If you have just a few days on a road trip to Yellowstone, use this Yellowstone 3 day itinerary to see the most noteworthy sights while still getting out into the wilderness on a super scenic hike each day.
As America’s oldest and perhaps most famous national park, Yellowstone is one of those must-sees in the U.S.! And it delivers…with geothermal hot springs, sparkling rivers, lush valleys, dramatic canyons, and wildlife galore. Hikers could happily spend several weeks exploring here.
And not just in summer either. Fall in Yellowstone is also glorious!
Update July 2022: Due to historic flooding, the north loop of Yellowstone National Park is expected to be remain closed to cars this summer. However, other areas are now fully open. Check updates on park closures here.
Yellowstone Itinerary
If you’re going to drive to Yellowstone, use Day 1 as a 1-day itinerary and add Day 2 for a 2-day itinerary. Or, use a Yellowstone grand loop itinerary…Driving one half of the figure 8 highway in the park on one day and the other the next day.
Here is your complete Yellowstone National Park travel guide:
Where to Stay in Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park is huge! The park is nearly 3,500 square miles, in fact, with five separate entrances. So be strategic when selecting the base for your stay to reduce drive time on a shorter visit.
I’ve curated a list of the very best Yellowstone vacation rentals—by park entrance—for you here.
Depending on time and interest, also consider a night or two near one of the park entrances and then move your base to the middle of the park to reduce drive time throughout your visit.
Where to stay inside the Park
Canyon Lodge and Cabins in Canyon Village is perhaps the most centrally located within Yellowstone, for easy ranging north to popular spots like Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley as well as points west and south.
Check price and availability at Canyon Lodge and Cabins here.
Old Faithful Inn is a bucket-list stay conveniently located by Old Faithful. This historic hotel fills fast, however, so reserve early.
Check prices and availability at Old Faithful Inn here.
However, you can choose from nine lodgings inside the park based on your budget and interests.
If you’re camping Yellowstone, be sure to understand the ins and outs of the reservation process.
A Map of Yellowstone National Park: 3 Day Itinerary
Here’s your Yellowstone National Park itinerary for 3 days. If you’re wondering how to plan a road trip to Yellowstone, expand the map below to see points of interest for day 1 (in blue), day 2 (in red), and day 3 (in green).
How to use this map: This map is an image. Click the map to open an interactive version of the map. From there, if you click “open in my maps”, you can add this to your Google maps. Just click the tiny transparent star to the right of the map description to save it in “your places.” Go to “your places” next and there it is!
Day 1—Geysers and Hot Springs
The best way to see Yellowstone in 3 days? Begin with geysers and hot springs. The first day (blue points on the map) works best in the order below if coming from Canyon Village or points north or west. If arriving from the south entrance of the park, do it in the opposite order.
Tip: Be sure to download the Yellowstone National Park app. It’s like having a private tour guide in your car. You’ll be so happy to have it while you travel Yellowstone!
1. Norris Geyser Basin
Old Faithful may be the most famous geyser in Yellowstone, but don’t miss the easy two-mile trail at Norris Geyser Basin to sample a variety of impressive geothermal features, including the largest active geyser in the world. Any Yellowstone road trip needs to include it.
Norris Geyser Basin consists of two loops: the shorter Porcelain Basin and the longer trail to the Back Basin. If time is short (so much to see, so little time!), stick with the Porcelain Basin.
In just a short walk, you’ll take in an impressive overlook, the Black Growler Steam Vent, Congress Pool, and so much more.
2. Grand Prismatic Spring
Just up the road from Norris Geyser Basin in the Midway Geyser Basin is the aptly named Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States and third largest in the world.
Like other hot springs, the center of this one is a vivid blue. What’s more unusual are the orange, green, and yellow pigments around the edges. (Any Yellowstone 3 day itinerary must include it!)
The kaleidoscope of colors is caused by pigmented bacteria that thrive on the minerals here.
The colors made me think back to the bright lime green Devil’s Bath that we saw at Wai o Tapu Thermal Wonderland Park near Rotorua, New Zealand.
Grand Prismatic is one of the most visited destinations in the park—essential to any Yellowstone travel guide—so get an early start if you want to find parking.
(If you wondering what time Yellowstone opens, the park entrance opens at 8 am daily.)
To get this bird’s-eye view of the spring, you’ll need to venture beyond the boardwalks though…What a perfect break for a hike!
3. Fairy Falls
Vacationing in Yellowstone—if you’re a fan of a hike with a big pay-off—put Fairy Falls on your list of what to see at Yellowstone in 3 days.
Park in the Fairy Falls parking lot for this five-mile easy round-trip hike to the falls. You’ll begin on a wide gravel trail that takes you to the overlook above stunning Grand Prismatic Spring.
Keep walking through a wildflower-carpeted forest until you emerge at Fairy Falls, which plunges 197 feet! Plan about two hours round-trip.
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4. Old Faithful Geyser
Vacationing in Yellowstone wouldn’t be complete without a visit to arguably the most famous geyser in the world.
Old Faithful erupts every 35 to 120 minutes for approximately 1 1/2 to five minutes. While it’s not Yellowstone’s largest or most predictable geyser, it’s still a fan favorite!
To make sure you don’t miss it, plan ahead. Cell reception is particularly poor within the park unless you pay for Wifi where it’s available at several lodges.
Your best bet for timing your visit is to check with a visitor’s center or ask a ranger at one of the park entrances. The good news: If you arrive early, you can bide your time at a beautiful and historic spot. (Read on.)
5. Old Faithful Inn
Just a six-minute walk from its namesake geyser, the historic Old Faithful Inn has been welcoming visitors since 1903.
It’s a fabulous place to have a meal (make a reservation to avoid disappointment) or enjoy a huckleberry latte on the outdoor deck as we did.
With 327 rooms, the Inn welcomes visitors from May to October annually. Room rates fluctuate with demand. You can make reservations here.
Day 2—The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Three Days in Yellowstone Day 2! Start your second day in the park with early morning wildlife viewing and wrap it up by gaping at the stunning Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for an impressive finale.
(See red points on the map.)
6. Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley is America’s Serengeti…it’s easy to spot wolf packs and herds of bison—not to mention grizzly bears, bald eagles, osprey, deer, and coyote—across the wide-open vistas in this beautiful valley.
But you’ll need to arrive early or late for prime wildlife spotting. Animals are most active at dawn and dusk.
7. Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces
Loved the hot springs yesterday? Add Mammoth Hot Springs to your plan for your 3 day Yellowstone itinerary. Driving through Yellowstone wouldn’t be complete without seeing this site.
These travertine formations—made out of soft limestone—are not like anything else in the park. Some have described them as a “cave turned inside out.”
Located up at the very top of the park on the border of Montana, they’re a one hour drive from Lamar Valley.
You can choose from two boardwalks on both the upper and lower terraces. Or do them both…and see 50 hot springs (!) in the area.
8. Hike Mount Washburn Trail
As you head back towards Canyon Village, stop at the trailhead for the Mount Washburn Trail on Dunraven Pass. This moderate 6.4-mile hike offers scenic views…one of Yellowstone’s best for dramatic vistas.
If time is short or you’re looking for a shorter hike with a big pay-off, head directly to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone below.
9. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
A visit here is a must on your Yellowstone road trip! Scientists think this magnificent canyon—about 20 miles long— is estimated to be 140,000 to 160,000 years old!
It was formed by a series of lava flows over thousands of years after an initial volcanic eruption 600,000 years ago. Glacial activity eventually gave way to the Yellowstone River, which deepened and widened the canyon.
Stop at Upper Falls Point to see the view (below) of Upper Falls and again at Artist Point for a dramatic view of the lower falls.
If you passed on the Mount Washburn hike earlier, now’s your chance for a short but impressive hike on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim at Uncle Tom’s trail.
It’s not easy though…there are 328 steps that descend part way down the canyon near the bottom of Lower Falls!
Read more on national parks travel:
• 26 best national parks on the west coast
• The best of Grand Teton National Park
• The perfect 3, 5, or 7 day itinerary for Banff National Park
• What to pack for a road trip
Day 3—Lakes and Valleys
It’s time to explore the south end of the park during your 3 day Yellowstone tour! (See green points on the map above.)
10. Hayden Valley
Head south from Canyon Village towards beautiful Hayden Valley for more bison spotting.
Just be aware that wildlife comes first in Yellowstone so you may need to wait if bison are crossing the road.
When we were there during rutting season in August, we arrived to a monster traffic jam likely caused by bison lollygagging there.
A ranger explained that she and her father were once stranded in Lamar Valley for three hours (!) waiting for buffalo to cross. So bring food and make a restroom stop first!
11. Yellowstone Lake
Continue south towards Fishing Bridge Visitor’s Center for views of Yellowstone Lake.
The lake is the largest one in the park, covering 136 square miles. Of note: This lake has the largest population of cutthroat trout in North America!
Lakeside picnic tables make the perfect spot for a solitary lunch…
12. Hike Storm Point
Storm Point offers an easy, flat 2.1-mile loop hike. The trailhead is 2.5 miles past the Fishing Bridget Visitor’s Center as you head east toward Cody, Wyoming.
In summer, you’ll walk first through a meadow of wildflowers until you come to a lakeside trail with big vistas.
Walk all the way to the point and take a breather on the beach before heading back through a peaceful forest of lodgepole pines. Breathe in the sound of silence.
If you go:
For more information on eating, sleeping, directions, and things to see and do in Yellowstone, visit the National Park website.
Headed east? Be sure to check out Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.
And if you’re headed north from Yellowstone, check out this post on 10 awesome things to do in Glacier!
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If you don’t want to take the Uncle Tom’s Trail at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, there is a glorious trail along the south rim from Artist’s Point to Point Sublime. You get fabulous views of the multicolored canyon, hoodoos, and the river on a relatively flat trail. Granted, we have never made it to Point Sublime because the first time we tried a booming thunderstorm hit and the second time we tried on a different trip we went early to beat the crowds. Big mistake. Came within 20 feet of a grizzly who huffed at us and we quietly turned around and headed back!
That is a great tip! Yes, definitely don’t hike without bear spray. The week after our trip I read about a grizzly attacking a young boy on a short family hike near Old Faithful. Fortunately, the dad had bear spray to fend him off! It’s important to remember that wild things are wild and we’re treading in their natural habitat so we must be mindful.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for sharing lot of details and information on your website which is really helpful.
I am planning to visit Yellowstone in the month of late September 2019 (last week) through West Gate for 3 days and will be travelling with my wife and 2 kids (1 & 5 yrs old). Flying to BZN from PIT or any other airport which will be nice to fly for saving some cost. Your 3 day itinerary is very helpful in getting the details, but it will be great if you help me in planning out the itinerary which can be achievable with 1yr old too either in 2-3 days itinerary.
We’ll not be opting for hiking option but a walk & stroller ride will be fine. Mainly looking for drive option with hop on hop off.
I am planning for 2day as :-
Day1:-
Norris Geyser Basin
Artist Paint Pots
Madison Area
Lower Geyser Basin
Midway Geyser Basin
Upper Geyser Basin
Old Faithful
Day2:-
Mammoth Hot Springs
Blacktail Plateau Drive
Lamar Valley
Grand Canyon of Yellowston
Hayden Valley
Do you feel this can be achievable with kids (1 & 5yr) to cover these in 2 days or should I divide them into 3days. If yes, please suggest how can it be divided into 3 days.
Secondly, which can be the good option for accommodation with family and more exploration to the park. Should we plan to take some accommodation inside the park or looks outside in West Entrance or North Entrance. If you have any recommendations on it then please suggest.
Third, we are vegetarians and is the options for vegetarian food or restaurants available in/outside the park.
Regards,
Vikrant
Hi Vikrant,
I think that is a lot to bite off with two small kids and would definitely urge you to add an extra day!
That said, It’s been about 25 years since my children were the age yours are now, so you may want to check out some family blogs for ideas. Best wishes!
Chris
Thanks Chris, one more suggestion needed, whether late September (18-21 or 24-27) will be a good time to visit Yellowstone and can we roam around inside with Car and do a hop on hop off at the attraction points.
Vikrant
I think it’s best to contact the park to ask directly as tourist season is winding down then 🙂
Hi Vikrant – I’m currently in Yellowstone with my 4 and 1 year old, and I think your plan is too ambitious. We are doing three days and using this three day itinerary but modifying as necessary. Today was our first day and we did (1) Norris Basin (2) Old Faithful/Old Faithful Inn, and (3) Grand Prismatic. We were in the park from 1030-7. We could not fit in anything else. Tomorrow (day 2), we’re going to do Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon and if there is time at the end of the day, Mammoth. Day 3 we will do Lake Yellowstone. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much for chiming in Jennifer!
This is such great information! Thanks! One quick question, if you were to do everything you have listed for each day, what time would you think one should start and one should expect to end?
Hi Carol, I recommend an early start to each day for better wildlife sightings as they are active at sunrise and sunset:) Personally, I like to get started early and head out for hikes mid-day to escape the crowds and then spend more time in the evening with my binoculars looking for more wildlife.
Hi, We are planning a trip in the next week to Yellowstone, you mentioned hikes etc are any of these
paths or trails suitable to ride a bike. I have a foot issue that walking gives me grief but I am able to ride a bike.
Thank you for your advice,
Bev
Hi Beverly,
I don’t believe bicycling is permitted on hikes I’ve listed here. But don’t despair…there are lots of great desginated trails for bicycling in Yellowstone. I saw a gorgeous bike trail near Jenny Lake. Here is what the National Park Service recommends:
https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm
Have a wonderful trip!
Jenny Lake, by the way, is in Grand Teton National Park. Very close to Yellowstone, but past the South entrance.
Yes, indeed it is! One of my favorite place in Tetons, in fact. I should’ve specified that so thanks for clarifying.
Hi Chris,
we are planning a trip to Yellowstone this summer and we have 4 days. We were thinking of doing the following:
– day 0: full day in Cody
– day 1: start in Cody, drive the Beartooth HighWay, stop in Lamar around dusk and sleep in Canyon Campground (we have an RV)
– day 2: your red points, night in Canyon Campground
– day 3: your green points, night in Grant Village Campground
– day 4: your blue points, night in Madison Campground
– day 5: start from Madison to go to Jackson through Grand Teton
Do you think we are using our time wisely? I am especially not sure whether a full day in Cody or driving the Beartooth Highway are worth it
Thanks!
Giulia
Hi Giulia! I think it’s a good plan. I haven’t spent any time in Cody so I’m afraid I can’t comment on that. I have driven part of the Beartooth Highway from eastern Yellowstone to Bozeman many years ago and I recall some amazing vistas. That said, I loved the Grand Tetons as much as Yellowstone so an alternative would be to spend a day driving the park there or relaxing at gorgeous Jenny Lake. Check out my post on things to do in Teton here.
Thank you!!! I’ll let you know how it goes 😉
Hi,
We are planning a trip this summer to Yellowstone and I am hoping that you can clarify the route you suggest. We are coming from the west entrance. Are you saying to take Rt 191 south on day 1, then backtrack north on Rt 191 heading north up Rt 89 past Mammoth Hot Springs to Lamar Valley, then back track to Mammoth Hot Springs after Lamar Valley? Or should it be Mammoth Hot Sprints, then Lamar Valley.
Hi Rob, That will all depend on how long you are spending in the park and where you are staying. Yellowstone is huge! To minimize drive time for this itinerary on a shorter trip, I recommend staying centrally near Canyon Village in the middle of the park. Or, pick two or three bases in different areas of the park for a longer trip to avoid backtracking. There are lots of accommodation suggestions in this post. 🙂 I hope this helps.
Chris,
Your three day itinerary for Yellowstone has been extremely helpful as we plan our trip out West. Spending four days in Yellowstone and then driving to Mount Rushmore to spend a couple of days in the Black Hills. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for letting me know! I’d love to see Mount Rushmore one day. 🙂
Hi! I am a little overwhelmed and don’t want to miss anything. We have three days and will be entering from the gate by Gardiner, since we are coming by way of Billings, Montana. It is hard to know which places to hit in order from there. Could you help me? I would so appreciate it. I like your itinerary the best of those I have seen. Especially where to stay.
Hi Diane! There IS a lot to see in Yellowstone, but honestly it might take a lifetime to see it all so don’t stress. 🙂 You will have a magical visit no matter where you go. Did you see the map in the post? If you are coming from Gardiner, I’d recommend you swap out the points of interest that I’ve listed as Day 1 (in blue) on the map for the ones in red that are listed for Day 2. You can start right at Mammoth Hot Springs by Gardiner! The following day, choose from the blue or green points on the map and on your final day, do the color that is remaining. I hope that helps!
This answered my question too. We will be in Gardiner for four nights and Island Park four nights, We plan to visit the Tetons at least one day, a guided fishing trip and raft the Gallatin. We will have 7.5 days to do it all. Do you think we will have time for everything?
Hi Shelli, I think it may be hard to fit it all in. You’re going to be doing a lot of driving if you’re staying in Gardiner, Island Park and visiting Tetons, too. Check Google maps for drive times but there are probably 9 hours of driving between those three locations without any stops. Don’t fret though…It’s still going to be a magical trip!
Chris,
Thanks for sharing your itinerary it’s great! We are hoping to be able to do this trip in late August and follow your route except we will be coming from Jackson and will do Day 1 in reverse. We are planning to stay near the West Entrance after day one. We are struggling to figure out where to stay after day too which ends at Uncle Tom’s Trail. Seems most accommodations are about an hour away and then day 3 would also start an hour away. What would you recommend?
Hi Fran! If you stay in Canyon Village right by Uncle Tom’s Trail, you should have just a quick jaunt (15 minutes or so) to Hayden Valley for Day 3 I think. Check out Canyon Lodge or Canyon Campground. I hope that helps. 🙂
Chris ,
You rock not all the lodges were coming up on my map so I didn’t even have this option. We are all set at the Canyon Lodge–thanks again !
Fran
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the amazing itinerary! I will be spending three nights in Yellowstone next month. I won’t be staying in the park as everything was already booked, but I was wondering if you recommended staying in West Yellowstone (I’m coming in via SLC) all three nights or would it be save time by switching hotels every night. The itinerary I was thinking was:
Sunday night West Yellowstone
Monday: Blue dots then stay near the north entrance
Tuesday: Red dots then drive to the south entrance
Wednesday: green dots and back to the south entrance for tetons on thursday
Thanks!
Dan
Hi Dan: I think that could work, but it’s also a lot of driving so just be aware. Another idea would be to do two days in Yellowstone if you’d like to cut down drive time and add more time to Tetons…which are just as wonderful! Check out my post on Grand Teton here.
How early should I expect to leave in the morning if I were staying in West Yellowstone in order to get to Lamar Valley early enough to beat the crowds/see the wildlife? And same goes for other mornings leaving from W. YS; how early should I leave in order to get the most out of my experience?
Thanks again!
Hey Dan…You’ll want to get to Lamar Valley at dawn for best wildlife viewing and also to miss the crowds. I recommend checking drive times on Google maps for best accuracy. My three day itinerary is packed so the more time the better!
Hi, Chris,
Thanks for your great tips! We are planning on 3 days YS + 1 day Tetons trip first week of August with 2,5,8 years kids. We are staying for night at Greybull, WY, which is 2 hours away from East Entrance. What would you recommend us to see that first day as the road cuts off time at park? Also taking into account that next 2 nights planning to lodge in West Yellowstone.
Thanks!
Hi Valentyna, I might head directly to Canyon village area for the day (red points on my map) via Hayden Valley. There are lots of easy hikes, viewpoints, restaurants, and the beautiful waterfall at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Then you could head to the west side of the park for your other two days.
Hi Chris,
We are planning a Yellowstone trip in June of 2021. We had to reschedule from June 2020. We have 3 days booked at the Canyon Lodge. We have 7 days to visit. We were thinking of staying near Jackson and doing the Tetons for 2 days before our flight leaves out of Jackson hole. What other place would you suggest seeing for our other two days? Should we get a place in West Yellowstone or would staying in the Canyon Lodge cover that area as well? We originally had 2 nights in West Yellowstone booked but now I’m questioning whether that was the best option. Thanks for your help!
Hi Steffanie! I recommend you move south for your two days in Teton after your 3 nights at Canyon Lodge. See my Grand Teton post. I’ve included three great options on where to stay and all of them would work well for you!
Thank you for the wealth of information! We are staying on the East side at Black Water Creek Ranch. We have two kids, 8 and 9 with us. We also have 2 full days. What should we do? I absolutely want to dip in the hot springs and see the grand prismatic spring. Other than that, we’re open. Please advise! Thank you! Nichole
Hi Nichole, With just two days I might recommend you do the grand tour loop in the center of the park. Or, get those kids out on a hike. See my post for some great Yellowstone hiking.
Hi Chris,
Did you do this itinerary with someone else or solo? I am planning on going the end of Sept for 3 days on my own. I am staying in the park for 2 nights at Mammoth hotel before heading of to the Grand tetons in the late afternoon of the 3rd day.
Hey Janet! I did this itinerary with my husband just after we spent 3 days in Grand Teton. But you could totally do this solo!
We are planning to drive from Ohio leaving on a Friday. We are set to get to Mount Rushmore for a quick “ive seen Mount Rushmore” on that Saturday late afternoon. Staying overnight there. The driving Saturday to arrive near Yellowstone late Saturday. We will have Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights to stay near Yellowstone but I also want to see the grand Tetons. Do you think it makes sense to stay in one location for all three nights? Two days at Yellowstone and one at grand Tetons?
Hi Sarah! When I did this Yellowstone itinerary, we started in Grand Teton with 7 days total. We moved twice and STILL drove too much. The parks are both really big. With just a few days total, ‘d recommend either saving Teton for a next trip (even though it’s incredible) and basing centrally in Canyon Village at Yellowstone for your entire stay OR staying in Canyon Village the first two nights with your last night in Teton at one of the lodges. You can read more here about lodging options for Teton under “where to stay.”
Hi! We have reservations at Old Faithful Inn the first week of September this year and I am wondering what days to do your itinerary from that point in the park since that will be our home base. We have a Saturday, Sunday and some of Monday to explore. We are two active adults that can do things fairly quickly.
Thanks so much!
Hi Amy, you’ll be conveniently located by all of the Day 1 points of interest, (Check out the map on the post and expand it to see.) It will be easy to do Day 2 or 3 after that. Have so much fun at Old Faithful Inn. It’s such a beautiful spot!
Hi Chris,
We are heading there late August with plans on staying two nights outside of the West entrance, then two nights inside the park and end with staying 5 nights in the Tetons. No one talks about the fees to get in. Is it worth getting the annual pass (we could use it next year for other parks) or paying the fee daily?
Your map is great!
Marcia
Yes, get the annual pass! It’s $80 and you can use it for one full year. I seem to remember that’s what we did when visiting Yellowstone and Tetons together as it was more cost-effective.
Those are beautiful pictures and it looks like you got a lot done in three days. We went in June and being from San Diego, we were surprised that the the sun was still up at 9pm. It gave us so much more time than we thought we would have in the park. We drove all of the way there so it took us 11 days round trip. It wasn’t a straight shot. We made lots of stops along the way and made the journey part of the adventure. I recommend that people record there trip…even if it is with your phone. Then splice the videos together after. If you aren’t into video editing, you can use the Quik app and it does most of the work for you. That is how I started. Now my family is able to relive our trips over and over and the videos bring a whole different feel of nostalgia.
Hi Chris, I am very interested in your 3 day Yellowstone itinerary (October 9 – October 12). One of the best I have read. What airport should I consider when following the itinerary (West Entrance/starting with the geysers). Old Faithful Inn does not offer me an October calendar. Would you be suggesting we stay in that area for the 3 nights and do our day 2 and day 3 from there? Or is there anywhere else that is centrally located that you would recommend. I am traveling with my 25 year told daughter. We enjoy hiking and seeing the sights. I am so eager to plan this trip after reading your suggestions. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Anna, Bozeman’s airport makes a good choice for flying in and heading to west Yellowstone. It’s about a 2 hour drive from there. Old Faithful Inn is a great choice. Otherwise, try the Canyon Village area.
My girlfriend and I will be visiting Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks in late October. We are holding out that the weather will be cooperative as we will be driving in from Texas entering the Park at the Silver Gate. We will be getting in late on Sunday (18th) and will be staying at Mammoth Hot Springs for 2 nights. So we will have all day Monday and Tuesday to see the northern part of Yellowstone. Per your map above we will do the Red sites and Green sites in that order. We will be driving to these locations but would like to get a scenic hike(s) in each day as well. I am a big hiker but my girlfriend is a novice. What would you recommend that would not be intimidating or too lengthy yet not leaving us wanting more? I know, I tough question.
Tuesday night we will be moving to Jackson Hole for the balance of the visit where we will spend 2 days doing the Grand Teton Park and one day going back into southern region of Yellowstone to do the Blue sites.
Saturday morning we begin the drive back to NE Texas.
Any additional suggestions aside from some decent hikes?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Michael, Check out this post for lots of great ideas for Yellowstone hikes. I’ve included elevation gain and length on each hike so that should help you and your girlfriend find the perfect one!
Hi! We are planning a trip May 2021. We will be headed to Yellowstone after leaving Badlands. Should we follow the 3 day itenerary as you have posted? Also where would you recommend staying?? Same place each night or different places?
Thanks
Hi Rachel! Sounds like you will be coming into Yellowstone through the east entrance so you may want to do the green points on the map first if you’ve had a long drive the prior day to minimize driving. See my “where to stay” section of the post. You’ll find options for searching near the east gate for day one. Then move to the center of the park for the remaining days. Enjoy!
We will be flying in from Atlanta without 12 year old grandson. If we follow your itenerary where you suggest we fly in and out of?
Thanks so much!
Hi Mary Ann, You can do this itinerary in every order. See my notes under “Day 1.” If you’re coming from Atlanta, I’d look into the best flight deals from Bozeman (then start near the North entrance) or Yellowstone Airport and Idaho Falls (west entrance). If you’re interested in also seeing Grand Teton Natl Park, start at the south entrance. (Jackson Hole Airport is inside the park.)
Hello! We just booked 4 nights to Yellowstone, with 1st night in Gardiner (north entrance) and the other 3 nights in West Yellowstone. Would you recommend seeing Mammoth first followed by the geysers (your day 1 itinerary) on day 1 since we’ll be coming into the park from the north? What would be the most efficient way to see the rest? Also, for Lamar Valley wildlife viewing, is there a way to be there at dawn if park doesn’t open until 8am (unless I read that wrong)?
Thank you so much for your wealth of information!
Hi Carissa, yes, you can do those three loops in any order. To get to the Lamar Valley at dawn, you’ll probably need to be staying inside the park. I hope this helps!
I’m late to the game on booking a place to stay it seems. Just myself and spouse. Love your idea of the park in 3 days, but unsure where to book past our initial launching place (possibly Island Park) Any suggestions on “winging it” in July? *I realize it is quite possibly the busiest time of year, but also not looking to spend $400/night on somewhere we are just going to use to a shower and bed.
Hi Candice, it’s going to be hard to wing it in July unfortunately. As you noted, it’s the busiest time of the year. If you can’t find any availability on lodging within the park, perhaps you can find places to camp or vacation rentals (Airbnb, VRBO) just outside the entrances and move your base that way? It will definitely involve more driving though. I’d add time to this itinerary in that case. With limited time, I’d explore just one area of the park, say, West Yellowstone if you’re coming from Island Park.
To minimize on cost, we’re staying in West Yellowstone for four nights. Is it possible to follow this itinerary for 3 days, staying in the same location each night? If so, would you still do the same order daily?
Hi Amanda, it’s possible but you will spend A LOT of time driving. If it were me, I’d choose any two of the three days and add some extra time in West Yellowstone.
Do you have suggestions for a rafting adventure company DOING YELLOWSTONE RIVER CLASS 2-3
And a horse riding co. that does mammoth springs ?
Hi Roshni, Unfortunately, I do not but there are some suggestions for rafting and horseback riding in my Grand Teton itinerary. See #3 and #4! You might call those companies and ask about Yellowstone!
We are going to Yellowstone in June after visiting Grand Tetons. We have two nights booked at the Old Faithful Inn and haven’t booked a third night yet – but weren’t able to get anything in the park for another night. Since we’ll be coming from Grand Teton on Day 1 and staying at Old Faithful Inn, should we do your blue dots Day 1? Then maybe green dots Day 2 drive back to Old Faithful Inn and get up, checkout and then do Red dots day 3? We will be driving to coeur d’alene after we leave Yellowstone so thinking maybe end with the red dots and stay in Gardiner. Thoughts? And thought you for this fabulous blog. Incredibly helpful!
Hi Sandi, I think that sounds like a great plan!
Great, thank you for your help!
Hi Chris.
We are flying in to Jackson Hole and staying at the Parkway Inn 6/22-28. At this point I’m locked into those dates. I will leave 2-3 days open to explore Yellowstone, and did make one reservation for a night at the Comfort Inn in Gardiner, MT (but as I said, I can’t get out of the reservation in Jackson Hole).
Would you completely reverse the itinerary above from Jackson Hole? I have been looking from Jackson Hole but am not sure where to split up a drive/how far to go and then come back to Jackson Hole. Any suggestion would help. :/ I’m frustrated with myself for making the entire res in Jackson Hole, but my mother insisted that my 17 and 20 year old would only want to stay there. They will love what we do, but they are big into shopping and eating, so I have to mix those things up with nature.
Thanks.
PS, we fly in 6/22, I booked the Comfort Inn for the night of 6/24, with nights of 22-23 in Jackson Hole, along with 25, 26, 27 in Jackson Hole. Plan to spend a couple of days doing JH things, seeing Grand Tetons.
Hi Ginna, Honestly, the Grand Tetons are as wonderful as Yellowstone. If I were you and locked into a Jackson Hole stay, I’d spend the nature portion of my visit in Grand Teton National Park instead. Have a look at my post on things to do in Grand Teton. I’d recommend against trying to do this three day Yellowstone itinerary without a base in the middle of Yellowstone as it’s just far too much driving. If you really want to go, consider doing just Day 3 (green points on the map).
Hello Chris. Excellent 3 day guide!!! I am planning for September to going on trip using your guide. For day 2 of the trip, the portion of the loop road between Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon Juction will be closed until 2022. Any suggestion for include these points Mount Washburn Trail, Lamar Valley & Mammoth Hot Springs ?
Thanks,
JR
Hi Jesus, you can actually click on the map in the post and save it to your maps and then I *think* you can edit it from there. That’s probably the best way to look at alternate routes.
Thank you so much for putting this together. This is very helpful. I read your other blogs for yellowstone too and they are all full of lot of information.BTW, we are going to be there for a week and have no plan of visit Teton. My husband and I with two boys, 7 and 10. We are little laid back thus give us always extra days for all the places. Would you please help me putting an itinerary for 7 days?
Hi! I’m sorry but I don’t offer itinerary planning services at this time. If you are laid back, I recommend you take 7 days to do the 3 day itinerary as it’s A LOT in three days. So much more time for beautiful hikes too as you can see in my post of the best Yellowstone hikes.
Hi, I am planning to visit it with my girl friends and we will not have a car. We will reach BZN airport on Friday morning and we will have flight back home on Monday morning. Can you pl suggest how can we plan our trip so we can cover all the popular places with minimum budget? Thanks so much
Hi there, Unfortunately seeing Yellowstone is pretty challenging without a car. In fact, it’s a 90 minute drive just to the entrance to the park from BZN. Without a car and just a few days, I’d highly recommend you look into the availability of a guided tour from Bozeman.
Unfortunately, we have waited really late to plan our trip (Oct 19-23, 2021). There appears to be no available lodging inside the park. Where do you suggest we stay outside the park?
Hi Gloria, It depends which entrance you’ll be coming through. Yellowstone has five! Check out my post on cabin rentals. It’s organized by entrance. I hope this helps 🙂
Hi Chris.
Thanks for the super helpful guide to the park! I had a question – How did you get such an awesome view of the grand prismatic?
“To get this bird’s-eye view of the spring, you’ll need to venture beyond the boardwalks though…What a perfect break for a hike!”
We’re ready to venture beyond the boardwalks! what hike is that?
Hi Prathamesh, the best place to photograph Grand Prismatic Spring is on a viewing platform just south of Grand Prismatic Spring on the adjacent hill on Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail. The colors are most vivid on sunny days around mid-day. I hope that helps!
This is a super helpful post! Thank you! Do you have any tips for us on our trip. At the end of July, we have 3 nights booked in Yellowstone. Our first night is in Grant Village, 2nd is in Mammoth, and the 3rd can actually be either Canyon Village or Old Faithful Snow Lodge. Trying to figure out the best use of our time starting at these places each day.
Hi Sheri, The best way to plan your itinerary when your lodgings are set is to scroll down to the map in this post, save it and then you can edit it to look at drive times from different areas. I hope that helps 🙂
Hi! We could really use your expertise! First trip solo for my husband and I since we had our first kid 6 years ago (we have 3 now). We want this to be a really special time together. We fly in to BZN on Friday Oct 13 and fly out Tuesday Oct 17. We don’t get to the airport until Friday evening and we have to be back to the airport at like 4 am on Tuesday so some advice on where to stay those 2 nights in addition to possibly staying at lodging inside the park 1-2 nights would be super helpful also. I’m not even sure what entrance that means we will enter through 😅 We literally just booked our flights and started the planning process. What do you suggest about lodging since it will be mid October and I believe that may be the end of tourist season and getting very cold? We are from FL so anything below 60 is cold to us! 🤣 I appreciate all the help we can get! We are interested in some hiking but also pretty terrified that we will accidentally get too close to a wild animal so any suggestions on that would be great also 😅 Thanks!!
Hi Shannon, One idea would be to consider staying in North Yellowstone (that’s the entrance you’ll be coming through) and focusing on sights there versus doing this three day itinerary, especially since you’ll already be driving from Bozeman. It’s too easy to spend all your time driving instead of sightseeing since the park is so huge. Otherwise, stay central in the park so you can day trip to different areas.. Canyon Lodge and Cabins makes a nice choice. (There’s a link under “where to stay” in the post.) Then, spend your last night at an airport hotel for your early flight. You can check out my recommended cabins in North Yellowstone here. October is likely to be chilly so pack accordingly. You can find my favorite Yellowstone hikes here. Always talk loudly on the trail so bears have advance notice you’re coming and bring bear spray.
Thanks Chris! That helps! i guess our biggest issue will be finding lodging on those dates right? from what i can see it looks like most of the lodges close in early Oct and we are going Oct 13-17. We are definitely nervous to hike because while we are very comfortable around alligators, Bears and Bison totally freak us out! haha. Also any recommendations on footwear? should we buy some special kind of boots or something? Any other recommendations are welcome!!
All my best recs on what to bring and wear are here in my Yellowstone packing list. Best wishes for a lovely getaway, Shannon!
Thank you for this 3 day guide! We did it all. The Washburn hike was intimidating but we drove up to Chittenden Rd to cut a few miles off. It was absolutely worth it. I would cut out Lamar Valley if you had to cut something.
Great advice! Congrats, Lucy!
Hello, we are coming from Mount Rushmore, so which entrance is the closest from SD. I would like to do the 3 day itinerary. We are eventually flying out of Denver, CO, so we would like to make our way towards which exist to go towards CO?
Best to google map it 🙂
Since I’ll be coming in from the East entrance, I will probably need to change the day order & do the following: day2, day1 & then day 3?
We will stay in West YS on our 2nd day.
Hi! First, thank you for sharing! You’re a wealth of knowledge! Not sure if you’ll even see this, as I’m commenting on an old post of yours. My husband & I are going to Yellowstone the 1st week of September (2023). We will be “vacationing,” the 3rd-8th, but we’ve 3 nights/4 days for Yellowstone.I was wondering if you might have any suggestions on some other neat, fun, interesting, &/or unique things to do as well? Tetons/Glacier, I know. I’m just meaning things other than the Parks? Additional “”must see/do” kinda stuff! My baby just graduated in May, & I’m really adjusting to officially being an empty nester now. This vacation idea was my husbands, just out of the blue. Impromptu, literally like last week! He knows I’ve always wanted to go, (Yellowstone + surrunding area), but it being “out of the blue,” can sure make all the planning, reservations, etc.a little more difficult when you have a month, give or take, to get it all taken care of! That I said, I love and appreciate him SO much, and am beyond excited for this adventure! 🙃.I’ve been scouring the net looking for a few other things to possibly do, but I certainly would genuinely appreciate anything you can suggest!
If you want to keep things here solely about Yellowstone, and your amazing itinerary from the original post, I completely understand! Thank you again for all this information, and I look forward to hearing from you (hopefully) soon!🤞Thank you in advance!
Hi Reenay! First, CONGRATS on graduating your baby and becoming an empty nester. It’s an adjustment but it’s also wonderful 🙂 I am SO sorry I’m seeing your comment too late for your trip :/ Apparently, Wordpress is not sending me comments notifcations. I hope it was absolutely fabulous!!!