Yellowstone National Park is world-renowned bringing in millions of people from across the globe to witness its wonders each year. Planning a trip to Yellowstone can feel overwhelming because the park is big and there is so much to see. So, I am breaking down everything you need to know for your trip in this guide complete with what to see, where to stay, how to get there, and a complete one to two-day Yellowstone itinerary!
Overview of Yellowstone
Yellowstone has a big history. It was signed into law by President Ulysses Grant on March 1, 1872, making it the world’s first national park. It is one of the largest national parks in the lower 48 states and encompasses 3,472 square miles (2,221,766 acres). The park is contained in three states: 96% in Wyoming, 3% in Montana, and 1% in Idaho. There are five park entrances and 466 miles of roads.
There are more than 10,000 hydrothermal features including geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles. This is half of the world’s hydrothermal features located in one place. Microorganisms called thermophiles (heat-loving) live in these features and give them the brilliant colors we see.
It sits on one of the world’s largest active volcanoes, called a volcanic caldera. The first eruption occurred 2.1 million years ago and coated the earth for miles with ash. The most recent eruption left a giant caldera (crater) in the heart of Yellowstone that is 30 miles wide and 45 miles long.
When To Visit Yellowstone
The most popular time of year is June through August, but that comes with large crowds. May and September are the perfect off-season months because of good weather with smaller crowds. You can still visit the park in the winter, but be sure to check the park’s website to research road closures before visiting.
How To Get To Yellowstone
The park has multiple entrances and exit points, so getting to Yellowstone will depend entirely on where you begin your journey. The entrances are named after the direction from which they bring you into the park: North, Northeast, East, South, and West. The most popular entrances are the south entrance (where you would enter if coming from Jackson Hole/Grand Tetons) and the west entrance (centrally located and lodging available).
Most Popular Airports
- Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, WY (South Entrance)
- Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, MT (West Entrance)
- Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho (West Entrance)
- Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody, WY (East Entrance)
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, MT (North Entrance)
Once inside the park, getting around is fairly easy thanks to a 142-mile figure 8 road known as ‘Grand Loop Road’. But my biggest recommendation is getting in the park earlier in the morning as the lines get VERY long mid-day.
Where To Stay in Yellowstone
This depends completely on the area you will be staying in. If you want to stay within the park, there are 9 lodges and 5 campgrounds available. Everything is booked through the Yellowstone National Park website. Once booking, try not to make any changes as there is one phone number for all lodging. Therefore, call wait times can be long. Lastly, try to book as much in advance as possible or your options could be very limited.
One of my recommendations is finding lodging in the town of West Yellowstone, MT. It is a short distance outside of the west entrance of the park and offers lodging, dining, and shopping. The place we stayed was Wander Camp which was a bit further out in Island Park, Idaho. It offered a glamping tent experience in a large field. The beds were so plush and comfortable though!
6 Must-See Places in Yellowstone
Old Faithful
Old Faithful was named for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions. On average it erupts every 74 minutes currently, but the predictions can be found in most buildings in the Old Faithful area. It can vary in height from 100-180 feet. A trip to Yellowstone isn’t complete without a visit to this geyser, but it is the most crowded spot. Be sure to be one of the first few people there!
Morning Glory Pool
Morning Glory was named in the 1880s for its remarkable resemblance to the morning glory flower, but with time the appearance has changed (gold ring around the center) due to vandalism (trash, coins, logs being thrown into the pool). If you walk along the path to the left of Old Faithful, it will take you past many geysers and lead to Morning Glory. Definitely worth the short walk to see it!
Grand Prismatic
Grand Prismatic is the third largest spring in the world and is bigger than a football field at 370 feet in diameter. It has bright bands of orange, yellow, and green around the blue because of the thermophiles that live in the outer, cooler areas of the spring. My recommendation is to park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead and take the trail to the Grand Prismatic Overlook. The trail climbs about 100 feet in 0.6 miles, but the view is worth the climb!
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Yellowstone’s Lower Falls has been described as one of the most beautiful sights in the park. A great lookout point is Artist Point (the one we chose and is pictured here). This short hike is only 0.2 miles and gives you an amazing view of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! Some other viewpoints include Lookout Point and Inspiration Point.
Lamar Valley
For some of the best wildlife views, head to Lamar Valley for sunset. This area did not disappoint with the wildlife, particularly bison. Don’t be in a hurry though because it is not unusual for them to block the road. After all, this is their territory and we are just passing through!
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs is a geothermal site composed of a variety of hot springs with billowing hot, steamy water creating layers of varying colors of travertine. Something extremely cool is that these springs are ever-changing in their appearance. The area has two terrace boardwalks, the upper and lower. Approximately 50 hot springs lie within the area. Some of the top areas to not miss include Minerva Terrace, Liberty Cap, Palette Spring, and Canary Spring.
One Day Yellowstone Itinerary – Southern Loop
- I would start your day at Old Faithful.
- Head down the Upper Geyser Basin trail to Morning Glory and back. You will follow a boardwalk and pass many geysers and sites along the way.
- A few added stops (these require driving): Black Sand Basin, Biscuit Basin/Sapphire Pool, Beryl Springs, and Fountain Paint Pots. These are nice if you are started your day early enough and are feeling up for it. We saw a few and skipped a few, but none of these are must-sees in my opinion.
- Fairy Falls Trailhead to hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook.
- Eat lunch in the car as we found not many places to stop in the southern loop besides gas stations.
- Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: You could hit one or several viewpoints.
- End your day at Hayden Valley to watch wildlife around sunset.
Two Day Yellowstone Itinerary – Northern Loop
- Start the day in Norris Geyser Basin.
- Head north to Roaring Mountain: Morning is when it is most active.
- Mammoth Hot Springs: Great area to stop for restrooms and food.
- Take a dip in the Boiling River Hot Spring if it is open when you are there.
- A few short hikes include Undine Falls, Wraith Falls, and Tower Falls: These are along the northern loop on your way to Roosevelt/Lamar Valley.
- Lamar Valley: To catch wildlife out around sunset.
- Grab dinner at Roosevelt Lodge: Bison tamales were amazing!
National Park Entrance Fee
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter the park and this is good for seven days. If you have plans to visit any other National Parks on your trip or during the year, it is worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year.
Hope this Yellowstone Itinerary helps you plan your trip to the beautiful park!
xx,
Ashley
Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Grand Teton National Park / Big Bend National Park Guide
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