Best things to do in Yellowstone National Park. How to plan your time, best time of year to visit, map, photos, updated for 2024.
Day 1: Lower Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic, Fairy Falls, Old Faithful, Day 2: Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon, Day 3: Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, Storm Point
Experience the charm of Yellowstone's hot springs: dive into geothermal bliss surrounded by beautiful scenery and hypnotic steam.
See the best sights, make the most of your time, and avoid the crowds with this Yellowstone Itinerary -- written by a former park ranger!
Looking for information on the best yellowstone entrances? Learn the pros and cons of each Yellowstone entrance and where to stay in this post!
Best things to do in Yellowstone National Park. How to plan your time, best time of year to visit, map, photos, updated for 2024.
List of the best easy hikes in Yellowstone National Park; Map of the easy hiking trails in Yellowstone; wheelchair accessible hikes in Yellowstone.
Our 2 Day Best of Yellowstone National Park itinerary: from the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Norris Geysers, Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake, each itinerary route is its own day in the park and covers the best sights and tips for enjoying driving through Yellowstone National Park.
Planning a visit to Yellowstone National Park? Here is your list of the must-see attractions in Yellowstone National Park!
Three of the Best Drives Through Yellowstone National Park Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in the world and quickly became a model for conservation efforts elsewhere. Located primarily in the northwest corner or Wyoming, Yellowstone is a unique and spectacular ecosystem that has long drawn Native Americans, fur trappers, pioneers, artists, and tourists. For first-time visitors, however, Yellowstone's vastness can be intimidating and the number of attractions on offer are often overwhelming. To try to make a visit to Yellowstone more manageable, below are three routes through the park, each one offering a glimpse of why this corner of the world continue to awe and inspire. Land of the Geysers The route from the South Entrance to the North Entrance stretches along the western portion of the park and takes in some of Yellowstone's most iconic features. Perhaps the park's most famous sight and certainly world's most famous geyser, Old Faithful, is located along this route. The approximate times for eruptions are posted at the nearby visitor center. While spectacular in its own right, Old Faithful is not the only geyser to be found in Yellowstone. In fact, from here to Norris visitors can drive through the highest concentration of geysers in the world. The sight of steam rising from rivers, hot springs, and impossibly blue pools is one of the most unique and beautiful in the world. One of the highlights along this drive is Grand Prismatic, the world's largest hot spring. With its vivid blue, oranges, and yellows, Grand Prismatic is a particular delight to photographers. In and around Norris can also be found the Geyser Basin Museum, where visitors can learn about the geology of the area, and the Museum of the National Park Ranger. Continuing north of Norris towards the North Entrance takes visitors past the Obsidian Cliff, where volcanic glass was once quarried by Native Americans who used it for tools and weapons. Wildlife Country Yellowstone is as much famous for its wildlife as it is for its geysers. For the best chance of viewing some of the park's famous inhabitants, the drive from the Northeast Entrance to Canyon Village is a must. The route starts off by going through the Lamar Valley, which is one of the best places to spot elk and bison along with their predators, such as wolves, foxes, and coyotes. Turning south at Tower-Roosevelt will take visitors through the Antelope Creek valley, where visitors have the best chance of seeing the park's largest carnivore, the grizzly bear. Note, however, that human travel is highly restricted in this area and that approaching and feeding wildlife is not only illegal, but extremely dangerous. Finally, once reaching Canyon Village visitors will be able to enjoy one of the most spectacular sights Yellowstone has to offer. At 308 feet, Lower Falls on the Yellowstone River has long inspired poets, photographers, and artists and the view from the aptly-named Artist Point is definitely one that should not be missed. Along the Lake Yellowstone Lake is the largest high-altitude lake in North America and takes up much of the southeastern corner of the park. The drive from the East Entrance to West Thumb is the best route to take to experience this beautiful body of water. From Lake Butte Overlook, visitors can get an idea of the vastness of not just the lake, but of the park itself. While fishing has been prohibited at Fishing Bridge since the 1970s, visitors here can still enjoy views of wild trout spawning where the Yellowstone River begins its long journey northwards towards the Missouri River in Montana. Nearby Bridge Bay is also a good place to enjoy tours of Yellowstone Lake. For people bringing their own watercraft, much of the lake is open to boating excepting for parts of the South Arm and Southeast Arm where only hand-propelled watercrafts are allowed. Finally, the geysers that line the shore at West Thumb are another sight wholly unique to Yellowstone. Whether to see geysers, wildlife, waterfalls, or simply to experience the great outdoors, Yellowstone offers an almost unbelievable array of options for visitors. Although it would take months to truly appreciate everything this great park has to offer, even a stay of just a few days is bound to leave visitors with memories they will cherish forever.
Discover the best places to see and top things to do in Yellowstone National Park, from iconic geysers to scenic drives and wildlife. Learn how to plan your time, where to stay, and what to expect with helpful tips and map.
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Here are the best Yellowstone scenic drives. Includes the best views, how to get there, and insider tips. Discover the best scenic views in Yellowstone.
Your 7 days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton includes iconic geysers and amazing mountain views. Get the detailed itinerary, tips, and more.
Wondering where to stay in Yellowstone? You’re not alone! On our first trip to Yellowstone, it was one of my first questions. And it’s one of the first things you need to decide when planning
Many say “Once you visit Yellowstone it will forever call you back.” And that is the truth. I hope if you are reading this it is because you are planning a trip to Yellowstone because it will forever change you. This is from my experience while exploring the area several times and I hope it helps make your trip absolutely incredible – in fact, I know it will. 1. Don’t Skip the Following Places We all know it’s a must do that you see Old Faithful erupt, take in the beautiful colors of the Grand Prismatic and slow down for the abundant wildlife throughout the park but there are beautiful places in Yellowstone that are often overlooked such as: The Boiling River: This river merges with the Gardner River just north of Mammoth Hot Springs as you are heading out the North gate. Since it’s a hot spring (like scalding hot spring) merging with a cold river, you get the making of an extremely relaxing hot tub river. It’s such a unique experience. My little ones said it was one of their favorite things we did while in YNP. Uncle Toms Trail: This is not a trail for the faint of heart but the view it gives of the 300 foot Lower Falls is absolutely incredible. It is almost 350 stairs, 500 foot vertical descend, into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. And there is something to be felt afterward about completing such a challenging trail! Grand Teton National Park: Last but not least, if you go to Yellowstone and do not take the hour or so drive down south to see the Tetons – you.have.missed.out! The Tetons hold such a special place in my heart. That view….uh it’s breathtaking! 2. Don’t Experience Yellowstone From Your Car Another mistake so many people make when visiting the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is they only experience the area from their car. I think a lot of this has to do with a lack of time. Let me tell you, you have to plan for AT LEAST 3 days in the park…at least. If not you’re just going to be driving in your car trying to hurry up and see everything and there is no possible way. So get out of your car – take in nature, hike a trail, get away from all the people and get off the roads. Make a list of the things you don’t accomplish this trip…because I promise there will be a next time! Also, a fantastic tool we used to plan the hikes we wanted to take was the All Trails App. It’s a fantastic tool that shows you all the trails, their difficulty level, and even pictures of the different scenery along the trail. Side note: This app is good for finding trails anywhere, not just at Yellowstone. 3. Pack for All Seasons You may have heard this but I can’t reiterate enough – you have to pack for all temperatures! It can and has snowed in July! In fact, due to the different levels of elevation all throughout the park, you can easily experience a 15-degree temperature drop within just a few miles of driving. I know packing for all seasons with kids is stressful but check and see if where you’re staying has a laundry facility. Anytime we travel I make sure there is a laundry facility onsite. That way everyone only packs a couple of outfits, then halfway through the trip, I throw it all in a quick wash load and we re-wear those outfits on the second part of the trip. 4. Don’t Forget the Binoculars One mistake my husband and I made our first trip to the area was not taking binoculars. Our first day in the park we saw bears far off across the valley. Everyone around us had binoculars but us…amateurs. That evening we went and bought some and the next day driving into the park we saw wolves! This time we had binoculars and it made the experience incredible! When we went back with our kids we bought this scope. It is absolutely incredible and I highly suggest investing in it. It’s really inexpensive and attaches to your cell phone. Essentially making your cell phone into a huge binocular screen – easier for kids to see than trying to have them figure out binoculars. Really cool! 5. Invest in an Audio Tour Guide The last piece of advice I would give someone heading into the park is to purchase the GyPSy App – an audio tour guide for the park. It’s $5 for just Yellowstone or $9 for Yellowstone and Tetons. Let me just say – it was the best $9 we spent! The app narrates the park as you’re driving. The narrator gives tips on must-see areas, optional side roads, and historical facts of the park (my favorite part). It works offline since you most likely will not get service in the park. Well there you have it, I could go on and on about Yellowstone but I will leave you with that for now. I tell all my friends of our visits there, anyone who will listen, I show them pictures. But just know, it doesn’t do Yellowstone justice. Pictures and words cannot begin to describe this place. You have to see it, listen to it, put your hands on it and soak it all in. My life will forever revolve on how to get back to Yellowstone. Meet Kaila: Kaila writes about all things travel, lifestyle, and how to market your business. For more tips and free trainings on how to start a business online – you can follow Kaila on Instagram @kaila.ruan
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 3-DAY ITINERARY Erupting geysers, bubbling mudpots, hissing fumaroles, boiling springs and absolutely gorgeous thermal pools make Yellowstone National Park one of the most visited parks in the…
EnjoyYourParks.com Title Top Ten Things To Do In Yellowstone Visitors Enjoying Old Faithful Geyser The following “Top 10 Things To Do In Yellowstone Park” are listed in order of where they are located along the “Grand Loop” roadway, starting at Mammoth Hot Springs and going clockwise around the park… (See Grand Loop Map Below) Top Ten Things To […]
Yellowstone National Park in September: outdoor activities, things to do, services available, what to pack, where to stay, and more!
Experience the geysers of Yellowstone National Park with this list of hikes and viewpoints you can't miss -- written by a former park ranger!
The ultimate Grand Teton itinerary including eveything you need to know about where to stay, what to pack, and the best things to do.
When you ask most people what national park is on their bucket list, they'll likely say Yellowstone. At 3,472 square miles, the park is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined! That's why you'll want to take your time exploring it, and 4 days in Yellowstone is the perfect amount of time. I visited the park last in 2018 during a cross-country road trip and still felt like I didn't have enough time to see everything. As I said, the park is absolutely massive and it's easy to spend longer than you intended at certain attractions. However, I took
It's possible to respect the environment and ourselves while enjoying the world’s first national park, writes Katie Jackson.
Here is our list of 17 things add to your Yellowstone Packing List. You will be frustrated if you forget to pack any of these for your trip!
Yellowstone National Park in September: outdoor activities, things to do, services available, what to pack, where to stay, and more!
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Yellowstone National Park in September: outdoor activities, things to do, services available, what to pack, where to stay, and more!
This list of the best easy hikes in Yellowstone includes short and fun trails for every age and ability -- written by a former park ranger!
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Heading to Yellowstone National Park? Whether it's for 1 to 3 days or more, this helpful Yellowstone itinerary in 3 days is what you need!
