Yellowstone National Park

Written By Kelsey Ciera Drew Adventurers
Majestic view of the Grand Teton rising above the valley with soft light highlighting the rugged mountain peaks.

Grand Tetons

Map of Places
A lone bison walking along a paved road in a wide open landscape, showcasing the wildlife commonly seen in the American West.

Bison

Notes

  • While this itinerary is 4 days you could spend much longer in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons hiking, fishing, and watching wildlife. If you have more time, plan to space this itinerary out more!

  • We drove (so no rental car information) and camped. There are a couple gas stations in the park, fill up daily.

  • Bring bear spray on every hike and follow all of Yellowstone bear safety information. Do not take this lightly, especially when camping.

Woman smiling with Jenny Lake in the foreground and the Grand Teton mountain range rising behind her.

Jenny Lake

A coyote standing alert in tall grasses, blending into the natural landscape.

Coyote

A hot spring with steam rising from the Abyss Pool in Yellowstone National Park, surrounded by rocky terrain and vibrant mineral deposits.

Abyss Pool - West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail

Day 1: Grand Tetons

  • Upon arrival, stock up on groceries and bear spray for hikes. Plan for picnic lunches and campsite meals at your preferred times. There are picnic stops everywhere.

  • Enter via the Moose Entrance.

  • Stop at Teton Glacier Turnout Viewpoint.

  • Visit Jenny Lake Overlook and walk to the lake.

  • Stop at Mountain View Turnout for another perspective of the lake and mountains.

  • Drive up Signal Mountain Summit Road (closed Nov–May) — stop at turnouts and enjoy Signal Mountain Overlook.

  • Visit Jackson Lake Dam, Oxbow Bend Lookout, Elk Ranch Flats Turnout, Snake River Overlook, and Teton Pointe Turnout.

  • Follow US Highway 26 → Highway 89 → turn right on Teton Park Road → continue to John D. Rockefeller Jr. Parkway toward Yellowstone.

  • Enter Yellowstone at the South Entrance.

  • Stop at Jackson Lake Overlook and Lewis Falls.

  • Optional fishing at Lewis Lake (requires valid fishing license that you can get online, different from a Wyoming State fishing license).

  • Optional: Hike if time allows, there are many great trails.

  • Stay overnight at Grant Village Campground (3 nights). We saw coyotes on our site each night and you might see bears!

Day 2: Yellowstone

A couple smiling in front of the cascading waterfalls at Inspiration Point, surrounded by lush greenery and rocky cliffs.

Inspiration Point

A woman smiling with a bison standing nearby in a grassy, natural landscape in Hayden Valley.

Hayden Valley

Old Faithful geyser erupting in Yellowstone National Park, shooting a plume of steam and water into the sky.

Old Faithful

A couple posing in front of the Grand Prismatic Spring from a higher vantage point, showcasing the vibrant colors of the geothermal feature and surrounding landscape.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Mammoth Hot Springs

A heard of bison standing in the grassy expanse of Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park, with distant hills and open sky in the background.

Lamar Valley

  • Start at the West Thumb of Yellowstone and walk the West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail.

  • See Painted Pool, Twin Geyser, Hillside Geyser, Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser, Fishing Cone, Lakeshore Geyser, and more.

  • Drive Grand Loop Road to Potts Hot Spring Basin and Little Thumb Creek.

  • Pull over for scenic stops along West Thumb portion of Yellowstone Lake.

  • Fish in Bridge Bay and keep an eye out for elk and other wildlife.

  • Visit Le Hardy Rapids and Le Hardy Fishing Picnic Area.

  • Walk the Mud Volcano Trail — highlights include Mud Caldron, Dragon’s Mouth Spring, Grizzly Fumarole, Churning Caldron, and Sizzling Basin.

  • Continue to Field Mudpots, Sulfur Caldron, and North Caldron.

  • Optional short hike: Mary Mountain East Trailhead (great for wildlife viewing).

  • Visit South Rim Drive and Upper Falls Viewpoint — end at Artist Point for views of Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

  • Drive North Rim Drive to Grand View and Inspiration Point.

  • Watch sunset from Hayden Valley one of the top spots for wildlife (elk, bison, bears).

  • Return to camp for the night.

Day 3: Yellowstone

  • Visit the Continental Divide inside Yellowstone for photo ops and nearby hot springs.

  • Explore Old Faithful area: watch eruptions, visit the Visitor Center, Café, and Upper Geyser Basin.

  • See Morning Glory Pool, Punchbowl Spring, Gem Pool, and Mirror Pool.

  • Continue to Black Sand Basin and Biscuit Basin (short hikes to pools and geysers).

  • Visit Grand Prismatic Spring — hike the 1.2-mile overlook trail from Fairy Falls Trailhead and walk the boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin.

  • See Opal Pool, Turquoise Pool, and Excelsior Geyser Crater.

  • Drive Firehole Lake Drive to see Firehole Spring, Great Fountain Geyser, White Dome Geyser, and Pink Cone Geyser.

  • Walk Lower Geyser Basin Trail to Labial and Steady Geysers.

  • Visit Fountain Paint Pots and Geysers boardwalk area.

  • Optional swim at Firehole Swimming Area or visit Firehole Falls.

  • See Gibbon Falls and Artist Paint Pots Trail.

  • Explore Norris Geyser Basin and Roaring Mountain.

  • Scenic stop at Rustic Falls.

  • Take Mammoth Terrace Drive and explore boardwalks at Mammoth Hot Springs.

  • Have lunch in Gardiner, Montana (try the elk burger!).

  • Photo stop at Roosevelt Arch at the North Entrance.

  • Return to camp via Hayden Valley, watching for wildlife.

Day 4: Yellowstone

  • Drive to the East Entrance Road — hike as much as you want of Pelican Valley Trailhead (6.2 miles out and back, grizzly habitat).

  • Stop at Washburn Springs Overlook near Mount Washburn.

  • Visit Tower Junction and Petrified Tree Road to see Petrified Tree.

  • Continue toward Lamar Valley — hike part or all of Slough Creek Trailhead (up to 8.5 miles round trip) and look for wildlife such as grizzly bears, foxes, elk, and bison.

  • Fish at Soda Butte Creek or Trout Lake (1.2-mile loop trail).

  • Stay until dusk at Lamar Valley for potential wolf sightings. If you see spotters with scopes, it might help to chat them up. Some let us look at the wolves through their scopes.

  • Return to camp after sunset.

A herd of elk standing in a field beneath a purple and blue night sky, with a full moon rising above distant mountains.
A family climbing and exploring natural rock formations in an outdoor landscape, enjoying an adventurous day together.
Kelsey Ciera Drew Adventurers
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