful.

For more information, read our article about How to Spend One Day in Yellowstone.

Visiting Yellowstone on a Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park or Jackson

Visiting Yellowstone on a day trip from Grand Teton National Park or Jackson works great. With one day, you can visit the tops sights in Yellowstone, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and see the bison in Hayden Valley.

We have a detailed guide on how to plan your day trip from Grand Teton and Jackson. But if you prefer to learn more about Yellowstone from a guide and/or if you don’t want the hassle of driving and parking, there are several highly rated tours that start in Jackson.

 


Two Day Yellowstone Itinerary

This two-day Yellowstone itinerary is a continuation of the itinerary above, only you travel at a more leisurely pace and you get to visit a few more places.

How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest.
 
If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

Day One

Morning: Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. Watch the geyser eruption from the boardwalk. For a unique view of the eruption (and much lower crowds), hike up to Observation Point. Take your time walking through the Upper Geyser Basin and Geyser Hill. Have lunch at the Old Faithful Inn or assemble a picnic lunch at the Old Faithful General Store.

Midday: Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin. Consider adding on the hike to Fairy Falls.

Afternoon: More Geyser Basins. Located in the same area as Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful are several more geyser basins to visit: Biscuit Basin, the Fountain Paint Pot Trail, and Black Sand Basin. Leave the crowds behind and hike to Lone Star Geyser, a geyser that erupts up to 45 feet every 3 hours.

Where to Stay: Old Faithful, Canyon Village or West Yellowstone

Observation Point Yellowstone Itinerary

View of Old Faithful from Observation Point | Yellowstone Itinerary

 Yellowstone Hot Spring

Fountain Paint Pot Trail | Yellowstone Itinerary

 

Old Faithful Inn

Old Faithful Inn | Yellowstone Itinerary

Day Two

If you stayed in Old Faithful the night before:

Morning: Visit West Thumb Geyser Basin and drive through Hayden Valley to see the herds of bison. Optional: visit Mud Volcano, a short trail that takes you past bubbling mud pots.

Morning/Midday: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Visit both sides of the rim, either walking or driving to the overlooks. Midday, parking can be limited, so your best bet is to walk to the overlooks. Our top experiences here include Artist Point and Uncle Tom’s Trail on the South Rim and Brink of the Lower Falls, Lookout Point, and Red Rock Point on the North Rim. Learn more about the Grand Canyon and ideas on how to plan your time in our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Afternoon: Visit Norris Geyser Basin. A visit here consists of seeing two basins, Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Unless you catch Steamboat Geyser in action, Porcelain Basin is more thrilling. Steaming hot springs, light blue thermal pools, and noisy fumaroles are what you will see here.

Late Afternoon/Evening: Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs that is located in north Yellowstone. Hot, steaming water spills out over travertine terraces, making this one of the most unique geothermal areas in the park. A visit here can be quick, with a short walk to one or two viewpoints. Or, you can spend an hour or two walking the boardwalk trails past each of the viewpoints.

West Thumb

West Thumb Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary

 Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary

 

Mammoth Hot Springs Yellowstone Itinerary

Mammoth Hot Spring | Yellowstone Itinerary

If you stayed in West Yellowstone or Canyon Village:

Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Midday: Hayden Valley with the option to visit Mud Volcano
Afternoon: Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Where to Stay: West Yellowstone or Canyon Village

Yellowstone National Park Guide


Three Day Yellowstone Itinerary

Our three-day itinerary is similar to our two-day itinerary, with the addition of the amazing Lamar Valley, a scenic drive, and the addition of a big hike. 

Day One

Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Midday: Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, and the option to hike to Fairy Falls
Afternoon: Geyser basins near Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring: Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin and the Fountain Paint Pot Trail

Where to Stay: Canyon Village, Old Faithful, or West Yellowstone

Day Two

Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Midday: Drive Dunraven Pass. This is a good time to hike to the top of Mt. Washburn for panoramic views of the park. It is a 6.2 mile round trip hike.
Afternoon: Drive through Hayden Valley to spot wildlife. Optional visit to Mud Volcano. Optional visit to West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Where to Stay: Canyon Village is the best place to stay but West Yellowstone and Mammoth/Gardiner also work well.

Day Three

Morning: Norris Geyser Basin
Midday: Mammoth Hot Springs. Have lunch in Mammoth or Gardiner. See the Roosevelt Arch, a stone arch that was constructed in 1903 and marks the main entrance into the park at that time.
Evening: Visit Lamar Valley at dusk. This is the best place in Yellowstone to spot wildlife.

Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, or Canyon Village

Boiling River

Boiling River Hot Spring | Yellowstone Itinerary

 Lamar Valley Sunset

Lamar Valley at Sunset | Yellowstone Itinerary

 

Gardiner Yellowstone Itinerary

Gardiner, Montana | Yellowstone Itinerary

PRO TRAVEL TIP: When driving through Yellowstone, be prepared to drive slowly and to get stuck in “animal traffic jams.” Bison tend to stop smack in the middle of the road, blocking traffic in both directions, creating traffic jams.

Yellowstone Bison


Four Day Yellowstone Itinerary

With four days, you can visit the main highlights of Yellowstone at a leisurely pace. You also have the option to add in a few short hikes.

Tip to Avoid the Crowds: Crowds are largest between 10 am and 4 pm in the summer months. If you have four or five days in Yellowstone, you have more time to work with, so it is possible to plan your days to avoid sightseeing at these crowded times. Start early, visit a site in the morning, relax in your lodge or have a leisurely picnic lunch midday, and then visit another site in the late afternoon.
 
On our most recent visit to Yellowstone, we were here in August. To avoid the crowds, we woke up very early and toured the park from 7 am to 11 am. We spent the middle part of the day at our hotel and then we went back out at 5 pm. It worked out very well. We saw most places with low crowds and we had a better chance to spot wildlife, since the animals are most active at dawn and dusk. The only downside is the extra driving.

Day One

Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Midday: Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, and the option to hike to Fairy Falls
Afternoon: Geyser basins near Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring: Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin and the Fountain Paint Pot Trail

PRO TRAVEL TIP: The best time to visit Grand Prismatic Spring is midday, when the sun is high in the sky and the morning mist has burned off of the spring. This is one place in Yellowstone that we recommend visiting midday, during peak hours.

Where to Stay: Canyon Village, Old Faithful, or West Yellowstone

A close-up view of the Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone shows colorful yellow, green, and deep aqua water layers.

Morning Glory Pool in the Upper Geyser Basin near Old Faithful

Day Two

Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Midday: Have lunch in Canyon Village. Drive Dunraven Pass. This is a good time to hike to the top of Mt. Washburn for panoramic views of the park. It is a 6.2 mile round trip hike. Or, drive south to Yellowstone Lake and hike Elephant Back Mountain, a 3.5-mile trail that offers nice views over Yellowstone Lake.
Afternoon: Drive through Hayden Valley to spot wildlife. Optional visit to Mud Volcano and/or West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Where to Stay: Canyon Village is the best place to stay but West Yellowstone and Mammoth/Gardiner also work well.

Day Three

Morning: Norris Geyser Basin
Midday: Free time at your hotel
Afternoon: Mammoth Hot Springs

Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, West Yellowstone, or Canyon Village

Day Four

Morning: Optional hike near Mammoth. The Bunsen Peak Trail is a 4.6-mile hike where you climb to a peak for great views of north Yellowstone. The Beaver Ponds Loop Trail is an easy 5-mile hike with a good chance to spot wildlife, just make sure you bring bear spray.
Midday: Relax in your hotel or have a picnic lunch.
Afternoon/Evening: Drive to Lamar Valley. On the way, add on the 7-mile scenic drive on the Blacktail Plateau. End the day spotting wildlife in Lamar Valley.

Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, West Yellowstone, or Canyon Village

Blacktail Plateau Yellowstone Itinerary

Blacktail Plateau | Yellowstone Itinerary

 

Lamar Valley Yellowstone Itinerary

Lamar Valley | Yellowstone Itinerary

Another option to consider is this 4 day tour of Grand Teton and Yellowstone. With a guide, you visit both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Along the way, you will stay in Jackson, Cody, and Cooke City. The fee includes transportation, lodging, and your guide. The tour is designed as a safari, giving you the best chance to spot wildlife.


Five Day Yellowstone Itinerary

With five days in Yellowstone, I recommend following the four day itinerary and on your fifth day, adding on additional experiences in Yellowstone.

Ideas include:

  • Take a Ranger Guided Tour
  • Go Fishing
  • Spend more time in Lamar Valley spotting wildlife
  • Go horseback riding
  • Go hiking (there are over 1,000 miles of trails in Yellowstone)
  • Plan a backcountry camping trip
  • Drive Beartooth Highway. This scenic drive is one of the best in the USA and starts at the northeast entrance of Yellowstone. Read our Guide to Beartooth Highway for more information.

Beartooth Highway

Beartooth Highway | Yellowstone Itinerary

US National Parks List


Yellowstone Itinerary: Fees, Links & Helpful Tips

Reserving Your Hotels/Lodges

If you want to stay within Yellowstone National Park, in one of the lodges or campgrounds, you need to make your reservation well in advance. 

Reservations open May 1 the prior year for summer (Summer 2025 reservations open May 1, 2024) and March 15 the prior year for winter. Lodges get fully booked one year in advance but cancellations are common, so keep checking back if you can’t reserve the lodge you want.

Get recommendations on where to stay in and around Yellowstone in our post Best Hotels and Locations in Yellowstone.

National Park Fee

It costs $35 per vehicle to enter the park and this is good for seven days.

America the Beautiful Pass: If you have plans to visit Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks, it is worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. Not only will you save money on park fees for this trip but you will also get free admission to any other national park or federal recreation sites that you visit within 365 days of purchasing this pass. 

Traveling with an RV

We have not traveled with an RV, so we don’t have experience about what it is like to visit Yellowstone with an RV (but we have seen many RV’s on these roads). If you want more information, I recommend taking a look at this website, for an overview of what to expect in the park.

Important Links

Check park conditions and road closures on the official Yellowstone National Park website. 

Tours of Yellowstone

If you prefer to visit Yellowstone with an experienced guide, or want to avoid the hassle of driving and parking, here are several highly rated tours to consider. 

 

Yellowstone Entrance Gate

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Yellowstone National Park?

If you want to see Yellowstone’s top sights, plan on spending three full days in the park. This gives you enough time to drive the south and north loops, visit the long list of geyser basins and hot springs, hike a few trails, and spot wildlife in the park. 

Is one day enough time to visit Yellowstone?

With one day in Yellowstone, you can see a few highlights of the park, so it is still a worthwhile experience. This can be done on a point-to-point road trip through the park or as a day trip from Grand Teton National Park. 

Where is the best place to stay in Yellowstone?

The best place to stay in Yellowstone depends on your travel itinerary. Yellowstone is a very large national park, with 5 park entrances, multiple villages inside the park, and small towns that sit outside of the park boundary. If you have plans to spend several days in Yellowstone, we recommend that you stay in two different areas, in order to minimize how much driving you will do. 

Where Are You Going Next?

If your visit to Yellowstone is part of a bigger road trip through Montana and Wyoming, here are some articles to help you plan your trip.

YELLOWSTONE TRAVEL GUIDE: Read our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and links to all of our articles about Yellowstone.

PLACES TO GO IN YELLOWSTONE: Top experiences in the park include Old Faithful, visiting both rims of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visiting the Geyser Basins, and photographing Grand Prismatic Spring. Get the full list in our article Best Things to Do in Yellowstone.

GRAND TETON: Check out our Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park.

ROAD TRIP ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks into one amazing 10 day road trip. Another alternative is to combine Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, and Badlands National Park into a 10 day road trip.

SCENIC DRIVES IN WYOMING: Beartooth Highway is located along the border of Montana and Wyoming, near Yellowstone, and is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. If you have plans to drive between Yellowstone and Devils Tower or Mount Rushmore, take your pick between Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway.

NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries.


If you have any questions about this Yellowstone itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide.

Yellowstone Itinerary and Travel Guide

Yellowstone National Park Itinerary

All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Comments 175

  1. Avatar for Amy
    Amy

    Hello,
    You have developed an amazing resource here. Very informative and helpful!
    We are planning a 21 day Western NP tour. I already have reservations for Jackson Hole (1 night, 6/29) and Yellowstone (6/30 Grant Village and 7/1 Gardiner). These are all refundable. The plan is to travel from Grant Village (6/29) North, on the West to Gardiner (Old Faithful-Madison-Norris-Mammoth HS, and travel south, on the east side exiting to Cody via the East entrance. Do you think this is a do-able route/itinerary? What suggestions might you have or changes? Will we see enough wild life if we don’t exit via Lamar Valley? We will probably be “hiked-out” from the Utah/Arizona and Colorado….
    Do you know of any Old-Faithful “tracker apps”?
    Things have changed a lot since my last visit in 88′ and 03′
    Thank you for your time and suggestions!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Hello Amy. I’m not sure I understand the timing you list here. Based on your reservation dates, I am assuming that on the morning of 7/1, you will check out of Grant Village and then visit Old Faithful and the west side of Yellowstone, including Norris and Mammoth, ending that day in Gardiner. Then, the morning of 7/2, check out of Gardiner and then visit the east side of Yellowstone exiting to Cody. That all works very well. Before exiting at the east entrance, visit Hayden Valley, for a good chance of seeing the Bison. There’s never a guarantee but you should see some wildlife without going through Lamar Valley. If I did not understand your timing right, please write in again. Here is the link to the NPS app for Old Faithful. Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers, Julie

  2. Avatar for Jack Lacy
    Jack Lacy

    Hello,
    My wife, adult daughter and I are traveling to Salt Lake City for a wedding the weekend of May 18. We are trying to decide whether a 5 or 6 day trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone makes sense this early in the season. We are thinking that on May 20 we’d drive to Tetons from SLC and spend one night there. Then we’d head to Yellowstone for 4 or 5 nights – May 21-26, probably staying at two different parts of the park (thinking Old Faithful Inn and Canyon Village). Is this a good time to try this, or is the remaining snow still likely to be a big issue? Will things be very wet and are mosquitos an issue at that time? What do you recommend?

    Thanks for any advice!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Hello Jack. I think you will be fine going in late May. Here is a link to when the roads are proposed to open in May and it looks as if 90% will be open before you get there, and the final road could open the last day of your visit. So, I think it is a great time and hopefully it shouldn’t be too crowded. I don’t know how wet it will be that time of year or the mosquito situation. You could look at weather averages on weatherspark.com to know what temperatures and potential rainfall you could be dealing with. It looks as if all of the Grand Teton roads will be open as well. I say go for it! Have a great trip!! Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for Jack Lacy
        Jack Lacy

        Thanks so much for your quick reply! Do you think the two hotels we’re looking at would be good, or would you just choose one or the other for the whole time in Yellowstone?

        Best,

        -Jack

        1. Avatar for Julie Post
          Author
          Julie

          If you can get Canyon Village, that is the best location in the park, in my opinion, so you could spend your full time here. If you can’t get it the entire time, you could spend your first 1 to 2 nights at Old Faithful and then the rest at Canyon Village. Cheers, Julie

          1. Avatar for Jack Lacy
          2. Avatar for Julie Post
            Author
          3. Avatar for Jack Lacy
            Jack Lacy

            Hi Julie,
            Looks like we’re gonna have 4 adults in our group. I currently have one room at Old Faithful Inn with 2 queens for 4 nights (this was the only option available in the park). Technically we could stay there but 4 adults and one bathroom might get a bit crazy. So, we’re considering West Yellowstone with 2 rooms. Any particular place you recommend?

            One other option is to cut our Yellowstone trip to 3 nights and stay in Jackson Hole for 2 nights instead of our planned stay for only one.

            Thoughts?

          4. Avatar for Julie Post
            Author
            Julie

            We stayed at the Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone and had a good experience. I list more recommended places for West Yellowstone in our Where to Stay in Yellowstone post. As far as changing the number of nights, it really comes down to whether or not there are enough things you want to do in Grand Teton to add on that extra time. There are a lot of great hikes to do in Grand Teton, so an additional day would allow you to do a bigger hike. Another option is to visit the Rockefeller Preserve on the second day and hike around Phelps Lake from here. If none of that sounds of interest, then keep your itinerary as is. Cheers, Julie

  3. Avatar for Sherri schalch
    Sherri schalch

    We are planning our first trip to grand Teton and Yellowstone in August of this year. Your article was very helpful.
    We are planning to fly into Jackson hole. 3 of us will arrive on Saturday with the last member coming in on Monday. I thought it might be best for the 3 of us to visit grand Teton on Sunday and possibly Monday while we wait for our last person to arrive. Could you recommend a place to stay in that area? Then I thought that when we were all here we could go to Yellowstone for Monday night with sightseeing Tuesday- Thursday or Friday. Would you recommend staying in west Yellowstone for 2 nights then moving to somewhere else? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Hello Sherri. In our Grand Teton itinerary, we list places to stay in Jackson. Once in Yellowstone, you will have 3 to 4 days. If you can get lodging at Canyon Village, that is the most convenient location for Yellowstone and you could stay here the entire time. If not, West Yellowstone is your best option outside of the park, followed by Gardiner. We also have a guide on where to stay in Yellowstone which should be helpful. Cheers, Julie

  4. Avatar for Kathleen Radzevich
    Kathleen Radzevich

    Very informative! We arrive in Bozeman on Tuesday Sept 19th and staying in west yellowstone Tuesday night . What is best route you posted we plan to go into park early Wednesday and stay in park Wednesday and Thursday night and leave friday morning to head to Big sky resort for the day . We are not huge hikers but can easily do a few miles to an overlook etc. . Want to see grand prisimic old faithful and the grand canyon of yellowstone as well as animals ( lamar valley) but not interested in doing tons of geysers . Any suggestions for route is appreciated and also where to stay in the park that is nice and not totally out of way for 2 day route ( budget is $400-$600 per night ) Thank you in advance!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      Hello Kathleen. This close to your trip, you may not get lodging inside of the park (this usually sells out a year in advance on only opens up if someone cancels their reservation). We have the link to the official website on our Where to Stay in Yellowstone guide but most likely you will have to spend a second night in West Yellowstone. I recommend following the 2 day itinerary we have listed here, but rather than visitng more geyser basins on day 1 go to Lamar Valley instead. It will just be a long drive back to West Yellowstone if you have to spend a second night here (Grand Canyon Village is ideal inside of the park). Cheers, Julie

  5. Avatar for cindy
    cindy

    Julie, thanks so much for this invaluable information. Really allowed me to see the park efficiently with all your helpful tips. Please share with the group if you are doing any hiking where you think you will need bear spray, you can now rent it by going to trailquipt.com. They are located within lodges in Gardiner, Bozeman, and West Yellowstone. I thought I would need it for the Fairy Falls hike as I was planning to go early in the morning where there would not be many people around, but turns out that I did not need it at all because I ended up hiking it in the afternoon where there were many people on the trail. Hope this tip helps others as well as save countless unused cannisters from being discarded into our landfills.

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      That’s a great tip…thanks for letting us know! Bear spray is expensive and most people never use it, so renting it is a great idea! Cheers, Julie

  6. Avatar for Lisa Gates
    Lisa Gates

    Planning a 3-5 day trip to Yellowstone then over to Oregon and back to Texas. Advise on best routes to take. Coming from South Texas

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      If you can spend at least 4 days in Yellowstone that would be ideal. Follow our 4 day itinerary in this guide and if any of the extra activities look of interest to you, add them on on day 5. Or after day four, continue the drive to Oregon. On your last day in Yellowstone, West Yellowstone might be the best place to stay, to start the drive towards Oregon. Cheers, Julie

  7. Avatar for sonia
    sonia

    Hi, I am thinking of a 5 day trip to Yellowstone, Grand Teton NPs. Please suggest itinerary and which airport to fly in. I did read all ur 1-5 days itineraries. Not clear which airport to fly in from CA. Need to book hotels too. Its just me and my teenage son. TY!

    1. Avatar for Julie Post
      Author
      Julie

      The most convenient airport would be the Jackson Hole airport (since that is very close to Grand Teton NP), followed by the Bozeman Airport. I recommend following the 4 day Yellowstone itinerary with a full day in Grand Teton, in which you can follow our one day in Grand Teton itinerary. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Julie

      1. Avatar for sonia
        1. Avatar for Julie Post
          Author
  8. Avatar for Lanier, LuxeJH
    Lanier, LuxeJH

    Hello,
    I own a itinerary and concierge company in Jackson Hole and am on-the-ground assisting visitors to Yellowstone who were either evacuated or turned away at one of the entrances due to the flooding with hotels accommodations and activities while in “refuge” in Jackson.
    Please let me know if I can help.
    Lanier

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