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The First U.S. National Park Is Still Iconic as Ever — How to Visit

Here’s everything you need to know before planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park.

• Planning Your Visit

How to Get There

• Best Time to Visit

Best Things to Do in the Park

Wildlife and natural features, places to stay, places to eat.

Daniel Ribar/Travel + Leisure

Yellowstone National Park, which straddles Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite national park , and it was the most popular park in 2023 according to Google . So what’s all the fuss about? Well, it has otherworldly geothermal elements, is a treasure chest of iconic megafauna and elusive predators, and, frankly, is simply stunning. 

You could spend years here and still find something new to be awestruck by. Unfortunately, many people who visit barely scratch the surface. T+L spoke to two Yellowstone experts, Daryl Hunter and Linda Veress, who want visitors to take a bigger bite out of the park. “I recommend people get out of their vehicles and walk around, go for a walk. So many people will just drive around and around. Even if it’s just a short walk around the boardwalk, being outside, experiencing the peace makes a huge difference,” Veress said. 

“A mistake some people make is they go to the first puff of steam they see, and then they see it, and it’s okay, and then the second one, and it is okay. And then they’re tired of looking at okay springs, and they drive right by the good ones and miss them,” Hunter said. 

We don’t want you to miss the good ones. Enter: this guide to Yellowstone National Park. 

Meet the Experts

• Daryl Hunter has lived near Yellowstone since 1987, exploring every corner of the park as a wildlife and landscape photographer and interpretive guide. 
• Linda Veress is a park spokesperson who has worked and lived in Yellowstone for ten years.

Planning Your Visit 

Daniel Ribar/Travel + Leisure

You don’t need to reserve a spot for your vehicle to enter Yellowstone National Park. Just remember that if you’re coming in through the South Entrance, you’ll pass through Grand Teton National Park first. There are separate entrance fees for each park, ranging from $20.00 to $35.00.

That said, you'll need to book accommodations and campsites well in advance — Yellowstone gets packed fast. “It’s not a place that [visitors] want to show up and think that they’ll be able to get a place to stay at the last minute,” Veress said. 

If everything is booked inside the park, no problem — there are gateway communities you can stay in. “The closest ones will be West Yellowstone and Gardener. Those are just outside the park entrances. Some people will drive in from Jackson or Cody, but those are farther away,” Veress said.

Once you’re in the park, plan your time wisely. “You can spend a big week out there. Most people spend about three days or so,” Hunter said. If you only have a few days, follow Hunter’s advice: “Do the lower loop the first day, the upper loop the second day. The upper loop has more wildlife and fewer thermal features, and the lower area has many thermal features.” He also recommends that if you’re that close, you might as well drive to Jackson Hole for a day and see Grand Teton . 

Tamas-V/Getty Images

Yellowstone has five entrances. The year-round North Entrance and the Northeast Entrance are closest to the northern loop, Mammoth Hot Springs, and more wildlife; the West Entrance is excellent for seeing geysers; the East Entrance is on the lake; and the South Entrance is closest to Jackson. You’ll need a car if you’re not on a guided tour.

Consider flying into Bozeman, Montana , or Jackson, Wyoming. You can also fly into Salt Lake City or Idaho Falls. Car rentals are typically cheaper from Idaho Falls or Bozeman than from Jackson. You can even fly into Jackson, spend a few days there before heading to Yellowstone, and then drop off your car in Bozeman or vice versa.

Best Time to Visit 

kwiktor/Getty Images

The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park varies depending on what you’re after. The summer season, typically from mid-April to the end of October, is ideal for traditional sightseeing, camping, and hiking. Most of the park’s roads are open during this time, allowing easy access to popular attractions.

To avoid crowds, consider visiting in May or June before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. These times offer a more peaceful experience with fewer visitors and better rates. Additionally, scheduling visits to popular areas like Old Faithful during early or late hours can help avoid peak crowds.

The park is quieter in the colder months, but has limited access. Only one road remains open year-round, so there are fewer opportunities for exploration unless you hop on a snowmobile tour. Access to the park’s interior is restricted to these guided tours. “You can stay at the snow lodge at Old Faithful and take ski trips. It’s a different way to see the park,” Veress said.

Visit Lower Geyser Basin.

To get a good sense of Yellowstone’s geothermal features, Hunter likes “everybody to see the Lower Geyser Basin , where the Fountain Paint Pot is. If you go to those two, you don’t have to go to other springs if you don’t have a lot of time.” The Fountain Paint Pot Trail is an easy half-mile trail. 

See Grand Prismatic Spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring is an iconic sight in Yellowstone. The Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail allows you to see its shocking blue and orange colors from above, or you can follow the wooden walkway right next to it. 

Ride a snowmobile or snowcoach.

If you visit Yellowstone in the winter , you have some exceptionally neat options to explore the park. Roads close, which limits your transportation to snowmobiles and snowcoaches — the only ways you’ll be able to see Old Faithful and Lower Falls. “If you don’t like being cold, you can take the snow coach. And make your reservations a long time ahead,” advised Hunter. Excursions sell out quickly.

Take a vintage car tour.

Hunter highlighted the unique experience of touring Yellowstone in vintage vehicles with retractable canvas roofs and panoramic windows. These historic yellow buses were initially introduced in the 1920s. Today, eight vintage White Motor Co. buses can show you the park in style.

Go for a ride.

“We have commercially guided outfitters that do either day or overnight horseback rides in the park,” Verress said. So, although no barns are actually in park bounds, you can still get in the saddle. For a truly memorable trip with another kind of ungulate, look into llama treks. 

See Lower Yellowstone Falls.

Many people Hunter has taken on tours prefer this spectacular waterfall — in what’s dubbed the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone — to Old Faithful. “Lower Yellowstone Falls is a highlight for everybody,” he said. 

Best Hikes 

Yellowstone offers plenty of accessible flat and paved paths and boardwalks that can easily take up an entire day, but if you have the time and ability, definitely head out on a day hike. Hunter especially likes the 1.6-mile hike to Fairy Falls, which shares its trailhead with the path to Grand Prismatic Overlook. You can extend your journey to Spray and Imperial geysers if you're up for further adventure. 

Storm Point Nature Trail takes you to a beautiful lake lookout (and a colony of yellow-bellied marmots). The kid-friendly Mystic Falls, Fairy Creek, and Little Firehole Loop is 3.5 miles and offers waterfalls and panoramic vistas of Biscuit Basin. The Lamar River Trail to Cache Creek takes you through meadows that become blanketed in wildflowers in June and July.

Yellowstone’s incredible wildlife is one of its main draws, the keystone species being majestic bison and elk, grizzly and black bears, and gray wolves. 

The best time to catch a glimpse of grizzly bears and wolves is in the spring, particularly in northern regions like the Lamar Valley. “A good place to see black bears is in the vicinity of Tower Junction,” Hunter said. “There is a five-mile radius right around Tower Junction.” But you can also see them further south: “The Hayden Valley has gotten really good over the past 10 years,” he said.

If you’re eager to see bison, July and August are your best bets, especially in Hayden Valley where hundreds of bison will likely be roaming and causing traffic jams. “That’s the breeding season, and it’s a fun time to watch them because they’re all animated and looking for the ladies,” Hunter said.

Come September, during the rut — when male elk battle for dominance — early mornings come alive with elk bugling. Mammoth, Hayden Valley, and Madison Valley are great spots to see the show.

Courtesy of One&Only Resorts

Like anything, the best place to stay Yellowstone depends on your preferences, as luxury accommodations rub elbows with affordable lodges and campsites. Since Yellowstone is vast and involves significant driving, Veress recommends prioritizing where you stay based on what you want to see most. Different parts of the park offer distinct experiences, such as geothermal areas, wildlife viewing, and the lake area. For instance:

• Consider staying near Old Faithful or West Yellowstone for geothermal attractions and activities. “You can get some good lodging just on the border of Yellowstone and West Yellowstone, Montana, and Gardener, Montana,” said Hunter. “It’s usually easier to get reservations in those places, and you’re still right next to the park. 
• For hiking and higher elevations, lodging near Cooke City might be preferable.

Old Faithful Inn

Many lodgings within Yellowstone are old-fashioned and antique in style but still wonderful because of their historical charm. Yellowstone’s in-park lodge, Old Faithful Inn , built in 1903, is right by the eponymous geyser and, according to Hunter, “a work of art.” He elaborates: “That’s a cool place to stay. Make sure that you get one of the rooms with the bathroom.” The older rooms don’t have ensuite bathrooms; you must go down the hall. But they’re still an incredible look at how things were in the early 1900s. 

Lake Hotel and Cabins

Lake Hotel , constructed in 1895, is another charming historic venue. Its architecture resembles the colonial style commonly found on the East Coast during that era. 

Glamping with Excursionist

For an incredibly luxe experience, Excursionist , a luxury tour operator, offers a private camp experience . They’ll build you and your travel mates a custom camp with flushing toilets, cozy comforters, and private naturalist-led tours. 

One&Only Moonlight Basin

Located in Big Sky, Montana, One&Only Moonlight Basin is about an hour from Yellowstone. Although not within the park, it’s a more than acceptable luxury option when the in-park hotels inevitably book up a year before your planned trip. 

Getting out into nature is what it’s all about, right? Yellowstone has 2,000 campsites across 12 campgrounds, plus endless backcountry sites. The best Yellowstone campsites for a night in the great outdoors include Mammoth Campground (the only campground open year-round); the seasonal Madison Campground , where you can see bison grazing and meadows blooming in spring and summer and elks in the fall; and Grant Village Campground , which is close to conveniences like a restaurant, gas station, and visitor center.

Yellowstone National Park’s dining options range from full-service restaurants in historic hotels like Mammoth Hotel and Old Faithful Inn to grab-and-go eateries. Bear Pit Lounge at Old Faithful Inn offers dining right by the iconic geyser.

Outside the park in West Yellowstone, try Madison Crossing ’s locally inspired menu, which includes bison nachos, trout cakes, and elk strip steak. Espresso West is a popular coffee cabin known for its simple setup and menu of morning staples.

Of course, you can’t beat a packed lunch picnic.

Related Articles

Yellowstone | Grand Teton | Winter Glacier | Badlands

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Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone

Discover the beauty of Yellowstone's neighbor national park to the south, Grand Teton, and its neighboring town, Jackson.

• Signal Mountain Lodge in Grand Teton National Park - Stay at the only resort located on the shores of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park, with camping and boat rentals available.

Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone

One of the most direct routes to Yellowstone launches in Salt Lake City, with attractions all its own, and travels up the west side of the Teton Mountain Range. Stunning wildlife, ski towns and western culture dominate this tour.

• Diamondville/Kemmerer Area  - Gateway to the Bridger and Teton National Forest, including Yellowstone. Unearth a fossil, visit the JC Penney Motherstore and camp in the Hamsfork Recreation Area .
• Southeastern Idaho  - The 11 communities of Southeast Idaho have museums, an historic state park, hot springs, Bear Lake and fantastic wildlife-watching for the Yellowstone and Grand Teton vacationer .
• Eastern Idaho's Yellowstone Teton Territory - Eastern Idaho is full of adventure and great outdoor activities such as Yellowstone Bear World, fly-fishing, biking, rafting and camping.
• Flaming Gorge Country - Halfway between Yellowstone and Arches National Parks is an unspoiled playground of stunning natural features. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area offers year-round adventure for families of all ages. Scenic trails. Superb boating. DIY rafting. Trophy fishing. Wow. Flaming Gorge is a ‘must see’ stop on your next western journey.
• Cache Valley, Northern Utah - Stay a day and explore Logan, Utah. Famous for outdoor beauty, hands-on heritage experiences, food tour and performing arts.
• Salt Lake City, Utah - Salt Lake is a combination of metropolitan city and quaint mountain town; the towering Wasatch Mountains embracing Salt Lake offer a dramatic backdrop to the vibrancy and activities of downtown.
• Park City, Utah - Discover the endless activities this charming mountain town has to offer including hiking and biking on over 400 miles of trails. After a day of adventure, explore the shops, galleries and restaurants on Historic Main Street and wind down with a local craft beer or whiskey.
• Dinosaurland - One of the West's biggest secrets is northeastern Utah, an easy day's drive south of Yellowstone National Park. Some call it Dinosaurland, and you'll find it offers adventure and sites not seen anywhere else in the world.
• Bear Lake Valley - Come to the "Caribbean of the Rockies" with an intense turquoise blue lake. Jet ski, go sailing, boating, fish, swim and play on our sandy beaches. Winter offers snowmobiling, ice fishing and snow skiing.
• Yellowstone Vacations - Stay in West Yellowstone, Mont., and you will be one step closer to enjoying the majestic scenery of the national park. The west entrance is the closest entrance to world famous Old Faithful geyser and Grand Prismatic Hot Spring.
• Days Inn by Windham West Yellowstone - Conveniently located off highways 191 and 20, this hotel near Yellowstone’s West Entrance offers great value and quick access to the most popular attractions in the area.
• Natural Retreats Park City - Handpicked for prime mountain access and high-end amenities, these vacation rentals include private homes nestled on the slopes, luxury lodge condos at Silver Star, and ski-in, ski-out estates in gated communities at both Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort.

Yellowstone to Glacier National Park

On the north side of Yellowstone, you'll find wildlife galore along the banks of scenic rivers. But there is culture here too. See a world-class art museum, hot springs, historic towns and high peaks under Montana's big sky on the way to Glacier National Park.

• Montana’s Glacier Country - Home to iconic Glacier National Park, Western Montana’s Glacier Country is a region that needs to be explored. It’s time to discover your Montana moment.
• Great Falls, Montana - Resting on the high plains along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front Range, Great Falls is located at the confluence of the Missouri and Sun Rivers, the ideal gateway for your Genuine Montana experience.
• Missoula, Montana - Situated halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, Missoula is an impeccable balance of ultimate adventure by day and unique, hip culture at night.
• Southwest Montana - Hemmed by the snow-crowned peaks of Glacier National Park to the north and the geological marvels of Yellowstone National Park to the south, this vast region holds the best of Montana.
• Visit Yellowstone Country - This unparalleled year-round vacation destination, made up of five Montana counties: Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, Stillwater and Carbon, offers recreation, lodging, dining, seasonal activities and cultural treasures.
• Visit Helena - Helena truly offers an extraordinary range of mountain biking and convenient trailhead shuttles. Or get out on a hike or boat the waters at Gates of the Mountains. After your adventure, drop into town where five microbreweries await.
• Central Montana - Wide-open spaces. Gracious people. Where a rugged past meets a vibrant present. Central Montana remains an authentic experience unlike any other.
• Gardiner, Montana - Quaint, Old West-style Gardiner sits on the north edge of Yellowstone, making it a convenient gateway town. It's the only year-round entrance to the park.
• Big Sky, Montana - Tucked in the flanks of the green mountains that roll up to Big Sky Resort, come to Big Sky for world-class recreation such as hiking, biking, rafting and in the winter, skiing.
• Natural Retreats - Offering Big Sky vacation rentals to suit every vacation style, from mountain chic slopeside homes to grand hilltop chalets and modern condos.

Chicago to Rushmore to Yellowstone

Take your family on the All-American road trip starting in the Midwest and traveling through South Dakota's Badlands on through Wyoming's cowboy country to Yellowstone. Explore the Black Hills, Devils Tower and more en route.

• Drive the Safest and Easiest Route to Yellowstone - See hidden treasures on the way to Yellowstone via HWY US 16: The Cloud Peak Scenic Skyway, Ten Sleep Canyon, Petroglyphs, Ancient Mammoth Hunters and Museum.
• Billings, Montana - Billings is the scenic home base for Yellowstone trips and a wild West destination in its own right. In the heart of southeast Montana, Billings is knows as "Montana's Trailhead."
• Southeast Montana - Visit epic battlefields, breathtaking canyons, museums, dinosaur dig sites and more en route from the Black Hills to Yellowstone National Park.
• Crazy Horse Memorial - Near Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, another rock carving in process honors Crazy Horse, the legendary Lakota leader, and his people.
• Missouri River Country - This unspoiled land offers a fantastic getaway for those who truly enjoy the outdoors and have a spirit of adventure - from hunting and fishing to exploring the history of dinosaurs and Lewis and Clark.
• Rapid City, South Dakota - Explore nearby South Dakota national parks, learn about American heroes, take in local arts and culture, explore the outdoors and indulge in a unique dining scene in Rapid City.
• Park County Travel - Explore the communities of Buffalo Bill’s Cody Yellowstone and see that the Wild West isn’t so wild after all. Find welcoming accommodations, fine restaurants and plenty of adventure.

Denver to Yellowstone

Start your trip to the park in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Then travel through Wyoming's southern cowboy towns and native nations before exploring Yellowstone's southern ranges.

• Sweetwater County, Wyoming - Take a national park road trip & fill up on adventure, history and the cowboy spirit in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, the perfect stopping point to refuel and rediscover.
• Carbon County, Wyoming - Carbon County is a year-round destination for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. We say, “Star count is more important than thread count."
• Cheyenne, Wyoming - Get a cowboy’s welcome at the place known for the world’s largest rodeo, Old West museums and huge painted boots scattered about town.
• Colorado State Parks & Wildlife - Colorado’s 42 state parks are places to have fun, get away and recreate in beautiful settings. Book your camping reservations or find activities across the state.
• Moffat County, Colorado - The 1.7 million acres of pristine, picturesque public lands, abundant wildlife, wild horses, and untamed rivers define Moffat Country.
• Casper, Wyoming - World-class fly-fishing is not the only game in town. From a rowdy ride on a pioneer wagon to a hike up Casper Mountain, you’ll be doing your own trailblazing.
• Laramie, Wyoming - Explore a colorful historic past and some of the region’s best scenery. Find unparalleled adventure within a short drive of the city or visit the historic downtown with great lodging, art culture, nightlife and unique shopping.
• Wind River Country - Towns like Riverton, Lander, Dubois and the 2.2 million-acre Wind River Indian Reservation offer incredible outdoor recreation and the history of Wyoming from the Mountain Man to wild mustangs.

Tour Guides and Tour Apps

Don't miss a thing by following an expert - a literal "Yellowstone Travel Guide."

• GuideAlong - Get the driving app that’s like having a tour guide in your car. GuideAlong automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go.
• Active Adventures - Explore the best of the world’s most beautiful destinations, from the well-known to the well-hidden. Discover natural wonders and dynamic cultures with expert guides leading the way and every detail handled from start to finish.

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See wildlife, geysers and mountains views.

>", "path": "https://www.yellowstonepark.com/road-trips/road-trip-itineraries/yellowstone-glacier-road-trip/", "listing_type": "category", "location": "list", "title": "Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip"}}'> Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip

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12 Best Restaurants Near Yellowstone National Park

Subscribe to the Yellowstone Newsletter

Where is Yellowstone National Park?

8 Best Historic Hotels in and Near Yellowstone

Entrance Fees and Where to Get Your Park Pass for Yellowstone

Yellowstone visitors have several options for paying an entrance fee to get into the park or even getting in free.

Editors’ Picks

• How Far in Advance Do I Need to Book Hotels and Campgrounds?
• Can I Bring My Dog to Yellowstone?
• Grand Teton Essentials: 12 Basic Things You Need to Know

Itineraries

10 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone and Beyond

Here's your bucket list to visiting America's first national park.

• 3-Day Eco-Friendly Vacation Itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton
• 10 Things to Do with Kids at Yellowstone
• 4 Best Places to Stargaze under Night Skies in Yellowstone

Where to See Bears, Wolves and More in Yellowstone and Grand Teton

Wildlife is abundant throughout these two national parks. Go wildlife watching in their natural habitat in the areas they frequent most.

• How close can I get to wild animals in Yellowstone?
• Bear Spray: Buying, Using, and Recycling It in Yellowstone
• Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone

Grand Prismatic Spring at Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin

Old Faithful may be more famous, but the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is the most photographed thermal feature in Yellowstone. That's because of its crazy-bright colors and enormous size.

• About Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s Famous Geyser
• 8 Best Yellowstone Geyser Basins and Map
• Mammoth Hot Springs Looks Like an Inside-Out Cave

Hiking Trails

Which Yellowstone Trail Should I Hike?

Use our personalized guide

• Hike Mount Washburn in Yellowstone
• Hike the Avalanche Peak Trail in Yellowstone
• 6 Best Hiking Trails in Grand Teton National Park

Natural Wonders

Did You Know There is a Grand Canyon in Yellowstone?

Giant waterfalls pierce the Yellowstone River while pastel colors mark the locations of hot springs and steam vents in the canyon walls.

• Yellowstone Lake – Where Fire Meets Ice
• 3 Waterfalls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
• Listen to the Recorded Sounds of Yellowstone

Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip

Take the All-American Road Trip to Yellowstone, starting in Chicago.

• Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip
• Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip
• Denver to Yellowstone Road Trip

A Quick Overview Map of Yellowstone

Do you know where you're going?

• Official Yellowstone National Park Map PDF
• Official Grand Teton National Park Map PDF
• Quick Overview Map of Glacier National Park

Neighbor Parks

2-Day Itinerary in Grand Teton National Park

Only have two days? Here's what to do.

• 2 Days in Glacier National Park
• Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Glacier National Park?
• 2-Day Badlands and Black Hills Vacation Itinerary

Gateway Towns

Which Entrance to Yellowstone National Park Should I Take?

Planning a vacation to Yellowstone involves many details, one of which is deciding how you will enter the park.

• 7 Sights in West Yellowstone
• Find the Wild West in Cody
• Jackson, Wyo., Gateway to Yellowstone and Grand Teton

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>", "path": "https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/park-itineraries/active-adventures/", "listing_type": "category", "location": "list", "title": "4 Active Yellowstone Adventures to Test Your Stamina"}}'> 4 Active Yellowstone Adventures to Test Your Stamina

Push yourself with these heart-pounding activities in Yellowstone National Park from backpacking to canoeing to cross-country skiing.

After you’ve seen Old Faithful erupt, peered down at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and spotted wildlife along park roads, it’s time to get your heart rate up and explore the majority of the park that isn’t accessible by car. We’ve put together four active adventures that will test your stamina and bring you away from the crowds to parts of the park most visitors rarely see.

Unless you’re visiting Yellowstone in the middle of winter, chances are good that you’ll be sharing the backcountry with grizzly and black bears. Always carry bear spray and know how to use it, hike in groups and make noise to alert these apex predators of your presence.

At more than two million acres in size, there are no shortages of incredible places to backpack in Yellowstone. The choice is easy, however, if you prioritize stunning views. The 21-mile Sky Rim Loop in the northwest corner of the park features a six-mile traverse along a long, grassy spine with views for days. You’ll also get the chance to summit 9,930-foot Bighorn Peak, see petrified tree stumps in the Gallatin Petrified Forest and spot wildlife. The trail is strenuous, with approximately 5,000 feet in elevation gain, but the payoff is worth it.

Because demand for many sites is high, Yellowstone runs an early-access lottery for reserving backcountry campsites each year. For peak season dates of May 15-October 31, apply for the lottery on recreation.gov, March 1-20. You’ll be notified if you’ve been awarded an early-reservation slot on March 25. Those who did will be given a date and time in April where their reservation window will open. If you miss the application period or are not awarded early access, the remainder of reservations will go live on April 26. You’ll need to activate your backcountry permit at a park Backcountry Permit Office within two days of the start of your trip.

Start at the Dailey Creek Trailhead (also spelled Daly Creek on some maps) and hike 3.65 miles to campsite WF2. It’s a short first day, but as the second day’s hike follows the exposed Sky Rim Trail with significant lightning risk, you’ll want to get a super early start. Filter plenty of water as there isn’t another reliable water source for another 10 miles, just before your second campsite.

Yellowstone Itinerary 4 Days: The Ultimate First Time Visitor Guide

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: June 18, 2020

UPDATED: May 21, 2024

Yellowstone National Park is an extraordinary and unique landscape. After visiting the park in both April and October, we know how challenging but rewarding planning the best Yellowstone National Park itinerary can be. We’re going to share all of our knowledge about Yellowstone National Park here, including an amazing 4 days itinerary example.

Above ground, Yellowstone can be described by every synonym of the word breathtaking. But lurking just below the surface is a super-volcano known as Yellowstone Caldera.

As hot magma rises from Earth’s Mantle toward the Crust, pressurized heat escapes in the form of thermal geysers, creating a spectacle worthy of millions of tourists each year.

This ultimate Yellowstone National Park Itinerary explains how to get to Yellowstone, all the best things to do, where to stay and of course walks you step-by-step through 4 amazing days ticking off everything that makes this place so special.

Let’s get stuck into planning your Yellowstone itinerary!

Why Visit The World’s Original National Park?

What is the fist thing you think of when you consider Yellowstone National Park? Probably super heated geysers blowing steam high into the sky, right?

We’d seen geysers before high up in the Chilean Altiplano and they were the one thing we knew for sure we would see here at Yellowstone.

However, the billowing plumes of pressurized steam had stiff competition for our favorite aspect at the park.

Spotting wildlife immediately becomes more exhilarating than looking at steam, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is immeasurably more awe-inspiring than steam, and the sheer scale of the world’s very first National Park blows the mind more than steam.

Now, that’s not to say we weren’t impressed by the gigantic geothermal caldera and all of its features, trust us, we were. It’s to let you know Yellowstone is far more than simply clouds of hot, sulfuric acid smelling steam.

Yellowstone is one of the most immense USA national parks and it covers a total of 2.2 million acres of land. Yes, it’s a little bigger than your back yard!

So in a nutshell, why should you visit Yellowstone National Park?

• Beautiful scenery throughout the entire park, plenty of wow-factor moments
• Some of the best wildlife spotting in America – including Grizzly Bears
• Fantastic hiking opportunities surrounded by nature at its finest
• Majestic waterfalls with multiple viewpoints cascading into deep canyons
• And of course Geysers, Hot Springs, Steaming Rivers & Bubbling Mud-Pots

Why 4 Days Itinerary For Yellowstone National Park?

For us personally, Yellowstone National Park had been sky high on our travel bucket list since – well, forever! Who hasn’t always wanted to visit one of Earth’s most unique and natural marvels?!

But we made one mistake the first time we visited. We only gave ourselves 3 days to explore this vast volcanic landscape. We needed 4.

Needless to say we never made the same mistake again second time we visited Yellowstone and planned a full 4 days itinerary.

If you’ve already been to the park before and this is a second or third visit, you might not need as many days. However, if you are planning for a first visit to Yellowstone, plan for 4 days.

Here’s why:

• With 3 days in Yellowstone you aren’t going to have enough time to see and do everything. You’ll spend a lot of time driving, and you’ll rush some of the most popular attractions. Plus, you will have to compromise on some things.
• With 5 days in Yellowstone you are going to find you have already seen and done everything. You will spend a lot of money on accommodation and you should instead drive down to Grand Teton if you do have this spare time.

You will strike the perfect balance between costs, attractions, drive time and being efficient if you plan a 4 days in Yellowstone National Park itinerary.

Grand Teton : Combine Yellowstone with the  stunning  Tetons for the ultimate 6 or 7 day vacation. Our extensive Grand Teton National Park  travel guide covers the 7 best things to do and an ultra scenic 2 day itinerary.

Park Statistics And Factfile

Address : PO Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 Website : nps.gov/yell Phone : (307) 344-7381

Park Hours : All day, every day Entrance Fee : US$ 35 Vehicle (free with America the Beautiful Annual Pass )

Backcountry camping : Permitted, you will need a backcountry permit Accommodation : Hotels, Lodges, Cabins and Campgrounds

Annual Visitors : 4 million Peak Season : July-August

Size: 2.2 million acres Yellowstone Caldera : 45 by 30 miles Last Eruption : 640,000 years ago Geothermal Features : 10,000 Geysers : 300

How To Get To Yellowstone National Park

Okay, we’re talking about Yellowstone and 3,500 square miles of wilderness here! The park has several entrance and exit points, so getting to Yellowstone will depend entirely on where you begin your journey.

There are no fancy names for the entry points, simply the direction they bring you into the park from. But we have included the nearest town to each entrance for reference:

• North – Gardiner, MT
• Northeast – Cooke City, MT
• East – Cody, WY
• South – Jackson, WY
• West – West Yellowstone, MT

Once inside the park, getting around is easy thanks to a well maintained 142-mile figure of 8 road network known as ‘Grand Loop Road’.

Be aware this road will be almost unbearably busy if you visit in Summer, we even experienced some traffic flow issues in snowy October!

Here’s a factor to consider that will impact your 4 days in Yellowstone National Park itinerary:

• Are you visiting only Yellowstone, from point A with a plan to return to point A afterwards in a loop?
• Or is Yellowstone part of a wider road trip?

For example, on our first visit we drove West from South Dakota to Yellowstone, before heading South.

We visited Badlands , Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore , and stopped at Devils Tower National Monument on the way across Wyoming. We then took the South exit out of Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park.

Therefore, we entered and exited Yellowstone at different entrances. That meant we had to work out how to efficiently see the park on both loops of the figure 8 road without driving back on ourselves.

Consider which entrance you plan to use on the way in and out when planning your visit.

Important Note : When we visited Yellowstone in October after a heavy snowfall, many of the roads in / out of the park were closed. Please be sure to check current road conditions  before setting off.

Popular Yellowstone National Park Road Trips

Salt lake city to yellowstone.

• Option 1 : Take I-15 North to Idaho Falls, then 20 to Yellowstone West entrance (320 miles / 4h 45m).
• Option 2 : Take I-80, 16 and 89 to Jackson, WY and Grand Teton before entering Yellowstone South entrance (330 miles / 6 hours).

The route via Jackson is far more scenic but takes much longer once you factor in driving through Grand Teton.

Read our amazing 7 day  Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton  road trip itinerary for more information.

Denver to Yellowstone

• Option 1 : Take I-80, 287 and 26 to 191 which is the link road between Grand Teton and Yellowstone South entrance (500 miles / 8h 30m).
• Option 2 : Take I-25, 26, 20 to Cody, WY and 14 into Yellowstone East entrance (545 miles / 8h 30m).

South Dakota to Yellowstone

• From Mt Rushmore, drive through Spearfish Canyon and take I-90W towards Buffalo, WY.
• Scenic Byway US-16 from Buffalo to Ten Sleep (Cloud Peak Skyway) is awesome.
• Take 31, 20 and 14 to Cody, WY and then on to Yellowstone East entrance (440 miles / 8 hours).

Read our popular 10 days road trip itinerary from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone for a day by day break down of best things to do.

North Dakota / Billings to Yellowstone

• Take I-94 to Billings, I-90 briefly and US-212 (known as Bear Tooth Highway).
• This is the route we eventually took first time as we were forced to enter Yellowstone via its Northeast entrance due to road closures.
• Bear Tooth Highway is one heck of a scenic drive – particularly when covered in snow (150 miles / 3 hours).

Jackson, WY / Grand Teton to Yellowstone

Take US-191 scenic road (John D Rockefeller Jr Road) all the way to Yellowstone South entrance (80 miles / 1h 45m).

Need help planning your trip to Yellowstone?

Our popular Yellowstone travel guidebook helps you with planning every aspect of your visit, including what to see in each region, where to eat and stay, itinerary ideas and map!

Best Airports To Use For Yellowstone

Yellowstone is enormous and if you’re traveling from further afield in the US or internationally, you will of course need to fly.

Our in depth guide to the 6 best airports near Yellowstone will help you plan exactly which airports to arrive into and depart from near the park.

Pro-tip : Remember, you can fly into one airport and leave from another.

There are a dozen or so airports ranging in size close to the park, here’s  a summary of the best airport options along with which entrance you would enter Yellowstone:

• Bozeman, MT (North entrance)
• Cody, WY (East entrance)
• Jackson, WY (South entrance)
• Yellowstone airport, MT (West entrance – seasonal)
• Salt Lake City, UT (South entrance)
• Denver, CO (East entrance)

International travelers can fly directly into SLC or Denver and either drive or take a connecting flight to on of the smaller regional airports listed above.

For US based travelers, check prices for all airports from your closest origin airport. The smaller and closer airports are far more expensive than SLC or Denver. You will pay for convenience!

• When it comes to booking flights, we always use and recommend  Skyscanner flights search engine  for finding the best value in air tickets.
• Similarly, when we need to pick a car up at the airport, we always use  Rental Cars hire car search engine  to find most options and best value for vehicles.

What Are The Best Things To Do At Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone is blessed with having an endless amount of amazing things to do for visitors to include on a 4 days itinerary. You could spend a month here and still not see or do everything this incredible place has on offer.

The only way to plan effectively is by structuring the park into regions. Therefore, in this guide we will break down each region of the park and explain some of the best things to do in each.

Read our ultimate list of the 30 Best Things To See And Do In Yellowstone National Park next for a detailed overview of the most popular geysers, waterfalls, hikes and wildlife spotting areas.

There’s a lot of information coming your way but we will organize it and clearly display everything on a map!

First up, let’s take a look into what makes Yellowstone National Park one of the most sought after landscapes in the world, before we break the park down into 6 distinct regions.

Yellowstone National Park Wildlife Spotting

Wildlife spotting is one of the biggest drivers of tourism to Yellowstone National Park and it has to be a major part of your 4 days itinerary.

This is one of the best places in America to observe a wide range of wild animals in their natural environments.

You have the opportunity to see Grizzly Bears – seldom seem in the lower 48 US States – if that is of interest to you. Personally, we didn’t mind NOT seeing a grizzly!

However, Grizzlies are just the beginning. If you are lucky you might also see Black Bears, Wolves, Elk, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Antelope, Mule Deer, Coyotes, Lynx, Mountain Goats, Cougars and Bald Eagles.

It is extremely difficult to predict exactly where these animals are going to be at any given time. But you can give yourself the best shot at seeing wildlife by visiting the right places at the right times of day.

That being said, if these particular areas become busy with humans, animals are likely to move to quieter areas. In truth, we saw more wildlife when we didn’t go looking for it, instead we waited for them to come to us.

Top-tip : If you see small gatherings of people with professional looking photography / telescopic equipment, there’s a good chance of spotting wildlife. However, be polite, don’t make a lot of noise. You might even get a chance to look through their equipment .

Wildlife Respect & Safety

Something vitally important to remember is respect for wildlife. Keep your distance, don’t try to feed them and don’t intimidate the wildlife.

Our number one disappointment with Yellowstone was other tourists. Yes, it can be exciting to see an animal, but that doesn’t mean slamming on your brakes and abandoning your car in the middle of the road so you can take a picture.

More than once, we witnessed altercations between tourists who wanted the best angle from their car window. Be civil toward each other, as well as animals and the environment .

We use the word safety and that’s not for the animals, its for you.

Each year, Yellowstone National Park has to deal with injured tourists who thought they could get close to animals, but they were wrong. Bear in mind (pun intended!) that some of these animals can become dangerous if threatened.

Yellowstone Geyser Basins & Hot Springs

There are over 10,000 geysers and hot springs within the 2.2 million acres of Yellowstone National Park, making this the largest geyser field on the planet.

Almost all geysers and hot springs throughout the park can be viewed from safe distances along wooden boardwalks. It is important to stay on designated board walks, otherwise you may lose a toe or two!

We will cover Yellowstone’s most famous geysers and hot springs within each region of the park below.

You will either have to visit the lesser known basins or plan your visit outside of high season (more on seasons later) if you’re looking for a less crowded experience

Remember there are also bubbling mud pools, smaller colorful geysers and lesser known hot springs. If Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring are too busy, try again early or late in the day.

Yellowstone Hiking

Hiking is less synonymous with Yellowstone than geysers and wildlife, however, you should not overlook this aspect of visiting the park.

Did you know there are over 900 miles of hiking trails here? The problem is, how do you choose which trails to hike?!

To begin with, err on the side of caution by checking Yellowstone’s backcountry situation report   – particularly if you intend to hike away from major trails.

This live updated report will inform you of bear activity, trail closures, rising water levels and depth of snow among other important aspects.

Hiking is the best way to escape crowds and see Yellowstone’s best sites from different (and quieter) perspectives. Plus, you drastically increase your chances of spotting wildlife away from roads and hordes of tourists.

The downside to hiking at Yellowstone National Park is how much time you will lose from an already tightly packed itinerary. Can you really afford to lose a day hiking a 10 mile trail?

That depends on what your goals are and how you like to explore new places.

There are a number of shorter hikes well worth your time, but the longer hikes / backcountry hiking should be reserved only for those who are more interested in hiking than sightseeing.

Is this your second or third vacation to Yellowstone? Try hiking more on this visit if you’ve visited the famous geysers on previous trips.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone / Yellowstone Upper and Lower Falls

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone has allured avid photographers to the park for decades. Upper Falls is an impressive spectacle but Lower Falls is the major draw and has to be included on your 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary.

The Yellowstone River crashes into a stunning canyon from 308 ft (twice the height of Niagara Falls), making Lower Falls a paradise for lovers of dramatic scenery.

The best part?

There are various viewing platforms along both the North and South Rim drives running adjacent to the river. Each observation point offers its own perspective of the mighty falls, plus the chance to escape big crowds.

Our top recommendation is to visit the falls on more than one occasion and preferably at sunrise (for more special sunrises see our guides to Sunrise in the Grand Canyon and  Mesa Arch in Utah ).

Although temperatures were below zero in mid-October, we witnessed a gorgeous sunrise over Lower Falls with just a handful of others.

Let’s Break The Park Down Into Regions

As we mentioned earlier, it’s hard to apply a typical list of ‘best things to do’ list for a place like Yellowstone, then expect to turn up and tick them off easily. It is simply too vast a landscape.

Many of the ‘must visit’ sites are spread out across the National Park, meaning planning your visit can become a little overwhelming (one of the reasons we recommend your Yellowstone itinerary to be 4 days and not 3 days).

Therefore, we will break down the park into regions. Take a look at the image below depicting the 6 major regions of Yellowstone:

• Mammoth Hot Springs (North)
• Tower-Roosevelt (Northeast)
• Canyon / Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (Central / East)
• Norris Geyser Basin (Central / West)
• Old Faithful / Upper Geyser Basin (Southwest)
• Yellowstone Lake / West Thumb (Southeast)

Within each region, we will discuss the following where appropriate:

• Most prominent Geysers / Hot Springs
• Best hiking trails
• Wildlife spotting opportunities
• Must visit miscellaneous attractions
• Lodging / Camping

Note : At the end of this section, study the interactive map showing all accommodation and sites of interest. The map will give you an idea about which regions will be top of your wishlist.

1. Mammoth Hot Springs (North)

Mammoth is one of the more built up areas inside Yellowstone National Park and is located just 5 miles from the North entrance.

You will find a hotel, cabins, a grand dining hall, post office, gas, campground, shopping and Albright Visitor Center. Nearby attractions are all within a stones throw of Mammoth village.

Mammoth Geysers and Hot Springs

A spectacular complex of terraces formed by calcium carbonate (travertine) dominates a hillside just minutes from Mammoth village.

By far the busiest attraction in Mammoth, these terraces are best seen at sunrise to avoid crowds and enjoy the first light of day burn through hazy steam in the morning.

Mammoth Hiking Trails

Mammoth isn’t known for epic hikes and we would recommend not using up any time on your 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary with a hike here.

That being said, if you have extra time in the area, there are 2 shorter trails worth looking into:

• Boiling River  – a popular short hike (1 mile roundtrip) and don’t forget your swimwear!
• Lava Creek  – mid-distance (7 miles round-trip) passing by Undine Falls – 60 ft waterfall.

Mammoth Wildlife

Although this area is not usually regarded as prime wildlife spotting territory, we saw our fair share around Mammoth. There were around 30 or 40 bison walking through Mammoth village during our second visit in April, which was really cool to see.

You will more than likely see mule deer wandering the hotel and dining hall car park when you arrive. We also saw pronghorn and elk but bison are well known to be regular visitors to the area.

Black bears can be found around Mammoth. If you want to find one, look in forested areas around less busy areas away from the travertine terraces.

But if you want to avoid bears (particularly if you head up to the terraces for sunrise) is to make noise, talk and clap intermittently.

Mammoth Accommodation

Campgrounds – Mammoth campground is the only campground open all year at Yellowstone. This is a first come first served site and costs US$ 20 per night. More information .

Hotel and Cabins – Mammoth offers a Frontier Cabin, Hot Tub Cabin, Suite, Premium Hotel Room and Cabin without bath. We stayed in a Frontier Cabin and it was perfect with a wonderful hot shower. More information .

2. Tower-Roosevelt (Northeast)

Tower-Roosevelt is located to the Northeast of Yellowstone and is one of the lesser built up areas of the park. You can find gas, primitive lodging and camping here.

This region is best used as a gateway for wildlife spotting in Lamar Valley and hiking Mt Washburn before continuing on to another region for accommodation.

Unfortunately, the section of road between Tower and Canyon has been completely closed for the entirety of both our visits.

Therefore we are yet to hike Mount Washburn or see Tower Fall. There’s always the third time, right?!

Tower Hiking

Mount Washburn is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone National Park and one of the most iconic hikes in the US thanks to its panoramic sweeping views stretching as far as Grand Teton on a clear day.

At 10,243ft (3,107m) and with just a 2.5 mile one-way hike from Chittenden or 3 mile on-way hike from Dunraven Pass, the rewards are more than worth your efforts!

Specimen Ridge is a long point to point hike beginning just after turning onto the road into Lamar Valley. It is the perfect trail for those searching for wildlife who want to get away from the main road filled with tourists.

You can hike for 10 minutes or an hour before turning around but you can expect to see wildlife, particularly early in the morning.

Tower Wildlife

Tower Junction is where Yellowstone’s top rated wildlife viewing area ends, as US-212 reaches grand loop road from the Northeast entrance.

This area is known as Lamar Valley and it is the place to be if you are visiting Yellowstone for wildlife observation.

We strongly recommend you visit early or late if you want a real chance of seeing abundant wildlife. You’re all but guaranteed to spot Bison roaming but you can see much more if you time it right.

We entered Yellowstone via the Northeast entrance and drove the entire way through Lamar Valley but it was right before midday (and snowy!) so we didn’t see many animals.

Note : If you are visiting Yellowstone primarily for wildlife spotting, Tower Fall campground is the closest accommodation to Lamar Valley.

Tower Attractions

Yellowstone River Overlook  and Tower Falls are the two major attractions around Tower-Roosevelt region.

Tower Falls is a 132 ft narrow needle-like waterfall. A 4 mile roundtrip trail allows you to see the Yellowstone River flowing powerfully through a gorge.

The trail is family friendly but there are steep cliffs for children to be aware of.

3. Canyon (Central / East)

Canyon is one of the most popular places to set up base in Yellowstone thanks to its central location and volume of accommodation, with over 500 rooms available.

You will also find a good selection of food at Canyon Lodge Eatery, which is more like a canteen than restaurant.

Canyon is your best choice if you prefer to stay at just one place for your entire Yellowstone visit. Right around the corner is Yellowstone Falls.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls

Prepare to be blown away!

This is one sight you will not forget from your Yellowstone National Park itinerary. We encourage you to visit each and every viewpoint along both North and South rim drive – and do that more than once.

For the best photographs, arrive before sunrise to Artist Point . We couldn’t get enough of these dramatic views as the Yellowstone River pounds its way through the breathtaking canyon.

Canyon Hiking

There are no hikes worth mentioning around Canyon for a Yellowstone itinerary only lasting 4 days. With more time, maybe!

We don’t consider each of the small trails along North and South Rim roads to Yellowstone falls viewing platforms as hikes.

Canyon Wildlife

Just South of Canyon Village and Yellowstone Falls, you will find Hayden Valley , regarded as the second best part of the park for wildlife spotting.

This is the place we saw by far the most wildlife including coyotes, mule deer, bison and our first ever bald eagle . We saw bald eagles here again the second time we visited so you do stand a good chance of seeing one soaring around this area.

Again, it is best to arrive early or late to increase chances of spotting animals but be warned – Grizzlies roam alongside Yellowstone River. We never saw a grizzly, but we did see a lone Grey Wolf from afar, which was awesome .

Canyon Accommodation

Campgrounds – Canyon campground is open late May to Mid Sept. There are 273 reservable sites at a cost of US$ 32 per night. More information .

Hotel and Cabins – Canyon offers the most accommodation by far at Yellowstone. It is open from the beginning of June until early October.

You can choose between a Western Cabin, Standard Lodge Room, Superior Lodge Room, Premium Lodge Room and Suite.

We snagged a free upgrade to Premium Lodge Room (from Western Cabin) which was a welcome escape from the cold nights! More information .

4. Norris Geyser Basin (Central / West)

Norris is the oldest and hottest of Yellowstone’s thermal regions, with the highest recorded temperature measuring a whopping 459 f (237 C) just over 300m below the surface.

This region is where your Yellowstone geyser hunting experience springs to life and you can witness the tallest active geyser in the world.

Norris Geysers and Hot Springs

At Norris geyser basin you will find several thermal geysers in very close proximity. The area is easy to explore via boardwalk and has to rank as one of the must visit regions on your 4 days in Yellowstone National Park itinerary.

Waters around Norris basin are acidic, rather than alkaline, which means bacteria creates those colorful patterns you associate with Yellowstone.

Steamboat geyser – the world’s tallest at 300ft – went years with barely any activity but in 2019 there were 48 eruptions.

But there’s no guarantee boiling hot water will erupt the day you visit and you could be standing around a long time waiting. We saw it blow a few times but not to it’s maximum height.

Norris Hiking

Artist’s Paint Pot – This 1 mile hike beginning just South of Norris Geyser Basin is definitely worth a quick stop off.

After a short walk through a forest you will come across a small open area featuring thick grey mud bubbling pools and blue/grey/brown colored holes in the ground.

Highly recommended easy hike.

Norris Region Campgrounds

Norris campground – Open late May to late September and just to the North of Norris Geyser Basin. There are 111 first come first served sites at a cost of US$ 20 per night. More information .

Maddison Campground – Located 14 miles Southwest of Norris and open late April to mid October. Longer opening times and central location make this one of the most popular campgrounds at Yellowstone. There are 278 reservable sites for tents and RV’s at US$ 27 per night. More information .

5. Old Faithful (Southwest)

Old Faithful is the iconic Yellowstone geyser everyone knows about before visiting the park.

But the Old Faithful region has much more on offer, including perhaps the most eye catching feature of all: Grand Prismatic Spring.

This region contains Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins – which means a lot of geyser hunting. You can find almost all amenities here, except a campground.

Old Faithful Region Geysers and Hot Springs

Lower Geyser Basin – Fewest geothermal features in the region but one of the most sought after spots for sunset in Great Fountain Geyser along Firehole Lake Drive (closed in Winter).

Midway Geyser Basin – Smaller in area but possibly the most rewarding in terms of natural beauty.

The vibrant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring are difficult to appreciate from its boardwalk, so you will need to climb Fairy Falls Trail for that postcard perfect view.

Excelsior Geyser can not be overlooked as it’s on the same boardwalk and produces an enormous amount of hot steam, often shrouding the Firehole River.

Upper Geyser Basin – The crown Jewel, Old Faithful is located here along with the highest density of geothermal activity in the park.

Old Faithful erupts once every 35-120 minutes for anywhere between 1-5 minutes. This isn’t the most spectacular of geysers, it’s just the most regular and predictable.

Don’t miss Morning Glory Pool at Upper Basin.

Old Faithful Hiking

Fairy Falls – Begin at Fairy Falls Trailhead for an easy 5 mile roundtrip to one of Yellowstone’s most spectacular falls. This trail also offers postcard-perfect views over Grand Prismatic Spring.

Observation Point – If you want to escape the crowds (knows as ‘the bleachers’) sitting in a half circle around Old Faithful, take this moderate 1.5 mile roundtrip hike.

You will be rewarded with a much more tranquil viewing platform.

Old Faithful Accommodation

Old Faithful Lodge – Simple Frontier Cabins are more affordable and offer views over Old Faithful. More information .

Old Faithful Inn – 327 rooms and open from early May to mid October, but get in early as this is the most requested lodge in Yellowstone. More information .

Old Faithful Snow Lodge – Open mid December to end of February, only accessible by over snow vehicles. Wide range of rooms available at various prices. More information .

6. Yellowstone Lake / West Thumb (Southeast)

One thing you probably don’t know about – and certainly won’t appreciate until you see it – is the sheer scale of Yellowstone Lake. It is enormous!

We’ve combined West Thumb Geyser Basin and Grant Village with Fishing Bridge and Lake Village into the one region here.

They all hug the lake edge in Yellowstone’s Southeast corner. All amenities can be found at both locations on the lake.

Yellowstone Lake Geysers & Hot Springs

At the Southern end of Yellowstone Lake you will enter West Thumb Geyser Basin. What makes this place unique is stunning views of Yellowstone Lake and snow capped mountains behind geothermal features.

A boardwalk loops around West Thumb Basin allowing you to see the most impressive features while enjoying some of the best views in the park.

Look out for Fishing Cone and Big Cone Geyser in the lake.

Yellowstone Lake Hiking

Yellowstone Lake isn’t the place to visit if you’re looking for serious hiking trails on your 4 days itinerary. However, there are two easy going walks ending with excellent views over the lake and West Thumb.

Lake overlook – Easy to moderate 1.5 mile roundtrip hike from West Thumb parking lot for elevated views over West Thumb Basin.

Storm Point – Easy 2.5 mile roundtrip beginning close to Fishing Bridge for close up views over Yellowstone Lake.

Yellowstone Lake Wildlife

The Northern part of Yellowstone Lake is where Yellowstone’s East entrance (from Cody) arrives into the park.

Areas surrounding East entrance road are known to be a favorite of the Grizzly Bear, but you can also expect to see a wider variety of wildlife in this region.

We saw coyotes and mule deer (pictured above) around Lake Lodge during our visit.

Yellowstone Lake Accommodation

Campgrounds.

Bridge Bay has 432 reservable sites at US$ 27 per night. It is open late May to early September ( more information ).

Grant Village has 430 reservable sites at US$ 32 per night. However, this one is only open mid June to mid September ( more information ).

Fishing Bridge RV Park has 310 RV only electrical hookup sites at US$ 79 per night. The RV park is open early May to mid September ( more information ).

Hotel and Cabins

• Lake Yellowstone hotel offers a wide variety of rooms from basic to extremely expensive ( more information ).
• Lake Lodge Cabins – Consisting of 186 Frontier and Western cabins at much more budget friendly prices ( more information ).

Example Of A Perfect 4 Days Yellowstone National Park Itinerary

You can begin to construct your plans now you have an idea about each region inside the park.

The following example itinerary is 4 days long, which means you can relax and take things slowly but still see and do the best of Yellowstone National Park.

Our biggest frustration when first visiting with 3 days was only having enough time to visit each attraction once and having to rush through. If a geyser or waterfall viewing area was crowded, or if the weather wasn’t playing nicely – well, that was just tough luck.

But with that extra fourth day, it means you can re-visit any place you missed, was too busy or you enjoyed the most.

Best Entrance To Begin 4 Days in Yellowstone Itinerary?

You can start your itinerary at any entrance. The figure 8 road inside the park makes it easy to adapt this itinerary to suit beginning from any direction.

The most popular entrance into the park is West Entrance / West Yellowstone and the second most popular in North Entrance / Gardiner / Mammoth.

However, we will begin this itinerary as though you are entering from Northeast Entrance / Cooke City and exit on Day 4 via South entrance to Jackson and Grand Teton.

This is the most efficient way to visit because you can drive through Lamar Valley early on your first morning for the best chance of seeing abundant wildlife, see the park and leave without driving back on yourself too much.

If you are staying in West Yellowstone or Gardiner for the duration of your visit, or are entering via any other entrance, simply move around the days as we list below. The same things to do still apply, you can just adjust the itinerary to fit.

Driving Distances Between Major Yellowstone And Grand Teton Regions

One final thing to touch on before we get into an example Yellowstone itinerary is driving distances between major areas in the park.

We have mentioned it’s a big park and there can be a lot of driving, but we thought it would be more helpful to show you in numbers.

Use the distances to gauge how far you might travel on any given day during your Yellowstone itinerary.

This is a Yellowstone guide but many visitors will also want to see Grand Teton either before or after, so we included Jackson and Jenny Lake for reference.

We have also included West Yellowstone because a lot of people stay here for their entire visit to Yellowstone and it helps to see how far it is to each major region.

OK, let’s finally get stuck into our 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary example!

Yellowstone Itinerary Day 1 – Lamar Valley, Tower-Roosevelt and Mammoth Hot Springs

Lamar Valley

Entering via Northeast entrance isn’t always reliable in Spring or Fall, but North entrance is always open. If you can’t enter via Cooke City, it’s easy enough to enter at Gardiner and drive straight to Lamar Valley early in the morning.

Approaching from Northeast / Cooke City – As you draw closer to Grand Loop Road you will pass through Lamar Valley , widely regarded as the best wildlife spotting in Yellowstone.

Try to arrive early morning for the best shot as seeing Bison and other animals. Spend an hour or two stopping at various pull-offs. Remember, if you spot any serious gear, that’s where you need to pull out your binoculars .

Just before Grand Loop Road you will find Specimen Ridge Trail , hike this trail if you didn’t see a lot of wildlife in Lamar Valley, you want to see even more wildlife or you just love hiking.

Tip : By getting away from the road you give yourself a much better chance at seeing animals in the wild.

When you arrive at Tower Junction turn left and drive a few miles to see  Tower Fall  and if time allows, hike to Yellowstone River Overlook.

Turn around and head back the same way but pass US-212 and continue on Grand Loop Road towards Mammoth.

Your next stop is Yellowstone’s  Petrified Tree . Now, this gated tree stump isn’t the most wow-factor attraction you will see on this 4 days Yellowstone itinerary.

But it is around 50 million years old, which means it is in fact, mightily impressive.

Mammoth Hot Springs

There’s not much else between Tower and Mammoth with the exception of Lava Creek hiking trail. If it’s earlier than you expected, hike this trail past Undine Falls, but if it’s already getting on, it’s time to check in at your Mammoth accommodation.

You’re likely to see mule deer and / or bison wandering around the car park so drive carefully .

You need to check in inside the hotel whether you’re staying in the hotel or a cabin. Mammoth dining hall is directly across the car park ready for once you’re all settled in to your room.

Alternatively, Gardiner is the best place to stay outside of the park boundaries on this first night.

After dinner (depending on light and time of year), drive a couple minutes up to Mammoth Hot Springs for a quick look around the area.

Don’t forget your camera because these terraces are extremely photogenic. It’s a shame the sunset is directly behind a huge hill but you’ll be back here at first light.

Yellowstone Itinerary Day 2 – Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Mount Washburn and Yellowstone Falls

Norris Geyser Basin

Wake up early. If you’re animal mad, head back out to Lamar Valley at sunrise, otherwise make your way over to see the vibrant colors of Mammoth Lower and Upper Terraces and dense steam penetrated by soft rays of morning light.

We’ve seen Mammoth at sunrise and in midday. Sunrise in October was in the snow and stunning but we didn’t last long. Midday is busy but allows you spend more time walking the boardwalks comfortably and better chance to see the radiant springs.

Return to your cabin or the dining hall for breakfast, check out and get on the road heading South towards Norris Geyser Basin . Scenery along the way is gorgeous, stop if you see anything you like the look of but not for too long .

There’s a lot to see today!

Park up at Norris, be sure to look around the educational Visitor Center before spending the next few hours wandering the Geyser Basin boardwalks.

You have plenty of geysers to take in throughout two loops of boardwalks . D on’t miss Steamboat geyser – it was extremely active when we visited.

There are dozens of springs and geysers in all colors and varieties here, just keep following the boardwalks and the crowds.

Echinus geyser is a popular stop, however, this once prolific steam sprayer has become far less inclined to blow its top in recent years.

A few minutes drive South you will find Artist’s Paintpots trail . We highly recommend this quick 1 mile roundtrip hike where you can see deep earthy colors surrounding small hot springs.

In addition, you have an opportunity to get up close and personal with boiling mud bubbling in grey molten clay-like pools. Don’t miss this hidden gem.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Take Norris Canyon road due East towards Canyon without stopping before checking in at your Canyon accommodation. If you’re not staying inside the park tonight, book a hotel room in West Yellowstone.

Drive a few miles North from Canyon and park up at Dunraven Pass, before setting off on the most popular hike in Yellowstone National Park – Mount Washburn . Panoramic views from the summit will be worth the time and effort.

Closure : This is the hike we unfortunately couldn’t access and unfortunately it is still scheduled to be closed in 2022 as the road between Canyon and Tower is under works.

• If the road and hike are open, it will be late afternoon / early evening by the time you finish your hike.
• If not, head straight down to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Drive back past Canyon and turn onto one-way North Rim Drive.

Your first time seeing the powerful  Yellowstone Lower Falls is from Lookout point, which is awesome, but less awesome than some of the other viewpoints coming up.

Continue driving round to Grand View, before either driving or hiking (if time allows and you’re not too tired) to Inspiration point – the best observation area along North Rim Drive. It shouldn’t be long until the sun sets directly behind Lower Falls.

At dusk, on the way back to Canyon, drive slowly and look out for wildlife. We saw Bison and a lot of Mule Deer on this stretch with a stunning deep purple sky sunset and moonrise over the plains.

Yellowstone Itinerary Day 3 – Yellowstone Falls, Hayden Valley & Yellowstone Lake

Hayden Valley

Another early start and this one is non-negotiable!

Check out and leave at least 30 minutes before sunrise ( check times here ) so you can get parked, walk the very short trail to Artist Point .

Get your camera set up before the sun rises and illuminates the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone . It’s worth waking up for this iconic Yellowstone sunrise.

On the way back out of South Rim, stop off at Upper Falls View and hike down Uncle Tom’s Trail for an amazing close up vantage point of Lower Falls.

The steep staircase trail descent was not open when we visited so be sure to check trail closures and current conditions before you visit.

Once the sun has risen and you’ve marveled enough at the wonderful canyon, jump back in the car and drive South towards Hayden Valley .

This is Yellowstone’s second major area for seeing animals and if you’re early enough, you’ll have a high probability of spotting wildlife.

The key is not to go looking for the animals, but to park up where nobody else is parked along the Yellowstone River and wait for them to come to you.

You might see a multitude of amazing wildlife, or you might not see any animals at all, it all comes down to chance. Be prepared for both eventualities.

Next up as you head South is Mud Volcano. There’s a short circular boardwalk here covering a number of caldrons and springs, most notably Dragon’s mouth spring .

No need to spend long here and you’ll be hungry by now. Grab lunch at Fishing Bridge / Lake Yellowstone. 

Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin

Remember that just because an area isn’t recognized as a wildlife ‘hotspot’ it doesn’t mean you won’t see any animals.

We spotted a gang of Elk and more coyotes right on the lake edge around Lake Yellowstone lodge. Explore the area before following the Lake South to West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Spend the remainder of the afternoon walking around West Thumb Basin , taking in the likes of Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser and Fishing Cone.

Don’t forget you can take the short Lake Overlook hike right from West Thumb parking lot.

Drive West to Old Faithful and check in to your final accommodation. Again, if you’re not staying inside the park on night 3, book a hotel room in West Yellowstone.

Depending on the time, you can either stick around Old Faithful for sunset or drive 11 miles North to Great Fountain Geyser , which has a magnificent sunset.

Yellowstone Itinerary Day 4 – Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins

Grand Prismatic Spring

You get to sleep in a little (finally!) on your last day. No rush this morning, you’ll be driving up to Lower Geyser Basin and working your way back down to Old Faithful. Slowly does it today.

It is important to note here – if you want to get photographs of one particular area such as Grand Prismatic Spring, it might be worth beelining straight there first thing in the morning.

Start the day by entering one-way Firehole Lake drive – where you can now visit Great Fountain Geyser if you didn’t the night before.

Opposite the one-way exit from Firehole Lake road, park up at Fountain Paint Pot trailhead and walk the very short trail.

If you missed swimming in Boiling River at Mammoth due to closure, you could drive a few miles North to Firehole swimming area .

Otherwise, heading South once more, your next stop is one of Yellowstone’s finest geothermal features: Grand Prismatic Spring .

Firehole River will likely be engulfed in a cloud of steam as you walk towards Grand Prismatic, giving off an eerie effect. This huge heated cloud is produced by Excelsior Geyser , which was once the tallest geyser at Yellowstone.

Without question, the place will be packed with tourists, so try to be courteous as you walk the relatively narrow boardwalks.

Stop off as much as possible on the looped boardwalk to soak up Yellowstone’s largest hot spring and one of its most iconic features.

If you would like to see Grand Prismatic Spring’s colors in all their glory from above, you will need to drive a few minutes to Fairy Falls Trail and hike a 1 mile round trip trail to GPS overview.

Old Faithful

Finish your 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary back where you started this morning at Old Faithful .

What better place to sign off an incredible experience than its most iconic feature. Check times of eruptions, noted all around Old Faithful area including the dining halls. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the predicted eruption.

The bleachers will be busy so be sure to walk around and behind Old Faithful, before taking the Observation Point trailhead to a much better vantage point.

The crowds will cheer once Old Faithful begins to erupt and you will have finally seen the most famous geyser in the world spurt its hot steam into the deep blue sky above!

Don’t forget that you are in Upper Geyser basin, the most active of all geothermal areas within Yellowstone and more than a one trick pony.

Behind Old Faithful – past the trailhead for observation point – you can follow a path leading to multiple hot springs and geysers.

Geysers : We highly recommend you do spend time walking behind Old Faithful as far as incredibly vibrant Morning Glory Pool, one of our favorites in the entire park.

Exit Yellowstone via the South entrance towards Grand Teton National Park. If you like to kayak, Lewis Lake on the way out of Yellowstone is the best place in the park to paddle .

There’s plenty of time left on Day 4 to make it down to Jackson, WY with a few detours along the way in Grand Teton.

It’s almost like you planned it that way!

Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park

Animals are very active as they come out of hibernation, grizzlies are very grizzly so care must be taken. Snow melting causes waterfall volumes to increase and the weather begins to warm slightly. May and June are excellent months to visit Yellowstone before it gets too crowded.

April in Yellowstone is interesting, you will have attractions almost to yourself but road access is limited and no park lodging is open.

Summer in Yellowstone is jam packed with tourists, which personally isn’t our cup of tea. However, you get more daylight and warmer temperatures which means perfect conditions for crushing hikes, sightseeing and comfortable camping.

Of 4 million annual visitors to the park, over half visit in July and August. Not only will every attraction be busy but getting a camping spot or hotel room would be tough going.

When we visited Yellowstone in October it had snowed heavily just a few days before our arrival. The scenery was staggeringly attractive, with glittering ice and snow dancing under sunlight.

It was the first big snowfall of the year so we just missed those beautiful rustic fall colors. September would be a fantastic alternative if you prefer to avoid crowds and enjoy cooler temperatures.

Yellowstone in Winter

Although we didn’t technically visit in Winter, both April and October had a ton of snow and cold temperatures. Most of the park shuts down in Winter and access can only be achieved by snowmobiles.

Our photographs will give you an idea of what Yellowstone would look like if you were to visit in Winter. We were blown away by the ‘Winter Wonderland’ scenery and felt fortunate to have visited when we did.

Following a huge snowfall, the temperature stayed below zero for 3 days but the sun was shining brightly from a deep blue clear sky every day.

On our second morning in October we woke up to a thick mist and fog which left Yellowstone feeling positively spooky!

Yellowstone Accommodation

Certain US National Parks can be notoriously difficult to secure accommodation. Yellowstone is one of those parks.

There are options inside the park (as we listed in each region earlier) but they are in high demand and can be out of many visitors’ budget range. You can instead stay at hotels near the park boundary.

Either way, you need to be as organized as possible when it comes to booking your Yellowstone lodging. Start booking as soon as you have dates to avoid missing out on rooms inside the park or at good value near the park.

We think booking hotels, lodges or cabins is the most difficult and important part of planning this vacation. Once rooms are secured, you can begin to plan your Yellowstone itinerary.

Resources and Tips

• Lodging – We have written an extremely popular where to stay in Yellowstone guide to help you figure out the best places to stay for your visit. It has helped thousands of visitors to find lodging around the park.
• Hotel tips – If you decide to stay outside the park in hotels, you have control over budget. Read our ultimate guide to booking cheap hotels  to learn about ways you can save money.
• Booking platform – We always use and recommend booking hotels with  Booking.com for best value and most options to suit your budget.
• Camping – Take advantage of our exclusive  30 day free trial of The Dyrt PRO  to get reservations at sold out Yellowstone campgrounds with no extra booking fees, and gain access to free dispersed camping locations around Yellowstone National Park. You can try The Dyrt PRO for free, no strings attached!
• The earlier you book, the more chance you have of securing the exact locations you prefer. Be flexible and adaptable if planning your vacation last minute.

Suggested Lodging for this 4 Day Itinerary

• First Night – Mammoth Hot Springs or Gardiner MT
• Second Night – Canyon
• Third Night – Old Faithful or West Yellowstone
• Fourth Night – Jackson WY

Note this is a North to South route. If your entrance and exit points will be different, plan your accommodation accordingly.

If you want to take a much closer look at the top rated hotels around Yellowstone, head over to our sister site Best Hotels Anywhere to see the best hotels in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cody and Jackson.

You can only book accommodation inside the park using  Yellowstone National Park lodges  service, which means set prices and limited availability.

Expect to pay handsomely for hotel rooms if you stay inside the park, it is Yellowstone after all!

Read More About Yellowstone and Grand Teton …

• Things To Do: 30 Most Popular Things To See And Do In Yellowstone National Park
• Airports: 6 Best Airports Near Yellowstone for Domestic and International Travelers
• Hotels: Where to Stay Inside and Near Yellowstone – Best Hotels and Locations
• Spring: 10 Key Things To Know About Visiting Yellowstone In April
• Fall: 10 Important Things To Know About Visiting Yellowstone In October
• Grand Teton: 7 Amazing Things to do and Perfect 2 Day Itinerary
• Mormon Row: Sunrise and Sunset Photography Guide to Mormon Row Grand Teton
• Schwabacher Landing: Complete Photography Guide to Stunning Schwabacher Landing

Yellowstone Road Trips:

• SLC – Salt Lake City to Yellowstone 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary
• Rushmore – Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary

More Incredible US National Parks …

• Death Valley: Perfect One Day Death Valley Road Trip Itinerary (Las Vegas and Yosemite)
• Zion & Bryce Canyon: Epic 3 Day Road Trip Zion and Bryce Canyon Best Bits
• Yosemite: The Ultimate Guide to Yosemite For First Time Visitors
• Grand Canyon: Perfect One Day Itinerary Grand Canyon South Rim

We hope this guide helped with planning your 4 Days Yellowstone National Park Itinerary!

Yellowstone is one of the very best places to visit in the USA and we sincerely hope you have the most amazing vacation to this special part of the world.

Please let us know if you have any questions or you need any help planning your Yellowstone trip, we’ll be happy to help.

Happy Travels ,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

24 thoughts on “Yellowstone Itinerary 4 Days: The Ultimate First Time Visitor Guide”

Hello, I am driving from spokane to Teton on June 7th. I want to do teton, YN and glacir and drive back to spokane. So I think it would be best for me to stay in jackson or teton for one night and then drive up to west entrance for 2 nights and stay in Gardiner for one night because my plan is to do teton in one day 3 or 4 days for Yellowstone and then drive on to Glacer national park. I know it makes perhaps more sense to to go Glacier first and then drive down to YN and to teton but I have to take a return flight from spokene and Galcer sun road is not open untill June 15th or so, so I decided to drive down to Teton via Misoula and then drive up so I reach Galcier park around 13th or 14th and have more chances to see the sun road. I know it is driving double a little but looks like best optin to me. I am also doing this loop so I can take the car from spokane and return it at spokane. Taking a car from spokane and returning at teton is very expensive.

Am I on right track?

Hi Anjana, yes it sounds like you’re exactly on track with your plans. That’s exactly what we would do in your circumstances. Have a great trip!

How long does it take to get a guidebook to Yellowstone? Is it downloadable?

Hi Melissa, yes our Yellowstone guidebook is a digital download so you can get it instantly to your phone and computer. Thank you and have a fantastic trip!

Looking to also go in through Cooke City. Any recommendations on where to stay in Cooke City that night before entering the park? Thanks!

Hi Bret, glad to hear you will be visiting Yellowstone soon. Take a look through our where to stay in Yellowstone guide to see our hotel recommendations for Cooke City. It is a great place to start because you get instant access to Lamar Valley for wildlife at dawn. Have a great trip!

is there an actual print out of just the 4 day yellowstone itinerary? point to point to see?

Hi Tricia, At the moment we do not have a printable version of this itinerary, but we hope to have one soon. You are more than welcome to print out the travel guide and if you have any specific questions about Yellowstone, feel free to ask any time. Have a great trip!

Yikes! We are planning a trip this summer starting in South Dakota and heading into Yellowstone for 4 day. Unfortunately we have to go in the summer since I work at a high school. Yellowstone is so overwhelming and it looks like we will be entering Yellowstone the week of July 4th. Planning is so overwhelming 🤪 We will be pulling our RV as well. There are no campsites available in Yellowstone so hoping to find something not too far away. Since we will be driving in each day which entrance makes themost sense or should we split time between a couple of. Entrances?

Hi Holly, we are glad to hear you have a trip planned to Yellowstone but “yikes” is definitely a great word to describe your situation! If it were us, we would try staying at a campground in or around Gardiner the first and maybe second night, then staying at a campground in West Yellowstone for the next 2 nights. We have driven from South Dakota to Yellowstone twice, entering once into northeast entrance and once into north entrance at Gardiner. Your drive over on I-90 won’t be very exciting but for you it will be about efficiency and getting to Gardiner as quickly as possible is your best bet. Then you can see the “top half” of Yellowstone in the next 2 days, before pulling your RV to a campground in West Yellowstone so you have easier access to the “bottom half” of Yellowstone. Hope that helps and best of luck getting booked up. Have a great trip!

I’m so grateful to have found this site. It’s amazing! You are so thorough and organized – I am in awe. Without this guide I would have just booked a full week in West Yellowstone and then spent most of my days driving and being stressed about being in the park after dark. Now I think I’ll book 4 nights at YGI and 3 nights in Jackson. I have dogs, so I can’t stay in the park or move around too often. We primarily want to see wildlife – I hope we see a wolf!!!

Thank you Noelle, we’re glad our guide has helped you plan your trip to Yellowstone! Last time we visited we saw a wolf near Grand Prismatic Spring, just look for a group of people with expensive cameras / binoculars / telescopes and it’s either a wolf or a bear. Have a great time!

Hi, how does one find out the driving time or distance to different areas within the parks – Yellowstone and GTNP?

Hi ALice, thanks for getting in touch with a great point – we have updated our Yellowstone itinerary with a driving distance chart to show how far it is between the major regions in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We didn’t include times because that will change heavily depending on season but it should give you a better idea of how much driving will be involved during your visit.

Wow thanks for taking the time and sharing all that info! With that said, it is a bit overwhelming 🙂 appreciate your help in planning my trip with my teenage daughter in early July 2022. We’re flying in from San Francisco for 4 days. Is there any way to contact you directly? Thanks

Hi Meytal, yes planning a trip to Yellowstone can be overwhelming! Head over to our contact page and send us a message with any questions you have for your trip 🙂

Great article, thank you for the detailed information. We are headed for 4 days with a stay booked at the West entrance for all nights. All things considered, would you advise that I keep that spot or split it up between other entrances? All of the lodging INSIDE the park is booked up…so our only options would be to head out of the park for overnights. Looking at your itinerary for the 4 days it looks like staying where we are may just be the best option vs moving each night out to the North and then the East entrances…what do you think having been?

Hi Mel, yes getting booked inside the park is going to be a challenge this year. Stick with what you have booked in West Yellowstone for the 4 days. It’s the most central location with easier access to each of the areas inside the park. We were in Yellowstone again a few weeks ago and stayed in West Yellowstone both nights. It is a bit of a pain driving in and especially out each day as you drive directly into the sunset, but it’s by far the best option for keeping drive time down. That being said, if you are really keen to see wildlife, Lamar Valley at sunrise is your best bet and staying one night in either Gardiner (North entrance) near Mammoth or even Cooke City (Northeast entrance) would cut your driving time down significantly early in the morning. You will see wildlife without doing that but it would likely be a better experience. The drives East to Cody and South to Jackson are too long. Let us know if you have any more questions and have a great trip!

planning a trip for the summer, reading through piles of pins about Yellowstone and this is the most helpful yet! thank you so much!

Thank you Chelsea, we’re glad you were able to find the info you needed for Yellowstone. Please let us know if you have any questions about your plans but if not have a great trip!

This is such a helpful and informative review! With limited time in Yellowstone, we will be following your suggestions, but in reverse, coming up from Tetons.

Thank you Sarah, we’re glad you found it helpful – doing both Grand Teton and Yellowstone is such an amazing trip. Please do let us know if you have any questions about either park and have a great time!

Wow this has to be the best national park yet, something for everyone there, it must of been amazing.

Yes this was one of the most diverse US National Parks we visited, you’re spot on with something for everyone. We had a love / hate relationship with the snow, it was freezing cold and we might have missed out on some wildlife spotting opportunities, plus the Mt Washburn hike was closed and we couldn’t see much at Grand Prismatic Spring – but the Winter Wonderland scenery was unique and spectacular. Hope you are able to visit Yellowstone one day Graham!

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Yellowstone Itinerary Ideas from 1 to 5 Days (+Map & Planning Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 25, 2024

Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park and wondering how much time you need to visit the park, how to plan your trip, or what’s the best Yellowstone itinerary for your vacation?

In this post, we share our experience-based advice for visiting Yellowstone National Park, essential tips for planning your trip, and a suggested Yellowstone itinerary for one to five days . Find out!

These planning tips, Yellowstone itinerary for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days, and handy maps will help you get the most out of your trip to Yellowstone, no matter how much time you have.

Good to know: Note that these are all summer itineraries only (approx. mid-May to mid-October). That’s the period when all the roads are open and you can explore Yellowstone to the fullest. In winter, most of the roads in Yellowstone are closed and you can only visit the Old Faithful and the Mammoth Springs areas.

TIP: If you want to visit Yellowstone, but are overwhelmed with all the planning, you can also easily see the park with an organized tour. There are day trips or multi-day tours available. Here you can find our selection of the best Yellowstone tours .

Below, you can find a detailed day-to-day itinerary for Yellowstone. I also included a map for each recommended Yellowstone trip itinerary. That way you have a better idea of where all those places are and how to best plan your time when visiting Yellowstone.

Of course, you don’t have to follow these itineraries precisely, but it gives you a good idea of the main landmarks and the time you need to see them.

TIP: You can jump straight to our Yellowstone trip itinerary suggestions . However, before going into the details of your Yellowstone itinerary and starting to plan your trip, there are some important things you should know! So I suggest that you read that information first. Take a look!

Yellowstone Itinerary & Trip Planning Tips – OVERVIEW

• Essential info – read before planning a trip to Yellowstone!
• How much time you need in Yellowstone?
• Entrance fee
• 1 day in Yellowstone
• 2 days in Yellowstone
• 3 days Yellowstone itinerary
• 4 days Yellowstone itinerary
• 5 days Yellowstone itinerary

Important Info for Planning a Trip to Yellowstone

ACCOMMODATION: Your Yellowstone itinerary will depend so much on the location of your accommodation. Price-quality-location-wise, West Yellowstone is one of the best places to stay near Yellowstone. You can also see what’s available in this area for your travel dates via the map below.

Alternatively, check our detailed guide to the best places to stay in and near Yellowstone via the links below.

READ MORE: Where to Stay In Yellowstone National Park Best Hotels & Cabins Near Yellowstone

TIP: Using the map below, you can find the best deals for your stay. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see all the best deals for accommodation near Yellowstone.

DRIVING DISTANCES & TRAFFIC: Don’t underestimate driving distances in Yellowstone. The park is big and the traffic is busy in summer. On top of that, you may experience delays due to road works and wildlife traffic jams. Furthermore, parking spots at the most popular landmarks are scarce, so you may need some extra time and patience.

Important!!! Please always check the official website for up-to-date information on any road closures or planned works in the park when planning your trip! Also, things can change before your trip, so it’s always a good idea to check it again a few days before your trip.

HOW TO ESCAPE THE CROWDS: All that being said, we visited Yellowstone end of July, the busiest season of the year. It was only busy around the most popular attractions. Actually, it’s quite easy to escape the crowds in Yellowstone if you want to – just go for a walk.

I read somewhere that around 80% of Yellowstone visitors never walk further than 10-15 minutes from their car. We could definitely confirm that from our experience. Don’t be one of those tourists! If you have some time to spare and are physically capable, make sure to make at least several short walks in Yellowstone.

Of course, you have to see the main landmarks and attractions of Yellowstone , but it’s those unplanned experiences, hidden gems, and unexpected encounters that will make your trip more memorable.

WHEN TO VISIT: If you are not sure when to go to Yellowstone, please check our guide for the best time to travel to Yellowstone . If you are planning to visit in the peak season, please check out our experience-based tips for visiting Yellowstone in July and in August .

How much time do you need in Yellowstone National Park

When I was researching our American road trip itinerary , I quickly realized that one or two days are simply not enough for visiting Yellowstone. Not only is Yellowstone the oldest National Park in the world, it’s also one of the biggest and most diverse National Parks we ever visited.

After thorough research, we decided to spend four full days in Yellowstone. It gave us just enough time to see all the main highlights without having to rush. We did quite some hiking, went for a swim, spent time driving the scenic loop road and looking for wildlife…

Yellowstone is so big and so diverse that you could easily spend a week or two here and never get bored. However, if you just want to see the main landmarks of Yellowstone, three or four days is enough. You can also see a lot with just a day or two, especially if you plan your time well and focus on the ‘musts’ – our itinerary suggestions below will help you do just that!

TIP: Don’t pack your days too much and leave some space for unexpected wildlife encounters, bison traffic jams, a beautiful hike, a soak in the warm river, etc. Yellowstone is so much more than just the most famous landmarks!

LEARN MORE: Tips for Your First Trip to Yellowstone

Yellowstone Entrance Fee

You’ll need an entrance pass for Yellowstone. It costs 35 USD per private vehicle and is valid for 7 days. You can buy it at any entrance gate of the park.

However, if you are visiting several National Parks in the same year, it’s better to get an annual National Parks Pass. It’s called America the Beautiful Pass and costs 80 USD for the whole family traveling in the same vehicle. It is valid in all National Parks and 2,000 federal recreation sites across the United States for one year from the month of purchase.

TIP: If you only visit for a day, you can also opt for this day tour that includes all the fees . Also this popular 4-day tour includes entrance fee, so you don’t have to worry about any of that.

And now that you know all the practicalities, below, you can find our Yellowstone itinerary suggestions. Take a look!

Here are our Yellowstone itinerary suggestions for any trip duration:

One Day in Yellowstone National Park

If you only have one day in Yellowstone visit the Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin , Grand Prismatic Spring , and drive at least part of the scenic lower loop road .

If you are short on time when visiting Yellowstone, I suggest driving the lower loop passing the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (stop by Artist Point), Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake.

Below is a map indicating all the main landmarks that you should be able to see in Yellowstone in one day.

One Day Yellowstone Itinerary:

• Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail (optional)
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Hayden Valley
• Yellowstone Lake
• West Thumb Geyser Basin

For more details and information for this Yellowstone itinerary, please see our 1-day itinerary via the link below.

READ MORE: One Day in Yellowstone

TIP: If you only have one day in Yellowstone, it might be wise to join an organized day trip rather than go on your own. Experienced local guides will make sure that you get the most out of your very short stay in Yellowstone. Here’s the best Yellowstone day tour (departing from Jackson Hole or Teton Village) that I was able to find. And here is a one-day tour from West Yellowstone .

Here is a map indicating all the best places that you should be able to see in Yellowstone in one day.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

2 Days in Yellowstone

This is our suggested two day itinerary for the best of Yellowstone. Please note that to see all of this in just two days you will need to start really early and you won’t have much extra time to explore deeper.

This itinerary will make sure you get to see the very best of Yellowstone in 2 days. Take a look!

Two Days Yellowstone Itinerary:

Day 1: Old Faithful Geyser, Old Faithful Inn, and the Morning Glory Pool (Upper Geyser Basin). Grand Prismatic Spring. Norris Geyser Basin. Mammoth Hot Springs .

Day 2: Undine Falls and/or Wraith Falls. Lamar Valley. Tower Fall. Dunraven Pass. Yellowstone Grand Canyon. Hayden Valley. Mud Volcano. Yellowstone Lake. West Thumb Geyser Basin.

You can find our detailed 2-day Yellowstone itinerary and tips for your trip via the link below.

LEARN MORE: Two Days in Yellowstone

TIP: If you have 2 days in Yellowstone and want to see the very best of the park without having to do much planning, consider joining this highly-rated and very complete Yellowstone 2-day/1 night tour (departs from Jackson, WY).

Below is the map illustrating the 2-day itinerary suggestions for Yellowstone. The places indicated in red are described in the 1-day itinerary above, purple – day 2.

Yellowstone Itinerary for 3 Days

If you have three days in Yellowstone , you can explore all the main areas at a more relaxed pace. In addition, you’ll have some time for some lesser-known places that will make your Yellowstone trip even more special. Below is our suggested itinerary.

Three Days Yellowstone Itinerary:

Day 1: Old Faithful and the Geyser Loop Trail (don’t miss the Morning Glory Pool). Grand Prismatic. Norris Geyser Basin.

Day 2: Mammoth Hot Springs . Undine Falls. Wraith Falls. Petrified Tree (not a must). Lamar Valley. Tower Fall. Dunraven Pass.

Day 3: The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone River (Artist Point, Lower Falls). Hayden Valley. Yellowstone Lake.

TIP: If you’d like to do some hiking in Yellowstone, on day 3, you could go hiking along the rims of the Yellowstone Canyon. There’s also a very highly-rated hiking tour with a local guide that you can join in this area.

This Yellowstone itinerary for three days includes pretty much all the main landmarks that you really have to see in the park.

Below is the map showing suggestions for things to see when visiting Yellowstone in 3 days. Places indicated in red are the ones described on day 1 of this itinerary, purple on day 2, and yellow – on day 3.

4 Days in Yellowstone

We stayed four full days in Yellowstone with kids , but our trip itinerary can be used by all types of Yellowstone visitors. More adventurous travelers might want to do a bit more hiking, but if you want to see all the main highlights of Yellowstone without having to rush – this is it .

Here is my suggested four-day itinerary for Yellowstone based on our experience. We visited the Grand Prismatic and the Old Faithful area at the end of our trip and I think it was a good decision. It’s often better to leave the most impressive places for last; that way you appreciate the rest more.

We also spread the visit of three thermal areas (West Thumb Basin, Norris Geyser Basin, and the Grand Prismatic/ Old Faithful areas) over separate days. That way you have more diversity every day. Otherwise, it’s easy to get ‘geysered out’ in Yellowstone :).

Four Days Yellowstone Itinerary:

Day 1: Lewis Falls. West Thumb Basin. Yellowstone Lake. Storm Point hike. Mud Volcano area. Hayden Valley.

Day 2: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (Artist Point, Lower Falls). Norris Geyser Basin. Firehole River (swimming, if possible – check here for up-to-date info).

Day 3: Mammoth Hot Springs. Undine Falls. Wraith Falls. Petrified Tree (optional). Lamar Valley. Tower Fall. Dunraven Pass.

Day 4: Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic). You can also hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. Lower Geyser Basin. Upper Geyser Basin (the Old Faithful Geyser, Old Faithful Inn, and the Geyser Loop Trail), also Biscuit Basin and/or Black Sand Basin.

TIP: If you are looking for the best guided tour option, check out this beautiful 4-day/ 3 night Yellowstone and Grand Teton trip with a focus on wildlife (departs from Jackson, WY).

Below is a map indicating each of the suggested places from our 4-day Yellowstone itinerary. Places indicated in red are the ones described on day 1 of this itinerary, purple – day 2, yellow – day 3, and green – day 4. The blue dots are the places that we mention in the 5-days Yellowstone itinerary further below.

5 Days in Yellowstone

If you have five days in Yellowstone, make sure you see all the main landmarks and highlights described in the four-day Yellowstone itinerary. In addition, you could hike to Mount Washburn . It’s a long hike (6-7 miles (10-12km) depending on the route you choose) and requires a good part of the day.

Another nice option on foot or by bike is Lone Star Geyser . It’s located about 3 miles south of the Old Faithful area and can be reached via a hiking/biking trail from there. It erupts every 3 hours.

Otherwise, you can find plenty of other nice hikes, go for a boat ride on Yellowstone Lake, go for a scenic float or rafting nearby, join a hiking tour , etc.

Take a look at the map above (4 days in Yellowstone) – the blue dot next to Dunraven Pass is Mount Washburn, and the blue dot south of the Old Faithful is the Lone Star Geyser.

So, these are my suggestions for the best way to plan your Yellowstone trip and see the main landmarks of Yellowstone. None of these itineraries are very detailed as they would require separate articles, such as the ones for 1 and 2 days that we linked to above. So if you have any specific questions, feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll try to help.

Please note that every trip and itinerary will be somewhat different because so much depends on the location of your accommodation. We have lots of information and detailed guides for visiting Yellowstone , so please check those articles for more suggestions on how to plan your Yellowstone trip.

Update: Since so many of our readers asked for suggestions on how to best combine Yellowstone NP with Grand Teton NP, Glacier NP, and also with visiting Mount Rushmore, we have published dedicated articles about those places as well. Take a look below!

• Here you can find info on the best places to see and things to do in Jackson Hole .
• Here you can read more about the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park in one day .
• Here you can find a suggested itinerary for both, Yellowstone and Grand Teton .
• Here you can find Glacier National Park itinerary suggestions .
• Here you can read more about visiting Mount Rushmore and things to do near Mt Rushmore .

More information for planning your trip to Yellowstone:

• Overview: Yellowstone Travel Guide
• What to see: Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
• When to go: Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
• What to pack: Yellowstone Packing List
• Accommodation: Where to Stay in and Near Yellowstone & Best Hotels Near Yellowstone
• For families: Yellowstone with Kids
• Must-see: Grand Prismatic Spring & Old Faithful Geyser
• Fun to do: Boiling River

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Tracy Hughes

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

What airport did you fly into? Also, how far was the drive from the airport to Canyon Lodge?

Wednesday 18th of October 2023

Hi Tracy, Yellowstone was just part of a much bigger road trip for us. We flew out of Salt Lake City after we left the park. That was like 6 hrs drive. But there are plenty of smaller airports nearby (1-3 hrs). You can find this information in our Yellowstone travel guide.

Tuesday 19th of September 2023

We just returned from Yellowstone and I wanted to thank you for all the information on your website. It was invaluable for our trip. We could have never seen this much without your tips. THANK YOU!

Thursday 21st of September 2023

Glad to help, Muryel.

Friday 11th of August 2023

Hi Jurga, I'm planning a camping trip to Yellowstone NP for my family in early Sept 2024. We'll be pulling a 30' camper. I like your 4-5 day Yellowstone itinerary and was wondering if you stayed at one particular camp site or did you move to different camp sites to cut drive times? Which one(s) would you recommend? Thank you so much for your help! Brent D.

Sunday 13th of August 2023

Hi Brent, we do not camp so we stayed at the hotels - Canyon Lodge most of the time, plus the Old Faithful Lodge for a night. You can find more info about Yellowstone campsites here.

Monday 24th of July 2023

hi jurga i am thinking to come in oct end and thinking where ot fly from NY and with best price in mind where to stay and how to plan for 4-6 days total .

Tuesday 25th of July 2023

Hi Claudia, first, keep in mind that most roads in Yellowstone close for the winter season on November 1. End of October can also already be quite cold and snowy, so you have to be prepared for some uncertainty. Check the official site for the road conditions and planned closures. For the rest, if you do indeed go in October, you should be able to visit most places as described in our itinerary suggestions, so please check our article for how you could plan your time. As for where to stay, many accommodations inside the park will also be already closed for the season. Only Mammoth Hotel and OF Snowlodge remain open somewhat longer in October, but also not the entire month. So the best places to stay are likely West Yellowstone and/or Gardiner. Please take a look at this article for more information on the best hotels near Yellowstone. Having said all this, if you can plan your trip somewhat earlier, even if just a few weeks, it will make a big difference. End of October is really the very end of the main season. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Sunday 14th of May 2023

We’re booked for 7 nights at Grizzly RV park in mid July. This will be our first trip to Yellowstone! We’re traveling in an RV with a tow vehicle, so we’ll have transportation for traveling around. Any thoughts? I’ve been looking at itineraries and it almost seems like we should have tried to stay in a couple of different places. We’re heading to Lava Hot Springs after that and making our way to Salt Lake City. Thanks!

Monday 15th of May 2023

Hi Mindy, this RV park is located in West Yellowstone which is really one of the best locations to stay for Yellowstone if you can't find a place inside the park. My best recommendations would be to focus on different area each day so that you can explore deeper and drive a bit less. But yes, it's quite inevitable that you will have to cover big distances on some days, for example, if driving to Lamar Valley. So yes, with a week, ideally, you would split your stay between several different areas in the park, but if you can't change your bookings anymore, just make the most of it. With good planning and early start (to avoid the long queues at the park entrance), you can see all the best places using West Yellowstone as your base location. Have a great trip!

PLANNING A TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need

Post Summary: Everything you need to know for planning a trip to Yellowstone. Advice on where to stay, when to go, and the best tips for an epic Yellowstone vacation.

Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park can feel like a monumental undertaking. The sheer size of the park alone is enough to make any seasoned planner run for the hills. Before we took our big trip to Yellowstone, I spent a lot of time scouring through different books and sites to craft the perfect Yellowstone itinerary . To save you hours of reading through different Yellowstone travel guides, I created this Yellowstone trip planner so you can go to one place to find everything you need.

This guide on how to plan a trip to Yellowstone will cover:

-When to go to Yellowstone -Where to stay in Yellowstone -How to plan a Yellowstone trip itinerary -Must-see sights in Yellowstone -What to pack for Yellowstone -Getting to Yellowstone -Useful resources -Tips for visiting Yellowstone

RELATED POSTS: The Best Home Rentals in Yellowstone for every Budget The 10 Best Things to do in Yellowstone with Kids Everything you Need to Pack for a Trip to Yellowstone The Ultimate 4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary 10 Hidden Gems in Yellowstone

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you purchase from them. This is at no extra cost to you! We only recommend products and services we truly think are helpful.

Planning A Trip To Yellowstone

While it’s possible to wing a trip to Yellowstone, it’s not advised. The popularity of the park (over a million people visit a year) and its colossal size mean pre-planning a Yellowstone trip and itinerary is essential to maximizing your time there.

Here are the first two things you want to figure out when planning a trip to Yellowstone.

1. NEED TO KNOW When do you want to visit the park? How many days do you have to visit?

Best time to go to Yellowstone

In general, the best time to go to Yellowstone National Park is in the summer months of July and August. This is also the most crowded time of the year. The reason it’s often touted as the best time of year to visit Yellowstone is that the weather is nicer and, barring unforeseen closings, the entire park is accessible.

July and August weather averages in the mid 70’s Fahrenheit and drops down to the low 40s at night. That being said, the weather in Yellowstone can fluctuate quickly, so there’s always the chance of rain and thunder.

We visited in August, and while it was crowded at the park’s main sights, we never found it hard to find secluded, quiet spots. If you want to get away from crowds, it’s absolutely possible in the busy months. The summer months also have the advantage of being when large Bison herds congregate in the valley.

While July and August provide the best overall experience, let’s dive deeper into the best time to travel to Yellowstone since it will be different for everyone.

Visiting Yellowstone in the early Spring (March, April) This is one of the roughest times to visit because snowy, wet weather will cause muddy hiking trails, icy conditions, and multiple closures in the park. Due to Yellowstone’s high elevation, it will still feel like winter, and snow will be present. Most facilities like hotels, visitor centers, and campgrounds are closed. The upside is the park will be crowd-free, it’s a great time to spot wildlife (babies in particular), and the waterfalls will be gushing from ice melt. Visiting Yellowstone in the late Spring (May, June) If you’re set on visiting Yellowstone in the spring, the best time is May to June when more parts of the park will be accessible. A small number of concessions will start to open, wildflowers will begin to bloom, and wildlife sightings (bear cubs in particular) will be in full effect. Largely considered one of the best times to visit for its lack of crowds and the extraordinary opportunity for wildlife sightings.

Visiting Yellowstone in Fall (September-October) Early fall is a magical time in the park when the fall colors start to appear, and the elk are in rut. Crowds will have diminished, and some hotels and visitor centers will still be open. Most amenities will close by the end of October. With cooler weather ranging from the ’50-’70s, you won’t have to battle harsh winter conditions – although an early snowstorm is always a possibility in Yellowstone. It’s also a good time to spot bears since they come down to lower elevations to fatten up before hibernation.

Visiting Yellowstone in Winter (November – March) Visiting Yellowstone in winter can be a truly magical experience, but the effort it takes makes it best suited for adventurous types. Most roads will be closed by early November, with the exception of the road between Mammoth Hot Springs and the NE Entrance. Entering the park through the other entrances is only permitted via snowmobile, snow coach, snowshoe, and cross-country ski. You will need to find a snowmobile tour or get a special permit to enter the park . The only lodges open during the winter season are Old Faithful Snow Lodge and Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.

Where To Stay in Yellowstone

Once you’ve decided when to go to Yellowstone, you can start to figure out where to stay in Yellowstone. Here’s where knowing more about what kind of Yellowstone itinerary you want will help you decide where to stay.

The reason? Yellowstone is gigantic. The main road of the park has the shape of the number 8. This road is called the GRAND LOOP . From the Grand Loop, there are five roads that offshoot to the five entrances of the park.

To give you a perspective, the time it would take you to drive the Grand Loop is estimated at 4-7 hours. That’s without any stops to see sights. The reason there’s a huge berth of time in the estimate is that wildlife traffic jams (from visitors stopping to look and from bison standing in the middle of the road), tourists looking for parking spots, and road closures often create hold-ups.

Staying at a hotel in the park

Since the park is huge, we highly suggest staying in the park to reduce driving time . That being said, if you choose to stay in Grant Village in the south and visit Mammoth Hot Springs in the North, it could mean five hours of driving that day! That’s why having a vague idea of your Yellowstone itinerary is important. Many people opt to stay in two different areas of the park during their visit to reduce driving time.

The most central location is to stay in the Canyon Area at Canyon Lodge & Cabins . A good option is to stay at Canyon Lodge and Old Faithful Inn , both of which are close to the park’s main highlights. Old Faithful Inn is a crowded spot, so if you’re looking for something a little more restorative and peaceful, I would also check out Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins .

Lodging for all 9 Yellowstone Hotels can book out a year in advance, so you must book early. If you cannot secure lodging in the park, you’ll need to find somewhere else or wait till it’s closer to your desired dates and check every day for last-minute cancellations. You can look here for all other Yellowstone lodging options available in the park.

Camping in the park

Hotels in the park are expensive. There’s no way around it. To make it worse, the price doesn’t mean it’s an upscale experience. If paying $400 a night for an average to a below-average hotel room is out of the question for you, another option is to camp in the park.

We camped at Madison and Bridge Bay Campground to split up our time and loved it there. There are 12 front country campsites in the park, and most are first come-first served, except for Bridge Bay, Madison, Canyon, Fishing Bridge, and Grant Village. You can learn more about the campgrounds HERE .

Staying outside of the park

If neither of those options works for you, then your next option is to stay in a vacation rental or hotel near one of the five entrances to the park. If you choose that option, remember that the drive from the park entrance to the park’s main road can be up to an hour long, depending on which entrance you use. Staying outside of the park will mean a lot of driving time.

I’ll break down the different entrances below, along with lodging recommendations for each entrance.

If you’re interested in staying in a home rental, you can check our post on the best vacation rentals in Yellowstone for every budget.

Entrances to Yellowstone

Here’s a breakdown of the five different entrances to Yellowstone. We’ll look at which Yellowstone entrance is the best and the cities you could find lodging in for each entrance.

West Yellowstone Entrance Driving Distance and Time from Entrance to Grand Loop: 14 miles, 45 minutes This is the most popular entrance and the best choice if staying outside of the park. Located in West Yellowstone, MT, it has plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and gas stations. Burnt Hole Cabin is a 2-bedroom home rental right near the entrance and within walking distance of restaurants. For a more conventional hotel stay, The Kelly Inn, is an affordable choice with free breakfast and comfortable beds, and is within one mile of the entrance. If you’re willing to drive more, the VRBOs in Island Park, Idaho , are about 25 minutes away from the entrance but tend to be nicer.

North Entrance Driving Distance and Time from Entrance to Grand Loop: 5 miles, 15 minutes Gardiner, MT, is the closest town just outside of the entrance and is a good location for visiting the Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Boiling River. It’s further from areas like Old Faithful and West Thumb Geyser Basin, but doable if you don’t mind a long drive. Gardiner is a cute, small town with grocery stores, a small selection of restaurants, and gas stations.

The Arch View Studio is a nice, simple guest house on VRBO for two people that offers all the same amenities as a hotel but is bigger and cheaper. If traveling with a family, the Gardiner Home is a beautiful home rental with a deck overlooking the Yellowstone River. I also love the look of this chic two-bedroom house rental with a loft.

If you prefer a hotel over a house rental, the Park Hotel Yellowstone is a well-rated hotel with clean, comfortable rooms.

Northeast Entrance Driving Distance and Time from Entrance to Grand Loop: 29 miles, 1 hour The closest city to this entrance is the tiny city of Cooke City, MT. With a population of just over 100 people, it offers a grocery store, restaurants, and a gas station. It’s a great entrance for access to the Lamar Valley; however, it is far from everything else in the park.

I would suggest staying near this entrance only if you are passionate about animal watching and want to be as close as possible to the Lamar Valley so you can get there before sunrise. The Mountain Lux Guest House is a beautiful home with a hot tub and sauna to enjoy after visiting the park.

East Entrance Driving Distance and Time from Entrance to Grand Loop: 27 miles, 1 hour The closest city to the entrance is Cody, Wyoming. We don’t suggest staying here simply because it’s 53 miles from the entrance to the park. That means it will take you around two hours to get to the Grand Loop of Yellowstone. While Cody, Wyoming, is a cute town with some interesting sights, its distance makes it tough for anyone looking to go in and out of the park every day.

South Entrance Driving Distance and Time from Entrance to Grand Loop: 22 miles, 45 minutes The south entrance is the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. While 10 miles is all that separates the two parks, there is only one lodging choice, the Headwaters Lodge and Cabins . Otherwise, you would need to drive 55 miles through Grand Teton National Park to lodge in the cute city of Jackson, Wyoming. Because of traffic and length, staying outside the South entrance is generally not recommended for anyone looking to visit the park every day.

Making a Yellowstone Trip Itinerary

When planning a trip to Yellowstone, your itinerary is vital to helping you create an amazing trip. Here are some key things to think about when planning a Yellowstone itinerary.

2. NEED TO KNOW What parts of the park do you want to see? How many days do you want to visit?

How many days do you need to visit Yellowstone National Park?

Figuring out how many days you need to visit Yellowstone is dependent on how deep you want to explore the park.

Three days at Yellowstone is enough to allow you to see all the park’s main highlights.

Four days at Yellowstone allows you to see all the main highlights, with an additional day to go hiking or explore more features of the park.

(RECOMMENDED) Five to Seven days at Yellowstone is for anyone who is looking to explore all the main highlights with extra time for hiking, fishing, or relaxing in the beauty of the park.

Not everyone has 5-7 days at their disposal, so if you want to get the main highlights, we suggest doing four days in the park. If you notice, we don’t suggest one or two days in Yellowstone. With traffic, parking, and crowds, it would make for a stressful and rushed time at the park. Do people do it? Of course. If you only have one day in the park, focus on doing two or three main highlights to enjoy your time there fully.

In general, it’s best to visit a section of the park each day to maximize your time there.

Best things to do in Yellowstone

Now that you have an idea of how many days you want to spend in Yellowstone, it’s time to plan out an itinerary. The best way to start planning a trip to Yellowstone is to familiarize yourself with the must-see spots and their location in the park. From there, you can plan out an itinerary from there.

We have an entire post with an in-depth four day Yellowstone itinerary . Check it out to get a day-by-day breakdown of what to do, advice on where to stay, as well as inspiration for your trip.

Here are the main highlights in Yellowstone that are considered must-dos when visiting the park.

1. Old Faithful Geyser 2. Mammoth Hot Springs 3. Grand Prismatic Spring + Midway Geyser Basin 4. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone 5. Wildlife Viewing in Lamar Valley and/or Hayden Valley

Here are secondary highlights for those who have time and want to dive deeper into the park’s geothermal features.

1. Upper Geyser Basin and Morning Glory Pool 2. West Thumb Geyser Basin 3. Norris Geyser Basin 4. Yellowstone Lake 5. Boiling River

And then, of course, there are hiking trails, fishing spots, and lesser-known off-the-beaten-path spots in Yellowstone . Be sure to check out our Yellowstone itinerary post to get the full rundown.

What to pack for Yellowstone

A Yellowstone packing list is dependent on what time of year you will be visiting. This shortlist is intended for June to September travel. While the weather will be nice (especially in July and August), you’ll want to be prepared for sudden shifts in weather. Also, due to the high elevation, nights can and will be cold. We visited in late August and experienced beautiful warm weather and bursts of torrential rain and thunder, with nighttime and early morning temps in the upper 20s Fahrenheit. A week after we left, a snowstorm came through, and the park was coated in snow. Anything is possible in Yellowstone! Pack clothing you can layer up.

For an in-depth look at what to pack for Yellowstone, as well as where to get the supplies, check out our Yellowstone packing list post .

1. Bear Spray 2. Water shoes 3. Rain jacket 4. Comfortable walking shoes 5. Hiking boots 6. Binoculars 7. Sunhat 8. Sunblock 9. Bug repellant 10. Backpack 11. Trash bags 12. Reusable water bottle 13. Quick dry towel 14. Picnic blanket 15. Flashlights or headlamp 16. Clothing layers 17. Camera + Go Pro

Getting to Yellowstone

There are quite a few airports to choose from, but most are small airports with higher prices. The closest airports are Jackson Hole Airport, located in Jackson, WY, and Yellowstone Regional Airport, located in Cody, WY.

You can also look into the following cities to see if they offer cheaper options:

• -Billings Logan Internation Airport in Billings, MT
• -Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Bozeman, MT
• -Idaho Falls Regional Airport in Idaho Falls, ID

If all those choices are too pricy, many people opt to fly to Salt Lake City International airport due to easier and cheaper flight options. The drive from Salt Lake City is about five hours to the West Yellowstone entrance.

No matter where you fly, you will have to rent a car since there is no shuttle service within the park. You can check Rentalcars.com to see current car rental prices. Rentalcar.com is an aggregator that compares rental prices from different providers.

Entrance Fees to Yellowstone

Entrance fees are per vehicle and are $35. The pass is good for seven days from the date of purchase. You can save some time by purchasing your vehicle pass before you arrive.

If you plan to visit Grand Teton National Park during your Yellowstone trip and any other National Parks or federal lands in the same year you visit Yellowstone park, you might want to consider buying an America the Beautiful Pass . Good for one year, the pass gives you entrance to every National Park and more than 2000 federal recreation sites. A fantastic choice that can save a lot of money if you have additional National Park travel plans. You can learn more and buy the annual pass HERE.

Useful Resources and Tips for Planning a Trip to Yellowstone

Is Yellowstone a good park to visit with kids or toddlers? Yes! We visited the park with our three-year-old, and he loved it. Yellowstone is a fabulous place for kids. If you want help with your Yellowstone family vacation planning, you can read our entire post on visiting Yellowstone with kids and the best things to do with them.

How is the internet and cell service? Barely existent. While there may be spots where you can get a patch of service, it’s not something to rely on. I have T-Mobile, and my husband has AT&T, and neither one of us was able to connect. The park claims to have hot spots you can jump onto, but those were pretty unreliable. Be happy if you do get it, but don’t expect it.

If there’s no cell service, how do I figure out directions? I’m so reliant on GPS! I know. Me too. First off, the park is very easy to drive in, and everything is clearly marked. That being said, we can’t recommend enough downloading the Yellowstone National Park app that has offline directions and maps to all of the sights in the park. We found it really helpful when looking for trailheads and picnic areas. It also has a wealth of other amazing information that is good to have. It offers education about what all the geothermal features are and fun facts about the park. Download it BEFORE you get there. You can also get a Yellowstone map from the visitor centers.

What’s the food situation in Yellowstone? Cafeterias, restaurants, ice cream stands, and grocery stores are available in all the park’s main sections. All are located close to the hotel lodges or inside the hotel. You can see a full list of dining options here . As is to be expected, food prices are higher than what you would pay outside of the park.

If you’re looking to save, you can bring your own food in and picnic in various areas around the park. Just remember to dispose of all food in a bear-proof trash can or take it with you to dispose of later if none are available.

Are there gas stations in Yellowstone? Yes, gas stations can be found in Canyon Village, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and Tower Junction.

I’m overwhelmed. Can I just go on a tour and have someone be my personal Yellowstone vacation planner? Yes! We have never personally done a tour, so we can’t recommend any to choose from. But, what you can do is look through the tour service Viator to see if they have any that appeal to you. Viator is owned by TripAdvisor and has the same system where they collect reviews. It’s a great way to see what’s out there and if it’s highly rated.

Is a bear going to eat me? Ahh, those cute but enormous bears. While the likelihood of you getting attacked by a bear is very unlikely, practicing bear safety and following all rules set by the National Park Service is vital to keeping not only you safe but the bears safe as well. To further my point of how unlikely it is, since the park’s establishment in 1872, eight people have been killed by bears in the park. You can read more about your likelihood of getting attacked by a bear HERE .

The best way to keep yourself and the animals safe is to hike in groups of three or more, to make noise while you hike, and to keep your senses aware (no listening to headphones). Also, have bear spray with you and know how to use it. We use this bear spray brand and so far have never had to use it!

Lastly, never touch, approach, or feed any animals in the park and stay at least 100 yards away from wolves and bears and at least 25 yards away from all other animals, including elk and bison. Most animal-related injuries are from visitors not following these simple guidelines.

You can read more about safety in the park HERE .

Should I visit Grand Teton National Park while I’m at Yellowstone? Any other spots to visit? Yes! If you have time, a day or two at Grand Teton NP and exploring Jenny Lake is a great way to see a completely different park. If you really want to collect some national park passport stamps , make a long road trip out of it and head North to Glacier National Park. If you want a break from the National Parks, you can also spend a few days in the fun and hip city of Jackson, Wyoming.

Okay, I’m getting excited. Anything else I should know? Yes, that old saying about the early bird catching the worm? It applies to Yellowstone! Get yourself up before sunrise and start your day early. Seeing Yellowstone uncrowded with the hot springs letting off a cloud of steam is pure magic. Get up early and beat the crowds. You won’t regret it.

Also, give yourself a lot of time for everything. Traffic and road closures are very commonplace. We dealt with a fire, an overturned fuel truck, traffic jams from drivers looking at bison, and routine road maintenance. It’s part of the package that comes with Yellowstone. Give yourself a buffer and go with it.

Here’s a recap and checklist for planning a trip to Yellowstone.

1. Decide when you want to visit the park 2. How many days do you want to stay in the park 3. What sights are on your must-do list 4. Sketch out a simple itinerary for hotel planning 5. Book lodging 6. Buy necessary items for your trip 7. Download Yellowstone App 8. Count the days till you’re in Yellowstone!

You’re ready to start planning a trip to Yellowstone! Let me know if I missed anything and if you have any questions in the comments below.

PIN IT FOR LATER

READ NEXT: 11 Amazing National Parks in the East 160 Questions for your next Road Trip The Ultimate Road Trip Food List

Hi, we’re Christina and Brad, Idaho based writers and photographers who live to explore. We did a short stint of traveling full time with our two year old and discovered we're much happier as part time nomads. What does that mean? We travel a lot! And then we go home. We love helping fellow parents and everyday adventurers discover new places and experiences.

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One comment.

It’s great that you elaborated on the importance of planning to make the most out of your time. My aunt mentioned last night that she was arranging a tour for her birthday and asked if I had any suggestions for where we should go. Thanks to this educational article, I’ll be sure to advise her that we should think about doing a Yellowstone private trip because it will provide us with wonderful memories.

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A beginner's guide to visiting Yellowstone National Park: Everything you should see and do

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

I recently returned from an incredible trip to Yellowstone , our nation's first national park. It was very strange to be there in the days of COVID-19, but it was also one of my best visits yet, as it wasn't as crowded as it's been in the past. It was also my first time actually staying inside the park, which was quite a treat.

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Of course, you could easily spend weeks exploring the sprawling 2.2 million acre park and still not see it all. But even a day trip here or long weekend getaway is well worth your time. Here's everything you need to know to plan your trip to Yellowstone National Park.

What to see and do in Yellowstone

Let me start with the highlight: the wildlife.

Among the many rare species you might encounter are grizzly and brown bears, wolves, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, elk, deer, buffalo, moose and every matter of birds. You can easily pull off the road and see any or all of these animals at once. Buffalo, in particular, are known to cause traffic jams as they use the same roads you do to commute.

Travelers will also discover a ton of adventure in this park. You can camp, hike in the backcountry, boat, fish, cycle and, in the winter, you can even try cross-country skiing.

Both biking and hiking are great ways to experience the natural wonder of this incredible park, and there are plenty of mountain biking and off-roading opportunities. Campsites are available from just $5 a night, and there are approximately 900 miles of trails to explore in the park — just be hyper-aware of your surroundings, as you'll be sharing the territory with some fearsome predators. When I was there last, I saw both bears and wolves.

There are so many amazing hikes here that aren't too difficult and are within walking distance of accessible parking areas. My favorite was probably the hike to Mystic Falls from Biscuit Basin, not too far from Old Faithful. The 2.5-mile round-trip walk takes you to a dramatic waterfall. If you hike a little farther you might luck out like I did and see Old Faithful erupt on the horizon.

Old Faithful

Probably the most famous of all Yellowstone's attractions, Old Faithful is a massive geyser that erupts reliably every 60 to 110 minutes. It's a cone geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin and easily accessible by road, and park rangers can tell you when the next eruption is during the day. There are benches from which you can watch the spectacle. It erupts about 20 times per day, and the plume of water and steam can be as high as 180 feet!

You can usually stay at a lodge near Old Faithful, but for the 2020 season, only cabins are available.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

This river valley formed by the Yellowstone River is probably my favorite part of Yellowstone. I've been here now in several different seasons and it's always changing, always distinctly different and always awe-inspiring.

There are several viewpoints, and it's one of the most dramatic areas in the country. I'm especially fond of Artist Point. As you can imagine, they call it that for a reason.

You can also check out the Canyon's Lower or Upper Falls viewing areas. I highly recommend doing the Brink of the Lower Falls observation point where you can really get a sense of the river's immense power. If you're driving, be prepared to pull over constantly to get a new perspective.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs was one of the first parts of the park that saw policing back in the 1800s when poaching was a problem. The U.S. Army had a base there (it still houses park employees) and it's home to historic Fort Yellowstone.

Travelers will also find the Mammoth Hot Springs lodges and cabins, places to eat and even a gas station.

But the best features are the dramatic hot springs laced with boardwalks for closer observations. You can get a good look at the many steaming hydrothermal pools and the travertine terraces. You can walk (or drive) to the Upper Terraces. There's also a hiking trail circling the pools and falls, but bring your bear spray. In a 24-hour span, I saw a grizzly bear and her cubs, and the next morning I saw another grizzly near the road.

There are also herds of elk that call the area home. You're pretty much guaranteed to see elk during a trip here.

Biscuit Basin and Mystic Falls

Not far from Old Faithful you'll find Biscuit Basin, which is home to gorgeous hot springs and small geysers with fairly regular eruptions.

The mix of colors and textures in the rocks is striking. You can follow a wooden walkway and it will eventually lead to an easy hike to Mystic Falls and a spectacular waterfall in a river valley.

Related: State-by-state guide to reopening America

There are also plenty of fun family-friendly activities just outside the park in cities such as Gardiner and West Yellowstone, Montana. Consider, for example, the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. You and the kids can see live bears and wolves who can't return to the wild and learn a ton about the fearsome animals from a safe distance.

Whether you're exploring the park by foot or car, don't forget to grab an $80 annual national park pass . Yellowstone National Park normally charges a $35 entrance fee per vehicle, so if you have any other national park trips on the horizon, you can easily get your money's worth.

The best times to visit Yellowstone

The peak time is definitely summer when everything is open. It can get hot, but it's generally not humid. You should pack shorts for the daytime, and be sure to bring sweaters, a sweatshirt or a coat. Yellowstone is in the mountains and it gets cold at night even in the summertime.

You can travel here all year long, including during the winter , which would be a magical (albeit cold) time to visit Yellowstone. Warren Smith, a chiropractor at HealthSource in Butte, Montana, told me he has cross-country skied into the park from West Yellowstone, and outfitters will take even take you snowmobiling.

My personal favorite time to visit is in the early fall when the crowds are thinner, and the colors begin to change. Temperatures are more moderate and it's not quite so hot. You get more of the park to yourself and wildlife is more likely to be around. Keep in mind, though, there can be freak snowstorms even in September — so pack for anything.

Read our complete guide on the best times to visit Yellowstone .

Where to stay in Yellowstone

There are plenty of places for you to stay in and around Yellowstone. Both vacation rental properties and hotels are plentiful at all five entrances to Yellowstone (there are three in Montana and two in Wyoming).

Related: How to visit the national parks for less

Points hotels near Yellowstone

Search Cook City, Gardiner, Red Lodge or West Yellowstone in Montana for hotels or rental properties near the trio of Montana entrances. There are also plenty of places to bed down at the two Wyoming entrances. You can search Cody, Wyoming and areas in Idaho.

If you're looking for places to spend points, however, there are far fewer options unless you're willing to stay a few hours outside the park in places like Bozeman, Montana or Idaho Falls, Idaho.

There's a nice Holiday Inn in West Yellowstone where last-minute rooms in July started at $281 a night. That's steep, but if you book early you can certainly find better rates. A long weekend in September will set you back $252 a night, or you can use 45,000 IHG Rewards Points per night.

I booked a room here in July and, despite the last-minute reservation, managed to secure a decent rate. Just watch out for added taxes and fees (unlike the rest of Montana, there are taxes in West Yellowstone). The final price ended up being almost $300 a night. Ouch.

There are also two Choice hotel properties travelers may want to consider: An Ascend Hotel for $212 a night and a Comfort Inn starting at $186 a night in West Yellowstone. Choice also has select properties in Livingstone, Montana, but that's an hour away from the park.

Travelers can also consider the Days Inn by Wyndham West Yellowstone (from 15,000 Wyndham points per night). And if you have Best Western Rewards points, you could try the Best Western Desert Inn or the Best Western Weston Inn , both from 28,000 points per night.

If you're looking for a major chain hotel, you'll need to head to Bozeman, Montana for a Hilton or a Marriott property. Rates are generally better, but it's a good 2-hour drive to Yellowstone. Prices are also high during the peak summer season — yes, even in 2020 — and can easily run at least $250 per night.

When it welcomes its first guests on Aug. 18, the 122-room Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman will be one of the area's most exciting new properties. The art deco building dating back to 1941 and features a whiskey bar, a rooftop pool and a concert hall. It's about an hour from Big Sky and two hours to the north entrance to Yellowstone .

In Big Sky, the relatively new Wilson Hotel, a Residence Inn by Marriott, is one of the first from a major brand in the area.

Related: How to use points to stay near national parks

Staying inside Yellowstone's borders

Within the park, travelers will discover several rustic lodges. Xanterra is the concessioner for all accommodations inside Yellowstone National Park (as well as Glacier and others, too). Many of the large lodges have existed for more than a century, so keep that in mind and manage your expectations accordingly.

Related: I went to Glacier and Yellowstone during COVID-19 and it was weird

Hotels sell out quickly during the high season. Even this summer, with the coronavirus crippling travel, there isn't much availability. In fact, only cabins are available in the park right now. Lodges are closed and are likely to remain shut down for the remainder of 2020. That makes inventory even scarcer than it usually is this time of year.

I was able to find some dates with availability, but prices are high. At Mammoth Falls Lodge cabins, rates were $277 a night for dates in July and August.

Back in June, I stayed in the cabins at Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge. They are charming but basic. The beds are small, and there's no air conditioning. Still, it was really fun staying inside the park and having easy access to hiking trails and the beautiful Mammoth Springs.

The cabins at Old Faithful Lodge are cuter and just steps from the famous Old Faithful geyser. They're tiny, sure, but the perfect base for exploring the nearby geysers, mountains and hot springs when I stayed there in June. Rates in August start at $174 a night.

If you're thinking about staying inside the park this summer, you want to act fast.

Betsy O'Rourke, chief marketing officer at Xanterra, told TPG earlier this year, "We open the inventory 13 months out and we sell out in a few hours. However, about 30% of that inventory cancels and gets rebooked."

Her advice? Check back frequently. "Our cancellation policy is 48 hours out, so we do get cancellations even close in."

You can find better deals if you're willing to stay at a vacation rental instead. Airbnb has plenty of properties, especially for travelers who want something unconventional like a traditional log cabin, glamping-style tent or a treehouse.

Even last minute, there's availability on Airbnb outside the park. I recommend searching for West Yellowstone or Gardiner. I found plenty of options near Montana's Western entrance to the park starting at $157 a night.

Luxury accommodations near Yellowstone

It can also make a lot of sense to use your credit card points to help offset the cost of an upscale stay near the park. Consider redeeming a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book a stay at an independent property. You could also "erase" a qualifying travel charge by using a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

The Under Canvas "glamping" lodge is just 10 minutes from Yellowstone's West Entrance. I found availability in August for $264 a night. With taxes and fees, a four-night stay would be just over $1,200.

If you really want to splurge, try the Triple Creek Ranch in Darby, Montana — it's about 4.5 hours from the park, and rates start around $1,600 a night. Paws Up resort in Greenough, Montana is also a 4.5-hour drive, and rooms will set you back about $1,700 a night. And the first five-star, ultra-luxury hotel in the entire state, a Montage in Big Sky, will debut in 2021.

Camping in Yellowstone

Of course, you can always camp inside Yellowstone. Yellowstone has 12 proper campgrounds with over 2,000 individual spots. You can head over to Yellowstone National Park lodges to make reservations, which cost $27 a night, on average.

Other campgrounds are available on a first come, first served basis. They fill up quickly in the summer, and in 2020 not all campgrounds are available because of the pandemic, so your mileage may vary. A search in July found just four of the 12 campgrounds open and accepting reservations. In fact, most were full by 7 a.m.

If you have an RV or camping equipment, you can stay outside the park in the surrounding national forests for very little — or nothing at all. It's called dispersed camping, and travelers comfortable with a more primitive stay should consider the surrounding Custer Gallatin or Bridger Teton National Forests.

How to get to Yellowstone

Flying to yellowstone.

You can fly to a number of cities that put Yellowstone within reach. The easiest and closest airport is Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana, which bills itself as the "Gateway to Yellowstone." It's the busiest airport in Montana with nonstop service to 21 U.S. cities.

Related: New routes make it easier than ever to visit these top US National Parks

American Airlines has been betting big on Montana and added four seasonal flights last year for this summer. American was set to fly to Bozeman from Los Angeles (LAX), New York-LaGuardia (LGA) and Philadelphia (PHL) and to Kalispell (FCA) from LGA. None of those flights are happening, but we're hoping they return next year.

American normally flies from Newark (EWR), Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) nonstop to Bozeman. I found tickets in September for between $377 and $425 in the main cabin. Award prices started at 25,000 AAdvantage miles in coach or 50,000 miles for first class, plus $11.20 in taxes and fees.

United flies to Bozeman from six of its hubs, and Delta Air Lines also flies from six hubs, including Salt Lake City (SLC). At this time, Delta is only flying from Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Alaska Airlines has flights from Portland, Oregon (PDX) and Seattle (SEA), and Allegiant flies from four cities including Nashville, Tennessee (BNA). Frontier flies from Denver (DEN), and Sun Country now flies from its Minneapolis hub. JetBlue normally flies from New York-JFK and Boston (BOS) but this summer, they're not flying from New York.

Give yourself two hours for the drive from Bozeman to Yellowstone depending on traffic, weather and which park entrance you're using. There are a variety of operators that offer guided tours of Yellowstone. Karst Stage is one touring company that operates charter buses and day trips from Bozeman to the park.

You can also fly into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson, Wyoming. The airport is only 45 miles south of the park. It also gives you easy access to Grand Teton National Park. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines all fly to Jackson Hole airport, and Frontier offers seasonal service.

Delta has flights from Salt Lake City for about $300 in the main cabin in August or 23,000 SkyMiles plus $11.20.

You could also fly to Idaho Falls, Idaho and its Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA). It's just under 100 miles from Yellowstone. Allegiant offers year-round, nonstop flights from Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix-Mesa (AZA), and seasonal service from Los Angeles and Oakland (OAK).

Delta offers year-round, nonstop flights from Salt Lake City and seasonal service from Minneapolis, and United has service from Denver. United's flights to IDA were about $347 round-trip in main cabin or 25,000 United miles and $11.20 in taxes and fees.

Of course, there's always Yellowstone's eponymous airport. Yellowstone Airport (WYS) is located just 2 miles from Yellowstone National Park . Delta flies into this airport from Salt Lake City, and I found tickets from $175 in August.

Where to eat in Yellowstone

Montana and Wyoming aren't exactly known as foodie paradise. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, but haute cuisine isn't exactly a thing.

Personally, I recommend doing grocery runs and always keeping a picnic ready for those mountain meadows you stumble upon. Be sure to pack lots of snacks, as restaurants are typically only open in the high season and often have limited hours.

They are also few and far between, especially inside the borders of the park, and they're especially scarce in the age of coronavirus. In fact, most restaurants inside the park remain closed, and the few that are open are take-out only. Forewarned is forearmed.

Smith, the chiropractor from Butte, told me he really likes two places in West Yellowstone: the Slippery Otter Pub that serves bison and elk burgers, and The Branch Restaurant and Bar. Unfortunately, it was closed when I visited in early July (probably due to COVID-19). Hopefully, it will reopen next year.

One of the most important things to know about visiting the national parks right now is that most of the bathrooms I encountered in both Yellowstone and Glacier were closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. If you go, definitely have a plan for the call of nature. Folks driving motorhomes will be fine, but be sure to plot your visit and use bathrooms wherever you find them.

Getting around Yellowstone

I strongly recommend renting a car (or an RV!) for your trip to Yellowstone National Park. The park is really designed for drivers, with major roads taking you to most of the iconic attractions. Still, if you really want to explore, bring hiking boots. And don't forget to pack your bear spray. You can't fly with it, though, so buy bear spray after your flight.

If you'd rather not drive, seasoned park veterans take visitors on the famous Yellowstone Yellow Bus Tours . The vintage 1920s buses are an iconic part of the park's heritage. The long, yellow buses with rollback tops are perfect for gazing at the mountains without worrying about the notorious curves in the park's roads.

"These days, a fleet of eight vintage White Motor Co. buses ferry visitors on guided wildlife-watching tours, photo safaris, sunset tours and more," says operator Xanterra. "The distinctive antique yellow vehicles have retractable canvas roofs and panoramic windows, making them ideal for sightseeing. Plus, they're really cool to ride around in."

They also book up quickly, so you'll want to be aggressive with your planning. But, unfortunately, Yellow Bus tours are not running during the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns.

You could also bike around the park, but there's not a lot of separated bike lanes. There are, however, a few trails specially designed for mountain biking. There's a complete guide to biking in Yellowstone here , but you can also rent bikes at Old Faithful Lodge.

Bottom line

Yellowstone National Park should be very high on your travel bucket list. It's a great time to go local and explore the nation's many national parks. Yellowstone is a personal favorite, and getting to see wolves and bears here was one of the highlights of my entire year.

If you're traveling to Montana, don't limit yourself to Yellowstone National Park, though. Across the state, there's Glacier National Park and countless sites that tell the incredibly important history of Native Americans in the United States. Big Sky, not far from Yellowstone, is also surging in popularity. It's a great spot for skiing in the winter.

I highly recommend a visit here this year, especially since travelers with a U.S. passport might find they can't venture too far from home. Just be sure to pack your masks and have a firm plan for where to stay — and use the bathroom — before you go.

Additional reporting by Meghan Hunter.

All photos by Clint Henderson/The Points Guy.

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Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Itinerary & Guide (1-5 Days)

Yellowstone National Park, located mostly in Wyoming with parts in Montana and Idaho, is one of the most visited national parks in the United States and contains well-known sights like the Old Faithful geyser and geologic wonders. 

Yellowstone National Park is an incredible place to visit and explore, especially for wildlife lovers and families. The best way to experience the park is to stay nearby in a hotel or campground and spend a number of days – ideally 3-4 days – exploring the terrain and watching for animals.

This 3-day Yellowstone National Park itinerary will help you plan your own trip to the park without spending unnecessary time researching what to see and do in this vast national park.

» Looking for more travel inspiration in the United States ? See our U.S. Summer Vacation Ideas and 12 U.S. National Parks to Visit . Here are a few more fabulous U.S. Cities to visit .

Table of Contents

Brief Overview of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone was made a national park in March 1872. It’s main draw is the wildlife that calls the park home. It’s not unheard of to see bears, wolves, bison, elk and antelope, among dozens of other species. Also its geothermal activity. It’s centered on top of the largest super volcano on the continent called the Yellowstone Caldera, still an active volcano, surrounded by mountain ranges on all four sides.

Yellowstone National park is thought to be one of the few remaining intact ecosystems other than in the state of Alaska. The land is virtually untouched by commercialization, which is what makes it the perfect habitat for the animals.

Within Yellowstone, there are five entrance stations, ten visitor centers, eight developed areas with lodges, and many restaurants and stores, not to mention campgrounds and hiking trails.

When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone 

The best time to visit Yellowstone in late spring- April to May- or early fall – September to October. In these months the weather is mild. It’s not blazing hot as it is in the summer, or freezing and snowy like it is in the winter.

Also, avoiding the summer months is advantageous to avoid large crowds. Many people will be travelling during summer vacation with their kids, so it’s better to go slightly before or after summer to skip the large groups of people.

Please check the  current conditions , operating  seasons  and hours,  road conditions , and  lodging and eating  options to help  plan your visit .

How Many Days Do You Need?

To enjoy Yellowstone you really only need one day. Just a step inside the park is truly enough to enjoy it.There are plenty of things to see in a limited amount of time, you really don’t need long.

But to get the full experience, three to four days is best. That way, you’ll have time to see everything and have a bit of relaxation. This will also give you time to explore the park fully, and not skip any beautiful attractions.

With more time, you can take time to look for animals and appreciate the gorgeous views.

Click for a larger map of the area .

Entrance Fees

Yellowstone National Park site-specific digital passes are available for purchase on Recreation.gov before you arrive, whether you plan one trip or a number of trips. You can download your digital pass immediately on your phone or tablet. You will also receive your pass via email as a PDF and can print it out when you arrive.

Learn more about your pass options, find the right Yellowstone National Park pass for you, and buy your pass  online .

Visitors entering Yellowstone’s South Entrance will be traveling through Grand Teton National Park first; separate entrance fees are charged.

Seven-day Passes

Good for entry into Yellowstone National Park for seven days from the date of purchase.

• Private, non-commercial vehicle:  $35
• Motorcycle or snowmobile:  $30
• Individual (by foot, bicycle, ski, etc.):  $20/person

Annual Pass

Annual pass providing free entrance into Yellowstone National Park for one year (valid through the month of purchase). On a snowmobile, this pass admits the signer(s). When traveling by snowcoach or shuttle, this pass admits a signer and up to three additional persons (16 and older) for a total of four people.

• Yellowstone National Park Annual Pass:  $70.00

Park Entrances

There are five different entrances into Yellowstone National Park, and each have their advantages depending on where you’re going from the entrance. The five entrances are the North Entrance, Northeast Entrance, East Entrance, South Entrance and West Entrance.

• The North Entrance is the only year-round entrance, so it’s open even during off seasons. To get to the North Entrance, travel to the park via US 89. This is a popular entrance for anyone coming to the park from the Pacific Northwest. The North Entrance will take you to Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the must see attractions of the park. From Mammoth Hot Springs, you can travel to Lamar Valley.
• The Northeast Entrance goes directly to Lamar Valley, and is the best way to experience the valley. This entrance is closed during the winter due to heavy snow. It’s a good path to use when travelling from northeast Montana. The closest towns to the entrance are Cooke City and Silver Gate, but before then is Beartooth Pass. This section of highway gives a great overlook onto the park, and has beautiful views.
• The East Entrance leads straight to Yellowstone Lake, a massive body of beautiful blue waters. To the north of the lake is also the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which is a must visit destination for sightseers. Using the East Entrance will take you through the town of Cody, Wyoming, which was founded by Buffalo Bill himself.
• The South Entrance , which runs up from Jackson, Wyoming, will take you to two different national parks . You can stop by the Grand Tetons National Park using this entrance, as well as go into Yellowstone. This road is the easiest entrance to access, and will take you into the heart of the park where many geothermal wonders can be visited. 
• Finally, the West Entrance is the last entrance into Yellowstone. This will take you into geyser paradise, and is a great entrance if you’re most interested in the geysers. This route uses US 20, and passes through the bustling town of West Yellowstone, which is a great stop for food and shopping. The West Entrance is generally the busiest entrance, due to the large number of visitors coming to see the geysers specifically.

Top Things to Do & See in Yellowstone

There are a few things inside Yellowstone National Park that cannot be missed. If you only have a day or two in the park, these are the things that you have to take the time to see.

»Check out these 10 Top Things to See in Yellowstone National Park for more park information.

Old Faithful Geyser

Old Faithful is probably the most famous geyser in the world, and it’s a large part of what draws people to Yellowstone. This geyser erupts every hour to two hours, this predictable eruption cycle is how it was named Old Faithful.

This is the most popular attraction inside the park, so if you’re visiting midday you can expect a crowd. Check the eruption times online on the National Parks Service’s geyser activity schedule , and make sure to show up to the geyser 15-30 minutes before the eruption to get a good view.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs, located near the park’s North Entrance, is a giant terrace hot spring that spans miles. Winding paths of boardwalks and bridges will take you through this wondrous and colorful landscape.

The Mammoth Hot Springs is actually made of a hydrothermal feature called a travertine terrace. This is created when hot water filters up through limestone carrying travertine, then when it reaches the surface carbon dioxide leaves the mixture and the substance cools into a layer of rock. The colorful strips that can be found on the terraces of these hot springs are thermophiles or heat-loving organisms.

Upper Geyser Basin

The Upper Geyser Basin is the geyser basin that contains Old Faithful. This is also the densest population of geysers in the world. There are over 1,000 documented features in this basin alone.

This geyser basin includes the Old Faithful Group, Geyser Hill Group, and the Lion Group. All three of these are beautiful loops of boardwalk to move along and see all the different types of geysers the park has to offer.

Midway Geyser Basin

This geyser group is less densely populated with attractions than the Upper Geyser Basin, but is still worth a visit. Located inside this group is the gorgeous Grand Prismatic Spring, a large colorful hot spring with dazzling blue waters. Thermophiles in the area create colorful channels lined by yellow and orange bacterial mats. 

Another geyser in the group is the Excelsior Geyser, a steaming crater containing a vibrant blue pool. Excelsior Geyser did not always look so calm, as it used to be the largest geyser on the planet, before erupting violently and settling into the steaming, boiling pool it is today. 

Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring is located in the Midway Geyser Basin. It’s a large hot spring that garners its name from the rings of brilliant colors that it boasts. 

This is a huge oval pool 370 feet across and 120 feet deep that is surrounded by unusually colorful bands of algae and travertine terraces – the same formations seen on Mammoth Hot Springs. From an aerial view, this pool looks like a giant blue star due to it’s irregularly shaped borders.

The pool steams and bubbles up, forming streams of hot mist that blow in the breeze and sometimes obscure the pool from view. Regardless of this, it adds to the mysterious allure of the spring itself. A half mile boardwalk trail runs part way around the spring, and will also take visitors to the rest of the Midway Geyser Basin’s attractions.

Lamar Valley & Hayden Valley

Lamar Valley, which lies along the Lamar River in the northeast corner of the park, is known as America’s Serengeti due to its easy-to-spot populations of large animals.

With any luck, you’ll be able to see the Junction Butte and Lamar Canyon wolf packs, herds of bison, grizzly bears, bald eagles, and deer, among others. As this is the prime place to spot animals, there are many pullouts along the road, so keep your eyes peeled and pull over if you see any active wildlife.

Hayden Valley is known as bison central. There are often large herds of them milling about. It’s also a good place to spot coyotes, waterfowl, grizzly bears, and wolves.

Hike the Mary Mountain Trail (it’s 21 miles from the Hayden Valley to the Madison area) for a chance to see animals in the wilderness.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a large canyon that follows the Yellowstone River  downstream from Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. This canyon is about 24 miles long and up to 1,200 ft deep. While it’s not as impressive as the Grand Canyon National Park in Nevada, it’s got some really stunning features to see.

The Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River are two of those magnificent features. Along the rims and partway down into the canyon are a number of trails and walks, like Uncle Tom’s Point Trail , that you can take to see these stunning natural and hydrothermal features.

If you don’t want to walk it, you can drive along the North Rim and South Rim Drives. One of the most popular viewpoints is Artist’s Point and from there you can walk to Point Sublime (3 miles roundtrip).

• Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. The features in the basin change daily, with frequent disturbances from seismic activity and water fluctuations. The vast majority of the waters at Norris are acidic, including acid geysers which are very rare.

Steamboat Geyser, the tallest geyser in the world at 300–400 feet, and Echinus Geyser are the most popular features.

Artists Paint Pots

Gibbon Geyser Basin is where you’ll find the Artist’s Paint Pots, one of several collections of thermal features in the basin. Although this basin is the same size as Norris basin, it’s not as popular and is less mentioned, except for this unique feature that resembles the pots of paint on an artists board.

Artist’s Paint Pots is a group of over 50 springs, geysers, vents and mud pots in varying shades of blue, grey and brown, with a range of different textures.

Artists’ Paintpots Trail is located on the west side of Yellowstone National Park, 3.7 miles south of Norris Geyser Basin (home to the tallest geyser in the world). On the 1.1 miles of the loop you pass mudpots, hot springs, and mesmerizing milky blue pools in this hydrothermal area.

Preparing Your Yellowstone Itinerary

While at Yellowstone, be sure to leave time for travelling. The park spans over 3,000 miles of wilderness, so depending on your schedule there can be a good amount of driving involved. The top speed at all times inside the park is 45 mph due to the high amount of wildlife that is killed each year in driving accidents. Pay attention to wildlife around you, and make sure that you don’t disrupt the natural order while inside the park.

Let there be leeway in your schedule when driving. Even estimated driving times can be thrown off if wildlife is in the road. This isn’t a bad thing, as many times you’ll be able to see the animals you’ve been hoping to spot – whether that’s bears, bison, moose, etc. – but it will stop traffic and can make travel times unpredictable. 

How to Spend 1-5 Days in Yellowstone National Park

A great way to start a Yellowstone adventure is with its famous geysers, hotsprings, and paint pots. These geothermal wonders are gorgeous, and unique to the area, so it’s always top on the list.

Below is an itinerary plan for 1 to 5 days in the park. If you only have one day to spend, you can hit up only the main stops that you really want to see, but do keep in mind the distances between sights. It won’t be possible to make it to everything in one day.

Day 1 – Geysers

• Gibbon Geyser Basin & Artists Paint Pots Trail
• Midway Geyser Basin and the Grand Prismatic Springs
• Old Faithful – it erupts every 35 to 120 minutes
• Dinner at the Old Faithful Inn (must make reservations well in advance)

Day 2 – The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

• Lamar Valley – go as early as possible to get the best view of wildlife with fewer crowds
• Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces
• Hayden Valley – take the scenic drive that traverses Grand Loop Road south between Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake.

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time on roads that could be congested with animals and stopped traffic, plan to spend the entire day on these 3 activities. Get out early to avoid crowds and plan to be out of Hayden Valley by dusk, for safety.

Day 3 – The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

• North Rim Drive – This one-way road takes you to four accessible views of the canyon.
• South Rim Drive – Leads you to views of Upper Falls at Uncle Tom’s Point and of Lower Falls and the canyon at Artist Point.
• Hike from Artist Point to Point Sublime (3 miles round trip)
• Hike the Uncle Tom Point Trail – the newer trail has 328 steps and goes 3/4 of the way down the side of the canyon to a viewing platform downriver from Lower Falls.

Day 4 – More Geysers

Explore the Upper Geyser Basin Area

• Old Faithful Geyser, Riverside Geyser, Castle Geyser, Daisy Geyser, Grand Geyser, Geyser Hill, Morning Glory, Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin

Most of these geysers are within easy walking distance of each other. You can start at the Old Faithful visitor center and walk the boardwalks to visit most of them. Then get off the beaten path to seek out the other.

The trails are easy to navigate and are mostly accessible and easy to walk for everyone. You should plan to spend most of the day on this activity.

Day 5 – Water Activities

You might not think of Yellowstone as a water sports destination, but there are actually quite a few water activities to do in and around Yellowstone. So we suggest you take at least one day and participate in some of these things.

• Rafting – Class III-IV rapids on the Gallatin, Yellowstone, Green, and Snake rivers.
• Inner tubing
• Soaking in hot springs
• Taking a boat cruise
• Kayaking on Yellowstone Lake
• Swimming in the rivers and pools

Yellowstone Safety Precautions

If you do encounter wildlife on the road, do not leave your car. For the safety of the animals, and for your own safety you should stay in your vehicle and take pictures out of closed windows- regardless of what other people around you might be doing.

While hiking in Yellowstone, make sure that you’re wearing proper hiking shoes. Carry bear spray with you just in case. It is not safe to hike without bear spray. If you encounter any wildlife in the area, slowly backtrack down the trail.

The many hydrothermal wonders inside the park look beautiful, and some are tempted to take a soak, leave the trails/boardwalks or touch the waters. There are several reasons this is not a good idea. 

First off, it’s illegal. You’d also be disturbing an ecosystem that the entire nation has been trying to preserve for so many decades. The microbial life inside many of the park’s features are fragile, and can be completely decimated in mere minutes. 

The water also may be scorching hot, or in some cases very acidic, and can cause bodily harm. To avoid burning or otherwise hurting yourself keep your hands away from the waters. Please be responsible while in the park, and follow safety guidelines laid out by park rangers and signs.

Where to Stay in and Near Yellowstone National Park

For campground and lodging reservations, it’s best to plan ahead. You can contact the Yellowstone National Park Lodges to inquire about availability. Reservations aren’t necessary to enter the park, but staying overnight in the lodges and campgrounds does. These areas tend to fill up months in advance, so this should be number one in priority of planning your trip.

There are several campgrounds inside the park, ranging from tent camping to RV camping. One of the biggest campgrounds RV is Fishing Bridge, it’s located close to Yellowstone Lake. The RV camping in Yellowstone has specific requirements involving the length of the RVs or camp trailers, so make sure to take measurements and check with your campground to make sure that your RV will fit.

The best tent campground is the Bridge Bay Campground. It’s only open during the summer months, so if you’re planning to stay during the fall, spring, or winter this won’t work for you. It has large spaces, allows for fire pits, and has staff available 24/7 to help out around the camp. This campground is by reservation only, so don’t expect to walk in without a reservation.

If camping isn’t your style, there’s lots of hotels in the area. Staying at the Yellowstone Lodge in West Yellowstone, Montana, is a great way to minimize driving times while staying in comfort. The lodge is mere blocks from the West Entrance, and will allow for easy commutes into the park.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel, and the Canyon Lodge and Cabins are both wonderful hotels located inside of Yellowstone National Park. This can make your stay easier, especially if you’re visiting during off-seasons when the majority of campgrounds in the park are closed off. There are many other hotels throughout the park, each with advantages depending on which entrance of the park you’re using and what places you want to visit during your stay.

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Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.

2 thoughts on “ Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Itinerary & Guide (1-5 Days) ”

Hey Laura, I shared this with my traveling buddies. I loved it so much and in the future when I plan to visit Yellowstone, surely gonna follow the itinerary you provide.

Glad to hear that, Sneha.

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Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Spend 1-4 Days For First Time Visitors

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Are you planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park? If so you have come to the right place. Here we share our ideal Yellowstone itinerary for one to four days. From visiting bubbling mud pots to spewing geysers and wildlife galore you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip. 

For most families time is limited, but given how much there is to do and see in  Yellowstone, I highly recommend staying for as long as you can to really get off the beaten path a bit to experience more than the top tourist spots. Since we know people are limited in their time, we have given our guide for a 1 to 4 day trip with tips on how to expand it or even cut it shorter if needed.

Jump to a Heading Below

Background of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was the very first national park in the United States and is located in 3 US states – Montana, Wyoming and a sliver of Idaho.  Yellowstone covers a lot of ground with over 2 million acres of land filled with lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. The park is also home to the Yellowstone Caldera which is reportedly over 600,000 years old and is the source of the more than 10,000 hydrothermal features found within the park. 

Apart from these stunning geologic features, one of the biggest draws to the park is the amazing array of wildlife found here from grizzly bears, wolves, black bears, bison, bald eagles, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and more.

Most visitors find their way to the park during the summer months, however parts of Yellowstone are open year round, even offering adventurous winter activities. That said, the ideal time to visit is during the spring to fall seasons when the temperatures are moderate and most of the facilities are open. 

Check out my Instagram Highlight on Yellowstone with more videos and photos from our most recent visit to the park.

Important Information for Planning Your Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Don’t Underestimate the Distances (and Traffic)

Driving around Yellowstone National Park can take a LOT longer than you think during peak summer months or even during the shoulder seasons as it is always busy. The roads are all two lanes which can backup quickly, not to mention they often also have wildlife sharing the road which can make travel even slower. 

If you come across a herd of bison crossing the roadway you can be delayed for hours, literally! Between visitors taking photos of these majestic animals and drivers worried about encroaching on their space, you might be stuck for a while waiting for park rangers to clear the herds off the road. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you are trying to get somewhere by a specific time.

Apart from the traffic tie ups, you can also anticipate that many of the parking lots will be full upon your arrival. This can mean waiting for parking or circling over and over. Be prepared for this in summer especially and even during the fall. 

How To Avoid Crowds

One of the best ways to avoid crowds is to have an early start and visit the most popular sites early in the day. We found that visiting the geyser area first thing in the morning was the best option as there were fewer people there at that time and the tour buses from outside the park had not yet arrived. By 11 a.m. however it was packed and much less enjoyable. 

During the height of the crowds, explore the less often used trails or plan on doing your driving tours at other areas of the park. If you are physically able, go for a hike. I read that 80% of visitors don’t hike any while at the park. Getting out on the trails offers opportunities to see wildlife (we saw beavers and deer quietly eating!), see the park through a new lense and find solitude.

How Much Time Do You Need in Yellowstone National Park?

If you only have 1 or 2 days as part of your Montana road trip to spend inside the park, you can see the main tourist hot spots relatively quickly if you stay close to where you want to visit. 

During our visit we spent 4 full days exploring the park which gave us plenty of time to see all the hot spots, visit during early morning hours for animal sightings and time to hike around. 

Best Time of Year To Visit Yellowstone with Kids

Honestly anytime is a great time to visit Yellowstone, but ideally the shoulder seasons of late spring and early fall when the crowds have not yet arrived or already left and the weather is moderate. If you must make a summer visit, plan on June as July and August are quite busy.  That said, post COVID we have found that park is quite busy even well into October when many of the sights in neighboring areas are closing down.

Winter is also a fun time to visit even though only a small section of the park is operating. For the winter months, we highly recommend booking a tour to get the most out of your visit. 

Yellowstone Entrance Fees

At writing, entrance fees for Yellowstone National Park is $35 for one private vehicle for a 7 day visit. If you plan to visit any other national parks on your trip, we highly recommend getting the annual America the Beautiful Pass for $80. It is well worth the money! During our last visit we were in Yellowstone for 4 days before driving to Grand Tetons. On our way back to Montana, we had time to stop into Yellowstone again. Had we not had our pass, we would have had to pay another $35! And let’s be honest, you are supporting the National Parks, so why not just upgrade to the year pass!

Accommodation In & Around Yellowstone

For those planning well in advance (or lucky) there are 9 places to stay inside Yellowstone. These lodges sell out almost immediately when they open 6 months in advance. You can also try your luck calling as it gets closer for any cancellations. Below are the lodges within the park to consider:

Canyon Lodge and Cabins: 400+ guest rooms in 5 hotel-style lodges, with an additional 100+ rustic cabins

Grant Village Lodge: 300 guest rooms spread across 6 two-story, hotel-style lodges.

Lake Hotel and Cabins : Large lodge that has hotel rooms and cabins

Old Faithful Inn: Rustic lodge with hotel room-style accommodations right in the middle of the action.

Lake Lodge Cabins: 186 cabins

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins: Large lodge that has hotel rooms and cabin accommodations in the northern area of the park

Old Faithful Lodge: Cabins

Old Faithful Snow Lodge: Large lodge that has hotel rooms and cabins

Roosevelt Lodge: Cabin

If you prefer camping, Yellowstone National Park has 12 campgrounds with over 2,000 established campsites inside the park. Much like the hotels, campsites sell out insanely fast, so you will need to book at least 6 months in advance or be lucky enough to snag a cancellation.

As it is insanely difficult to grab a room inside the park, many visitors stay outside of the park. We have always stayed outside of the park and while it does make for longer days and more driving, it is also has the added benefit of more meal options, cooking at home and other activities to do outside of the park. 

Accomodation Outside of Yellowstone 

If you could not snag a place to stay within the park, don’t fret as many visitors stay outside of the park. One of the most popular areas to stay is in West Yellowstone which is probably the closest to the majority of the popular tourist attractions. However we have stayed in the town of Red Lodge which was a great spot to explore the Lamar Valley from.

Another great spot to consider staying in is near the north entrance in Gardiner. This was a great spot for a family visit in that we could visit the hot springs in the evening as well as have easy access to all the areas in the northern parts of Yellowstone. Some people even consider staying as far as Bozeman as there is ample things to do and places to eat, but I don’t recommend that unless you have to!

TIP: Use the map below to find the best deals for your stay. Enter your dates and which area of the park you would like to stay – you can see both the Western and Northern entrances as well as Cody, WY on the other side of the park.

The Best Yellowstone Itinerary with Kids

Planning a trip to Yellowstone with kids can be daunting. The park is massive and there are so many things to do and see that its difficult to fit it all in.  If you aren’t quite ready for the details of your Yellowstone itinerary planning, head over to our post on things you must AVOID when planning a Yellowstone trip . Otherwise, if you are ready for the nitty gritty of itinerary planning, read on. 

This Yellowstone itinerary is intended to give you an overview of some of the most majestic sites of Yellowstone, taking in the major sites like hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles with a few lesser visited sites thrown in too. While it includes many sites for the first few days, you can easily spread these out over your visit, adding in more hikes and off the beaten path places to catch your breath.

Note: This itinerary assumes you are staying near the North entrance of Yellowstone. Adjust the days and contents of each day based on where you are staying. No matter how you cut it, you will backtrack and traverse these roads many times!

Day 1 on Your Yellowstone Itinerary

For your first day in Yellowstone, we recommend driving one part of the main scenic 8 loop hitting some of the most scenic attractions. Exactly where you begin your itinerary planning will depend on where you are staying. Feel free to adjust the specifics of each day to fit into your accommodation location and schedule. 

For those staying in the North of Yellowstone like we did, your first stop will probably be to the Mammoth Hot Springs area. If you can resist, wait until later in the day on your way back as the colors are more vibrant in the later part of the day and it’s typically never that difficult to find parking unlike in other areas of the park.

Instead, you will venture further afield out to the Lamar Valley for wildlife viewing. 

Early Morning in Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is the place to go if you hope to spot wildlife. This is the place to try your luck at seeing the parks infamous wolves which were reintroduced to the park in 1995, as well as the myriad of other animals that call this area home. One of the best places to do this is at Slough Creek Campground. You will not be alone out here even arriving before the sun rises! For the best chances to see the wolves, befriend people with strong scopes set out or consider taking a wildlife spotting tour . 

Driving through the Lamar Valley you will have the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife like badgers, grizzly bears, pronghorns, bighorn sheep and coyotes. Keep your eyes peeled.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone to Canyon Village Visitor Center

After your early morning in Lamar Valley, you will need to backtrack a bit to the turn off towards the Canyon Village Visitor Center. At this point you can turn off towards the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and begin stopping off at the various viewpoints. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the park. Artist Point is one of the most popular spots to see the river running through the deep canyon below.

I have to say that even visiting this area twice, I still enjoy seeing the various angles and views from each stop point. It does get annoying hopping in/out of the car, so at some points it’s worth it to park and walk to a few viewpoints and then head back to the car to continue on further.

Depending which way you go or end up, make sure to take time in the Canyon Village Visitor Center and consider grabbing lunch, ice cream or a snack here. 

Norris Geyser Basin & Museum

Top sights to see here include the Porcelain Basin and the Back Basin. You can easily access these through a mile boardwalk that connects the main areas. There are many areas here that do not have handrails where small children could easily fall in, so do take extreme care here. 

Follow the boardwalk to the Back Basin where you will find your way to Steamboat Geyser which is the tallest geyser in the world at 300-400 feet. This is a nice area to really stretch your legs and see quite a bit at the same time. 

• Mammoth Hot Springs

Depending on where you are staying, you could either head back to your hotel now or continue up to Mammoth Hot Springs if you are staying in that area. Since we last stayed in the Gardiner area, we always ended each day with a visit to Mammoth Hot Springs. 

This area is filled with beautiful shades of cream and white travertine terraces that are stunning. Boardwalks with plenty of stairs, wind through the terraces providing various viewpoints of the different terraces. There tend to be quite a few elk hanging around this area as well, which is a delight for visitors.  You can split the area up between the Upper Terraces parking area one day and the Lower Terraces on another day. 

Looking to Get Out of your Car?

If you are looking for ways to get out of your car and get out to see the scenery up close, consider the Beaver Ponds Trail . This trail is a loop starting and ending around the Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center area. Download the map on AllTrails before you start so you can find the trailhead. We absolutely loved this trail. It was so beautiful, had very few people on it and we saw beavers!

TOP TIP: If you are staying in this area or are looking for something different, head up to the Yellowstone Hot Springs which is a great way to end the day soaking in amazing hot pools with a splash of cold water too! 

Day 2 on Your Yellowstone Itinerary

If you day has gone on much longer than you planned, grab some food here at the Old Faithful Inn or grab a bench to eat your packed lunch before heading on to your next destination.

For those with limited time in the park, we recommend heading to the Grand Prismatic Spring area. We prefer seeing the spring from the overhead on the Fairy Falls Hike trail rather than just viewing from the boardwalk, but either (or both!) will be amazing to see in person. 

• Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin

The best places to view the eruption is from the main boardwalk viewing area, within the Old Faithful Inn or our favorite, hike up to the Observation Point (.6 miles uphill).

If you have hiked up to the Observation area, you can take the trail down the way you came up or you can continue further afield to see other geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin . This area consists of a network of paths and boardwalks taking you to some of the coolest and most interesting hydrothermal features in the park.  

One of our favorites was the one below. 

            View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by Karilyn | Adventure Travel (@nobackhome)

You could easily spend half of the day wandering around this area as there are a ton of really cool, unique hydrothermal features to be seen. For those with the time, consider walking out further on the boardwalks to some of the less visited geysers that erupt at longer intervals. It’s quite exciting to wait a while for one and then to see if finally start erupting. 

Grand Prismatic Spring & Fairy Falls Hike

The hike to the Observation Point is around .6 miles one way and fairy easy. Many visitors combine this excursion with a hike on the 5.4 mile Fairy Falls Trail that goes along the same path but takes you through trees to the impressive falls. The entire hike takes about 3 hours.

If you’re not up for the full hike, just do the 1.2 mile round trip part of the trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. Otherwise you can also visit the spring from the boardwalk a bit further up the road. Be prepared for a wait at the parking area as its often quite full. 

For those that are interested in testing the water temperatures, consider purchasing this temperature gun before your visit. My son LOVED having this to find out the various temperatures of the different pools of water. 

Biscuit Basin

If you still have time on your day and want to see more geothermal features, head to Biscuit Basin. This short loop on a boardwalk passes stunning springs that are particularly beautiful. We loved learning about the tiny heat loving organisms called thermophiles that live in the waters and create the various colors.

Firehole River

Fountain Paint Pot

As you are finishing up your day, if you still have some energy left and aren’t overdosing on hydrothermal features, head to the Fountain Paint Pot area. Here you can see an overview of the geothermal features of the park as all the types are contained in this small area.

VISITORS WITH ONLY 1 DAY IN YELLOWSTONE

If you are limited on time, we recommend hitting the top spots like Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. Once you have had your fill of this area, head to the Grand Prismatic Spring . If all you see in Yellowstone are these 3 areas, you will have seen some of the most recognizable sites. While in the Upper Geyser Basin, explore all along the various walkways to really take in the various types of geysers and fumaroles here. 

Day 3 of Your Yellowstone Itinerary

If you have managed to actually fit in all the suggestions on days 1 and 2 of the itinerary, days 3 and 4 can be a bit more relaxed, taking in spots you missed or want to spend more time at. If you know that you have 4 days, try to mix up the days with a hike or two so that you are not overwhelmed with hydrothermal features or feel like you are just hopping in/out of the car all day. 

Early Morning at Hayden Valley

If you would like more opportunities for wildlife viewing, you can take another early morning adventure, but this time out to Hayden Valley. My son dreams of being a wildlife photographer, so we couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Just like in the Lamar Valley for the best views you will need to arrive well before sunrise to set up your spot. Ask around at the ranger stations on your previous day to find out what animals have been seen in this area lately and where exactly you should aim to be. 

Mud Volcano 

After finishing up in the Hayden Valley, head over to the Mud Volcano area for some cool explorations.  This boardwalk is just over half a mile long, however the features presented here are quite interesting! Look for the Churning Cauldron and Black Dragon’s Cauldron as you wander through the various mud pots and hot springs. 

Fishing Bridge & Yellowstone Lake

Continuing on down the road, your next stop will be at Fishing Bridge and Yellowstone Lake. We love this area as it allows you to get out of the car for a hike and time to check out the beautiful lake. Pelican Valley Trail is a great one to explore if you haven’t seen grizzly bears yet and want to chance your luck at sseeing one! This trail can take 3-4 hours. Note this trail can be closed at times if the bear activity is too heavy. 

If you aren’t keen on stumbling over a bear while hiking, head to the Pelican Creek Nature Trail that runs alongside Yellowstone Lake and offers great opportunities to spot birds and see the diverse ecosystems here. 

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Moving on from the Lake, you will head down to the West Thumb Geyser Basin area which is much less frequented than many of the other geothermal areas. Again you will find yourself on a boardwalk that takes you to stunning blue hot springs. Once you have pottered around here, you can start your long drive back to your accommodation. 

Lone Star Geyser & Trail

If you still have energy and there is daylight left, consider the hike to Lone Star Geyser. This is a partially paved trail that utilizes an old service road next to the Firehole River. This 4.8 mile in/out trail takes you to the Lone Star Geyser that erupts approximately every 3 hours. You can check at the trailhead to see if someone has noted down the last time it erupted to know if you will make it or not! This geyser can go up to 45 feet in the air which is a sight to see. The trailhead is located at the Kepler Cascades Parking lot.

Day 4 of Your Yellowstone Itinerary

Today is reserved for all the things you didn’t have time to do on the other days of your trip or to spread the other sights out more. One of the things we recommend the most today is to take time to stop at all the spots between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Geyser Basin area. There are some great spots to check out along the way that you would have passed up each day! 

Scenic Drive Between Mammoth Hot Springs to Norris Geyser Basin

Black Sand Basin

This short .5 mile loop boardwalk takes visitors through several active geothermal areas such as the Cliff Geyser, Rainbow Pool and Emerald Pool.

Roaring Mountain

Continuing on from Black Sand Basin is a quick stop at Roaring Mountain. This mountain was named for the numerous fumaroles on the western slope of the peak. This is a quick stop and if you are lucky there might be a tour group here that you can listen on with! 

Sheepeater Cliff

Roosevelt Arch

If you aren’t staying in the northern entrance area of the park, it might be worth your time to venture up to this area just to see the Roosevelt Arch. This was constructed by the Army and one of the cornerstones was laid by Theodore Roosevelt himself in 1903. It’s a great photo opp for sure. 

Soak in the Boiling River (or hot springs)

After your day exploring, make some time to head over to the Boiling River swimming area. While this area isn’t alway open, if it is, it is a fun way to spend some time. Here you can enter a part of the river where thermal hot springs warm the river. IT can get hot and the current can be fast, so take caution.

Or if you rather, head up north of Gardiner to Yellowstone Hot Springs which is an amazing way to spend a few hours. There are shallow and deep hot spring pools as well as cold water pools to cool off in. All outdoors, this makes a great way to end your trip.

Limited time in Yellowstone?

If you have limited time in Yellowstone with kids, we would suggest the following Yellowstone itinerary options.

One day in  Yellowstone:

• Grand Prismatic Spring hike (1.2 miles) and Boardwalk view

With Two Days in Yellowstone National Park, I would add the following:

• Lamar Valley
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Norris Geyser Basin

If you have two days in Yellowstone available to you, I would focus on the first two days of this itinerary. Alternatively, if you would like to include more sites in those two days, I would add on Mud Volcano and at least one small hike.

Even More Time for Yellowstone?

If you have even more time to spend in Yellowstone with kids, I would take longer each day at the sights we mentioned and spread out the visits to everything here. You could also add in a hike each day. Even though these aren’t mentioned much on itineraries there are some great hikes inside and out of the park!

You could spend weeks exploring Yellowstone. It’s such a stunning and diverse National Park. I hope these suggestions for one day in Yellowstone, two days in Yellowstone, 3 days in Yellowstone, and 4 days in Yellowstone give you some great options for how to structure your visit.

Planning to visit Bozeman? Find out the best things to do in and around Bozeman

Looking for an off the beaten path Montana experience? Head to Philipsburg Montana for an Old West experience. 

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4 Days in Yellowstone: A Stress-free Guide

Planning for a 4-day Yellowstone itinerary might seem overwhelming considering the park’s vast size. You’ll want to see Yellowstone’s famous geysers and other landscapes on your trip. If you have a well-planned route, you can experience all of the main attractions with four days in Yellowstone. No worries at all.

Yellowstone 4-day itinerary at a glance

Day 1: Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin

Day 2: More Geyser Basins and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Day 3: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Wildlife Viewing

Day 4: Yellowstone Lake and free time

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  See disclaimer .

Know before you go

• Most of Yellowstone’s attractions are along the Grand Loop Road, which forms a figure-8 shape on the map.
• Yellowstone’s hotels and lodges can be booked up to a year ahead for peak travel dates. Book early to ensure you get your preferred room for your travel dates. West Yellowstone and Gardiner are popular places to stay outside the park.
• Weather can be unpredictable and change quickly. Make sure you know what to pack for Yellowstone .
• Weather-related road closures can affect how you tour the park. Make sure you know what roads are open.

Day 1: Old Faithful And The Upper Geyser Basin

Your first day in Yellowstone is going to be all about visiting one of the most iconic geothermal areas in the world. Old Faithful has been drawing people from all over the world for over 150 years. The Upper Geyser Basin , its home, is the largest concentration of geysers in the world.

I recommend that those traveling to Yellowstone download the GuideAlong app and  purchase the Yellowstone audio tour .

Old Faithful

At Old Faithful, you’ll witness one of the most famous and predictable geological features on Earth. This famous geyser erupts every 90 to 100 minutes (plus or minus 10 minutes), so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see it in action.

When you arrive, remember to check the eruption times at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. You can also get a detailed map of the upper Geyser Basin (including Black Sand and Biscuit Basin) so you can plan out how you’re going to explore the area.

Other features of the Upper Geyser Basin

Aside from Old Faithful, the Upper Geyser Basin is FULL of other thermal features. Walking the boardwalks and paved paths, you’ll wind your way through hot springs and more. Don’t miss the Morning Glory Pool .

To discover more than just Old Faithful, read more about what to do at the Upper Geyser Basin .

TIP:  Keep track of all the amazing sites you’re seeing in the park with  this printable Yellowstone National Park bucket list . Or turn your explorations into a game with the printable Yellowstone Scavenger Hunt . On a quest to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks?  Grab your own copy of the  printable national parks tracker  to check off your progress as you visit each park.

Old Faithful Inn

Consider staying at the Old Faithful Inn on your first night, or any day you visit the Upper Geyser Basin. It’s an experience in itself. The original section of the Inn, the ‘old house,’ was built in 1904 and attracts visitors with its beautiful lobby. Aside from the hotel itself, it’s great to be able to see Old Faithful erupt multiple times without the big crowds around.

We had fun experiencing the old rooms with community bathrooms down the hall. By the way, these were sparkling clean, modern, and not crowded at all. 

I’ll have more to say about food in Yellowstone later, but we enjoyed both of our meals in the dining room at the Inn. The meals weren’t cheap, but having dinner and breakfast at the Inn was convenient and we appreciated it.

PRO TIP: If you have flexible travel dates you need to check out Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights). You get amazing flight deals sent straight to your inbox with instructions on how to book directly with the airlines. Check out Going here. Going is my favorite way to find great travel deals. 

Day 2: More Geyser Basins And The Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone

On your second day in Yellowstone, you’ll explore more geothermal areas and also visit the remarkable Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Midway Geyser Basin

After you leave the Old Faithful Inn, head toward Midway Geyser Basin . Now would be a good time to see Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin if you didn’t explore those areas yesterday. The Midway Geyser Basin is home to the stunning Grand Prismatic Spring . 

If you visit early on a cold morning, the spring will likely be covered in thick haze and you won’t be able to see much. If seeing Grand Prismatic Spring is important to you, plan to visit later in the day, once things have warmed up.

Lower Geyser Basin

Moving on to the Lower Geyser Basin, don’t miss the Fountain Paint Pot , which showcases bubbling mud. You can also check out the scenic  Firehole Lake Drive .

There are a few other quieter spots along this stretch of the Grand Loop Road worth visiting if time allows.

• Firehole Canyon Drive
• Gibbon Falls
• Beryl Spring

Discover more hidden gems in Yellowstone .

Artists’ Paintpots

Although the hike here is short, I wouldn’t call it easy. But you’ll be rewarded with picturesque views of the vibrant geothermal features.

Optional: After Artists’ Paintpots, you could visit Norris Geyser Basin before heading to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you’ve seen enough geothermal areas for the day, I recommend you save Norris Geyser Basin for day three.

Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone

In the afternoon, visit the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you’re primarily interested in photography, early morning and later in the day will likely provide you with the best light.

The Upper and Lower Falls can be seen from various lookouts along the South Rim and North Rim. For complete details on each stop along this scenic drive, refer to my detailed driving guide for the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone .

Canyon Lodge

Consider staying at Canyon Lodge for the rest of your trip. Canyon Lodge’s central location in the park makes it convenient to visit the other sites on this itinerary. There are convenient food options in Canyon Village along with a general store and a gas and service station.

Day three is packed with more thermal sites and the famous wildlife of Yellowstone.

Wildlife viewing

Yellowstone is famous for its wildlife viewing opportunities. Start and/or end your day today at either the Lamar Valley or Hayden Valley to see some amazing wildlife. Ideally, you’ll make room in your Yellowstone itinerary to explore both of these areas at dawn or dusk.

If you’re staying at Canyon Lodge, visit Lamar Valley today. On day four’s evening, go to Hayden Valley so you have a short drive back to your hotel to pack before leaving.

Norris Geyser Basin

Do not miss Norris Geyser Basin. This place is my favorite…or maybe it’s a close second to the Upper Geyser Basin . If it’s open, make sure to visit the Norris Geyser Basin Museum.

Norris is pretty large. It’s okay to focus just on Porcelain Basin if you’re short on time. To fully experience the area, visit Back Basin as well. Back Basin’s features, which are more spread out and isolated than those in Porcelain Basin, include Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Next, it’s time for Mammoth Hot Springs. The terraced pools are unlike anything else in the park. Explore the Lower Terrace using the raised boardwalks. The Upper Terrace is accessible by a scenic drive. The 1-mile Upper Terrace Drive was closed during our visit so we walked it. 

Head out to the park’s North Entrance to see the famous stone arch that was dedicated by Teddy Roosevelt . We also took the opportunity to fill our tank with gas in Gardiner. And the drive from Mammoth to Gardiner is lovely.

Day 4: Lake Yellowstone

On your last day in Yellowstone, you might want to relax a bit. We’re going to focus on the Yellowstone Lake area and then maybe do a little more wildlife viewing to end the trip.

Canyon Village to West Thumb

Spend some time exploring sites along the route from Canyon Village to West Thumb. This area is full of lesser-known Yellowstone gems like Sulphur Caldron, Mud Volcano, and LeHardys Rapids. And enjoy a lovely drive along the shore of Yellowstone Lake.

Start your day exploring West Thumb Geyser Basin . This area is unique because of the hot springs and geysers alongside the lake shoreline. 

Open afternoon to do whatever you’d like

Today is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a scenic picnic for lunch. Then spend your afternoon exploring the area at a leisurely pace. Enjoy a hike, grab a coffee at the Lake Hotel, drive down to Grant Village, and more.

You can also visit places along the Grand Loop Road, starting at Lake Village and heading to the East Entrance. This area includes spots like Fishing Bridge, Indian Pond, Lake Butte Overlook, Sylvan Lake, and more.

Dinner at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room

End your day and your visit with dinner at the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room, which has some great lake views. This is a chance to treat yourself. Enjoy it. Keep in mind that reservations are required.

Yellowstone 4-day itinerary map

To save this map in Google Maps , click or tap the star next to the map name. To access it later, open the Google Maps app, tap ‘Saved,’ then select ‘Maps.’

To see all map features like stops and routes, click the ‘extend sidebar’ icon at the top left of the map. In the sidebar, you have the option to turn each map layer on or off. For more information about each spot on the map, click on the colored pin.

How to customize this itinerary

You can easily visit Grand Teton National Park just before or after Yellowstone, as this itinerary was designed for either. This means entering or leaving Yellowstone by way of the South Entrance.

The South Entrance is closed every year from early November to mid-May. Only the road from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance is open year-round.

Your 4-day Yellowstone trip can be easily customized to fit your interests and pace.

• Start by prioritizing what you’d love to see most—geysers, wildlife, scenic drives, hikes, etc.
• Review the map (above) and consider where you’re staying and its distance from the sites you want to see.
• Group nearby sites together to minimize driving.
• Remember that weather can close roads , which limits access to some park areas. For example, the road linking Canyon Village and Tower Fall, which is the quickest way from Canyon Lodge to Lamar Valley, is closed from mid-October to late May.

Best time of year to visit

The park’s high season runs from June to August , with warm weather and access to all services, roads, and trails. July and August are also when the majority of the park’s guests visit.

The shoulder seasons, May to early June and September , offer a good balance of fewer visitors and mild weather. But also be ready for snow in May and early fall. In reality, snow can fall at any time in the park, so it’s best to always be prepared for it.

Wildlife viewing is excellent in the spring when animals are active and there are animal babies. The park typically opens all roads by late May. Check which park entrances, lodgings, services, and roads are open before planning your trip.

Things to know before you visit Yellowstone

Park entrances.

Yellowstone National Park has five main entrances: North, Northeast, East, South, and West. Check entrance statuses and road conditions before you arrive.

Entrance fee

You’ll need to pay an entrance fee to access Yellowstone. The pass is $35 per vehicle and is good for seven days. If you’re planning to visit other national parks within a year, consider getting an annual pass. Consider buying your pass ahead of time. You can also pay as you enter.

There are many places to eat in Yellowstone , from quick meals at the Canyon Lodge Eatery to more upscale dining at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel dining room. A quick tip: these eateries get very busy in summer, often resulting in long lines. In addition, the food quality can be hit or miss.

For convenience, pack plenty of food. Load up on snacks, sandwiches, and your favorite picnic items. This way, you avoid crowds and enjoy a picnic meal with great views. It doesn’t get much better than that.

What to pack

The weather in Yellowstone can be unpredictable, so packing layers is key. See my article about what to pack for Yellowstone for my complete advice on this subject.

See more essential tips for visiting Yellowstone National Park .

Combine your Yellowstone trip with a visit to Grand Teton

When you’re planning your Yellowstone adventure, consider adding a visit to Grand Teton National Park. Just a short drive south of Yellowstone, Grand Teton offers a distinct contrast with its stunning mountain scenery and beautiful lakes. I recommend visiting Grand Teton for two full days .

Get the itinerary for 7 days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park .

To learn more about how the two parks compare and contrast, see Grand Teton National Park vs Yellowstone .

More about Grand Teton National Park

• Grand Teton tips
• Driving the Grand Teton scenic loop
• Best photography spots in Grand Teton
• How to spend one day in Grand Teton National Park

Articles to help you plan your Yellowstone trip

• Tips for visiting Yellowstone National Park
• How to pack for a spring Yellowstone trip
• How to see the Upper Geyser Basin
• National park tourist mistakes to avoid
• Discover hidden gems in Yellowstone
• What to do at West Thumb Geyser Basin
• How to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Guide to Hayden Valley wildlife viewing

Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .

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Yellowstone Itinerary: Plan for 1 to 5 Days

By Helene Sula

Are you ready for the perfect 1 to 5 day Yellowstone National Park itinerary?! Planning a trip to Yellowstone can feel overwhelming, so this guide, complete with maps and itineraries for one day, two days, and more will help you plan your trip. Whether you want to cram everything to do in Yellowstone in one day, see all of the Yellowstone highlights in two days, or want to spread out your time with hikes and all the sites in three, four, or five days.

I just spent the best couple of days visiting Yellowstone National Park and being awe-inspired by it’s beauty. Visiting Yellowstone for 2 days is the perfect way to get a healthy dose of this incredible national park, see its unusual wonders, spot the wildlife, and learn more about the natural, but otherworldly, phenomenon. This itinerary will share all the highlights and must-do’s of the park, and give you tips on how to make the most of your time.

Yellowstone is something you MUST go and see. Pictures and videos simply don’t do it justice. 

The national park idea is often referred to as one of America’s greatest contributions. In 1872, conservationists hailed the founding of Yellowstone as a landmark victory. In 1916 Congress treated the national parks service with the purpose of conserving natural scenery and wildlife. With two million acres of land, multiple park entrances, beautiful drives, 500+ geyser basins to visit, and a multitude of wildlife, you’ll see there is tons to do in Yellowstone.

Recommended Itinerary at Yellowstone

Overview of yellowstone, one day in yellowstone – southern loop , two days in yellow stone – add the northern loop and see the wildlife, three days in yellowstone, four days in yellowstone, five days in yellowstone, daily yellowstone itineraries at a glance , yellowstone tips.

I suggest spending at least two days in Yellowstone to make the most of your time. However, if you need to, you can cram quite a bit in a day. Of course, you can easily stretch your Yellowstone itinerary in a full 5 days. As the world’s first national park, you’ll quickly see that it is quite large with lots to do. But have no fear! This guide will help you plan the perfect trip to Yellowstone.

I recommend that you come to Yellowstone from Jackson or Grand Tetons. This is about a 2-hour drive and you’ll enter the park from the South entrance. There are 5 entrances to Yellowstone, so it’s convenient to enter everywhere. But for our purposes of where we start, the South Entrance is closest to Old Faithful. 

Be sure to, “pack your patience” as it can be busy and crowded. Wildlife jams occur when people stop or slow down to see the animals.

Yellowstone has been designated a U.S. biosphere reserve, a world heritage site, and is one of the largest national parks in the lower 48 states. Yellowstone encompasses 3,472 square miles (2,221,766 acres) which makes it larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Its boundaries protect over 10,000 thermal hot springs and there are hundreds of thermal features.

There’s also an incredible variety of wildlife providing some threatened species a wilderness habit. The earthquake here in 1959 was on the the largest on earth! Yellowstone is still an active volcano, called a volcanic caldera. The caldera formed over the past 3 eruptions that occurred over the past 2.1 million years. This “super volcano” coated the earth for miles with ash. These layers became compressed, or welded, creating a layer of rock now called Huckleberry Ridge tuff. The volcano erupted twice more, and the most recent eruption left a giant crater or caldera in the heart of Yellowstone that is 30 miles wide and 45 miles long. 

Each year, more than 4 million people visit Yellowstone, so being prepared is key! 

If you only have one day in Yellowstone, this day ensures you get to see some highlights! Below is a map sharing the landmarks and stopping places for each. 

When you come in you’ll be handed a map and info about the park, highlights, and any specific info about closings, etc. The Yellowstone Park's website will also have this information too!

This map highlights all the top places you need to see in one day in Yellowstone.

Start with Old Faithful . You can look online to get a rough idea of when the geyser will blow, and faithfully she blows about every 95 minutes. Of course, a trip to Yellowstone isn’t complete without a visit to this geyser. But it can be the most crowded spot. So you want to be one of the first there to avoid crowds. 

There is a gift shop near Old Faithful but my suggestion is to skip it and keep heading on, beating the crowd. We were glad we did as we saw a line form outside the gift shop. 

Next, drive a very short distance to a not very well marked spot,  Black Sand Basin – we almost missed it! Right after Old Faithful, turn left. Black obsidian volcanic glass sand gives us the name. Here you’ll find INCREDIBLE pools. The four types of thermal features are geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. Starting here will give you a good preview of what’s to come. Oranges, greens, and other colors in and around the Hot Springs come from the thermal heat loving microorganisms.

There’s easy to walk board walks nearly every where that will loop you though the sites. 

Next up, is Biscuit Basin . The vibrant pools look as if someone cracked open a giant geode and poured bright blue Dawn dish soap in them. I was mesmerized by the jewel colored blues and greens  At first glance geysers and basins may appear to be stuck in lifeless places, but amazingly, they team with microscopic life year-round. Even the hottest thermal features contain tiny microbes. 

Next, head to Beryl Springs for more hot springs of the Gibbon Geyser Basin streaked with yellow and orange next to the bright blue. 

The über cool Grand Prismatic Spring follows. It’s a hike up to get the view from the overlook (about a mile and a half) but it’s worth it for the superior perspective. Try and observe the rainbow colored steam as you approach as the water vapor reflects the color of the pool!

From here, drive over to the  Artists Paint Pots , one of the coolest features in my opinion. To get here is a one mile trail, containing the hottest hot springs in Yellowstone. These are constantly changing, as the sign reads “the only constant is change.” So my pictures might look different to how it looks today. Also, the consistency changes based on the season. In spring, it’s more muddy since there is plenty of water. But as summer progresses it becomes thicker like stew. Also, be aware of the flying mud!

Don’t just look at the interesting wonders of Yellowstone, make sure to listen, and smell, too. The gurgling and almost heartbeat-like sounds are therapeutic. Although the smells of the sulphur aren't always for the faint of heart!

Towards the end of this very full day, we went to see the Grand Canyon Yellowstone . Make sure to leave time to go to different lookout points for different views. It’s exceptionally lovely. Here, the Yellowstone River plunges 308 feet, for a gorgeous setting.

As you leave the valley, go west towards Hayden Valley and you’ll see grazing bison and maybe even a grizzly bear!

We ended in West Thumb Basin to complete the Southern Loop and saw Sulfur Cauldron as well as the Mud Volcano. Caution, this stuff can be stinky!

You could EASILY push this itinerary into a couple days if you want to take it easy! But we did this in a day and really enjoyed it. To me, you never want to miss anything, so we made sure to see a lot of the highlights the first day.

PRO TIP: Many of the spots today are driving distance. You’ll drive to the attraction then take a short walk around. Each spot will tell you the length of time it takes you to walk around. The signs are also informative and give helpful and interesting information about the park.

If you'd like, and you're particularly short on time or energy, go with a guide! Check out this fully guided Yellowstone itinerary .

If you have two days in Yellowstone, follow the above itinerary, and then add on everything I share below. In my opinion, two days in Yellowstone is the perfect amount to see nearly everything. 

We started our day waking up in West Yellowstone, which is actually in Montana. The park is mostly in Wyoming but a couple sections lie in other states. We drove about 2 hours from here to go to Lamar Valley.  On the way, make sure to check out Roaring Mountain , particularly active in the morning. 

Without question, Lamar Valley is the best place in Yellowstone to see wildlife. Just a short drive around this pretty valley we spotted bison crossing the road, a lone black wolf, a herd of elk, deer, badger, osprey, and chipmunks! The wildlife community in Yellowstone is one of the largest and most diverse on earth.

From here, we’ll continue driving, taking some stops along the way. The Petrified Tree is a quick and easy must see. Then I suggest taking the under a mile loop for the Forces of the Northern Range Trail . This has great information on the area that I didn’t see anywhere else. 

Stop for lunch in a picnic area, alternatively, you can head to Mammoth Hot Springs where you’ll find a busy visitor center and a grill. The line was so long we opted out and had lunch near a river. 

Next are the incredibly cool Mammoth Hot Springs . This is a large complex of Hot Springs billowing hot, steaming water creating layers of white, gray, and orange streaks and pools. This area is vast, you can see just a piece of it, or can spend a couple of hours on the boardwalk exploring.

It was closed when we were there, but you can swim in Boiling River Hot Spring !

We ended day two with the Norris Geyser Basin , a kaleidoscope tie dye basin of raw acidic land and unique pools. Again, it’s up to you how much time to spend here, as this is a large area to walk around. I suggest opting for the Porcelain Springs loop at the very least. The milky color of the mineral deposited here inspired the naming of porcelain basin. 

On the northern loop, there are many waterfalls to see such as Undine Dallas , Wraith Falls , and Tower Falls . So don’t forget to take a look!

I know this was quite a lot of information, so I’ll be breaking down each day, what to add on, as well as tips for the park to make the most of your Yellowstone Itinerary. 

If you'd like your trip planned for you, there's a great, fully guided 2-day Yellowstone tour you can take right here .

If you have extra time in Yellowstone, I definitely suggest adding on a hike. There are so many great hikes in Yellowstone. Some suggestions are Mount Washburn trail which is about 6 miles. There's also Storm Point Hike , or you can take a look at the map and pick an area you want to explore.

You can also spend time at the beautiful Yellowstone Lake. This is a massive lake, so there are many areas to hang out, have a picnic, hike, or enjoy the scenery.

Lastly, you can check out Dunraven Pass , which is near Mount Washburn. This is a scenic drive that is well worth your time!

For four days in Yellowstone, make sure you see all the main highlights I've mapped out for you above. Next, you can add on an activity such as fishing- there are ample areas to do this. You can go with a guided fishing excursion to ensure you catch some fish and enjoy the scenery.

If you want to take your time, you could easily break up my first days of Yellowstone and take it more leisurely, and add in some hikes here and there as you explore the park. As I mentioned, the park is giant. So take time to enjoy some of the activities.

If you have extra time and are not sure where else to go, you can always go to Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole to explore that wonderful and beautiful area of Wyoming. This is a tour of Tetons + Yellowstone here .

Day One – Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, Artist Paint Pots, Gibbon Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring (Midway Geyser Basin), Yellowstone Grand Canyon, West Thumb Basin

Day Two – Lamar Valley, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin. If you have a few more days in Yellowstone, I suggest adding on this for each of the additional days you’ll be there. 

Day Three – Hike Mount Washburn Trail (6 mile loop) or Storm Point Hike, Yellowstone Lake, Dunraven Pass

Day Four – Go fishing (this is a fly fishing paradise and you’ll see people fishing everywhere, particularly in Lamar Valley) or hike Bunsen Peak Trail (4.6 mile loop trail).

Day Five – Go on a hike – there are over 1,000 miles of trails in Yellowstone. Today I suggest the Elephant Back Mountain trail which is 3.5 miles. Alternatively, go to Grand Tetons and explore Jackson Hole with this extra day!

How to avoid crowds – get there EARLY, or even during the evening. The busiest time is from about 12 – 3pm. The best days to go are durning the week, preferably Tuesday-Thursday. About 4 million visit the park every year, so being prepared and coming early is your best bet. 

Dogs at Yellowstone – Dogs are not allowed at the attractions or hiking trails in Yellowstone. Which is most places. 

How to save money at Yellowstone – I recommend getting a National Park Pass. This gives you access to all the parks and pays for itself in 2 trips! Especially if you plan to visit any other national parks this year, I think this would be the best way to save money. I also suggest buying souvenirs out of the park. You’ll find a wider selection of things like magnets or t-shirts. In addition, you can bring in your own food. Just make sure you keep food safe because bears can break in.

Yellowstone wildlife – Bison have been known to charge people. Don’t approach them. Bears should also be left alone. Do not leave out food, or approach them, and I recommend carrying bear spray and/or a bell. Let the animals be wild! The best bet for bears is to not surprise them. Never feed any animals. If they get used to human food they start getting too close to humans. I recommend bringing a camera with a zoom lens, since you’ll often see bison roaming the fields, a herd of elk dotted on the rolling hills, or even a bear or wolf. Binoculars are also a good idea as well!

RVing in Yellowstone – We drove our RV and stayed overnight in West Yellowstone, just outside the park. You can camp at the park, but you’ll need to reserve ahead of time! And spots get very busy. We parked our RV very easily in the Grant Village Visitor center for the day while exploring before taking it out of the park to set up camp. There was ample, shaded parking here. 

Eating in Yellowstone – If you're visiting during Coronavirus time I HIGHLY recommend bringing food. Restaurants are not open and there are long lines to get food to go. Just make sure you pack it securely so bears can't get to it.

Where to Stay in Yellowstone – There are TONS of hotels and lodging near the park. I recommend staying the night before in South Yellowstone or near Grand Tetons or Jackson Hole. During our time in Yellowstone we stayed in West Yellowstone in Montana. A great place to stay there is the Clubhouse Inn .

Another good area to stay is in towns such as nearby Cody. Aptly named “ The Cody ” is a good choice.

Some great places to stay in or near Yellowstone park are Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Grant Village, Mammoth Hot Springs and Cabins, Old Faithful Inn, or Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

When to Visit Yellowstone – Summer is the busiest time, but also a great time to easily navigate the Park. Spring brings out more wildlife and wild flowers. Winter is also an interesting time since you'll see different wildlife, but you'll also have to battle the snow. Fall is maybe the best time to avoid crowds and see some fall foliage!

Important note about Covid-19 at Yellowstone – some museums are closed and some shops have limited openings, meaning you might have to wait in line to get inside.

I hope this post has helped you plan the perfect itinerary to Yellowstone! 

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MEET THE AUTHOR

Helene Sula

I believe that one trip can change your life. It did for me. I'm a self proclaimed home body that quit her job, moved abroad, and more often than not, lives out of a carry-on bag. If I'm not traveling, I'm most likely re-reading Harry Potter or watching "Midnight in Paris" while snuggling my dogs. I'm a digital marketing expert who turned my love of travel into a full-time career. And I help others do it too.

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Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park

With insider tips from real park rangers

Created in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first and one of its most famous national parks. The park’s legendary geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, and bubbling pools, are powered by a slumbering supervolcano that underlies the park. Fortunately, the last eruption of the volcano occurred 631,000 years ago, creating the more than 1,500-square-mile Yellowstone Caldera at the heart of the 3,468-square-mile park. Bison, bears, elk, and wolves share the park with the millions of people who visit each year. Visitors come to see postcard attractions like Old Faithful but also to venture into the park’s canyons, climb its mountains, hike, camp, and—in winter—tour by snowmobile and snow coach.

Written for you by park rangers

Who knows a national park best? Yep, the rangers who live and breathe its fresh, clean air every day. That’s who we turned to for help in creating this guide. Roadtrippers has partnered with the Association of National Park Rangers and convinced its rangers to spill their secrets for your benefit.

• Getting to Yellowstone
• Timing your visit to Yellowstone
• Things to do in Yellowstone
• Hiking in Yellowstone
• Staying in and around Yellowstone
• Eating in and around Yellowstone
• How many days for Yellowstone

Your Yellowstone National Park map

Here’s a map of all the highlights in this guide. Use it to plan your trip to make sure you don’t miss anything.

How to get to and around Yellowstone National Park

Getting to Yellowstone by air: Yellowstone National Park occupies a remote area of Wyoming (and parts of Montana and Idaho), but thanks to its enormous popularity there are no fewer than six airports that can get you within a reasonable distance of the park, in Cody and Jackson, Wyoming; Bozeman, Billings, and West Yellowstone, Montana; and Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

West Yellowstone is the closest to the park—the town sits at the west entrance—but is served only by regional flights from Salt Lake City, Utah, from early May to mid-October. Flying to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, makes it easy to add a visit to Grand Teton National Park, while flying to Bozeman will put you between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone. Bozeman is a larger airport with relatively easy connections to several large western cities, and seasonal connections to points farther east.

Some travelers prefer to fly into (far larger) Salt Lake City International Airport and drive to the park. The drive from the airport to West Yellowstone is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Getting to Yellowstone by car: There are five major entrances to this vast park at all points of the compass (including two on the park’s east side), affording drivers a variety of ways to get in. 

West Yellowstone is the most popular gateway to the park, in part due to its proximity to the Old Faithful geyser. From Salt Lake City, Interstate 15 runs north to Idaho Falls before connecting with U.S. Route 20, which leads to West Yellowstone and the western park entrance. U.S. 191 connects West Yellowstone to Bozeman.

The South Entrance connects to Grand Teton National Park, while travelers from the Bozeman area pass the Roosevelt Arch on the way into the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana. On the park’s east side, the Northeast Entrance connects to Billings via U.S. 212, while the East Entrance is closest to Yellowstone Lake and is accessed from Cody by way of U.S. 14.

Getting to Yellowstone by bus: Bus transportation is available between Bozeman and West Yellowstone year-round, and private shuttles operate from Bozeman to Gardiner all year and to the park from Cody and Jackson in the summer. 

Getting around the park: Inside the park, an extensive road network provides automobile access to all of Yellowstone’s major attractions, at least during the summer months. The park has more than 50 miles of roads connecting visitor centers in hubs like Madison, Old Faithful , West Thumb , Grant Village , Fishing Bridge , Mammoth Hot Springs , and Tower-Roosevelt . Park roads generally are open late April to early November, although not all roads open at once, and some don’t reopen until the end of May. A limited number of park roads are open to snowmobiles and snow coaches in the winter. The only road open year-round to automobiles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner through the park to Cooke City, Montana.

Plan your trip around stopping at no more than two visitor centers per day. Trying to cram too much into a trip ensures you’ll spend more of your time fighting traffic than appreciating the park’s thoughtfully designed exhibits and many roadside stops.

When’s the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone transcends seasons—if anything, the park is even more beautiful in winter than summer—but there are some significant practical realities you’ll need to grapple with depending on the kind of experience you’re seeking in the park. 

More than 3.8 million people visit Yellowstone each year, and more than half of those show up during just three months: June, July, and August. So if you want to avoid crowds, summer is the worst time to visit, at least if you’re heading to the park’s top attractions, like its geysers and hot springs. One upside is that summer is when the park roads, campgrounds, and other facilities are most open and have the longest hours, which does tend to spread the crowds out a bit. 

Going to the park in early May and late September will help you avoid the crush of visitors who clog park roads in summer and avoid the depths of cold in winter. Spring and fall, in general, are less busy times in the park, although it’s important to check on the status of park roads, which begin closing for winter in October and don’t start reopening until April.

If you’re willing to brave the cold, winter is the best season to see wildlife in the lower elevations of the park. Most park roads close in winter, however, so your best option is to book a snowmobile or snow coach tour if you want to see bison, elk, bears, and major attractions like Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. Come prepared for the weather: Winter temperatures in Yellowstone can fall as low as 30 degrees below zero and rarely rise above freezing.

Yellowstone’s weather will catch you off-guard if you don’t expect to be cold every day. The only reliably warm months are July and August, with high temperatures in the 80s or 90s—but even then it gets cold at night (sometimes down into the 30s).

What to do in Yellowstone National Park?

Calling Yellowstone a “park” is a bit misleading: At 2.2 million acres and an area approaching 3,500 square miles, it’s bigger than some countries and larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. It literally takes hours to drive from one park entrance to another.

As you might imagine, there’s a lot to do and see in Yellowstone, and fortunately the park has an extensive road system that can get you where you want to go. 

Ten visitor centers and information stations can also guide you to whatever corner of the park you want to visit. The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center is mere steps from the famous geyser and has exhibits on the park’s geothermal features. Originally built as a cavalry barracks, the Albright Visitor Center welcomes those coming through the park’s North Entrance, while the centrally located Canyon Visitor Education Center  focuses its attention on the Yellowstone Volcano . 

At Yellowstone Lake near the East Entrance is the rustic Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center , which has exhibits on the ecology of the lake in addition to visitor information. The Grant Visitor Center serves travelers coming through the park’s South Entrance. 

Other places to get brochures and talk to rangers include the Madison Information Center , located about halfway between Old Faithful and West Yellowstone; the West Thumb Information Center , near the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalks; the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center; the Norris Geyser Basin Museum ; and the Museum of the National Park Ranger .

Old Faithful Visitor Center

Horace M. Albright Visitor Center

Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone

Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center

Grant Village - Visitor Center

Madison Information Station and Trailside Museum

West Thumb Information Station

Norris Geyser Basin Museum and Information Station

Museum of the National Park Ranger

Attractions

Yellowstone has a virtually endless array of fascinating sites and memorable vistas to experience. Here are some of the must-sees:

Old Faithful : When talking about visiting Yellowstone, it’s impossible not to talk about Old Faithful. As geysers go it’s not the largest in the park (that title belongs to Steamboat Geyser), but what it lacks in height it makes up for in predictability and accessibility. The fact that its eruptions can be timed with such precision has made this geyser a popular tourist stop. In fact, the National Park Service tracks likely eruption times for six of the geysers in Yellowstone.

Mammoth Hot Springs : Hot, acidic water bubbling up to the surface of the earth through soft limestone creates the ever-growing terraces at this enormous hot spring formation.

Norris Geyser Basin : Trails and boardwalks (please stay on them!) guide visitors to a diverse group of geothermal features, including Steamboat Geyser—which periodically spouts hot water up to 400 feet into the air.

Yellowstone Lake : This vast high-elevation lake fills part of the caldera of an ancient supervolcano and is home to an unusual population of cutthroat trout—which normally inhabit the Pacific Ocean. Too cold to swim in, the lake is popular for boating and fishing.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River : Hiking trails offer the best views of this steep-walled canyon and its spectacular waterfalls, including the 109-foot Upper Falls, 308-foot Lower Falls, and 132-foot Tower Fall.

Fort Yellowstone : One of the few Yellowstone highlights that wasn’t made by nature, Fort Yellowstone dates to the 1890s, when the U.S. Cavalry was sent west to protect the young national park. The fort, now part of the Mammoth Springs Historic District, contains dozens of 19th and early 20th century buildings.

Hayden Valley : This marshy valley is a great place to see Yellowstone’s famous wildlife, including bears, bison, and elk drawn to the waters of the Yellowstone River.

Lamar Valley : Somewhat more remote than Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley may be an even better place to view large mammals like bison and grizzly bears, and is also home to Yellowstone’s resident wolf packs.

West Thumb Geyser Basin : Geothermal features on the shores of Yellowstone Lake include the Abyss Pool, the Fishing Cone hot spring, and Black Pool.

Giant Prismatic Spring : Different colored bacteria give this wide, deep hot spring its multicolored appearance. Also located in the Midway Geyser Basin are the Excelsior Geyser, Turquoise Pool, and Opal Pool.

The park is open 24 hours a day, and on clear nights visitors can enjoy the dark skies to view the stars and Milky Way from many locations.

Regions of the Park

For navigational purposes, Yellowstone National Park is divided into eight distinct regions:

Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon: Includes the 20-mile Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone , the upper and lower falls of the Yellowstone River, part of the wildlife-filled Hayden Valley, the 10,219-foot Mount Washburn, and lodging and visitor information in Canyon Village .

Fishing Bridge and Yellowstone Lake: Centered on the 136-square-mile Yellowstone Lake , this area also includes a historic fishing bridge as well as a natural bridge, Pelican Valley, part of Hayden Valley, and the Mud Volcano.

Madison and West Yellowstone: Hike to Fairy Falls , fish in the Madison and Firehole rivers, drive through Firehole Canyon , and marvel at the Great Prismatic Spring and other geothermal features.

Mammoth Hot Springs and the North: In addition to Mammoth Hot Springs, this region of the park includes the 19th-century Fort Yellowstone (which now houses Albright Visitor Center), driving, biking, and hiking on the unpaved Old Gardiner Road, and a variety of wilderness trails.

Norris Geyser Basin: The literal hot spot of Yellowstone contains some of the park’s most active geothermal attractions, including Steamboat Geyser —the world’s tallest—as well as the fumaroles of Roaring Mountain , waterfall hikes and drives, and more.

Old Faithful: The world’s most famous geyser is the main attraction in this part of the park, but not the only one. Also in the vicinity are several other geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin , Black Sand Basin , Midway Geyser Basin , and Biscuit Basin .

Tower–Roosevelt and the Northeast: Did you know that the world’s largest collection of petrified trees is in Yellowstone National Park? They’re located in the northeastern section, along with attractions like the 132-foot Tower Falls , the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley , and the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch .

West Thumb, Grant, and the South: The West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake was actually formed by a volcanic eruption about 150,000 years ago. The area includes the West Thumb Geyser Basin, backcountry camping in the remote Belcher section of the park, and camping at Grant Village.

One destination that’s often overlooked is the Museum of the National Park Ranger. This is a unique attraction, and a cultural touchstone for NPS staff. Visit to learn about the evolution of this unique profession in the place where the first ranger, Harry Yount, worked starting in 1880.

Does Yellowstone National Park Have a Volcano?

Yellowstone doesn’t have a volcano—it is a volcano, albeit a relatively dormant one. A large portion of the park is located within the caldera of an ancient supervolcano, and sections of its crater rim form some of the park’s mountains. The Yellowstone Volcano first erupted about 2.1 million years ago; its most recent major eruption was 631,000 years ago, although smaller eruptions have occurred ever since, some big enough to form such prominent park features as the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Lava last flowed on the surface of Yellowstone 70,000 years ago, but the park’s geothermal features prove that Yellowstone Volcano is merely dormant, not dead.

Hiking in Yellowstone National Park

With more than 900 miles of hiking trails, it’s possible to see most of Yellowstone—from its most famous sites to its most remote corners—by foot. Trails to popular geysers and hot springs are highly accessible and sometimes feature boardwalks for navigation and platforms for viewing. Backcountry trails, on the other hand, may require you to ford rivers and encounter potentially dangerous wildlife. The trade-off, of course, is the opportunity to discover unique thermal areas and get away from the park’s sometimes overwhelming crowds.

Easy Hikes  

Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces Trail : A 1-mile round trip with boardwalks and stairways to afford close-up views of this monumental hot spring.

West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail : A 0.4-mile-long boardwalk hike along Yellowstone Lake takes you to the West Thumb Geyser Basin.

Lone Star Geyser Trail : Just a few miles from Old Faithful, Lone Star Geyser erupts about every 3 hours and can be reached by a 4.8-mile out-and-back trail that’s partly paved and open to cyclists as well as hikers.

Fairy Falls Trail : Hike from the Midway Geyser Basin 1.6 miles to the 200-foot Fairy Falls, or add another 0.6 miles to see Spray and Imperial geysers before heading back the way you came.

Moderate Hikes

Beaver Ponds Trail : This 5-mile loop trail starts and ends near Mammoth Hot Springs in the northwest part of the park. It gains about 350 feet of elevation, has great views, and passes through areas that are rich in wildlife.

Lamar River Trail: This 5-mile out-and-back hike is easy except for the distance covered and provides excellent opportunities to see wolves and bison.

Seven Mile Hole Trail : Treading the line between moderate and strenuous, this 10-mile hike offers a little of everything that makes Yellowstone great: hot springs, wildlife, lodgepole pine forests, waterfalls, and rim views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Strenuous Hikes

Specimen Ridge Trail : A 17-mile journey with 3,500 feet of elevation gain rewards spectacular views of Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Mount Washburn Trail : The strenuous hike to the summit of 10,243-foot Mount Washburn is capped by panoramic, 50-mile views of the park on days with ideal weather. The hike entails 1,400 feet of elevation gain. 

Avalanche Peak Trail : Don’t let the relatively short distance fool you: This hike is a serious workout as the trail climbs 2,100 feet in 2.1 miles on an exposed, narrow switchback path. Great views await at the peak, however.

Some rangers joke that 95 percent of visitors see about 5 percent of the park, and that might be generous. If you want to be part of the 5 percent who adventure away from the large, developed areas of Yellowstone, talk with a ranger about where you can go to see something different.

Mammoth Hot Spring Terrace Trails

West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail

Lone Star Geyser Trail

Fairy Falls

Beaver Ponds Loop Trail

Seven Mile Hole Trail

Specimen Ridge

Dunraven Pass

Avalanche Peak Hike

Where to stay in and around yellowstone national park.

There are numerous places to stay inside Yellowstone, the most iconic being the Old Faithful Inn . The largest log structure in the world, the inn has an unbeatable “fountain” in its front yard—its namesake geyser—along with 327 guest rooms, a rustic seven-story lobby built around a massive stone fireplace, and a restaurant and lounge.

The Old Faithful Inn is just one of the nine lodges in the park. The others are the Canyon Lodge and Cabins , Grant Village Lodge , the Lake Hotel and Cabins , Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins , the Old Faithful Lodge , the Old Faithful Snow Lodge , and the Roosevelt Lodge . Most are rustic-style facilities offering lodging in hotel rooms or cabins. Only the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel are open during the winter.

You’ll find a more diverse selection of accommodations in the gateway communities outside the park, including Gardiner and Cooke City in Montana, and West Yellowstone, Cody, and Jackson Hole in Wyoming. Cody, while farthest from the park, has the most places to stay.

Lodging Choices Outside of the Park

West Yellowstone

Explorer Cabins : Pet-friendly cabins that are ideal if you’re looking to avoid sharing a wall with your neighbors.

WorldMark West Yellowstone : Great choice if you need a larger space with a full kitchen.

Yellowstone Park Hotel : A well-maintained basic hotel with an indoor pool and hot tub. 

Springhill Suites Island Park : Just outside West Yellowstone, this Marriott property has the feel of a modern lodge and overlooks the river feeding into Island Park Reservoir.

Under Canvas Yellowstone : An upscale glamping resort that offers numerous tent styles and amenities. This resort is located just outside of the West Yellowstone entrance.

Three Bear Lodge : Downtown hotel with cozy common areas that’s been welcoming guests since the 1930s.

Kelly Inn West Yellowstone : The closest hotel to the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park has a pool, free breakfast, and free parking for guests.

1872 Inn : A rustic exterior conceals a luxury boutique hotel for adults only.

Kimpton Armory Hotel : A four-star hotel with a music hall, fine-dining restaurant, and accommodations within Bozeman’s landmark Armory building.

The Lark Bozeman : Boutique hotel with fun outdoor spaces and uniquely decorated modern rooms.

Yellowstone Gateway Inn : A family favorite for its upscale apartment-style suites with full kitchens. 

Absaroka Lodge : Motel made special by rooms with decks overlooking the Yellowstone River. 

Bill Cody Ranch : Go old-school with a stay at an all-inclusive, authentic Wyoming dude ranch.

Chamberlin Inn : Boutique inn with a charming back garden and a history: Ernest Hemingway once stayed here, and the original proprietor, Agnes Chamberlin, worked for Buffalo Bill Cody at the  Cody Enterprise newspaper.

Irma Hotel : Built by town founder Buffalo Bill Cody in 1902 and named for his daughter Irma. Sidle up to the bar gifted to Cody by Queen Victoria.

Holiday Inn Cody : Basic but comfortable rooms with a great Sheridan Avenue location, within walking distance of most of the town’s restaurants and attractions.

The Cody Hotel : Luxury hotel located a short distance from Cody’s Rodeo Grounds and Old Trail Town.

Camping—whether in established campgrounds or in the backcountry—is another great way to experience the beauty of Yellowstone without having to drive back and forth into the park every day of your visit. The park has a dozen campgrounds and more than 2,000 campsites—some for RVs, others for tents only. Campgrounds are located in all corners of the park. 

Backcountry camping is a great way to see the wild side of Yellowstone, and the park maintains 293 backcountry camping sites for stays of one to three nights. Permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcountry.

Given the sheer size of Yellowstone, it’s not ideal to stay outside the park, simply due to how much time you’d be spending in the car. That said, the most convenient area to stay outside the park is West Yellowstone, which is about a 30-mile or 1-hour drive from Old Faithful.

Old Faithful Inn

Canyon Lodge & Cabins

Grant Village Lodge

Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins

Old Faithful Lodge Cabins

Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Roosevelt Lodge & Cabins

Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone

WorldMark West Yellowstone

Yellowstone Park Hotel

Three Bear Lodge

Kelly Inn West Yellowstone

Kimpton Armory Hotel Bozeman

Yellowstone Gateway Inn

Absaroka Lodge

Bill Cody Ranch

Chamberlin Inn

Buffalo Bill's Irma Hotel Restaurant & Saloon

Holiday Inn Cody-At Buffalo Bill Village

The Cody Hotel

Yellowstone Under Canvas

Where to eat in and around Yellowstone National Park?

If you’re in Yellowstone and love ice cream, you’re in luck: There are no fewer than eight ice cream vendors in the park. Of course, that’s not your only dining option. Everything from grab-and-go food to fine dining can be found in the park’s hotels and lodges, including the beautiful dining rooms at the Old Faithful Inn, the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and the Roosevelt Lodge; the Lake House Restaurant on the shores of Yellowstone Lake in Grant Village; and the casual Wylie’s Canteen at the Lake Lodge. All told, the park has 19 restaurants, cafés, and bars.

Outside the park are many more options, including:

K-Bar : Popular local pizza joint.

Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe : A bookstore that serves three meals daily.

Cody Steakhouse : Big, juicy steaks plus seafood, wings, and more.

Irma Hotel : This restaurant serves three meals daily and is known for its prime rib.

Trailhead Bar : Restaurant with a lively bar scene, wood-fired pizza, and fresh fish shipped in from Seattle.

Pat O’Hara Brewing Company : Craft brewery with Irish food.

Nova Cafe : Popular breakfast spot in downtown Bozeman.

Montana Ale Works : Locally sourced food and drinks served in a historic railway building.

South 9th Bistro : French and American cuisine served in Bozeman’s top-rated restaurant.

Canyon Street Grille : ’50s-style diner with handcrafted burgers and milkshakes made from scratch.

Las Palmitas : Tacos and Mexican grub served out of a big white bus on Canyon Street.

Don’t miss out on a beer or the drink of your choice at the Old Faithful Inn, a refreshing addition to the unforgettable experience of watching the geyser erupt from the porch.

Tumbleweeds Bookstore and Cafe

Cody Steak House

Trailhead Bar

Pat O'hara Brewing Company

The Nova Cafe

Montana Ale Works

South 9th Bistro

Canyon Street Grill

Las Palmitas

How many days should you plan to spend in yellowstone national park.

Any discussion of how long to stay in Yellowstone has to include the time it takes to travel from one part of the park to another. The time driving between the “must-see” attractions can be significant: Old Faithful to Mammoth Hot Springs is a 50-mile, 1.5-hour drive, for example.  Budgeting enough time to stop and see the interesting sites along the way makes the difference between experiencing the wilderness from the driver’s seat or immersing yourself in it.  

If your plan is to make a comprehensive circuit of the park’s main roads, stopping to read exhibits, attending ranger programs, and taking hikes along the way, figure on a minimum of 3 days in the park—preferably staying in the park.  

If you only have one day to visit, your best bet is probably to visit the attractions in the vicinity of the West Entrance. Coming into the park via West Yellowstone will put you close to Old Faithful and Lower, Midway, and Upper Geyser Basins. The drive from West Yellowstone to West Thumb Geyser Basin is only an hour with no stops, so you can also work a glimpse at Yellowstone Lake into a day trip while still allowing time to make some of those other must-do stops along the way. If you have time on the way back, you can also take the 14-mile drive from Madison to Norris Geyser Basin and Steamboat Geyser.

Making sure you have enough time to experience the park basically comes down to deciding how much of your time you want to spend in your vehicle, since you’ll have to drive to get just about anywhere.

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Can I Do Yellowstone In a Day?

Yes, you can get an excellent Yellowstone experience from Jackson Hole in just one day. In fact, we've put together the full itinerary for you!

Justin Walters, visitor services agent for the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, has been helping folks plan their trips to Jackson Hole for over 13 years. Not only that, he has been exploring the Tetons and surrounding mountains himself for over 20. So when we asked him the common question - can I do Yellowstone in a day? - he didn't just give us an answer. He laid out the perfect itinerary.

Can I do Yellowstone in a day?

“Yes,” Justin explains, “you can do the Southern Loop of Yellowstone from Jackson Hole, with stops at most major sites, in 12 hours.”

This 12-hour day includes drive time from Jackson Hole to the Southern Entrance of Yellowstone (1.5 hours), stops at all major sites to get you the real Yellowstone experience, drive time around the Lower Loop with regular traffic, and drive time back to Jackson. “All in all, you’re looking at 6 hours in the car and 6 hours out exploring.”

Where do I start? Justin suggests kicking off your Yellowstone adventure early, around 5 or 5:30 in the morning. This provides optimal opportunity for spotting wildlife on your way through Grand Teton National Park and helps avoid traffic during peak hours. “Pack food and water the night before to eliminate stops,” Justin hints.

You’ll enter Yellowstone National Park through the Southern Entrance, then start your journey around the Lower Loop going clockwise, toward Old Faithful.

Old Faithful – “If you do Old Faithful first, earlier in the morning, you’ll have a much better experience because it will be less crowded and you’ll avoid heavier traffic for the rest of the day,” says Justin.

Old Faithful erupts every 90 minutes, give or take, so check the next eruption time first thing when you arrive. Then be sure to explore Norris Geyser Basin before or after witnessing Old Faithful. “This is your first introduction to thermal features in Yellowstone National Park.”

Grand Prismatic –  The famous, colorful, giant hot pool is well worth the stop. You have two options here: park at Midway Geyser Basin and walk the boardwalk for up-close views of Grand Prismatic or park at Fairy Falls and walk to the overlook to get a brids-eye view of the whole feature.

“A bonus at Grand Prismatic is the short Fairy Falls hike that overlooks the rainbow hot spring. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a hike that’s not a boardwalk trek,” says Justin.

Firehole Canyon Drive –  This short drive allows for beautiful sight-seeing of Yellowstone’s natural landscapes. Stop at one of the picnic areas to finally enjoy that lunch you packed in nature’s living room. Just be sure that anything you bring in, you pack out!

Hayden Valley – This is Yellowstone’s most famous section for wildlife viewing. Go slow and keep your eyes peeled! There are high chances of seeing bison, elk, moose, bear, and even wolves along this section of road.

Canyon Village –  Known as the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, this feature is jaw-dropping from any angle. Stop at Upper Falls to look down on the canyon or hike down to Lower Falls to get sprayed with the mist of the falls.

Yellowstone Lake –  If you started your day early and followed this itinerary, now is the time to reap the rewards! By the time you reach Yellowstone Lake, the road should be clear for picturesque views and liesurely stops at the overlooks if you wish.

Bonus Questions

Where Can We Eat In Yellowstone National Park?

While it’s not Justin’s first suggestion because it eats up time, there are places to get a bite to eat inside the National Park. “A lot of people like to eat at Old Faithful Inn for the novelty of it,” Justin tells us. Other options include the general store at Madison and the dining hall at Lake Village.

What If We Want To See the Entire Park?

“If you want to do the Upper Loop as well, you have to stay in Gardiner or Cook City,” Justin plainly states. From Jackson Hole, the best way to see all of Yellowstone National Park is to go clockwise all the up the Western side on day one, stay the night in Gardiner or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, then take the East side all the way back to Jackson on day two.

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The Best Time To Visit Yellowstone National Park May Surprise You

T here's no denying that Yellowstone National Park is one of the gems of the U.S. Between the incredible sights and masses of thriving wildlife , there's so much to see and do when you visit the massive park. But timing is everything, and deciding exactly when you should pack your bags and head out to see the sights can be a gamble.

Keep reading to learn more about the best time to visit Yellowstone Park , including what time of day you should plan to get started. As it turns out, the best time to visit Yellowstone largely depends on what you're most interested in exploring there.

When is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park?

According to the Yellowstone Safari Company blog, June through September is when Yellowstone sees most of its foot traffic. This has a lot to do with the daytime temperatures at the park since these months tend to provide the warmest temps.

Not only can you expect gorgeous weather — although the company does note that a surprise snowstorm can't be ruled out during this time — but these are the months when all of the 251 miles of road inside the park will be open.

Many roadways become impassable in winter weather or when snowmelt causes flooding and washouts . That said, there is still stuff to do at the park every month of the year! January may still be too cold to take advantage of some of the higher-elevation attractions, but there is still plenty to see since the cold weather makes the air clearer, allowing visitors to see for miles.

February can be good for animal lovers who want to watch the forest come alive, as much of the wildlife within the park will emerge for mating season. Then, in March, spring will finally arrive, which creates mud within the park. Mud doesn't keep the critters away , and this is the perfect time to visit if you're hoping to see elk since they'll be cruising around and shedding their antlers.

For those seeking a quiet trip, April marks the end of the snow season for many, so fewer visitors are showing up to enjoy skiing and snowboarding . It's also the month that many of the entrances that have been closed for winter open up, granting visitors more access to the park. Then May arrives with the start of the grizzly bear season , which allows many more visitors to see them as they emerge from their dens. The greenery also starts to pop up, creating pleasant views all around.

Then those ideal months begin, which not only make for better weather at the park but also more crowded outlooks, so those hoping to enjoy the peace and serenity of Yellowstone may want to wait until this peak season has died down to visit. After that comes fall, and with it, the beautiful turning leaves of October and November. Of course, as the seasons move on, the danger of freezing temperatures and pop-up snowstorms increases, so access can begin to get tricky.

Lastly, December blows in with the official start to winter, which means that Yellowstone will open up to snowmobile tours, allowing you to access some of those snowed in parts of the park that are hard to reach by foot.

When is the best time of day to visit Yellowstone Park?

Just like different months will afford you different experiences, different times of day will allow you to take advantage of different views of the park. The Yellowstone Vacations blog says that those hoping to see a lot of wildlife will benefit from being at the park during early morning or dusk . As for those hoping to beat crowds, you should arrive before noon because that's when things start getting busy.

As for seeing everything else, it seems like just about any time will work. Just as long as you know that one day won't be enough to cram in everything you'll want to do while you're at the park, that is!

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This is the absolute best time to visit Yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park offers breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unique geothermal features—perfect for this year’s summer trip . While each season brings its own charm to this iconic park, June stands out as an ideal time to visit. As we transition to summer, Yellowstone comes alive with vibrant wildlife and milder weather, making it the perfect month for an unforgettable adventure.

When is peak season at Yellowstone National Park?

Best times to visit yellowstone.

The peak season at Yellowstone National Park typically runs from the end of April through mid-September. This period offers the best opportunities for wildlife viewing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. However, it’s also when the park is most crowded due to the pleasant weather, so early planning and reservations are highly recommended.

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds and still see some amazing sights, plan to visit Yellowstone National Park during these months:

While June marks the beginning of the peak tourist season at Yellowstone, it is still less crowded than July and August. Visiting in June allows you to enjoy the park’s attractions with fewer people around, providing a more serene and immersive experience. This is when Yellowstone is at its greenest. Early mornings and late afternoons are particularly peaceful, offering the chance to explore popular sites like Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs with minimal crowds.

Visiting Yellowstone in September can be a fantastic experience for several reasons. After Labor Day, the number of visitors decreases significantly, providing a more peaceful and enjoyable experience. September also offers mild and comfortable weather, with cooler temperatures that are perfect for outdoor activities. The changing colors of the leaves create stunning landscapes and excellent photo opportunities.

Most park services and facilities are still open, but with fewer crowds, you can enjoy them more freely. Additionally, September often has clear skies, providing excellent conditions for stargazing.

Since it’s the end of the season, October sees the least amount of visitors, providing a serene atmosphere for your exploration. The Fall foliage is often at its peak during this time, which creates stunning backdrops for wildlife photography. Park facilities are still open in early October, and while there might not be as many activities, you can still hike, camp, and view wildlife as they prepare for winter. Just make sure you bring warm clothes!

June, September, and October each offering its own unique advantages when visiting Yellowstone National Park. The combination of pleasant weather, lush landscapes, abundant wildlife, and optimal conditions for outdoor activities makes them the perfect months to experience the park’s natural wonders. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a first-time visitor, Yellowstone promises unforgettable memories and a deep connection with nature. For more information about passes, be sure to visit the National Park Service .

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Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa

As a devoted golfer, you want to play as much as possible. You spend weekends hitting the links and refining your swing while elevating your game and enjoying your passion. But that isn’t always possible. When seasons change or rain arrives, you’re stuck on the couch watching the PGA Tour. Also, to play the world’s best courses, you’ll need to hop on a plane and go exploring.

With its 750 miles of total coastline presenting idyllic beaches, clear, warm waters, and some of the best surfing, fishing, diving, and snorkeling spot on Earth, many people associate Hawaii's opportunities for outdoor recreation with the water. But if you fail to look inland and don't discover that hiking Hawaii in a golden opportunity, you're missing out -- big time.

Like the biggest mountain on Earth, if you measure Mauna Kea from its base under the ocean to its summit at 13,803 feet above sea level. Like Hi'ilawe Falls, a waterfall with a main drop some 1,200 feet in height. Like miles of perfectly pristine beaches completely devoid of human development.

There’s just something about long trails. Beyond the mileage and the physical component, distance trails require a different type of commitment and mindset — almost a lifestyle. And worldwide, the planet’s long trails also provide an intimate glimpse of some of the most fascinating and far-flung places on Earth.

From the Alps to the Appalachians, here are a few of the longest hiking trails on the planet. (And be sure to read up on how to prepare for a long-distance hike if you plan to travel to these remarkable hiking trails.) Trans Canada Trail

New Announcement: ‘Yellowstone’ TV Series Gutted, Season 5 Return Canceled

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After much anticipation and excitement from fans, Y ellowstone Season 5 ends with a disappointing announcement.

Yellowstone , the hit television series that has captivated audiences since its debut, has been a cornerstone of contemporary Western dramas. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the show first aired in 2018 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

Set against the backdrop of the sprawling Yellowstone Dutton Ranch in Montana, the series explores the intense and often violent power struggles within the Dutton family, led by the patriarch John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner .

The fifth season of Yellowstone was eagerly anticipated by fans, but it hit an unexpected snag. Initially, Season 5 was put on a brief hiatus, leaving viewers in suspense. The return of the show was much awaited, and the news that it would be back on November 10, 2024, was met with excitement. However, this enthusiasm was dampened by the bombshell announcement that Kevin Costner would not be returning to the series.

Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton has been the linchpin of Yellowstone .

His character is not only the head of the Dutton family but also the moral and strategic center of the series. The entire narrative has revolved around his efforts to protect his family’s legacy and land from various external threats, including land developers, politicians, and rival factions.

The impending battle between John Dutton and his adopted son Jamie Dutton, played by Wes Bentley, and his daughter Beth Dutton, portrayed by Kelly Reilly, has been a central storyline, setting the stage for an explosive finale.

In an interview with Deadline, Costner shed light on his departure from the series. He expressed his frustration with the way the situation was handled, stating, “What you read in the end was that I said, ‘Well, look, I’m doing my movie. If you want me to work a week because you want to kill me or whatever else, I can give you a week.’ I really didn’t have that week to give them, but I said, I’ll do that. And then they [spun that] into, I only wanted to work a week.”

Costner’s comments revealed the tension behind the scenes and highlighted his commitment to the series, despite his busy schedule. “I made Yellowstone the first priority, and to insinuate anything else would be wrong,” he told Deadline. “I did not initiate any of those things. They did. They were doing a tap dance and this poor guy was also having to write so much.”

In an Instagram video , the actor addressed the final season of the show and his untimely departure.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Kevin Costner (@kevincostner)

The absence of Kevin Costner from Yellowstone poses a significant challenge for the show’s creators and writers . The character of John Dutton has been integral to the series’ success, and his departure leaves a gaping void. Fans are left wondering how the show will address his absence and what it means for the remaining episodes of Season 5.

The show has always thrived on its complex characters and intricate storylines. The dynamic between John, Jamie, and Beth has been particularly compelling, with each character bringing their unique strengths and flaws to the fore. Jamie’s constant struggle for his father’s approval and his tumultuous relationship with Beth have been central to the narrative. The final episodes of Season 5 were expected to bring these tensions to a head, culminating in a dramatic confrontation.

Without Costner, the show faces the daunting task of explaining away the most crucial character. This challenge is not just a narrative one but also an emotional one for the audience, who have invested deeply in John Dutton’s journey. The series must now navigate the tricky waters of maintaining its momentum and delivering a satisfying conclusion without its central figure.

One possible approach could be to pivot the focus to other characters who have also been fan favorites. Rip Wheeler, played by Cole Hauser, has been a standout character, known for his loyalty to John Dutton and his complex relationship with Beth. Kayce Dutton, portrayed by Luke Grimes, also offers a rich storyline as he grapples with his past as a Navy SEAL and his responsibilities towards his family. These characters will be further developed to fill the void left by John Dutton’s absence.

Moreover, Yellowstone has always been adept at introducing new characters and subplots that enrich the overall narrative. The series could leverage this strength to introduce new elements that keep the story engaging and fresh. However, the challenge will be to do so in a way that feels organic and true to the show’s essence.

The impact of Costner’s departure extends beyond the storyline. His presence brought a certain gravitas to Yellowstone , attracting viewers who might not have been typical fans of Western dramas. Costner’s star power and his nuanced portrayal of John Dutton added a layer of depth to the series that will be hard to replicate.

As Yellowstone prepares for its return on November 10, 2024, the stakes are higher than ever. The show must navigate the fallout from Costner’s departure and deliver a finale that honors the legacy of John Dutton while providing a satisfying conclusion for fans. It is a daunting task, but one that the show’s creators are undoubtedly up to.

With Yellowstone returning later this year, it will be interesting to see how Taylor Sheridan balances the dynamics of the show without its central character.

Yellowstone visitors hope to catch a glimpse of rare white buffalo calf

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — Standing at the edge of a bluff overlooking the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park, TJ Ammond stared through binoculars at hundreds of buffalo dotting the verdant valley below.

Tan-colored calves frolicked near their mothers while hulking bulls wallowed in mud.

As his wife and young children clustered behind him, Ammond panned the vast herd and cried out: “I see a white one!”

“Or no — that’s a pronghorn,” he soon corrected. “It’s white and it’s small.”

Grizzly bears and wolves are usually the star attractions for wildlife watchers in Yellowstone but this spring, a tiny and exceedingly rare  white buffalo calf  has stolen the show.

White buffalo — also known as bison — are held sacred by many Native Americans who greeted news of the birth of one in Yellowstone as an auspicious sign.

It all began when Kalispell, Montana, photographer Erin Braaten snapped several images of the tiny, ungainly creature nuzzling with its mother on June 4, soon after its birth near the banks of the Lamar River. Braaten and her family had been driving through the park when she spotted “something really white” and got a closer look through her telephoto lens.

They turned around and pulled over to watch and shoot photos of the calf with its mother for over half an hour.

Despite throngs of visitors with scopes and photographers with telephoto lenses in the Lamar Valley, a prime spot for wildlife viewing in Yellowstone, few others saw the calf and no sightings have been reported since. Even Braaten and her family did not see the calf again despite going back to look over the next two days, she said.

As in legend, the calf remains mysterious in life.

Some speculate it was a short one. Bison calves often don’t survive when their herds decide to plunge across waters like the Lamar, which has been flowing high and muddy with mountain snowmelt.

Yet even if it has died, the event is no less significant to Native Americans, said Chief Arvol Looking Horse, spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota and the Nakota Oyate in South Dakota, and the 19th keeper of the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman Pipe and Bundle.

“The thing is, we all know that it was born and it’s like a miracle to us,” Looking Horse said.

The creature’s birth fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, according to members of the American Indian tribe who caution that it’s also a signal that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals. They plan a ceremony in the coming weeks to commemorate the event.

Word of the white buffalo has meanwhile spread far and wide. Ammond had heard about the white calf on The Weather Channel and was keen to see it on his family’s trip to Yellowstone from Ohio.

Usually, white bison are born in ranch herds due to interbreeding with cattle. They are rare but not unheard of, with births making local headlines every so often.

Two genetic variations, leucism and albinism,  account for  an unusually light-colored animal. Experts doubt the Yellowstone calf is an albino.

In any event, a wild white buffalo is exquisitely rare — maybe even unheard of in Yellowstone, one of the last sanctuaries for free-roaming American bison. The animals once numbered in the tens of millions before commercial hunting drove them to near extinction. Yellowstone’s herd numbers about 5,000.

For Yellowstone’s dedicated wildlife watchers, a good look or photo of a wolf, grizzly — or especially an elusive wolverine or lynx — makes for a good day in the field. A glimpse of the white bison calf would be the privilege of a lifetime.

Employees at several of the businesses that offer guided tours, hikes and horseback rides in Yellowstone said they had not seen the white bison calf. At least one was skeptical the sighting was authentic but a cellphone video provided by Braaten’s son, Zayne Braaten, showing the calf in a wide scene looking very much like the Lamar Valley left little room for doubt the calf is — or was — the real deal.

Amateur photographer Sabrina Midkiff, from Houston, said getting pictures of buffalo calves was the main purpose of her trip to the park this summer. She’d taken thousands of photos so far and wondered if the white calf was hidden somewhere in the crowd in one of her images.

Seeing it would be thrilling, Midkiff said, but she’d heard talk that it may have died — by drowning, getting eaten by wolves or coyotes, or simply being too weak to survive.

“There are a lot of things that could happen out here in the wild,” she said.

Near the site where Braaten said she took her photos, New Mexico native Bob Worthington stood outside his truck Thursday and scoped a distant hillside. He said he’d been visiting Yellowstone for 26 years with a singular focus: Seeing grizzly bears.

Worthington gruffly dismissed a query about the valley’s bison herds. But when the white calf was mentioned, he lit up with a grin.

“I’d love to get to see the little rascal,” he said.