If you’re planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park, it’s possible you’ll be feeling overwhelmed. As America’s first nationwide park (and one of many largest!), there’s a unending listing of issues to do in Yellowstone National Park.
Well, this put up on one of the best Yellowstone itinerary is right here to assist!
Whether you could have sooner or later in Yellowstone or plan to spend per week there, you’ll discover loads of inspiration in this information.
I’m sharing the greatest 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day, and 5-day itineraries for Yellowstone National Park, plus:
- The best variety of days to spend in Yellowstone
- Best time to go to Yellowstone
- How to get to Yellowstone
- Where to keep inside and close to the park
- Exclusive journey and packing suggestions to your journey to Yellowstone
Are you prepared to plan an epic Yellowstone National Park trip, irrespective of how a lot time you could have to spend? Let’s get began!
Important NoteDue to the extreme flooding in Yellowstone National Park in June 2022, some roads stay closed. However, as of July 2, 93% of the roads in the park are open and the non permanent “Alternating License Plate System” is now not in impact.To be taught extra about what’s open in Yellowstone, learn the flood restoration web page on the Yellowstone web site.
Are you in search of extra concepts to plan your journey to Yellowstone National Park? Don’t miss this information!
- 7 Day Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary
- 22 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
- The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
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Overview of the Regions in This Yellowstone Trip Itinerary
Yellowstone National Park is positioned in the northwestern nook of Wyoming, with small parts of the park crossing over into neighboring Idaho and Montana.
Covering over 2 million acres, Yellowstone is likely one of the largest nationwide parks in the United States. There’s no scarcity of unbelievable issues to do in Yellowstone, from geothermal options to waterfalls galore.
The park’s large lands are linked by means of the Grand Loop Road. This well-known scenic freeway kinds a “Figure 8”, as you possibly can see in the map under. Grand Loop Road is the first route for many actions in Yellowstone.
The Grand Loop Road additionally connects the park’s 5 entrances. The greatest approach to enter the park will rely upon the place you’re touring from and what you propose to do throughout the park.
- West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana – greatest throughout because it’s solely minutes outdoors West Yellowstone, Montana.
- North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana – greatest for visiting Mammoth Hot Springs and flying in from Bozeman (additionally the one entrance open year-round)
- Northeast Entrance in Cooke City, Montana – greatest for visiting Lamar Valley and driving the Beartooth Highway and flying into Billings
- East Entrance close to Wapiti, Wyoming – greatest for visiting Yellowstone Lake and flying into Cody
- South Entrance close to Moran, Wyoming – greatest for these additionally visiting Grand Teton National Park or flying into Jackson Hole
The most well-known area is the part of Grand Loop Road between Madison and West Thumb. This area is residence to the well-known Old Faithful Geyser, the Upper Geyser Basin, and Grand Prismatic Spring.
Another must-visit space of Yellowstone is Canyon Village. This area is residence to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Hayden Valley.
If you’re brief on time, I like to recommend prioritizing the southern loop of Grand Loop Road.
If you could have greater than two days in Yellowstone, the northern loop of Grand Loop Road can also be value a go to, together with Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley.
Read More: 22 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone National Park?
You ought to plan to spend not less than 2 to 3 days in Yellowstone National Park. Two days offers you adequate time to see the most well-liked locations. Adding a 3rd day offers you time to discover some much less visited and off-the-beaten-path points of interest.
That stated, this information covers itineraries starting from 1 to 5 days to provide the most flexibility. With 5 full days, you’ll find a way to discover Yellowstone in its entirety.
Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a top-rated summer season vacation spot (and for a superb cause!). Summer is by far one of the best time to go to Yellowstone. The climate is snug, and all park facilities, roads, and trails are open.
Winters in Yellowstone are lengthy and harsh. Snowfall is predicted to begin in late October and proceed by means of late April or early May. As a end result, most park roads and customer facilities shut by November.
Since the tourism season is comparatively brief, you’ll doubtless encounter heavy crowds when visiting in summer season. Therefore, I like to recommend visiting in May or from September to mid-October to keep away from crowds.
Read More: The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
Here’s a fast overview of what to count on throughout every season in Yellowstone National Park:
- Spring: Temperatures stay chilly for a lot of the Spring, with daytime highs in the 40s and in a single day temperatures in the kids. In the Spring, crowds are low, with lower than 1,500 folks visiting per day. Spring is a wonderful time to go to to see grizzly and black bears, however many park facilities and roads are nonetheless closed.
- Summer: By early summer season, temperatures change into extra snug, staying in the 70s through the day, however dropping to the 30s in a single day. Yellowstone’s busiest time of 12 months is summer season, with greater than 30,000 guests. Avoid summer season crowds by visiting prime points of interest on weekdays or round dawn or sundown.
- Fall: Both temperatures and crowds start to decline after Labor Day in September. Daytime temperatures stay in the 50s and 60s by means of October. Visiting in the autumn is superb for recognizing bears and elks. Many park amenities and roads will start to shut for the winter.
- Winter: The winter months in Yellowstone are extremely harsh, with temperatures hardly ever reaching above freezing and heavy snow blanketing the park. Much of the park is closed in winter, besides just a few areas like Old Faithful (accessible by snowmobile solely) and Mammoth Hot Springs. If you possibly can courageous the cruel situations, you’re rewarded with solitude and glorious alternatives for recognizing wolves.
Read more: The Ultimate Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide
Read extra about present situations and seasonal closures in Yellowstone.
How Far Is It to Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park is a fairly distant vacation spot, positioned a number of hours from main cities.
Due to its location, many guests mix the journey with different nationwide parks like Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and Glacier National Park in Montana.
The greatest approach to get to Yellowstone is by flying except you reside inside driving distance.
The closest airports to Yellowstone National Park are:
- Yellowstone Airport (WYS) – 5 minutes to West Entrance
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) – 1 hour to South Entrance
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) – 1.5 hours to North Entrance
- Cody / Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) – 1.5 hours to East Entrance
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – 5 hours to West Entrance
I exploit Skyscanner to discover one of the best flight costs and evaluate routes. Once you discover your flight, Skyscanner redirects you to e-book with the airline instantly, so that you don’t miss out on frequent flyer factors! Search flights on Skyscanner now.If you want a rental automotive, I like to recommend utilizing Rentalcars.com to discover one of the best offers. It permits you to search throughout main retailers like Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, and extra. Search rental automotive costs with Rentalcars.com now.
If you select to drive to Yellowstone National Park, these are some tough distances from main cities or close by cities:
- Jackson, WY – 1 hour to the South Entrance
- Bozeman, MT – 1.5 hours to North Entrance
- Cody, WY – 1.5 hours to East Entrance
- Idaho Falls, ID – 2 hours to West Entrance
- Billings, MT – 3 hours to North or Northeast Entrance
- Missoula, MT – 4 hours to North Entrance
- Twin Falls, ID – 4 hours to West Entrance
- Salt Lake City, UT – 5 hours to West Entrance
- Casper, WY – 5 hours to East or South Entrances
- Boise, ID – 6 hours to West Entrance
- Denver, CO – 8.5 hours to East or South Entrance
Read More: 8-Day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Itinerary
If you’re taking a nationwide park street journey, these are the opposite close by locations:
- Grand Teton National Park – half-hour to South Entrance
- Glacier National Park – 6 hours to North Entrance
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park – 7 hours to Northeast or East Entrance
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial – 8 hours to East Entrance
- Badlands National Park – 8 hours to East Entrance
- Rocky Mountain National Park – 8.5 hours to South Entrance
Read More: 7-Day Grand Teton & Yellowstone Road Trip
Where to Stay Near Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park affords eight lodges contained in the park, in addition to a dozen campgrounds. I like to recommend staying contained in the park for this Yellowstone itinerary if potential as it’ll save a number of hours a day in driving time.
To keep contained in the park, it is best to intention to e-book lodging not less than 9 to 12 months out and e-book reservable campgrounds six months out.
In the detailed Yellowstone itinerary under, I lay out one of the best locations to keep every night time of your journey. In common, these lodges are probably the most centrally positioned to one of the best actions in Yellowstone:
- Old Faithful Inn, a luxurious inn strolling distance to Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
- Old Faithful Lodge & Cabins, a extra budget-friendly lodge strolling distance to Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin and open year-round
- Canyon Lodge & Cabins, a group of lodges and small cabins a brief drive from Hayden Valley and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cottages, a higher-end lodge overlooking Yellowstone Lake positioned half-hour from Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and 1 hour from Old Faithful
- Lake Lodge Cabins, extra budget-friendly cabins alongside Yellowstone Lake positioned half-hour from Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and 1 hour from Old Faithful
- Grant Village Lodge, a waterfront lodge close to West Thumb Geyser Basin discovered half-hour from Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin
If you’re in tenting, these are probably the most centrally positioned campgrounds to your Yellowstone itinerary:
- Canyon Campground in Canyon Village, close to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley
- Bridge Bay Campground close to Lake Village, shut to Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Fishing Bridge RV Park close to Lake Village, shut to Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Grant Village Campground in Grant Village, shut to Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin, and the South Entrance
- Madison Campground, close to the Firehole River, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the West Entrance
For extra on the professionals and cons of every campground, take a look at this put up on tenting in Yellowstone National Park.
If you’re planning on staying outdoors the park, I extremely advocate discovering a lodge in West Yellowstone. Compared to different close by cities, staying right here offers you the closest entry to the highest issues to do in Yellowstone.
Some of the highest lodges in West Yellowstone embody:
- 1872 Inn, an up to date adults-only lodge with 18 visitor rooms solely minutes to the park entrance
- The Evergreen, a mountain-inspired lodge with 17 visitor rooms in the guts of West Yellowstone
- Elkhorn Cabins and Inns, rustic cabins with 15 visitor rooms simply outdoors the Yellowstone park entrance
Remember that Yellowstone is a top-rated vacation spot. In the summer season months, even lodges outdoors the park will replenish a number of months in advance.
Therefore, I extremely advocate reserving your lodging whenever you get your journey on the calendar.
Looking for extra recommendations on the place to keep to your journey to Yellowstone? Check out these guides on the Best Places to Stay Inside Yellowstone and 25 Amazing Airbnbs Near Yellowstone National Park
Tips for Planning a Trip to Yellowstone National Park
- Book lodges contained in the park one 12 months in advance. Lodging is aggressive contained in the park, so that you want to plan. Reservations are launched roughly 12 months in advance. Campgrounds in Yellowstone must be reserved six months out. Aim to e-book lodges outdoors the park not less than six months out.
- Get a nationwide park go in advance. If you’re planning on visiting a number of nationwide parks in the following 12 months, you’ll get monetary savings by getting a nationwide park go. Purchasing it in advance saves you time on the busy Yellowstone entrance stations. Get your America the Beautiful Pass now for less than $80.
- Start your day early to keep away from crowds. By 10 AM, parking heaps are full, and trails are crowded. Avoid crowds by getting an early begin round dawn. I believe the early morning mild on the geysers and steaming swimming pools is beautiful. After 4 PM, crowds have a tendency to filter out too, so early night till sundown can also be a good time to discover!
- Pack loads of layers. Temperatures in Yellowstone change dramatically from day to night time. Even in the summer season, in a single day temperatures are sometimes close to freezing. Therefore, dressing in layers is crucial. I like to recommend packing fleeces and down layers, plus a heat hat and gloves even when visiting in the summer season!
- Pack binoculars. One of one of the best issues to do in Yellowstone is wildlife watching. A top quality pair of binoculars helps you retain your distance from wildlife however nonetheless see the animals in their pure habitat. If you’re in search of an entry-level pair, I like to recommend this pair from Occer on Amazon. If you’re wanting to stage up your binoculars, I’ve invested in the high-quality (however nonetheless considerably inexpensive) Vortex Diamondback 10×32.
- Keep your distance from wildlife. While unbelievable to see, make sure to preserve a protected distance and provides all wild animals loads of room. Stay 25 yards away from bison, feminine elk, deer, and moose. You ought to keep 100 yards away from extra aggressive animals like bears, wolves, and bull elk throughout rutting season.
- Always carry bear spray when climbing. Yellowstone National Park is positioned in grizzly bear nation. If you’re doing any hikes or lengthy strolls in the geyser basins, it is best to carry bear spray (like pepper spray for bears!). If you’re driving to Yellowstone, I like to recommend shopping for bear spray forward of time. If you’re flying to Yellowstone, you should purchase it domestically from any sporting items retailer or lease it (you possibly can’t fly with bear spray, even in a checked bag!).
- Check street situations earlier than your journey. The situations in Yellowstone National Park are always altering. The greatest approach to keep up to date on street closures for climate or development, in addition to path standing for wildlife exercise, is on the Yellowstone National Park situations web site.
- Allow further time to get locations. Due to the plentiful wildlife, it’s widespread to have visitors jams from bison crossing or animals alongside the street. Allow loads of time to get wherever and stay calm when caught in visitors. If you do select to cease to take a look at wildlife, respect different drivers and make sure to pull off the street and never block visitors.
- Take the primary day to acclimate to the elevation. The Yellowstone Caldera is positioned above 9,000 ft. If you’re coming from a decrease elevation place, it’ll take just a few days to acclimate to the elevation in Yellowstone. I like to recommend saving your extra strenuous actions for afterward in your journey and spending the primary few days doing scenic drives or straightforward hikes by means of the geyser basins.
- Cell cellphone service in Yellowstone is proscribed. Be positive to obtain all reservations, confirmations, and maps offline earlier than coming into the park. I like to save all data in an offline Dropbox or Google Drive folder and take a screenshot.
Looking for extra recommendations on what to pack to your journey? Check out my guides on one of the best climbing gear, what to pack for a street journey, and important tenting gear for all my favourite gear picks and suggestions to make packing to your journey a breeze!
One Day in Yellowstone National Park
If you solely have sooner or later in Yellowstone National Park, you’ll need to stick to seeing solely the most well-liked locations. Yellowstone is most famous for its spectacular geysers, swimming pools, and sizzling springs.
For that cause, I like to recommend spending most of your time in the Old Faithful space.
If you could have sooner or later, the must-see locations embody Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Hayden Valley.
Read more: Planning a Trip to Yellowstone National Park – Ultimate Guide
Are you planning a nationwide park journey however don’t know the place to begin? Get my free 28-page nationwide park e-book the place I break down all the things you want to know to go to all 63 USA nationwide parks.Download your free e-book right here.
One Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Below is the pattern sooner or later in Yellowstone itinerary.
Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin. Start your day early at Old Faithful, which erupts each 1.5 hours. Check the geyser prediction schedule the night time earlier than to decide when to arrive. After catching the Old Faithful eruption from the viewing space, discover the remainder of the Upper Geyser Basin. Don’t miss Grand Riverside Geyser, Chromatic Pool, and Morning Glory Pool! Finally, finish your time right here on the Old Faithful Inn and Visitor Center.
Early Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring. Only a brief drive from Old Faithful, you’ll discover the second most well-known landmark. However, the easiest way to see the geyser is from above through the Fairy Falls Trail. This 1.6-mile hike is comparatively straightforward and supplies unbelievable views. If you aren’t up for the hike, it’s also possible to see Grand Prismatic, a brief stroll from the Midway Geyser Basin car parking zone.
Late Afternoon: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. After you’ve had your fill of geysers and comes, head throughout Grand Loop Road to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Drive the South Rim street to Artist Point for glorious views of the canyon and Lower Falls. Drive the North Rim, too, stopping at Lookout Point if in case you have time.
Evening: Hayden Valley. End your sooner or later in Yellowstone with Hayden Valley, a wonderful vacation spot to spot wildlife. Drive by means of the valley and discover a spot to sit and look ahead to animals. Expect to see loads of bison. If you’re fortunate, you may additionally spot elk, moose, grizzly bears, and bald eagles!
Where to Stay: Canyon Village. If you’re ending your day in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Hayden Valley, probably the most handy place to keep is in Canyon Village. If you’re staying outdoors the park, the closest place to keep is in West Yellowstone, about 1 hour away.
Read More: Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone
2 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
With two days in Yellowstone, you’ll discover the identical locations as in the one-day itinerary however at a extra leisurely tempo. I extremely advocate spending two days in Yellowstone as a substitute of sooner or later to keep away from feeling overwhelmed.
Below is the pattern itinerary for spending two days in Yellowstone National Park.
Day 1: Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, & Grand Prismatic Spring
Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin. Start your day early at Old Faithful, which erupts each 1.5 hours. Check the geyser prediction schedule the night time earlier than to decide when to arrive. After catching the Old Faithful eruption from the viewing space, discover the remainder of the Upper Geyser Basin for not less than 2 hours. Don’t miss Grand Riverside Geyser, Chromatic Pool, and Morning Glory Pool! End your time right here on the Old Faithful Inn (you possibly can watch Old Faithful erupt from the lodge’s deck!) and discover the shows on the customer heart.
Early Afternoon: Biscuit Basin. Located between Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic, this small geyser basin deserves a fast go to. The most notable function right here is the brightly coloured Sapphire Pool. Don’t miss the multi-colored Mustard Spring or Jewel Geyser both.
Mid Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook through Fairy Falls Trail. Continue previous Biscuit Basin to the Fairy Falls Trailhead. This 1.6-mile hike permits you to see Grand Prismatic Spring from above. If you aren’t in exploring the Midway Geyser Basin extra, contemplate including the complete hike to Fairy Falls as a substitute.
Read More: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
Late Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin. After seeing Grand Prismatic from above, you will get an up-close look by strolling the Midway Geyser Basin. This route is extra accessible and higher for these unable to hike to the overlook.
Where to Stay: Old Faithful or Canyon Village. You can both select to keep shut by in Old Faithful or make the drive over to Canyon Village, the place you’ll spend your time on day 2. If you’re staying outdoors the park, the closest place to keep is in West Yellowstone, about 45 minutes away.
Read More: Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
Day 2: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley
Early Morning: Hayden Valley. Start your second and last day in Yellowstone with a scenic drive by means of Hayden Valley. Keep your eyes peeled for any wildlife (almost certainly bison). Morning is one in every of my favourite instances to drive by means of Hayden Valley as a stark distinction in temperature from the air and hydrothermal options create mystical steam.
Mid Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone South Rim. Head to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone first. After dawn, it takes just a few hours for the sunshine to permeate the canyon and Yellowstone River, so I don’t advocate arriving till 9 or 10 AM. Don’t miss Artist Point and Upper Falls Viewpoint. If you’re up for a strenuous hike in Yellowstone, take the Uncle Tom’s Trail (be ready for a whole lot of steps!).
Early Afternoon: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim. The mild is healthier on the canyon’s North Rim by early afternoon. It’s a one-way loop by means of the North Rim, so I like to recommend stopping on the viewpoints in order. Don’t miss Lookout Point, Grand View, and Inspiration Point. Also, strive the steep Brink of the Lower Falls or Red Rock Point trails if you would like to hike.
Late Afternoon: West Thumb Geyser Basin. After seeing the Grand Canyon, head again by means of Hayden Valley to the West Thumb Geyser Basin, stopping to see Yellowstone Lake alongside the best way. Also, don’t miss the Abyss Pool, Fishing Cone, and Black Pool. If you’re staying in Old Faithful the night time earlier than, another choice is to go to West Thumb Geyser Basin first earlier than heading by means of Hayden Valley in the morning.
Where to Stay: Grant Village, Canyon Village, or Old Faithful. If you don’t thoughts a bit of additional driving, keep on the identical place you select for night time one! The closest place to keep is in Grant Village. If you’re heading to Grand Teton subsequent, contemplate heading down and spending the night time there. West Yellowstone can also be an choice, about 1 hour quarter-hour from West Thumb.
Read More: Best Places to Stay in and Near Yellowstone
3 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
For three days in Yellowstone National Park, you’ll comply with the identical 2-day Yellowstone itinerary above. Then, sooner or later 3, you’ll enterprise up to the northern a part of the park to see Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs.
Read more: Yellowstone National Park: getting there
For all the main points on Day 1 and Day 2, refer to the earlier part. In addition, you’ll discover a fast recap on the primary two days under.
Day 1: Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, & Grand Prismatic Spring
- Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
- Early Afternoon: Biscuit Basin
- Mid Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook through Fairy Falls Trail
- Late Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin
- Where to Stay: Old Faithful, Canyon Village, or West Yellowstone
Day 2: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley
- Early Morning: Hayden Valley (optionally available cease at West Thumb Geyser Basin if staying in Old Faithful the night time earlier than)
- Mid Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone South Rim
- Early Afternoon: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim
- Late Afternoon: West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Where to Stay: Canyon Village or Old Faithful
Day 3: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, & Lamar Valley
Morning: Norris Geyser Basin. Start your final day in Yellowstone with a visit to the Norris Geyser Basin. It is made up of two smaller geyser basins: Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Unless Steamboat Geyser is predicted to erupt (which is uncommon), I like to recommend skipping the Back Basin and simply exploring the Porcelain Basin.
Afternoon: Mammoth Hot Springs. Head north alongside Grand Loop Road from Norris to learn Mammoth, a small village close to the North Entrance of Yellowstone. Mammoth Hot Springs is made up of a Lower and Upper Terrace. I like to recommend strolling by means of the Lower Terrace and skipping the drive-through Upper Terrace for those who’re brief on time. After seeing Mammoth Hot Springs, stroll by means of the village, trying out the Albright Visitor Center.
Evening: Lamar Valley. End your journey to Yellowstone with wildlife watching in Lamar Valley, one of many premier wildlife locations in the park. Keep your eyes peeled for bison, bears, coyotes, and even wolves! If you stick round after sundown, it’s possible you’ll hear wolves howling in the gap. Don’t overlook your binoculars because the wildlife is perhaps far-off.
Where to Stay: Mammoth, Canyon Village, or Gardiner. While there’s a lodge in the Tower-Roosevelt space, I like to recommend heading again to different park areas with extra choices. Canyon Village and Mammoth are every about 1 hour away. If you’re staying outdoors the park, contemplate staying in Gardiner or Cooke City-Silver Gate, relying on the place you’re heading subsequent.
Read More: Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
In my opinion, 4 days in Yellowstone National Park is the proper period of time to see all the highest points of interest and one of the best issues to do. In 4 days, you possibly can cowl all the things, from Old Faithful to a surprising panoramic hike – all at a leisurely tempo with out feeling too overwhelmed.
Here is one of the best 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary.
Day 1: Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, & Grand Prismatic Spring
- Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
- Early Afternoon: Biscuit Basin
- Mid Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook through Fairy Falls Trail
- Late Afternoon: Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin
- Where to Stay: Old Faithful, Canyon Village, or West Yellowstone
Day 2: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley
- Early Morning: Hayden Valley (optionally available cease at West Thumb Geyser Basin if staying in Old Faithful the night time earlier than)
- Mid Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone South Rim
- Early Afternoon: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim
- Late Afternoon: West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Where to Stay: Canyon Village or Old Faithful
Day 3: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, & Lamar Valley
- Morning: Norris Geyser Basin
- Afternoon: Mammoth Hot Springs
- Evening: Lamar Valley
- Where to Stay: Canyon Village or Tower-Roosevelt
Day 4: Mount Washburn & Hayden Valley
Morning: Hike Mount Washburn. This unbelievable panoramic path is routinely rated as one of many prime hikes in Yellowstone National Park. The 6.8-mile hike begins at Dunraven Pass and takes you to the summit of Mount Washburn, standing at 10,200 ft. If you’re in search of a neater route, the path is just 5.6 miles for those who begin from Chittenden Road as a substitute (nevertheless it’s considerably much less scenic!).
Read More: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park
Early Afternoon: Tower Fall. After climbing Mount Washburn, cease on the close by viewpoint for Tower Fall. This spectacular and picturesque waterfall solely requires a fast go to, however it’s nicely value your time. The viewpoint from Tower Fall Overlook seems to be down upon the 132-foot cascade and is an accessible facet journey.
Evening: Hayden Valley. End your final night time in Yellowstone with one other sundown in Hayden Valley. Find a spot to sit, calm down, and look ahead to wildlife. The greatest approach to spot wildlife is to stake out and wait. Don’t overlook to carry binoculars or a recognizing scope!
Where to Stay: Canyon Village or West Yellowstone. Canyon Village is closest to Hayden Valley. If you’re heading to Grand Teton subsequent, contemplate staying in Lake Village or Grant Village as a substitute for a shorter drive the following day. West Yellowstone can also be an choice, about 1 hour 20 minutes from Hayden Valley.
5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
If you’re in search of the last word expertise, contemplate spending 5 days in Yellowstone National Park! In addition to the four-day instructed Yellowstone itinerary listed above, you possibly can select your journey for the ultimate day.
This Yellowstone 5 day itinerary is the last word approach to see the park
On your final day in Yellowstone, contemplate one in every of these choices:
- Rent a ship on Yellowstone Lake. There are loads of choices for exploring this large lake. Options embody a scenic cruise, personal boat leases, and guided sightseeing and fishing excursions. Read extra about boat leases and excursions in Yellowstone.
- Drive Beartooth Highway. This scenic drive simply outdoors the Northeast entrance of Yellowstone is rated as among the best in the United States. If you’re heading out of the park in your final day, it is a nice choice (though it’s solely open in the summer season!).
- Hike Beaver Ponds Loop Trail. This straightforward 5-mile path supplies glorious alternatives for recognizing wildlife in the Mammoth Hot Springs space.
- Go for a swim at Boiling River Hot Springs or Firehole Canyon. If you’re in search of a wonderful choice for exercise youngsters, take a look at Boiling River Hot Springs close to Mammoth or Firehole Canyon swimming gap close to Madison. Both supply glorious swimming alternatives for a extra relaxed day after a number of days of touring Yellowstone.
If You Have More Time in Yellowstone National Park
If you could have greater than 5 days to spend in Yellowstone, I extremely advocate trying out extra of one of the best issues to do! Here are some concepts:
- Hike the Fairy Falls Trail
- Take a scenic tour of Firehole Canyon Drive
- Visit the Lower Geyser Basin, trying out each Fountain Paint Pot and Great Fountain Geyser
- Visit Mud Volcano
- Drive the scenic Blacktail Plateau Drive close to Mammoth
- Check out Roosevelt Arch on the North Entrance
Are you in search of extra actions in Yellowstone? Check out these posts on the 22 greatest issues to do in Yellowstone and the 15 greatest hikes in Yellowstone.
Don’t miss these close by nationwide park locations for those who’re wanting to prolong your nationwide park street journey!
- Grand Teton National Park – half-hour to South Entrance
- Glacier National Park – 6 hours to North Entrance
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park – 7 hours to Northeast or East Entrance
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial – 8 hours to East Entrance
- Badlands National Park – 8 hours to East Entrance
- Rocky Mountain National Park – 8.5 hours to South Entrance
Read More: 7 Days in Grand Teton & Yellowstone Itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellowstone Itineraries
Final Thoughts on This Itinerary for Yellowstone
I extremely advocate spending not less than two days in Yellowstone National Park. This offers you simply sufficient time to discover the park’s prime points of interest with out feeling too rushed.
Personally, my best Yellowstone itinerary is three days, as proven under:
- Day 1: Old Faithful, Upper Geyser Basin, & Grand Prismatic Spring
- Day 2: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley
- Day 3: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, & Lamar Valley
I additionally extremely advocate including Grand Teton National Parkto your journey. Located solely half-hour south of Yellowstone National Park, it supplies unbelievable surroundings and climbing, plus loads of wildlife.
If you need to be taught extra about Yellowstone National Park, take a look at these posts!
- Add Grand Teton: 7 Day Grand Teton & Yellowstone Road Trip
- Things to Do: 22 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
- Hikes: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone
- Getting There: 8 Best Airports and Flights to Yellowstone
- When to Visit: The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone
- Where to Stay: Where to Stay in Yellowstone
- Camping: 12 Best Campgrounds in Yellowstone
- Airbnbs Nearby: 25 Incredible Airbnbs Near Yellowstone
- From Salt Lake City: 8-Day Salt Lake to Yellowstone Road Trip
Read more: Planning a Trip to Yellowstone National Park – Ultimate Guide
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