Yellowstone to Grand Teton Road Trip: 3-7 Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks-what a combo! I can not think of a better pairing across the entire national park system that beats the geysers, canyons, waterfalls, wildlife, towering mountains, fun western towns, and awesome outdoor recreation that visitors can enjoy when they visit these two parks in one magnificent trip!

5-6 days is the ideal amount of time needed to properly see Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. This allows time to view Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Lake, and Lamar Valley of Yellowstone. For Grand Teton, Jenny Lake, Taggart Lake Trail, famous viewpoints, recreational activities, the town of Jackson, WY, and looking for wildlife. If pressed for time, travelers can spend 3 days total- one day for the upper loop and one day for the lower loop of Yellowstone and one day to see Grand Teton. If more time is available, there are several outside-the-park activities as well as lesser-known sights within the parks to explore.

I’m Cheryl, and my husband, Matt, and I have been writing itineraries for how to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton (and other awesome parks in the West) since 2020. We live just 4 hours away and visit every year. We have been to these parks over 30 times and can’t wait to share our perfect Yellowstone + Grand Teton itinerary, plus some insider secrets that only regulars know about.

Understanding the Layout of Yellowstone and Grand Teton

This area is HUGE! Do not underestimate the amount of time it takes to see the parks, let alone drive through them. Although they are technically separated by a 1-hour drive on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, the hearts of the parks are 2-3 hours apart. 

Yellowstone (3-4 days). Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and still one of the most popular. It has five entrances, and each leads to the center portion of the park, called the Grand Loop Road. The Grand Loop Road takes 4-7 hours to drive the entire thing (the time difference is due to Bison Jams and other traffic). Nearly all the attractions are on this road, though the entrance roads also provide scenery and wildlife. Yellowstone is a sightseer’s park – the sites are all easily seen from roadside viewpoints or via short walks. 

Grand Teton (2-3 days). Grand Teton is NOT Yellowstone Jr – it’s a very different park. It’s more photogenic, and the mountains are more impressive. It’s much smaller than Yellowstone – it basically has 2 main roads that run north-south through the park, and it only takes about an hour to drive the length of it. It’s much more of an adventure park than Yellowstone, with hiking, river rafting, boating, kayaking, gondolas, and more. It takes about 2 days to sightsee the park, but add more time if you want to play. The town of Jackson is next to the park and part of the experience. 

Wildlife. Both parks are full of wildlife, including elk, antelope, and bears (black and grizzly). It’s more common to see moose in Grand Teton and wolves in Yellowstone.  

Nearby. There are several beautiful and interesting sights nearby that make good add-ons if you can extend your itinerary. Cody, Wyoming, is worthy of two days on the east side of Yellowstone. Virginia City & Earthquake Lake make for a memorable day near West Yellowstone. Pinedale and Dubois are great day trips from Grand Teton to see more of the real Wyoming. Altogether, this can be a great 10 to 12-day vacation.

Watch Before Visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton! [Updates, Lodging, Food, Tips]

About This Itinerary

We kept the “first-time visitor” in mind when we wrote this and included what you must see to say you’ve done Yellowstone and Grand Teton properly.

We also believe variety makes for a great vacation, so we included a mix of geyser basins, hikes, historic sites, lakes, drives, viewpoints, wildlife spotting, and outside-the-park activities.

One of the amazing things about visiting this area is that no two trips are ever the same! The spontaneity of wildlife sightings and geyser eruptions keeps things exciting, and recreational activities like river floats or horseback riding offer a new experience every time.

This itinerary will work best from Memorial Day to the end of September. Grand Teton and Yellowstone get wicked cold (0 degrees!) and covered in snow for almost 8 months of the year! May and October are high-risk/high-reward months. The crowds are light in these months and the parks are beautiful, but an early or late snowstorm can cut your trip short. Read our blog posts, the Best (and Worst Times) to Visit Grand Teton or When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone, for more.

3-7 Day Yellowstone + Grand Teton Itinerary

We are going to give you 7 days of things to do. However, we realize that not everyone has this kind of time.

If you have 3 days, spend two days in Yellowstone: One day for the Lower Loop( combine Day 1 and Day 2) and one day for the Upper Loop (combine Day 3 and Day 4). Do Day 5 (Jenny Lake & Jackson) in Grand Teton.

If you have 4 days, spend three days at Yellowstone: Two days for the Lower Loop (Day 1 and Day 2) and one day for the Upper Loop (combine Day 3 and Day 4). Do the Day 5 (Jenny Lake & Jackson) in Grand Teton.

If you have 5 days, spend three days at Yellowstone: Two days for the Lower Loop (Day 1 and Day 2) and one day for the Upper Loop (combine Day 3 and Day 4). Do the Day 5 (Jenny Lake & Jackson) and Day 6 (Taggart & Activity) for Grand Teton.

If you have 6 days, spend three days at Yellowstone: Two days for the Lower Loop (Day 1 and Day 2) and one day for the Upper Loop (Combine Day 3 and Day 4). Do Day 5 (Jenny Lake & Jackson), and Day 6 (Taggart Lake Hike & Activity) for Grand Teton. For your 6th day, you can choose to spend a second day on the Upper Loop of Yellowstone or visit one of the cool towns outside the parks, including Cody, Virginia City, Dubois, or Pinedale.

DAY 1: YELLOWSTONE – LOWER LOOP

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 we 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 entrances.

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 at a higher elevation. What is amazing about Upper Geyser Basin is that it has more predictable geysers than just Old Faithful. There are actually five predictable geysers, including:

• Old Faithful: every 90 minutes
• Daisy Geyser: ~ every 2 hours
• Riverside Geyser: ~every 6 hours
• Grand Geyser: ~every 6-7 hours
• Castle Geyser: ~ every 14 hours

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 into the lobby and see the locally grown lodgepole 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:

• There are 52 amazing picnic spots in Yellowstone. They all offer great views while in nature.
• You have flexibility. Just stop when you see a spot and you are hungry. They are marked on the map they give you when you enter the park and you’ll see signs for picnic areas as you drive around.
• No waiting in line or having to get reservations. The restaurants in Yellowstone can all get busy. Don’t waste your precious sightseeing time waiting for your food.

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 2: YELLOWSTONE – LOWER LOOP (EXTENDED)

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 spot 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 or 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 pullouts 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, a 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, which 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:

• Kayak at West Thumb/Grant Village
• Eat fish tacos at the Lake House Restaurant in Grant Village
• Get some ice cream in Lake Village
• Go on a Yellowstone Lake boat cruise
• Go fishing. Boat launches are located at Bridge Bay Marina and Grant Village on Yellowstone Lake and on the south end of Lewis Lake near the Lewis Lake Campground.

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 the 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!

Day 3: YELLOWSTONE – UPPER LOOP

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.

• Porcelain Basin. Walk through the little visitor center and walk down into a desolate wasteland. It’s called Porcelain Basin because it’s white like porcelain, but there are some colorful areas throughout. 

• Back Basin. It has a little more variety, with more trees mixed in. There are two options here: a shorter loop and a longer loop. The longer loop is worth it: you’ll see some turquoise colors, along with Green Dragon Spring. The Back Basin also has Steamboat Geyser. It’s the tallest geyser in the world. From 2018-2020, it erupted about once a week. Now it’s back to being few and far between. 

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:

• The Map Room at the Mammoth Hotel. It has an amazing map of the United States made of 15 types of wood from 9 different countries.
• Fort Yellowstone. As you walk around town, you will see lots of buildings built by the US Army. We enjoy just checking them out and observing the elk that roam around town.
• Albright Visitor Center. There are a few visitor centers in Yellowstone, but this one focuses on wildlife.

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 down 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.

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): 

• North Rim Drive (Lower Falls) 
• Brink of the Upper Falls
• South Rim Drive (Artist Point).  

There are at least 8 viewpoints to see two waterfalls here: the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. Here are our absolute favorites.

• Artist Point. This is our favorite view because you get to see the striking yellow rocks of the canyon with the beautiful lower falls in the background. You can walk out to a point and get panoramic views in several directions and view the Yellowstone River from above.

• The Brink of the Upper Falls. Turn right onto the Grand Loop, then right again at the Brink of the Upper Falls. It’s a short walk to view the Yellowstone River right over the ledge, often accompanied by a rainbow. While there, look across the canyon to the very top ledge and you’ll see people at the Upper Falls Viewpoint, where you just were. This is Cheryl’s favorite waterfall.  

• Brink of the Lower Falls. 0.7-miles roundtrip, moderate, paved. Turn right onto the Grand Loop Road, and turn right on North Rim Drive. This is a one-way road. Park at the first lot and hike downhill to the Brink of the Lower Falls. Though this hike is steep, the switchbacks make it easier. Try to do it if you can, because the payoff is seeing the Lower Falls glide over the ledge. It is a gorgeous shot of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. 

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

DAY 4: YELLOWSTONE – UPPER LOOP (EXTENDED)

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 round trip, moderately challenging) or bike (5 miles round trip) 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. 

YELLOWSTONE OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

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.

10 Best Day Trips & Experiences Near Yellowstone

DAY 5: GRAND TETON – JENNY LAKE & JACKSON

If you only have one day in Grand Teton, this is what you need to do!

Jenny Lake

Start your day by visiting the crown jewel of the park, Jenny Lake. It’s a beautiful glacial lake with views of the Tetons in the background. There are also wonderful outdoor exhibits for you to look at as you walk to the lake.

There is a 7-mile loop around Jenny Lake that you can walk, but most people prefer to take the 12-minute shuttle boat (~$20) across the lake, where you can hike up to Inspiration Point and Hidden Lake (2 miles round trip if you take the boat). Hidden Falls is my favorite waterfall in Grand Teton, and the views of Jackson Valley from Inspiration Point are amazing! Plan on Jenny Lake taking 3-4 hours. You can read more details on our blog post, How To Have a Perfect Day at Jenny Lake.

PRO TIP: The parking lot fills up. Arrive about 30 minutes before the Jenny Lake Boat Company opens to easily find parking and not have to wait in long lines for the shuttle boats.

Scenic Drive with Viewpoints

Now, it’s time to rest your legs and go for a scenic drive.  Drive the Inner Road (Teton Park Road) north to Jackson Lodge and Colter Bay, and then head back on the Outer Road (HWY 89) for some great viewpoints. Driving the 40-mile loop without stopping takes about an hour, but you’ll most likely take 3 or 4, making lots of stops along the way.

HUNGRY? There are a few places to eat along this drive. Our favorites are the nachos at the Signal Mountain Lodge or getting a giant pizza at Leeks Pizza. If you just want a drink with some great views, the Blue Heron at Jackson Lake Lodge has wonderful outdoor seating

Here are some stops you can make along the drive

• Signal Mountain Summit Road. RVs prohibited. This is a 15-minute drive to the top of Signal Mountain, which provides panoramic views of the entire valley. It’s a beautiful spot.
• Signal Mountain Lodge. Trapper Grill is located inside and serves a famous mound of nachos – eat it on the deck out back or on a picnic table closer to the boat dock. There’s also a gas station here.  
• Chapel of the Sacred Heart. This is a cute little historic log church with beautiful stained glass, though not as cool as the Chapel of the Transfiguration near Menors Ferry. There is a nice picnic area at this stop. 
• Willow Flats. There are two viewpoints just before you get to Jackson Lake Lodge. These are nice little spots, but very similar to the view from Jackson Lake Lodge. This is good habitat for wildlife, but we’ve never seen any animals here. 
• Jackson Lake Lodge. Don’t let the ugly boxy exterior fool you; this is a cool place. Walk inside to see the beautiful interior of the lodge and get a great view of the northern Tetons. There are a few restaurants here, but we prefer the Blue Heron Lounge, which has great outdoor seating with firepits and amazing views of the Tetons.
• Oxbow Bend. This is a gorgeous viewpoint of Mount Moran with the Snake River in the foreground. Stop to take photos!
• Cunningham Cabin. Photographers might like getting a shot of the cabin with the Tetons in the background. There are often horses here, too. It makes you feel like you are in a Western movie!
• Snake River Overlook. This is a popular photo op of the Tetons with the Snake River in the foreground. Ansel Adams took a famous black-and-white photo from here (see display). It’s really cool to compare the photo to what the valley looks like now and see how it has changed over the years.
• Schwabacher Landing. This is a popular and beautiful spot to watch a sunrise, but it’s also great in the middle of the day! Walk down the dirt pathway for additional viewpoints where the trees frame the Tetons. It’s only about 250 yards and is usually quieter.

Jackson, WY

You don’t really need to have a plan. Jackson is just fun to walk around, window shop, and grab something yummy to eat. We have a blog post and video of great things to do in Jackson to help you plan your evening, but here is a quick list of our favorites.

• Town Square. This is where you can check out the famous antler arches (photo op) at all four corners of the park. Did you know that the Boy Scouts collect these antlers from the National Elk Refuge to make these arches?
• Jackson Hole Playhouse. Even if you don’t catch a play, check out the building. It’s the oldest building in Jackson and is super cute. Their plays are wonderful and so is the optional dinner they serve before.
• Town Square Shoot Out. It’s cheesy, but you kind of have to do it. Every night, from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, a shootout happens near the town square. No killing on Sundays, though.
• Moo’s Ice Cream & Mountain Trails Gallery. Moo’s has great ice cream; grab some to eat during the shootout. Mountain Trails Gallery has incredible statues of wildlife and famous people outside.
• Town Art. Murals and statues are all over town, and they are constantly evolving. They take great pride in their art and sometimes have augmented reality murals or a scavenger hunt map.
• Jackson Mercantile. This is our favorite store because of the creative taxidermy (we love the rafting raccoons!) and the treats. 
• Belle Cose. This is a fancy store (not our style), but inside is Burns 1776, a cowboy hat-making shop that made all the hats for the Yellowstone actors. They have memorabilia from the show, and you can order handmade hats…only $500. 

HUNGRY FOR DINNER? We really like Sidewinders. It’s nice because it’s not located downtown, so it has its own parking and the decor is really fun. Their signature dish is their soft pretzel. For more ideas, check out our blog post, The Best Places To Eat in Jackson and Grand Teton.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE ANTLER ARCHES: The arches are maintained by the Rotary Club. They have to be rebuilt about every 40 years. The Boy Scouts gather antlers from the National Elk Refuge for the job. The current arches will need to be replaced around 2040.

DAY 6: GRAND TETON – TAGGART LAKE & ACTIVITY

Now it’s time to check out some of Grand Teton’s history, go on the most popular hike in the park, and choose a recreational activity that is most interesting to you. I highly recommend a white water float on the Snake River, but choose what you want.

Taggart Lake. 3.7-mile round trip, easy. This beautiful hike is nearly as awesome as Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. Once you get past the boring service road beginning, it takes you through cascades, aspens, meadows, glacier boulders, and pines before arriving at a beautiful lake with views of the mountains. It’s mostly uphill but not too steep and has flat sections. This is a great hike for families because you can play in the water once you arrive. We’ve only gone there and back, but you can take some longer side loops if you’d like.

PRO TIP: The parking lot typically fills early and stays full most of the day. If it’s full when you visit, you can usually park on the road. Otherwise, consider returning around 4:00 pm as it will clear out. This is a very popular hike, and the park will most likely start renovations on the parking lot and trail soon. 

Mormon Row. This is where you will find the highly photographed Moulton Barn, along with a few other cool old historic buildings. The Moulton Barn is where photographers gather for that perfect shot of the sun splashing on the Tetons with the barn in the foreground. It’s located on the north end of the dirt road.  There is parking near the barn, as well as at the intersection just north of the barn, by the other homes and barns. To get here, you can take Antelope Flats Road. It’s great anytime, but is especially cool at sunrise.

FUN FACT: Mormon Row gets its name from Mormon homesteaders who came to the Teton Valley and farmed the land. Unlike most homesteaders who would spread out, they built their homes and farms close together, reflecting their religious beliefs.

If you are really into history, you can also check out Menors Ferry Historic District. This is both a historic and a scenic stop. You can see the Chapel of the Transfiguration (great photo op and I would love to go to church here!) and Menors Ferry, where Bill Menor would transport travelers across the river before bridges were built.

Activities

Now it’s time to experience Grand Teton- not just look at it! Spend the afternoon doing something that really appeals to you. Here are a few of our favorites.

Float the Snake River. This should be the priority, in my humble opinion. The great thing about rafting at Grand Teton is that there are scenic floats and whitewater floats. We once did a dinner scenic float right through the Tetons with Triangle X. The views were unbeatable, and we even saw eagles and beavers. Read our review.

If you like adventure, there are plenty of rafting companies in Jackson that will take you down the Snake River. I did this almost every summer as a kid and it’s my all-time favorite river to raft. Learn more about your options.

Bike the Multi-Use Pathway. This is a wonderful trail that connects the town of Jackson to Jenny Lake. It goes along the main road, but there are beautiful views of the Tetons the whole time. A ride with a picnic (you can have a picnic for dinner!) is a great way to spend the afternoon. We like to rent bikes (especially ebikes) at Dornans.

Kayak on String Lake. This is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen to kayak on. It’s crystal clear with the beautiful Tetons in the background. You also get kayaks from Dornans. NOTE: Parking fills up here by 8:30 am.

Ride the Tram at Teton Village. Teton Village is a ski resort just outside of Grand Teton. It has restaurants, shopping, activities, biking, and a tram and gondola. We think the best thing to do here is take the tram to the Skywalk and get a waffle at Corbet’s Cabin. Read more about Teton Village.

Explore Phelps Lake. 3 miles round trip. This is a great hike for families because it’s relatively easy and starts at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, which has a great visitor center for kids. There is also a waterfall experience, which is just a small waterfall by the visitor center that you can stand in if you wish.

Horseback Riding. Although we haven’t done this yet, we have a few rides already booked for this summer. We have done horseback rides in several national parks and have always loved the experience. For more information about horseback riding at Grand Teton, visit their website.

Look for Wildlife. Grand Teton has so much wildlife! Elk, deer, antelope, coyote, moose, and bears! We especially love to look for moose. Check out our blog post, Where to Find Wildlife in Grand Teton for specifics on our best spots. Gros Venture area, Mormon Row, and the Moose-Wilson Road are good places to get started.

If you still have energy left to burn, you can check out the Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout and Show, catch a play at the Jackson Hole Playhouse, or visit the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar & Silver Dollar Bar & Grill, the most iconic bars in Jackson.

DAY 7: GRAND TETON – THINGS YOU MISSED AND DAY TRIPS TO PINEDALE AND DUBOIS

If you didn’t notice, Day 1 and Day 2 were packed! If you prefer to go at a more leisurely pace, use a third day to catch the things you didn’t get to or to do another recreational activity you are interested in. They really all are great. That’s why we continue to visit Grand Teton every year.

Dubois and the National Museum for Military Vehicles

Who’s heard of Dubois, WY? Not us, until recently… and we’ve been missing out! From the beautiful drive through the Upper Wind River Valley to the Smithsonian-quality Museum of Military Vehicles to possibly the most delicious chocolate pie we’ve ever had at the Cowboy Cafe, this is the best hidden gem of the area! You’ll feel so cool when this catches on because you’ve already done it!

The National Museum for Military Vehicles is located east of Dubois and is an absolute must-do. This massive, top-notch museum had its grand opening in 2022. Honestly, you could spend a full two days here checking out the many tanks, firearms, jeeps, and helicopters. World War II is the star here, with exhibits from major battles and Japanese, Italian, and German tanks. But there are wonderful exhibits on other wars. This museum does not glorify war, but it is unapologetically patriotic.

Read, 4 Great Things To Do in Dubois, for more details if this interests you.

Pinedale and the Wind Rivers

Pinedale has a really fun artwalk that you can take to look at the town’s murals and sculptures. They also have the Museum of the Mountain Man, which we think is really interesting. It teaches you about what their life was like. In the evening, make sure to get some Pitchfork Fondue. There is no entertainment, but this is THE BEST TASTING cowboy cookout we’ve ever done (and we’ve done at least 8!) They have steak, trout, chicken, and all sorts of delicious sides (try the kettle chips with dip!)

Our favorite hike is the Sacred Rim Trail (2 hrs, 4.2-mile round trip). The hike is ok – it’s mostly forest with occasional glimpses of the mountains. The end viewpoint is one of the best we’ve ever seen, looking down into an incredible canyon with multiple lakes. To hike it, stop by the Forest Service building for a map. Even though it’s popular, it’s not an official hike. When we went, the lady working at the front desk drew us a map!

We made a great video about our visit here that you can check out if you are interested.

Where to Stay

DO NOT STAY IN ONE PLACE TO VISIT BOTH OF THESE PARKS. Do not underestimate the amount of time it takes to see the parks, let alone drive through them. Although they are technically separated by a 1-hour drive on the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, the hearts of the parks are 2-3 hours apart. 

We have blog posts on where to stay in both of these parks, but here are the things you need to know

• Lodging in and around Grand Teton is EXPENSIVE. A typical hotel room can cost between $300-$400 a night and a campsite runs around $50. The further away you stay, the less you will pay!
• Grand Teton is small. This means that you can stay anywhere in the park or gateway towns and drive no more than an hour to enter the park.
• Yellowstone is big. So big that we will often spend a couple of nights in West Yellowstone to do the Lower Loop and then switch to Gardiner to see the Upper Loop and Lamar Valley.
• The most central places in Yellowstone are Canyon Village and Madison Campground.
• It’s tempting to stay at the Headwaters Cabins at Flagg Ranch in Grand Teton because it’s between the two parks. It’s a great place to stay for Grand Teton, but too far of a drive to Yellowstone.

Blog Posts	YouTube Videos
Where to Stay in Grand Teton and Jackson	Where to Stay in Grand Teton
Where to Camp in Grand Teton	Where to Camp in Grand Teton
Where to Stay in Yellowstone	Where to Stay in Yellowstone
Where to Camp in Yellowstone	Where to Camp in Yellowstone

Where to Eat

There are several places to eat within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The food in Yellowstone isn’t great, but there are plenty of good things to eat in Grand Teton.

We recommend picnics in Yellowstone because of this, and it’s such a big park that it is rare that you will have time to go back to your lodging to eat. Plus, the spontaneity of geysers and animal sightings can make having to get to a restaurant inconvenient… and Yellowstone is so pretty that it’s nice to eat outside.

For Grand Teton, we love to

• Get a drink from the Blue Heron at Jackson Lake Lodge. They have great views of the Tetons from their outdoor seating area.
• Eat nachos from Signal Mountain Lodge’s Trapper Grill. It’s the biggest pile of nachos you’ll ever see!
• Enjoy Dornans Pizza and Pasta from the rooftop. Amazing food with amazing views (adults only up here…kids can eat downstairs)

You can learn more about where to eat at these parks on our blog posts, The Best Places To Eat in Jackson and Grand Teton, Where to Eat in Yellowstone, and Where to Get Groceries and Picnic Supplies In & Around Grand Teton.

Getting There

If you’re flying, you’ll most likely use Bozeman, MT, Jackson, WY, or Salt Lake City, UT, airports. Idaho Falls, ID, and Cody, WY, have smaller airports, but you’ll probably need a connecting flight and will find them more expensive. Our advice is to use whichever is cheapest, including the cost of the rental car. 

If you are driving, there are several routes. It may be even more efficient to switch up the order of the days of this itinerary based on where you are coming from and going to. Our Yellowstone + Grand Teton Itinerary has exact driving routes and the most efficient ways to visit each of these parks. Included are where you will stay each night and step-by-step itineraries for each day of your trip to minimize driving time and maximize the things you can see and do.

Anything Else I Should Know?

Visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton is truly incredible. It’s something we hope everyone gets to do at least once in their life. 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 a breeze, check out our easy-to-follow, step-by-step itinerary.

• 5-7 Day Itinerary including over 100 maps, charts, and images to keep you on course
• See the BEST of Yellowstone & Grand Teton: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Hot Springs, Jenny Lake, Jackson, the Snake River, Bear Tooth Highway, Cody, WY + the best waterfalls, viewpoints, hikes, drives, and fun activities.
• Includes: Yellowstone Itinerary, Yellowstone Audio Guide, Grand Teton Itinerary, and Grand Teton Audio Guide.
• Lodging and Dining Recommendations by area to minimize driving and suit any budget.
• Must-know booking timelines and checkboxes to help you secure reservations and stay ahead in your trip planning.
• BONUS: Yellowstone + Grand Teton Overview Guide – Only available in this bundle. Includes 3 itineraries (beginning in Bozeman, MT, Jackson, WY, or Salt Lake City, UT) to piece together for this epic Yellowstone and Grand Teton experience. Features detailed maps and recommendations for where to stay each night to make your trip planning easy.