If you are planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park, this is a great place to start. There are many different ways to plan the “perfect Yellowstone itinerary,” depending on your interests and how much time you have. Show
Yellowstone is the second largest national park outside of Alaska. With over two million acres of land, five park entrances, numerous geyser basins to visit, and scenic drives through valleys filled with elk and bison, there is A LOT to do here. Ideally, you need at least three or four days to visit Yellowstone National Park. However, if you are short on time, you can get to the main highlights, even if you just have a day or two. Table of Contents
Record Floods in YellowstoneOn June 12, 2022, Yellowstone and northern Montana had record floods. These floods washed aways portions of the roads between Gardiner, Montana and the north entrance of Yellowstone and roads near the northeast entrance of the park, essentially closing huge sections of the park in the summer and fall of 2022. Since the flood, the park roads are now open. Visitors will now travel on Old Gardiner Road to enter through the North Entrance, which connects Gardiner, Montana to Mammoth. This is a bypass of Route 89 that went originally traveled through the North Entrance. Conditions may still change in the park, and I plan to keep this article updated, but the best place to go for current conditions is the official National Park Service website. Note: During the winter months, only the road between the North Entrance and Northeast Entrance are open. The remainder of the park roads will open in late spring. You can see the opening dates here. About this Yellowstone ItineraryThis Yellowstone itinerary works best during the months of June through October. From early November through late-May, many of the park roads will be closed due to snowfall. It’s still possible to visit the park in the winter, but you will get around by snowmobile or snow coach, which of course will be a much different experience than the summer months. With that being said, you should know that crowds are huge during the summer months (especially July and August). In 2021, Yellowstone was the 3rd most visited park in the USA, receiving 4.9 million visitors. Expect major difficulties finding a parking space midday and be prepared to share walking trails with many other visitors. If you plan to visit Yellowstone National Park for at least three days, we recommend staying in two different locations. Yes, it can be a hassle packing and unpacking, but Yellowstone is so large that switching accommodations can minimize travel time in the park. I give recommendations on where to stay in each itinerary. However, if you want to stay in one place for your entire visit, Canyon Village is the most centrally located village in Yellowstone. A Quick Geography LessonYellowstone is the second largest US national park outside of Alaska. With over 2 million acres of land and 5 park entrances, this place is massive. Yellowstone National Park is primarily located in Wyoming, although it does spill over, just a little bit, into Idaho and Montana. If you look at the map of Yellowstone below, you will see that the network of roads inside the park forms a figure of eight. The main loop is called Grand Loop Road. Bisecting this loop, and making the park roads resemble a figure of eight, is Norris Canyon Road. The majority of sights you will visit are located on Grand Loop Road.  I modified this nps.gov map to highlight Grand Loop Road, the park entrances, and the main sights in Yellowstone. The pink lines are Grand Loop Road and Norris Canyon Road. There are five park entrances, one on each side of the park (north, east, south, and west), with an additional entrance on the north side. Because of the park’s location, and the multiple entrances, it makes an awesome road trip destination. A visit to Yellowstone is usually combined with Grand Teton National Park, Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore, and Glacier National Park. It takes three to five days to see and do everything inside of the park. If you are staying for 3 or more days, I recommend staying at two different locations in Yellowstone to minimize driving time. You can get recommendations on where to stay in our Where to Stay in Yellowstone article. Best Things to Do in YellowstoneHere is a list of the best things to do in Yellowstone:
The wildlife spottings in Yellowstone are incredible and every day offers a different experience. The best time of day to see the bison, elk, and bear are early and late in the day, so plan your visits to Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley during these times. But it is possible to spot wildlife anywhere in the park, so always be on the lookout. How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone?You need a minimum of three full days to see the top sights in Yellowstone. Since Yellowstone is so large, you will potentially spend several hours each day driving from sight to sight. Add in extra time for wildlife sightings, animal traffic jams, and maybe even circling the parking lots midday for an empty space. If you want to thoroughly explore Yellowstone, I recommend spending at least four to five days here. That’s plenty of time to visit the top sights without feeling like you are in a race. How to Get to YellowstoneYellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming. Here are the distances and driving times from nearby airports:
Both Yellowstone Airport and Yellowstone Regional Airport are very small airports, so your options will be limited. You might have better luck finding convenient and economical flights at Bozeman, Idaho Falls, and Jackson Hole. We usually fly into Salt Lake City and visit Grand Teton National Park on the drive up to Yellowstone. Yellowstone is a very popular road trip destination. Here are nearby travel destinations which you can visit before or after Yellowstone:
Note: This driving distances and times are estimates and will vary according to your starting/ending location inside of Yellowstone National Park. If you have plans to visit Yellowstone National Park on a road trip with Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and/or the Black Hills of South Dakota, you have several scenic drives to choose from that cross Wyoming. In our guide about how to drive from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore, we cover the two routes that cross the Bighorn Mountians: Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway. One Day Yellowstone ItineraryWhere should you go if this is your first visit to Yellowstone and you only have one day? In my opinion, the must-see sights for a first-timer are Old Faithful, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and a drive through either Hayden Valley or Lamar Valley to spot wildlife. If you only have one day, most likely you are on a road trip through the USA. Most people visit Yellowstone on a big road trip that includes Grand Teton National Park. If that is your plan, you can start in Grand Teton, hit the main sights in Yellowstone, and end the day in either Mammoth, West Yellowstone, or in one of the lodges inside of the park. Below is an itinerary that starts in Grand Teton and ends in central/north Yellowstone. We also have an article with six different ways to spend one day in Yellowstone National Park. This article includes many different routes through the park to fit your road trip itinerary. Here is a map if you start in Grand Teton and end in Mammoth (but it also works if you are traveling in the opposite direction). How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. One Day Yellowstone ItineraryHere is a sample one day Yellowstone itinerary. All times are approximate, to give you an idea of how to plan your time. 7 am: Drive from Jackson/Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone. From Jackson, it is a 60-mile drive to the south entrance of Yellowstone and takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes (95 miles, 2.25 hours to Old Faithful). 9:30 am: Old Faithful. Old Faithful is the world’s most famous geyser. It erupts every hour and half, give or take ten minutes. While you are here, you can also explore the Upper Geyser Basin. A visit to Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin typically lasts two hours. Old Faithful | Yellowstone Itinerary Boardwalk trail on the Upper Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary 12:30 pm: Grand Prismatic Spring. Take in the breathtaking view from the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. It’s a 1.6-mile round trip walk from the Fairy Falls parking lot. Then, brave the crowds at Midway Geyser Basin for an up-close view of the Grand Prismatic Spring. The view from Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Midway Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary 4:00 pm: Hayden Valley. Hayden Valley is one of the best places in Yellowstone to see bison. If you are lucky, there will be a large herd on the roadside so you can get up close with these animals. Bison in Hayden Valley | Yellowstone Itinerary 5:30 pm: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. You can visit both rims of the canyon, either driving or hiking to the overlooks. If you are doing good on time, it is worth it to see both sides of the canyon. But if you are short on time (or low on energy), go to the south rim and visit Artist Point, the iconic view of the waterfall and one of the most popular sites in Yellowstone. Artist Point, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | Yellowstone Itinerary Once finished at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, check into your hotel. Canyon Village is the most convenient place to stay. If you have plans to drive on to Glacier National Park, stay in West Yellowstone. Currently, you cannot exit the park from the north entrance so I do not recommend staying in Gardiner, Montana. Doing this in Reverse Order: You can also do this in reverse order, starting in West Yellowstone, Mammoth, or Gardiner, and ending in Grand Teton. Go first to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, drive through Hayden Valley, visit Grand Prismatic Spring when the sun is still high in the sky (to see the most vibrant colors) and end with Old Faithful. For more information, read our article about How to Spend One Day in Yellowstone. Visiting Yellowstone on a Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park or JacksonVisiting Yellowstone on a day trip from Grand Teton National Park or Jackson works great. With one day, you can visit the tops sights in Yellowstone, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and see the bison in Hayden Valley. We have a detailed guide on how to plan your day trip from Grand Teton and Jackson. But if you prefer to learn more about Yellowstone from a guide and/or if you don’t want the hassle of driving and parking, there are several highly rated tours that start in Jackson.
Two Day Yellowstone ItineraryThis two-day Yellowstone itinerary is a continuation of the itinerary above, only you travel at a more leisurely pace and you get to visit a few more places. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. Day OneMorning: Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. Watch the geyser eruption from the boardwalk. For a unique view of the eruption (and much lower crowds), hike up to Observation Point. Take your time walking through the Upper Geyser Basin and Geyser Hill. Have lunch at the Old Faithful Inn or assemble a picnic lunch at the Old Faithful General Store. Midday: Grand Prismatic Spring and Midway Geyser Basin. Consider adding on the hike to Fairy Falls. RELATED: How to Visit the Grand Prismatic Spring and Hike to Fairy Falls Afternoon: More Geyser Basins. Located in the same area as Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful are several more geyser basins to visit: Biscuit Basin, the Fountain Paint Pot Trail, and Black Sand Basin. Leave the crowds behind and hike to Lone Star Geyser, a geyser that erupts up to 45 feet every 3 hours. Where to Stay: Old Faithful, Canyon Village or West Yellowstone View of Old Faithful from Observation Point | Yellowstone Itinerary
Fountain Paint Pot Trail | Yellowstone Itinerary
Old Faithful Inn | Yellowstone Itinerary Day TwoIf you stayed in Old Faithful the night before: Morning: Visit West Thumb Geyser Basin and drive through Hayden Valley to see the herds of bison. Optional: visit Mud Volcano, a short trail that takes you past bubbling mud pots. Morning/Midday: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Visit both sides of the rim, either walking or driving to the overlooks. Midday, parking can be limited, so your best bet is to walk to the overlooks. Our top experiences here include Artist Point and Uncle Tom’s Trail on the South Rim and Brink of the Lower Falls, Lookout Point, and Red Rock Point on the North Rim. Learn more about the Grand Canyon and ideas on how to plan your time in our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Afternoon: Visit Norris Geyser Basin. A visit here consists of seeing two basins, Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Unless you catch Steamboat Geyser in action, Porcelain Basin is more thrilling. Steaming hot springs, light blue thermal pools, and noisy fumaroles are what you will see here. Late Afternoon/Evening: Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs that is located in north Yellowstone. Hot, steaming water spills out over travertine terraces, making this one of the most unique geothermal areas in the park. A visit here can be quick, with a short walk to one or two viewpoints. Or, you can spend an hour or two walking the boardwalk trails past each of the viewpoints. West Thumb Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary
Norris Geyser Basin | Yellowstone Itinerary
Mammoth Hot Spring | Yellowstone Itinerary If you stayed in West Yellowstone or Canyon Village: Morning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Where to Stay: West Yellowstone or Canyon Village Three Day Yellowstone ItineraryOur three-day itinerary is similar to our two-day itinerary, with the addition of the amazing Lamar Valley, a scenic drive, and the addition of a big hike. Day OneMorning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin Where to Stay: Canyon Village, Old Faithful, or West Yellowstone Day TwoMorning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Where to Stay: Canyon Village is the best place to stay but West Yellowstone and Mammoth/Gardiner also work well. Day ThreeMorning: Norris Geyser Basin Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, or Canyon Village Boiling River Hot Spring | Yellowstone Itinerary
Lamar Valley at Sunset | Yellowstone Itinerary
Gardiner, Montana | Yellowstone Itinerary PRO TRAVEL TIP: When driving through Yellowstone, be prepared to drive slowly and to get stuck in “animal traffic jams.” Bison tend to stop smack in the middle of the road, blocking traffic in both directions, creating traffic jams. Four Day Yellowstone ItineraryWith four days, you can visit the main highlights of Yellowstone at a leisurely pace. You also have the option to add in a few short hikes. Tip to Avoid the Crowds: Crowds are largest between 10 am and 4 pm in the summer months. If you have four or five days in Yellowstone, you have more time to work with, so it is possible to plan your days to avoid sightseeing at these crowded times. Start early, visit a site in the morning, relax in your lodge or have a leisurely picnic lunch midday, and then visit another site in the late afternoon. Day OneMorning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin PRO TRAVEL TIP: The best time to visit Grand Prismatic Spring is midday, when the sun is high in the sky and the morning mist has burned off of the spring. This is one place in Yellowstone that we recommend visiting midday, during peak hours. Where to Stay: Canyon Village, Old Faithful, or West Yellowstone Morning Glory Pool in the Upper Geyser Basin near Old Faithful Day TwoMorning: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Where to Stay: Canyon Village is the best place to stay but West Yellowstone and Mammoth/Gardiner also work well. Day ThreeMorning: Norris Geyser Basin Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, West Yellowstone, or Canyon Village Day FourMorning: Optional hike near Mammoth. The Bunsen Peak Trail is a 4.6-mile hike where you climb to a peak for great views of north Yellowstone. The Beaver Ponds Loop Trail is an easy 5-mile hike with a good chance to spot wildlife, just make sure you bring bear spray. Where to Stay: Mammoth, Gardiner, West Yellowstone, or Canyon Village Blacktail Plateau | Yellowstone Itinerary
Lamar Valley | Yellowstone Itinerary Another option to consider is this 4 day tour of Grand Teton and Yellowstone. With a guide, you visit both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Along the way, you will stay in Jackson, Cody, and Cooke City. The fee includes transportation, lodging, and your guide. The tour is designed as a safari, giving you the best chance to spot wildlife. Five Day Yellowstone ItineraryWith five days in Yellowstone, I recommend following the four day itinerary and on your fifth day, adding on additional experiences in Yellowstone. Ideas include:
Beartooth Highway | Yellowstone Itinerary Planning Your TripReserving Your Hotels/LodgesIf you want to stay within Yellowstone National Park, in one of the lodges or campgrounds, you need to make your reservation well in advance. Reservations open May 1 the prior year for summer (Summer 2023 reservations open May 1, 2022) and March 15 the prior year for winter. Lodges get fully booked one year in advance but cancellations are common, so keep checking back if you can’t reserve the lodge you want. Get recommendations on where to stay in and around Yellowstone in our post Best Hotels and Locations in Yellowstone. National Park FeeIt costs $35 per vehicle to enter the park and this is good for seven days. America the Beautiful Pass: If you have plans to visit Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks, it is worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. Not only will you save money on park fees for this trip but you will also get free admission to any other national park or federal recreation sites that you visit within 365 days of purchasing this pass. Traveling with an RVWe have not traveled with an RV, so we don’t have experience about what it is like to visit Yellowstone with an RV (but we have seen many RV’s on these roads). If you want more information, I recommend taking a look at this website, for an overview of what to expect in the park. Important LinksCheck park conditions and road closures on the official Yellowstone National Park website. Tours of YellowstoneIf you prefer to visit Yellowstone with an experienced guide, or want to avoid the hassle of driving and parking, here are several highly rated tours to consider.
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow many days do you need in Yellowstone National Park? If you want to see Yellowstone’s top sights, plan on spending three full days in the park. This gives you enough time to drive the south and north loops, visit the long list of geyser basins and hot springs, hike a few trails, and spot wildlife in the park. Is one day enough time to visit Yellowstone? With one day in Yellowstone, you can see a few highlights of the park, so it is still a worthwhile experience. This can be done on a point-to-point road trip through the park or as a day trip from Grand Teton National Park. Where is the best place to stay in Yellowstone? The best place to stay in Yellowstone depends on your travel itinerary. Yellowstone is a very large national park, with 5 park entrances, multiple villages inside the park, and small towns that sit outside of the park boundary. If you have plans to spend several days in Yellowstone, we recommend that you stay in two different areas, in order to minimize how much driving you will do. Where Are You Going Next?If your visit to Yellowstone is part of a bigger road trip through Montana and Wyoming, here are some articles to help you plan your trip. YELLOWSTONE TRAVEL GUIDE: Read our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and links to all of our articles about Yellowstone. PLACES TO GO IN YELLOWSTONE: Top experiences in the park include Old Faithful, visiting both rims of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, visiting the Geyser Basins, and photographing Grand Prismatic Spring. Get the full list in our article Best Things to Do in Yellowstone. GRAND TETON: Check out our Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. ROAD TRIP ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks into one amazing 10 day road trip. Another alternative is to combine Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, and Badlands National Park into a 10 day road trip. SCENIC DRIVES IN WYOMING: Beartooth Highway is located along the border of Montana and Wyoming, near Yellowstone, and is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. If you have plans to drive between Yellowstone and Devils Tower or Mount Rushmore, take your pick between Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. If you have any questions about this Yellowstone itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. How many days do you need to see Yellowstone?How Many Days Do You Need in Yellowstone National Park? You should plan to spend at least 2 to 3 days in Yellowstone National Park. Two days gives you enough time to see the most popular destinations. Adding a third day gives you time to explore some less visited and off-the-beaten-path attractions.
Is 3 days enough to see Yellowstone?But with a little planning, 3 days in Yellowstone can be memorable and exciting, allowing you to pack a few days full of incredible sights and unforgettable discoveries. Here's how to make the most of your time in Yellowstone National Park if you've got three days to spend with us.
How can I cover Yellowstone in 3 days?The Best of Yellowstone: A 3 Day Itinerary. Yellowstone National Park.. Grand Prismatic Spring.. Old Faithful.. Lamar Valley.. Mammoth Hot Springs.. This photo was taken from far away with a telephoto lens. Be safe. Stay at least 25 yards away from wildlife.. Yellowstone Lake.. Storm Point.. Can we cover Yellowstone in 2 days?2 Days in Yellowstone
And it's impossible to see in only two days. You could spend a week here and not see everything. But you CAN hit the main highlights! Start early and stay out late – you don't want to miss a thing. Here are some of our favorite things to see in Yellowstone during a short visit.
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Is 3 days enough for Yellowstone?
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