Heading to Yellowstone National Park and wondering where the heck you should go? I’ve got you covered!
There’s only one Yellowstone National Park. Here you will be able to enjoy everything from colorful geothermal phenomena and picturesque waterfalls, through lush valleys filled with extraordinary wildlife.
Yellowstone is such a behemoth and offers so many sites that it sometimes takes on the feel of an endless competition. Ideally, you would want to spend at least four days exploring the park (I had a bit less time on my hands), though with only 2-3 days you can hit most of the highlights. Use this 3-day Yellowstone itinerary to ensure you get everything done!
Yellowstone Trip Overview
- PTO/Vacation Days Needed: 1-2
- Nights: 2
- Entrance Fee: $30 per car (If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, consider getting the annual pass for $80!)
But first, here are a few facts about the park we wish someone had told us before diving into this Yellowstone itinerary:
Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
If you want to fully experience Yellowstone then summer is the time, as all roads are open and it’s mostly mild. One of the many roads closed in Winter due to Snow. However, July and August are the busiest months but also when you can expect bigger crowds. If you want even fewer visitor and nice weather then June or September (shoulder season) is the time to go.
How to Reach Yellowstone National Park
But if you live far out of driving range, then flying to a closer airport and renting the car will be your best bet. There are a lot of choices when it comes to what airport you should fly from.
The closest airport is Yellowstone Airport (WYS) located 3 miles from the West Entrance. But this is an expensive area to fly into and out of because it so small, you have few direct options (and often end up connecting through Salt Lake City).
- Cod Yellowstone Regional Airport (AXS): The airport near Cody, Wyoming is 55 miles east of the park. Even though there are hardly any flights to it, the destination isn’t cheaper.
- Bozeman Airport (BZN)- This Montana airport has direct flights to LAX. This aerial video blog myst be about 1.5 hours from the North Entrance and translates to about a hour and 45 minutes away from the West Entrance
- Jackson Hole (JAC) — Located about a hour from South Entrance, Jackson is great if you also plan to visit other parks in the vicinity.
- Billings Airport (BIL): Approximately 1.5 hours driving to the Northeast Entrance, another good choice for park access
If you will be visiting both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, I recommend flying into one airport and out of the other. We flew into Bozeman, visited Yellowstone and then headed south to Grand Teton before flying out of Jackson Hole Airport.
Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park
You can either camp or book lodging inside Yellowstone or opt for accommodations in the nearby towns. Below are some of the best options:
Top Lodging Inside Yellowstone National Park
If you want to stay in the park, be sure to book as soon as possible (I heard one year prior because they fill up quickly). If you really overachiever, consider these high level options:
- Old Faithful Inn – This rustic favorite was built in 1904, completely by using local stone and logs.
- Old Faithful Lodge Cabins: A superb alternative in case hotel Old Faithful Inn is fully booked yet you would still like to stay nearby those famous geyser.
- Canyon Lodge: This is one of the newest lodges in a wing-shaped design, and it has a great location just up from the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
More lodging options can be found on the Yellowstone websiteoptions.
Top Lodging Near Yellowstone National Park
If you’re booking closer to your trip and park lodges are full, consider staying in nearby towns:
Best Place to Stay in West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone is only 3 miles from the West Entrance and makes a great staging area. The Explorer Cabins are perfect for larger groups. For a mix of nature and luxury, glamp it up at Under Canvas Yellowstone. Or there are adorable VRBO choices like this cozy cabin within footsteps of the park entrance.
Best Place to Stay in Gardiner
Only a mile from the North Entrance The cute cabins at River Cottages are nice, basic digs with river views and easy access to the park.
If you have the time, add some more adventure to your vacation and take one of our half day whitewater rafting trips a short drive from Gardiner launching at an even more remote step of the beautiful upper Yellowstone River.
Camping at Yellowstone National Park
To book a spot if you are going to drive in, of the 12 campgrounds inside Yellowstone only 5 accepts reservations. I definitely suggest booking a site in advance to keep issues at bay last minute.
Find campgrounds nearby, and e-reserve Madison Campground is the firest come option that you can reserve. It may get crowded, but sites on the outer loop have some space. and it’s close to the river where you can dunk for your lunch!
On my trip, I spent two nights at Madison Campground because it is very centrally located within Yellowstone and not far from many of the most popular sights. On the third night, I stayed at Grant Village Campground on the south part of Yellowstone because we wanted to drive down to Grand Teton National Park.
If you value comfort but like the idea of camping, why not rent a camper van. For me it is always Travellers Autobarn. They have a 3 person sleepable van with stove, microwave, fridge and sink. Unlike most other campervan companies, they also provide unlimited miles! You can collect your van from their Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas locations.
Be sure to check out the Dyrt Pro app if you are not able to get a reservation in the park and would like information about campsites outside of it!
3-Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Yellowstone Itinerary: Day 1
- Lamar Valley
- Undine Falls
- Mammoth Hot Springs
- Boiling River
- Norris Geyser Basin
Yellowstone, on the other hand is wide open country and has an infinity of vast number of highlights which can be easily done with half a mile walks. You will do a lot of driving on your first day to reach the places along this route but they are all worth it.
Expect some unexpected delays by way of wildlife, most likely bison moseying across the road. A row of cars that stops 10 times out of every ten—it is very likely that something lies in the surrounding area.
This day makes for a bit of driving but all done within stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife to keep it interesting. Enjoy time in places like the expansive Lamar Valley and iconic terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. These are some of the best places to watch and photograph wildlife, so have your camera ready!
Stop 1: Lamar Valley
A distant location in the park, but so worth it — get your adventure started with a trip to Lamar Valley. Madison Campground/West Yellowstone is a 2 hour drive away. Lamar Valley is the place to go when looking for wildlife in Yellowstone and a must-visit for anyone hoping to see some of this park’s most iconic animals.
While touring the valley make sure you keep an eye out for bison and their calves, elk as well as pronghorn antelope (limited to North America this is one of its fastest land animals!), and even bears. On our visit we managed to see all of these things in an afternoon.
Make lunch and eat it with this beautiful backdrop in Lamar Valley. The views are unforgettable and it is a perfect way to wind up or down by soaking in the scenery. But also always practice great stewardship in that when wildlife is involved give it a wide berth for your safety and theirs.
Stop 2: Undine Falls
Stop by Undine Falls on the way back from Lamar Valley. An ideal place to pull over and see some falling water incapsulated by the park’s scenery.
My itinerary involved passing by Calcite Springs and Tower Falls between Lamar Valley & Mammoth Hot Spring on the way. Both had tragic news however as the drive-ways were closed for road repair. This are absolutely worth including on your list if the loop is open when you sneak in. He said they offer great scenic rest stops.
Stop 3: Mammoth Hot Springs
Your following target is Mammoth Hot Springs, well known for it’s incredible limestone travertine balconies. The formattions here looks similar to something you can see in a cave just out of the earth. Alright, time for a tip- this is not an area to soak as the water was incredibly hot! This is one of the most popular attractions in Yellowstone, so you might want to time your visit for when there are fewer people around (this never actually happened during our stay).
Stop 4: Boiling River
Boiling River is actually a hot spring where you are allowed to swim! It’s a hidden gem, meaning it doesn’t get as crowded here. Only a short 5-minute drive from Mammoth Hot Springs, it is excellent for soaking in natural hot springs.
Boiling River (though, when I went it was closed so unfortunately I couldn’t dip in), but that people have very rave reviews when said rive is open!
Stop 5: Norris Geyser Basin
A fun fact: Did you know that 60% of the world’s geysers are inside Yellowstone? The park contains more than 10,000 hydrothermal features such as geysers (pictured above), mudpots and hot springs that produce mineralized water; fumaroles that vent steam from the ground into the air; and travertine terraces formed by calcium carbonate deposits. Be sure to visit Norris Geyser Basin, one of the most active geyser basins in the park on your return trip westward toward your West Yellowstone area lodging.
The southern part of Norris Geyser Basin is divided into Porcelain Basin and Back Basin. Instead, we hiked the ¾ mile Porcelain Basin trail, a big open area with burst of color and bubbling geothermal features. The Back Basin, on the other hand has a 1.5-mile trail that takes you to thermal spots in amongst trees for more of an woodland experience. The two sections are such a contrasting site that Norris Point is always worth a stop on any itinerary.
Yellowstone Itinerary: Day 2
- Old Faithful
- Upper Geyser Basin
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Firehole River
First Stop: Old Faithful
One of the most well known landmarks in Yellowstone, you simply cannot visit without seeing Old Faithful erupt (predictably) roughly every 75 minutes. The boiling waters erupt with 1-minute intervals and the height of each eruption reaches to as high as 140 feet in only a few minutes!
To follow the times of eruptions, download the Yellowstone National Park app. Come about 15 to 20 minutes early for a good spot. They have benches set up right in front of the geyser that you can sit on while waiting for it to erupt. To avoid crowds, it’s best to arrive by 10:00 a.m —though this area is more crowded than other areas of the park.
Stop 2: Upper Geyser Basin
Circle the wooden boardwalks of Upper Geyser Basin to see them up close. There are some more equally impressive geysers and other hydrothermal features that you can explore in the area.
Stop 3: Grand Prismatic Spring
The Grand Prismatic Spring is just as beautiful in person, if not more so. The colors of the spring range from vibrant rainbows and are quite lovely to look at both while driving by or on feet —which I highly recommend doing so!
View From Above: Park at the Fairy Falls trailhead, and walk roughly ¾ mile to the overlook. But the trail goes onto Fairy Falls, and we went as far as the overlook because of time. Stupendous view of colors spark from the above.
At Ground Level After the hike From there drive a mile down. to Grand Prismatic parking lot Street parking as another option, though if the lots are full you’ll have to search for a spot along side which assures timely retrieval work on that much more difficult than what takes place in doors Take the raised boardwalk through mostly monotonous sights (a few other geothermal features) until you get to this spring. Up close and in person you can actually feel the heat radiating off the water, and even steam looks as though it dances with a rainbow iridescence!
Stop 4: Firehole River
There are only two areas in Yellowstone where you can take a swim, and Firehole River is one of them. Relax with a swim in the Firehole River After exploring iconic sites earlier like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring, enjoy a much-needed break by your trip for taking plunge inside your river. Basically the ideal spot to relax and cool down after a day of park adventuring!
Yellowstone Itinerary: Day 3
- West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Kayak on Yellowstone Lake
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone – Artist Point
- Hayden Valley
Stop 1: West Thumb Geyser Basin
End your last day at West Thumb Geyser Basin which is the perfect spot for early birds to catch a beautiful sunrise Out of the geyser basins, West Thumb is unique in that it abuts Yellowstone Lake and you are able to catch a glimpse at shot opportunities with the lake as your seamless backdrop — worth visiting!
Stop 2: Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake is the largest high altitude lake in North America. Although the lake is an icebox all year long (about 41°F), kayaking on it boards allows you to see its beauty firsthand. They said kayak rentals are available at a place nearby for anyone who wanted to get out on the water.
Stop 3: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Head north about an hour past West Thumb to reach one of the park’s most beautiful locations, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Start at Artist Point on the South Rim for a dramatic view of Yellowstone Waterfall roaring into the canyon walls.
After that, go to the North Rim’s Lookout Point for a view of them up close. You can go the easy walkway to get fairly high, or you go on the switchback trail up higher. Both rims have incredible overlooks, so spend time running the length of both.
Stop 4: Hayden Valley
End your day with some wildlife watching in Hayden Valley. Wolves can be typically seen during 5 to 7 in the evening. You could still miss them, but this is your best shot. Watch Out for this one-You may be the lucky observer! And while you may not encounter many wolves, there is more than enough wildlife elsewhere in the valley to keep you busy.
Yellowstone Packing List
- REI Joule Sleeping Bag – This is the sleeping bag I use, and it’s been a game-changer for my trips.
- Inflatable Sleeping Pad – Comfort on the go! This pad makes camping so much better.
- Portable Rocking Chair – Seriously, this chair is a must-have for relaxing by the campfire.
- REI Flexlite Chair – A low-profile, space-saving camping chair that’s perfect for compact packing.
- The COLDEST Water Bottle – Keeps drinks colder longer than any other bottle I’ve tried.
- Decathlon 2-Second Tent – This tent is incredibly easy to set up, and the blackout material lets you sleep in a bit longer.
- Hiking Boots – My go-to boots for all my hikes—comfortable and reliable.
- Camping String Lights – These lights add a cozy touch to the campsite, and I love the ones I have!
- Travel Towel – A must for staying fresh on your adventures.
- Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket – I take this jacket everywhere! Lightweight, packable, and perfect for staying warm.
- Sunski Polarized Glasses – These sunglasses are a lifesaver for sunny days outdoors.
- Camping Cooler – Keeps your food fresh for longer, ideal for extended trips.
- Portable Phone Charger – Essential for keeping your devices powered up.
- Clif Bar Energy Chews – Great for a quick energy boost during hikes!
- Kuhl Softshell Pants – These pants are my favorite for cold-weather hikes or camping.
- Periscoping Roasting Sticks – Perfect for roasting s’mores or hot dogs over the fire.
- Camping Grill – A great addition for cooking up meals; this grill works like a charm!
Pro tip: I pack a bunch of SaladPower pouches and take them with me on my trips! The perfect way to pack in those daily veggies while adventuring through the mountains.
Other Important Notes for Your Yellowstone Trip
- No Cell Service: Much of Yellowstone is a dead zone for cell reception, it’s best to download the maps in your app. Once an invitation is received from on my side ( Wyoming map ) This means you can also use the map offline, a feature that has long been with google maps. I use it for 95% of my rides!
- Binoculars: Must haves for wildlife watching at a safe distance.
- Stay At A Safe Distance: Always ensure to keep a safe distance from wildlife, as this will be beneficial for the safety of both; yourself and them.
- Upgrade Your Rental Car: This is one destination where it definitely pays to splurge a little on that roomier, more comfortable rental. Given that you will spend quite some time inside a park driving around, having an improved ride is worth when traveling through.
- Markets & Supplies: Throughout Old Faithful, Grant Village, Madison and Canyon Here you can find the basics like gas, firewood, ice and snacks.
