Yellowstone
Getting There
The easiest way to get to Yellowstone is by flying into Jackson Hole, Wyoming and driving to the park. The airport is about 1.5 hours from Yellowstone National Park.
Getting Around
When visiting Yellowstone, you will need a rental car. The large roads running through the park essentially make a figure eight. Many travelers opt to drive the lower loop as it has many of the key sights.
Accommodations
Old Faithful Inn
Located right at the base of Old Faithful, the Inn gives you prime access to watch Old Faithful erupt with or without the crowds if you visit in off-peak hours.
Yellowstone Lake Lodge
Right along Yellowstone Lake, this lodge has a variety of accommodation options and enables you to stay in the park making it easy to access all the park has to offer.
Things to do and see
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone was the first National Park established in the United States and is located in northwest Wyoming, but also enters into Idaho and Montana. It is known for having geothermal activity as it sits in the Yellowstone Caldera along with wildlife like large bison herds, elk, bears and wolves. A few of the most notable spots in Yellowstone National Park include Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs and Grand Prismatic Springs.
There are five entrances into the park. If traveling from Jackson Hole you will likely use the South or West Entrance. If traveling in from Montana, the North or Northeast entrance will be the most convenient.
The main roads running through Yellowstone make a large loop. Depending on the duration of your stay in Yellowstone, you may visit the entire park or just a portion of it. Below there are two single day itinerary options. The first provides stops along the lower loop, which is very feasible for a day trip if traveling to and from the Jackson Hole area. The second option provides a longer route and will make for a long day of driving, but doable if you are up for exploring as much as possible in a single day. Be sure to get an early start either way to take advantage of the park.
1-day Road Trip Itinerary
Depending on what your priorities are while driving through Yellowstone, you can drive the reverse route from that listed below. If you are eager to see Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Springs, drive clockwise. However, if you are keen to see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, drive counter clockwise. I did both and preferred driving counter-clockwise. Old Faithful will be busy regardless, whereas you can beat crowds and see more in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone if you visit earlier in the day.
Keep in mind that cell phone service is very limited in the park. For this reason, it is helpful to have an idea on some of the spots you would like to see and a general route since your GPS will not work. Download the Yellowstone app before visiting and enable offline usage so you have access to additional information.
Option 1: The Lower Loop
Start point: Jackson Hole
West Thumb Geyser
If entering at the south entrance to Yellowstone, this will be one of the first places to stop. It is right at the bottom of the loop so can access this first regardless of the direction you choose to drive through the national park. The area sits on Yellowstone Lake and has a plethora of hot springs and geysers all in close proximity to each other. The ground here is active and dangerous, so there are clear boardwalks for visitors to walk along to observe the springs and water pools.
Distance from Jackson Hole: 2 hours
Rating: 5/10
Not a “must do” as there will be many more opportunities to see geysers and hot springs throughout the park. However, it provides a nice spot to stretch your legs if driving up from Jackson Hole and the area is heavily concentrated with hot springs along with a view over Yellowstone Lake
Old Faithful
True to its name, Old Faithful has a fairly predictable eruption schedule. The geyser erupts up to 180 feet, averaging heights of 140 feet and will erupt typically for 1 to 5 minutes. Eruptions are expected about every 80 minutes with a 10 minute tolerance. There are boardwalks around the area along with a large viewing section that visitors flock to in order to see the geyser spray water up in the air.
Distance from West Thumb Geyser: 30 min
Rating: 9/10
This is a “must do” for your first visit to Yellowstone as it is likely what the park is most well known for.
Grand Prismatic Springs
Giant, rainbow hot spring with spectacular colors located on Midway Geyser Basin. There are many different areas to see the large hot spring, as you can pick between going right up to the edge or hiking up a small hill for a view over the spring. The area at ground level can get very busy so would recommend considering the slight walk up to the viewpoint.
To access the viewpoint, park in the parking lot closer to Old Faithful and follow the path out to the Grand Prismatic Hot Springs viewpoint. It is a heavily trafficked out and back trail with a total distance of 1.6 miles and 200 foot elevation gain. The parking lot gets quite full in the summer, especially because it takes visitors longer to view the Springs, but it is worth the wait for a spot to see the magnificent colored hot spring.
Distance from Old Faithful: 15 min
Rating: 9/10
This is a “must do” as the size and colors of the hot spring make it very unique
Gibbon Falls
Easily accessible waterfall from the main road. There is a small parking lot where spots turnover quickly as people walkout to see the waterfalls and then leave. Shortly after Gibbon Falls is where you will have the choice between the short or longer route. To take the smaller loop, head east towards Canyon Village. To take the larger loop, head north towards Mammoth.
Distance from Grand Prismatic Springs: 20 min
Rating: 6/10
Not a must do, but a quick and easy stop if you have time.
Artist Paintpots
Hydrothermal area with colorful hot springs, mud pots and some small geysers. There is a 1 mile trail that enters the partially burned lodgepole pine forest and then goes through the wet meadow on a boardwalk.
Distance from Gibbon Falls: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
Optional stop if time permits
Norris Geyser Basin
Oldest and hottest thermal area in the park. Note the parking lot often fills up here in the summer so many will need to park on the street if choosing to visit.
Distance from Artist Paintpots: 10 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Optional stop if time permits
Canyon Village
The area around Canyon Village provides phenomenal spots to see and explore the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Yellowstone River runs through the 20 mile long canyon. There are many different options when it comes to visiting the canyon. The canyon can be accessed from both sides, the North Rim and the South Rim. North Rim Drive is frequently busier than the South Rim, but both sides provide equally spectacular views of the canyon, Upper Falls, and Lower Falls. The distance between the North and South Rim is less than a mile as the canyon has steep drops down to the river level.
South Rim
The South Rim tends to be less busy so if you are going to pick one side to visit, I would recommend the South Rim.
Upper Falls: The easiest way to view Upper Falls is to pull into the parking lot for Uncle Tom’s Point. There is a lookout of the falls about 100 meters from the parking lot where you can see the smaller, but powerful waterfall. From the Upper Falls lookout, either drive further down the road, or take the 2.5 mile out and back trail to Artist Point and enjoy views of the canyon along the way.
Artist Point: must visit viewpoint that provides an incredible view into the canyon and Lower Falls, which is larger than Upper Falls.
North Rim:
The North Rim is busier, largely because there is a one-way road that consistently is backed up in the afternoons as the day gets busier. Once you get on the one-way road, there are numerous viewpoint stops where you can pull over to get out and view the canyon and waterfalls. Since there are so many stop options and minimal parking, the road gets quite backed up. Once you turn onto North Rim Drive, you will have no other options until you are off the one-way road section.
Red Rock Point Trail: Viewpoint overlooking Lower Falls. Visitors can observe from the road level or can descend down the path made-up of stairs and gravel to a lower viewpoint. It is one of the closest views available of Lower Falls and is just over 250 feet down from the road level.
Inspiration Point: This stop falls towards the end of the one-way road running along the North Rim and provides one of the best views of the canyon itself. You can hike along the North Rim trail or drive up to the nearby parking lot and walk down to the viewpoint.
Distance from North Geyser Basin: 20 min
Rating: 10/10
This a must do, whether you stop at a few of the viewpoints or decide to spend most of your day here and get out and hike. The canyon is beautiful and will not disappoint.
Hayden Valley
Large valley in the park with rolling green fields and marshy terrain. Bison are known to spend time in the fields and often spotted right next to the road or out in the distance. In fact, there are often wildlife traffic jams in the area because cars have pulled over to observe the animals or wildlife is on the road requiring drivers to drive cautiously or wait until the animals have moved on.
Distance from Canyon Village: 15 min
Rating: 8/10
Hayden valley is a beautiful area in Yellowstone, and provides a change to other areas in the park. For wildlife seekers, this is a must do as it is the most common location to see bison.
Mud Volcano
Large geyser area with muddy hot springs
Distance from Hayden Valley: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
Optional stop just off the road
Yellowstone Lake
The largest body of water found in Yellowstone.
Distance from Mud Volcano: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
When driving around Yellowstone, you are bound to drive by the giant lake at some point. Whether you stop or not depends on if you want to observe the lake or get out on the water.
End Point: Jackson Hole
Distance from Yellowstone Lake: 2 hours 30 minutes
Option 2: The Grand Loop
Start point: Jackson Hole
West Thumb Geysers
Distance from Jackson Hole: 2 hours
Rating: 5/10
Old Faithful
Distance from West Thumb Geysers: 30 min
Rating: 9/10
Grand Prismatic Springs
Distance from Old Faithful: 15 min
Rating: 9/10
Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls is where the choice comes to pick between the large loop and the small loop. To take the larger loop, head north towards Mammoth.
Distance from Grand Prismatic Springs: 20 min
Rating: 6/10
Artist Paintpots
Distance from Gibbon Falls: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
Norris Geyser Basin
Distance from Artist Paintpots: 10 minutes
Rating: 5/10
Obsidian Cliff
Large obsidian cliff
Distance from Norris Geyser Basin: 15 minutes
Rating: 2/10
Optional stop if doing the grand loop
Mammoth Hot Springs
Located in the north portion of the park, and very close to Montana, Mammoth Hot Springs has a high concentration of hot springs in a small area. The area is made up of an upper and lower section with boardwalks so visitors can safely explore the area and view the interesting rock formations created from the hot springs. There are active and inactive springs in the area, leaving different colors on the rocks and overall unique formations.
The thermal areas in Mammoth is different than in other parts of the park as the active areas are rapidly changing. The softer limestone reacts quicker with the hot spring activity and changes the color and shape through minerals deposited on the surface. The activity of the springs changes daily meaning one day a hot spring could be flowing over the rocks while the next day it is dried up and a hot spring has become active in a different area.
Upper Terrace Drive: 1.5 mile, one-way scenic road. If you plan to get out and walk around, this piece is not necessary as you can access better views from the boardwalks on foot.
Distance from Obsidian Cliff: 25 min
Rating: 9/10
Must do stop if you doing the grand loop
Tower Fall
Large waterfall located in the northeastern part of the park
Distance from Mammoth Hot Springs: 40 min
Rating: 7/10
Canyon Village
Distance from Tower Fall: 35 min
Rating: 10/10
Hayden Valley
Distance from Canyon Village: 15 min
Rating: 8/10
Mud Volcano
Distance from Hayden Valley: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
Yellowstone Lake
Distance from Mud Volcano: 10 min
Rating: 6/10
End Point: Jackson Hole
Distance from Yellowstone Lake: 2 hours 30 minutes
Other Notes
National Park Pass
In order to visit the National Parks in the area, you will need to pay for a pass. The pass you select will depend on the vehicle you are in, planned duration of travel, and if you are visiting other National Parks as well.
A 7-day standard car pass to the Yellowstone OR Grand Tetons costs $35, while an annual pass costs $70 so if you plan for staying more than 7 days you should invest in the annual pass. Alternatively, the “America the Beautiful” pass has an annual fee of $80 and gives you access to multiple national parks including the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. If you plan on visiting both parks in your visit, consider purchasing this pass in advance.
Bear Spray
The Wyoming area is known as bear country. When hiking, be sure to carry bear spray which can be used if you do run into an aggressive bear. Although rare to run into an aggressive bear, it is not uncommon to see bears while hiking. Bear spray will provide you with a sense of security.
Bear spray cannot be transported on planes (carry-on or checked luggage) so if traveling by plane, you cannot purchase this in advance. Teton Backcountry Rentals provides bear spray rentals from the airport where you can pay a rate per day for up to five days, or around $30 for anything over a five day period. They also have a location in downtown Jackson Hole and in Yellowstone.
Hydrothermal Features
Hot springs and geysers hare move water while mud pots and fumaroles have very limited water
Navigation
Transportation and Accommodations
Things to do and see
Food and Drinks