Yellowstone National Park is the first (and best) national park! No other park matches Yellowstone in the diversity of amazing things to see and do. It’s huge, the size of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, and everywhere you drive, you will see signs inviting you to see a geyser basin, valley, viewpoint, or waterfall. It can take a lifetime to see all these sites and most visitors only have a few days.
4 days is the ideal amount of time needed to properly see Yellowstone National Park. This allows you to view the most famous geyser basins, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, and Lamar Valley. Plus you’ll still have time for wildlife sightings and a ranger program or visitor center. If pressed for time, you can spend 2 days total- one day for the upper loop and one day for the lower. If you have more time, there are several outside-the-park activities as well as lesser-known sights within the park to explore.
So how do you decide where to stop and where to skip? I’m Cheryl and my husband, Matt, and I have been writing travel guides to help people travel to the West since 2020. We live just four hours from Yellowstone and have visited over 30 times! Every time we go, we visit our classic favorites and try something new. Read on to learn the exact itinerary we share with friends and neighbors, plus some of our local secrets on where to stay and the best places to eat.
How To Plan The Perfect Trip To Yellowstone: Everything You Need To Know
Which Yellowstone Entrance is Right for You?
Where Should You Stay When Visiting Yellowstone?
Driving in Yellowstone: 10 Things You Need to Know
Where are the Best Places to Eat in Yellowstone? We’ve Got You Covered.
The Ultimate Packing Guide for Yellowstone & Grand Teton
There are five entrances to Yellowstone. As you can see from the map above, the most popular sites in Yellowstone are located on the Grand Loop Road. That’s the Figure 8-shaped road located in the center of the park. This loop can take 4-7 hours to drive around, without stopping! Each of the entrances varies in its distance to the Grand Loop.
Although the park is almost entirely in Wyoming, three of the entrances are located in Montana. The North Entrance, the Northeast Entrance, and the West Entrance.
Two are located in Wyoming, including the South Entrance, which is essentially (not technically) connected to Grand Teton National Park. The other is the East Entrance.
We have an entire blog post to help you choose which entrance to use, but this chart will give you an idea of where to get started. The bottom line is: choose which entrance works best for your driving route. You may choose to use two different entrances for arriving and departing from the park.
| Yellowstone Entrance | Where People are Coming From |
| West Entrance | Utah, Idaho, Bozeman, MT, or people coming from the Pacific Northwest |
| South Entrance | Grand Teton National Park or Colorado |
| East Entrance | Colorado, or people on a road trip to Mt Rushmore/Black Hills |
| Northeast Entrance | People traveling from the East, or people on a road trip to Theodore Roosevelt National Park |
| North Entrance | Utah, Idaho, Bozeman, MT, or people coming from the Pacific Northwest |
You can also download our free printable that has all the amenities at each of the gateway towns/ entrances as well as driving times to popular sites in the park.
It is very common for people to add other national parks for an extra cool road trip to Yellowstone. While many people won’t have time to get out to Glacier National Park or the Black Hills, Grand Teton is only two hours south of Yellowstone. It is just as stunning with great wildlife and opportunities for adventure like whitewater rafting and biking.
If you have 5 or more days to visit the area, we believe that spending three days in Yellowstone and two in Grand Teton is better than spending 5 in Yellowstone.
Download our Free Quick and Easy Guide to Yellowstone’s entrances!
We kept the “first-time visitor” in mind when we wrote this and included what you must see to say you’ve done Yellowstone properly.
We also believe variety makes for a great vacation so we included a mix of geysers, waterfalls, drives, viewpoints, wildlife spotting, and outside-the-park activities.
One of the amazing things about visiting Yellowstone is that no two trips are ever the same! The spontaneity of wildlife sightings and geyser eruptions keeps you on your toes and offers a new experience every time.
This itinerary will work best from Memorial Day to the end of September. Yellowstone gets wicked cold and covered in snow for many months of the year! You can read more about what Yellowstone is like throughout the year but you do need to know that May and October are high-risk/high-reward months. The crowds are light in these months and the park is beautiful, but an early or late snowstorm can cut your trip short.
BEST SPOTS ON THE UPPER LOOP: Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Fall, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Lamar Valley, Roosevelt Arch, and Roosevelt Cook-Out
BEST SPOTS ON THE LOWER LOOP: Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful), Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basin
BEST THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE PARK: Playmill Theater (West Yellowstone), Virginia City, Yellowstone Hot Springs (Gardiner)
HANDY TIPS: There are 9 lodges and over 2,000 rooms within Yellowstone but they book up fast. you can make reservations up to 13 months in advance. If you want to camp within the park, you can make reservations 6 months in advance.
Because Yellowstone is a large park you must see the top sites in the most efficient order. When you leave in the morning, plan on being gone for the whole day. You don’t have time to backtrack to your hotel or campsite. Pack water and snacks, even if you are planning on stopping somewhere for lunch. You never know when you’ll get held up waiting for a geyser to erupt or stuck in a Bison Jam.
WHAT IS A BISON JAM? Believe it or not, the 5,000+ bison that live in Yellowstone have no consideration for helping the visitors drive to their destination smoothly. How rude! Often, hundreds of them will cross the road completely stopping the flow of traffic. This is called a Bison Jam and they happen every time we visit Yellowstone. Just expect it and take solace that YOU ARE IN YELLOWSTONE!
We think that it takes two full days to see the lower loop but understand that many of you don’t have that amount of time. We’ll list the absolute best spots on the lower loop for Day 1 and then give some of our backup favorites if you have the luxury of a second day.
We recommend getting to the entrance gate by 8:00 am! Especially if you are entering from the West or North entrance.
Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s so big they used to call it Prismatic Lake. It is the 3rd largest hot spring in the world. It is as long as a football field and 120 feet deep, with rings of colors around it. You’ll make two stops to see this: next to it and from the hillside above to get an aerial view.
Grand Prismatic Spring is located at the Midway Geyser Basin and there are some other great hot springs to check out as well. Sometimes it’s hard to get a good look at it when you are next to it because of the steam.
That’s why you also view it from the Grand Prismatic Overlook. It’s a moderate 1.6-mile round-trip hike on a gravel trail…but it’s worth it! You get an amazing aerial view and can see the whole spring. This view rivals the views of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you are able, don’t miss this hike.
PRO TIP: There are two parking lots, one for the Midway Geyser Basin where Grand Prismatic Spring is and one for the Grand Prismatic Overlook at the Fairy Falls Parking Lot. Go to the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot first because it is smaller and fills up fast!
Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful)The name “Upper Geyser Basin” has always confused me because it’s not more north than other geyser basins. It gets its name because it is of higher elevation. What is amazing about Upper Geyser Basin is that it has more predictable geysers than just Old Faithful. There are actually 5 predictable geysers including:
You can get the estimated next eruption times at the Old Faithful Visitor Center or the rangers do a pretty good job keeping the sign at each of the geysers updated. You can also find them online at the National Park Website.
GOOD TO KNOW: There are several geyser basins within Yellowstone and they all have boardwalks to keep the visitors safe. They are usually flat but do have stairs occasionally. Make sure to research the geyser basins you are interested in if you need to use an accessible trail.
Something else great about the Midway Geyser Basin is that it is home to the largest log cabin in the world, the Old Faithful Inn. You don’t need to be staying here to check out this architectural wonder! It’s really cool to go in the lobby and see the locally grown lodge pole pines assembled together.
Plus, you can do one of our family traditions of going to the Bear Paw & Deli and getting an ice cream cone. There is an upper deck at the Old Faithful Inn where you can sit, eat your ice cream, and watch Old Faithful erupt.
There is so much to see and do in this area that we recommend staying a few hours. Plus, there are a lot of places to eat including:
| Price | Name | Service | Specialties |
| $ | Old Faithful Snow Lodge Geyser Grill | Grab and Go Quick Service | Burgers, Value Meals |
| $$ | Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria and Bake Shop | Fast Casual, Grab and Go | Noodle bowls, amazing views of Old Faithful |
| $$$ | Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room | Full Service | Bison, vegetarian cuisine |
| $$$ | Old Faithful Inn Dining Room | Full Service | Signature dinner buffet including prime rib and trout. Reservations required for dinner |
| $ | Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli | Grab and Go Quick Service | Sandwiches, Salads, Ice Cream |
| $ | General Store Upper | Grab and Go Quick Service | Nachos, sandwiches, ice cream, pizza, breakfast |
| $ | General Store Lower | Grab and Go, Quick Service | Nachos, sandwiches, ice cream, pizza, breakfast |
We have a whole blog post about Where To Eat in Yellowstone, but you can plan on spending around $20 for a cafeteria/ fast food type meal and more for finer dining (~$50 and up). We prefer to pack our own picnics because:
West Thumb Geyser Basin. What is wonderful about this geyser basin is that it sits along the edge of Yellowstone Lake. Many of the geysers here are crystal blue and some of them are even in the lake!
This geyser basin doesn’t get the crowds that many of the other ones do so it’s a nice peaceful break.
The best springs are located on your left-hand side (as you look at the lake). Time permitting, the Lake Overlook trail (1.7-mile loop) is a nice, uphill stroll through a meadow providing an overlook of West Thumb. The trailhead is on the south side of the parking lot.
Hayden Valley. You will naturally go through this 10-mile stretch as you complete your drive on the lower loop. Although you can breeze through here in just 15 minutes, we hope that you’ll spot some bison, elk, or even a coyote!
This isn’t really a stop. There are no major parking lots in Hayden Valley, but there are a few small lots with some nice overlooks of the valley. Hayden Valley is all about serendipity. You might see many vehicles pulled over with people gathering for an animal sighting. You might get in a bison jam. Or you might drive straight through. If you see wildlife, stop! Grizzly sightings are fairly common here.
PRO TIP: You must stay 25 yards away from bison, deer, and elk and 100 yards away from wolves and bears. Bring binoculars or a scope so you can keep a safe distance and still view the animals. If you don’t own one, you can read our blog post about Where to Rent Binoculars or a Scope in Yellowstone or buy the ones that we like.
Day 1 contained the absolute, very best places to stop on the lower loop. But there is more… lots more! We consider the sights we list today as “A-list” attractions too. We have some low-effort/high-reward waterfalls as well as some more geyser basins and my personal favorite valley of all of Yellowstone!
If you know you are going to be spending two days exploring the lower loop, you will want to intermix these Day 2 activities with the Day 1 activities and do 1/2 of the loop each day, doing each site you are interested in while you are in that area.
Madison Valley. If you are entering the park from West Yellowstone, you will naturally go past Madison Valley. This is my favorite sport in Yellowstone to get solace and experience nature. You’ll notice fly fishermen hoping to catch a trout in the Madison River, and most likely see deer, antelope, and elk grazing in the valley.
There isn’t a parking lot on a set stop, but there are some pull-outs along the way. If you want to spend longer, there is a campground there that we love to camp in and an amphitheater where rangers host campfire programs.
Firehole Lake Drive. Located in the Lower Geyser Basin, it’s a pretty little drive where you’ll see trees, meadows, geysers, and lakes, with pull-outs along the way. It was closed in 2014 for a time because the thermal features melted the road! There are a few geysers that erupt often on this road: Great Fountain (see above), White Dome (erupts a few times a day for a few minutes up to 30 ft high), and Pink (erupts once a day for a few hours up to 30 ft).
Fountain Paint Pots. This is located at the end of Firehole Lake Drive. It has all 4 geothermal features (geysers, springs, mud pots, and fumaroles). Clepsydra geyser is always erupting. It has expansive views, nice variety, and you know you’ll see a geyser erupt!
Black Sand Basin. Named because of the black ground, this is the smallest of the basins, and the most underrated. There are a few beautiful springs, a mountainside nearby, and a stream. As a bonus, you might see Cliff Geyser, a regular performer, erupt for you. It’s really close to Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful).
Kepler Cascades. One of the amazing things about Yellowstone is that there are several roadside waterfalls that require little effort. Kepler Cascades is one of them! It’s beautiful and easy to see. It is just south of Old Faithful; you have to turn left when exiting Old Faithful.
Continental Divide. Admittedly, this is not one that we visit every year, but it’s between Upper Geyser Basin and West Thumb and not something you see every day!
WHAT IS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE? It’s a boundary that separates a continent’s river systems. At Yellowstone, you’ll see Isa Lake that is one of the few natural lakes in the world that drains into two different oceans. The east side of the lake drains into the Lewis River and eventually, the Pacific Ocean, while the west side drains into the Firehole River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
Yellowstone Lake. Maybe it’s because I grew up going fishing here, but I love Yellowstone Lake! It is the largest high-elevation lake in North America and it’s cool to drive along the lake shore and just marvel at how big it is! A few things you can do in the area:
GOOD TO KNOW: People rarely get in the water at Yellowstone Lake. The shores are rocky and the average water temperature is 41° F. Burr!
LeHardys Rapids. This is a fun stop between the Lake Village and Canyon Village. You get to take a short boardwalk (including stairs) down to Yellowstone River. The sheer power of that river is amazing. If you are visiting in late June or early July, you may even see the salmon jumping out of the water as they swim upstream!
On the Upper Loop, you will see fewer geysers but some of the best that Yellowstone has to offer! The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (awesome waterfalls included!), travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs and the headquarters of Yellowstone, plus the American Serengeti- Lamar Valley!
Just like with Days 1 & 2, we’ll list the absolute “must-see” places on Day 3, and some optional (yet still awesome) places on Day 4, just in case you only have one day to see the entire upper loop.
Norris Geyser Basin. The Norris area is closest to the magma below, and the water is the hottest in the park. Some of it even burns off before it gets to the surface, which exits as steam. Once you get to the small visitor center, you have two choices: Porcelain Basin or Back Basin. They are different but equally nice. You could do one or both loops.
Mammoth Hot Springs. There is technically a 5th type of geyser and it’s called a travertine terrace. This is what you will see at Mammoth Hot Springs. It’s huge and looks like an inside-out cave! We like to have someone in our group act as a shuttle and drop our group off at the top and then meet the rest of the group at the bottom after they have finished walking down. Other things we enjoy at Mammoth Hot Springs include:
INTERESTING: The US Army had to occupy Yellowstone when it first became a national park to protect it from poachers. Several of the buildings in Mammoth were built to house the troops and are now used as offices and employee housing for park employees.
Lamar Valley. This is the world-famous valley where people go to watch wolves and grizzly bears. There are also plenty of other animal species in the area ( bison, birds, coyotes, elk, etc). Lamar Valley is a side road that shoots off the Upper Loop on the east side. There isn’t a set spot for observing wildlife, you just drive the road and look for wildlife.
How much time you spend here will greatly depend on how much you and your travel group value seeing wildlife. Most tourists (including us!) will just do a drive through this area and hope to see something. It’s really pretty, even if you don’t see anything. We almost always see bison and often see coyotes too. If we see a bear or a wolf, it’s usually very far away and we need binoculars or a scope to see it. There are some people who arrive at 4:30 am, set up their scope, and watch the wolves all day every day for their entire trip.
Geyser Geeks. These are people who LOVE geysers. You’ll see them at the geyser basins with their folding chair, sun gear, and picnic supplies awaiting the eruption of a geyser with more erratic prediction times. They know tons. If they talk to you… listen. You’ll learn a lot.
Wolf Watchers. These people LOVE wolves. They know all their names, and the movements of their pack, and will spend their entire trip observing them. You’ll most likely see them at Lamar Valley and they’ll be set up for the day with their scopes, chairs, and food. They are very protective of the wolves but sometimes will let you look through their scope.
Stupid Tourist. This won’t be you, right? These are people who get really close to the animals because they are blocking their path or to snap a photo. If you want to see these people in action, check out our video, Stupid Yellowstone Behavior. It will give you a chuckle.
GOOD TO KNOW: YOU DON’T NEED TO DRIVE THROUGH LAMAR VALLEY TO SEE WILDLIFE. Lamar Valley is out of the way and may not be the best use of your time if you only have a couple of days. Remember, there is lots of wildlife in Hayden Valley, Madison Valley, and Tower (which we’ll talk about soon!)
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Welcome to the best site in Yellowstone (in our humble opinion)!
When you get close to the Grand Canyon, pay close attention because there are three turn-offs in this order (from North to South):
There are at least 8 viewpoints to see two waterfalls here: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. Here are our absolute favorites.
Canyon Village
Although this isn’t a “must-see”, nowhere within Yellowstone has as many services as Canyon Village. There are lots of places to eat, gift shops, lodging, gas and auto repair shop, visitor center, excursions (including horseback riding!), and even a booth where you can rent bear spray. It is the most central service area in the park and accessible from both the Upper and Lower Loop.
Even though we still believe that packing a picnic is best, below is a list of dining options in Canyon Village.
| Price | Name | Service | Specialties |
| $$ | Canyon Lodge Eatery | Fast Casual | Fresh Wok Slow Food Fast |
| $ | Falls Cafe | Quick Service | Flatbreads, sandwiches snacks |
| $ | Canyon Lodge Ice Creamery | Grab and Go | Waffle cones and locally made ice cream |
| $ | Washburn Lookout | Grab and Go | Snacks and Coffee |
| $$$ | Canyon Lodge M66 Grill | Full Service | Soups, creatively prepared meats. Dinner reservations required |
| $-$$ | Canyon General Store | Store and Quick Service | Waffle cones and locally-made ice cream |
Download our Free Quick and Easy Guide to Yellowstone’s entrances!
If you have two days to explore the Upper Loop (and we hope you do!) there are some excellent waterfalls, wildlife viewing, and even a chance to connect with the Old West.
Virginia Cascades. Hit this on the way to Canyon only if you’re coming through Norris. It’s a short one-way drive through a canyon with waterfalls. There is a picnic area here; a breakfast picnic would be amazing!
Dunraven Pass to Mt. Washburn. For most, this is just a scenic drive. The road passes over Mount Washburn before going down into Canyon. It’s a pretty drive with flowers and it’s common to see black bears on this road. The more adventurous can hike (6.8 miles roundtrip, moderately challenging) or bike (5 miles roundtrip) to the top of the peak. Note that there are different trailheads for each one. The paths are steep and you should definitely bring bear spray.
Tower Fall. Tower Fall is located south of the turn-off to Lamar Valley. You can get ice cream, snacks, or souvenirs at the Tower General Store. Take the short walk to Tower Fall. An asphalt trail leads to the overlook which is the best viewing spot.
Roosevelt Lodge. We actually like eating at Roosevelt Dining Room (it has a great deck with rocking chairs too!) and we LOVE the Old West Cookout.
Although we don’t think that Tower Fall or Roosevelt Lodge are “must-sees” we love the Tower/Roosevelt area because we see black bears here the most!
Roosevelt Arch. This is located in Gardiner (just outside the park at the North Entrance). It’s a short little photo op. The arch was built in 1903 when Gardiner was the main entrance to the park. People arrived in Gardiner by train and were greeted with a beautiful decorative entrance. Teddy Roosevelt happened to visit here when it was being built and dedicated the arch. It was fitting to name it after Teddy, who was a conservationist and who set aside more land for protection than any other president.
Even though most visitors stay pretty busy just trying to take in all the natural beauty within Yellowstone National Park, a good mix of activities makes for a really great vacation.
There are scenic river floats, playhouses, shopping, gun ranges, hot springs, zip lines, rodeos, horseback riding, historic towns to visit, and more. We have an entire blog post, 11 Things To Do Outside of Yellowstone, that will give you the details. You can also watch these activities in the video below.
–When to Start Your Days. Get to the gate by 8! You’ll avoid long lines and be ahead of the crowds at the parking lots. If you aren’t an early riser, starting your day around 3:00 pm is also a good way to manage crowds.
–What to Wear. Dress in layers, baby! Most days the temperature will have a 40° F swing. Have a jacket and gloves for the morning and a T-shirt for the afternoon. Make sure to wear bug spray and sunscreen too!
–What to Bring. Comfy walking shoes, binoculars to see wildlife, a good camera, picnic supplies, and a water bottle! You can check out our packing list blog post and/or packing video.
–For Your Safety. Do not leave food out because it attracts all sorts of wildlife, including bears! Carry bear spray if you will be doing backwood hikes. Check out how to use it, here.
–Road Conditions. Pretty much all roads within Yellowstone are paved and passable in a regular vehicle. A few roads do not allow RVs but they are offshoots of the Grand Loop Road. The roads are generally clear of snow from Memorial Day through September.
–Cell Phone Service. You can usually get a signal in the gateway towns as well as the villages within the park, but don’t count on it while you driving around.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo. With the exception of trained service animals, you can only take your dog where you can take your car. Plus, dogs have died falling into geysers and being attacked by wild animals. If you have the option, leave your pup home.
–Services Within the Park. There are plenty of restaurants, gas stations, gift shops, water refill stations, and bathrooms within the park (both pit and flushing toilets).
–Elevation Factors. Most of Yellowstone is around 8,000 ft above sea level. Some take longer to adjust than others. Check out our blog post on how to adjust here.
There are 9 lodges and 12 campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park. Norris, Madison, and Canyon are the most central areas of the park. We prefer to try to stay in one of those if we don’t want to have to switch locations midway through our trip or not have to drive a long way every day.
There are also lots of lodging and camping options at the gateway towns, especially West Yellowstone and Gardiner, MT. We have thoroughly covered this in our blog posts and videos listed below:
-Lodging within Yellowstone can be booked 13 months in advance. Book here
-Lodging can range from rustic cabins for ~$150 a night (Mammoth and Roosevelt cabins) where you share a bathroom to more luxury accommodations, starting at $300 a night (Canyon, Lake Hotel, Old Faithful Inn)
-Camping within Yellowstone can be booked 6 months in advance. Book here
-Fishing Bridge RV Park is the only campground with hook-ups
THE TRUTH ABOUT FOOD IN YELLOWSTONE: It’s mediocre at best. Google is filled with terrible reviews about the food in Yellowstone. Keep in mind that Yellowstone is remote and it’s hard to get fresh food there. Don’t make the same mistake I did and order a salmon burger at the Geyser Grill!
To be fair, we have had some good meals at the Roosevelt Dining Room, Obsidian Dining Room, and the Old West Cook Out.
We LOVE the Wonderland Cafe in Gardiner and had some good BBQ at the Firehole BBQ and Beartooth BBQ in West Yellowstone.
We have a whole post about Where to Eat in Yellowstone if you want to know more. We’ve also included a map below of all the restaurants within Yellowstone by area.
Yellowstone truly is incredible. We hope that this blog post has been a good resource to help you start planning your trip.
If you want to make planning your trip to Yellowstone a breeze, check out our easy-to-follow, step-by-step itinerary.
Itinerary includes:
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Grand Teton: Everything You Need to Know
14 Great Things To Do When Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The Quick Guide to Visiting Custer State Park
9 ABSOLUTE BEST Things to Do in Badlands National Park (+ Quick Guide)
12 Things You Shouldn’t Miss When You Visit Glacier National Park
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