The only National Park I’ve spent more time in than Yellowstone National Park is Glacier NP. Our 4 day Yellowstone itinerary is both a reflection of years of visiting and what our family actually does when we visit. Our travel plan here is tried and true, it’s great for kids and adults, and you’ll leave feeling like you really, deeply experienced the magic of Yellowstone.
As you make your plan, feel free to adjust our Yellowstone National Park itinerary to suit your needs for timing and interests. I know that not everybody is going to geek out over geology the way I do, and I know that some people are going to want more long hikes. You do you and you’ll have an awesome time. If you have any questions about visiting Yellowstone or want to run some ideas by us, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan unforgettable trips!
Planning Your Yellowstone Itinerary
Even though we can tell you exactly what to do when you visit Yellowstone National Park, I’m sure you’ll want to make some adjustments to our itinerary. We take the approach of sightseeing and wildlife watching when we’re here vs epic hiking across the park. When we do Glacier National Park we’re hiking nearly the whole time, but here our approach is lots of stops and activities. Yellowstone is a very interactive National Park, so you’ll find that without planning full hiking days, you’ll still fill up your schedule very easily.
Something to take into account when you’re fine tuning your Yellowstone National Park itinerary is where you’ll be staying for your visit. There are lots of wonderful places to stay in both West Yellowstone (the town) or Gardiner, Montana (north entrance). These spots are enticing and you’ll have a great time… but they add to your drive time every day because you’ll need to return to your lodging after your adventures and then the next morning you’re already starting out with a long drive to get to your daily activities. With that, we fully recommend staying within Yellowstone National Park.
If you choose to stray from the plan we’ve laid out, be sure that you account for your driving time from place to place. Traffic due to wildlife or construction can sometimes add a lot of time between destinations, so try to stay mellow and flexible with your plans. Take some time to get familiar with a map of Yellowstone as you start your planning.
Need to Know for Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park does have an entry fee. You can either pay this or use a National Parks interagency pass. It used to be that you could purchase entry to one National Park and then drive to another within 7 days and you didn’t need to pay an additional fee, but that’s not the case anymore. Whether you’re coming from Grand Teton National Park or driving down after spending a few days in Glacier National Park, Yellowstone has its own fee.
Something else to keep in mind when you’re in Yellowstone is to be cautious wherever you are. You need to be cautious of wildlife, geothermal activity and pedestrians EVERYWHERE. Wildlife tends to roam and sometimes that means a herd of a thousand bison surrounding your vehicle on the road, or twenty elk stopping you in your tracks. it can also mean that an area gets closed by park rangers because there is bear activity. Always be aware of potential wildlife.
Geothermal activity is another thing to consider as you explore Yellowstone National Park. Yes, there are lots of great geyser basins in Yellowstone that have paths and exhibits, but the ground is very much alive. In 2024 the beautiful Biscuit Basin had a huge eruption in the middle of the day and it destroyed the boardwalk while people were visiting. Every week or two a new steam vent opens somewhere, either just off a trail or in the middle of a parking area. Things happen constantly.
And if there’s one place on earth that people stress me out more than anywhere else it’s in Yellowstone. People from all around the globe come here to see the amazing wildlife and geysers. Many of these people live in cities and do not understand how to be in or interact with nature. That means there will be pedestrians everywhere when you’re driving, not paying attention and just walking. This means you’ll see tourists thinking they can get a selfie with a bull bison and then they get charged. If you’re visiting with kids, don’t let them become somebody else’s vacation story.
Check out our Yellowstone NP Tips here!
Gas, Dining and Services in Yellowstone
I wish we could just show up and have all of our needs in our car without having to worry about restocking our snacks or running out of gas, but that’s not reality. Don’t worry though, as Yellowstone National Park actually has great infrastructure. You’ll have access to 8 gas stations in the park, as well as dining options all over. There are even medical services if you’re in trouble. The only area where you’ll find nothing is the Lamar Valley, but even there you have Roosevelt at one end and Cooke City at the other.
When it comes to dining, there aren’t tons of options, but you’ll never be too far from at least simple snacks. Mammoth, Tower, Roosevelt, Canyon, Old Faithful, the Lake, and Grant Village all have restaurants and food options. There are lots of picnic areas in Yellowstone as well, so you can pull over for a beautiful outdoor meal nearly anywhere in the park. Remember though, you should be prepared for any type of weather in Yellowstone, as it can change rapidly and you may not want to rely on picnicking.
4 Day Yellowstone NP Itinerary
I’m going to keep our four day Yellowstone itinerary very simple in format so that you can easily use it and update it for yourself. Enjoy all of the beautiful sights and wildlife. Enjoy the waterfalls and sunsets. Yellowstone National Park is magical and these next four days are going to be lit! You can arrange these days to start closer to your accommodations or just roll with what we’ve got.
I’m assuming you’re staying within the Park, but if not, you’ll be able to do each day’s itinerary from wherever you are. Also, keep in mind that this 4 day plan doesn’t include every single stop or sight. There are remote geysers you can hike to, picnic areas with epic views and wonderful nature trails that lead you through the forest. You choose what’s important to you.
Day 1: Western Yellowstone and Canyon
This is always my favorite way to start a Yellowstone itinerary because you begin with the more quiet part of the park. You get to enjoy the Madison River Valley, Norris Geyser Basin and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Beginning at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, begin your visit on the south rim of the canyon visiting Artist Point and maybe doing the hike along the rim. The sun will be pouring down the canyon walls by mid morning and it just glows. Check out the north rim too and do the short hike to the Brink of the Falls.
From Canyon, head west towards the Norris Geyser Basin. I think some of the coolest geologic features are here, and I actually prefer it to the more famous Old Faithful Geyser Basin. Norris is a long walking adventure, so bring snacks on the trail and a picnic lunch for after. When you’re exploring the Norris basin, you may see that there is a geyser they’re watching for an eruption, like Steamboat Geyser. If you have the time and want to chill to wait for it, do it!
Your next side trip takes you to Madison Junction and towards West Yellowstone. There are some beautiful hikes to do in this area, or you can simply do the drive and watch for wildlife along the way. This is a great spot for moose, trumpeter swans and elk. If you’re staying in West Yellowstone, wait to drive back this way until the very end of the day.
The last must-visit today is the Fountain Paint Pots and Firehole Lake Drive. The Paint Pots is an easy round trip hike through some weird geothermal features and really active geysers, and then Firehole Lake Drive is a combination of geysers, hot springs and beautiful sights. I love being here around sunset if possible.
Day 2: Geyser Basins and Yellowstone Lake
Begin by heading on the Grand Loop Road towards Old Faithful Geyser Basin. This is going to give you the chance to drive Firehole Canyon Drive (enter at the north end, it’s a one way), to stop at Artist Paint Pots, and then to make your way to Midway Geyser Basin. One of the most famous geothermal features in Yellowstone is found here and it’s a must for your itinerary. The Grand Prismatic Spring is phenomenal, as well as the others surrounding it. It’s really beautiful in the morning before the air has warmed up. The steam really adds to the experience.
For another beautiful experience, continue south and then park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead. THIS is the trail that brings you to the overlook above the Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s gorgeous and an easy hike. After this, head to Biscuit Basin. This is a small geyser basin but the springs here are some of the prettiest in the park. There are longer trails that leave from here if you want, or you can just keep it simple before hitting the Old Faithful area.
Old Faithful Geyser Basin, or the Upper Geyser Basin, is not too far now. As you arrive, take the parking you can get and before heading out onto the trails, grab lunch at the Old Faithful Lodge or Snow Lodge. Be sure to see Old Faithful herself, and then do the trails out to Riverside Geyser, Morning Glory Pool and the beautiful terraces that flow down to the Firehole River. End your visit with an ice cream and porch sit at one of the lodges.
Wrap up your day with a visit to the West Thumb Geyser Basin on Yellowstone Lake and then drive along the lakeshore, making stops for the views and wildlife. You’ll have the chance to plan a nice dinner at the Lake Hotel if you like. We enjoy adding this classy stop to our trips, as we’re usually camping or in cabins, so a nice meal resets us and we can relax.
Tip: there are tours to get on the lake here, so if you want to go kayaking in Yellowstone, this is the spot!
Day 3: Wildlife and the Valleys
Today is a great day to see bison, bears and maybe a moose. Again, where you stay is going to determine your driving route, but don’t worry if you need to do this trip in reverse. It’ll be great either way! Start off by driving into the Hayden Valley. This is the valley south of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and north of Yellowstone Lake. This part of the itinerary is very much all about observing, as the Hayden Valley is home to one of the largest bison herds in the USA. Enjoy the views as much as the wildlife activity. Oh, and watch for swans and North American pelicans on the river!
The next stop is the Mud Volcanoes. If you don’t make a plan to visit them, you’ll miss ’em. I think doing the boardwalk hike through the Mud Volcanoes is one of the funniest things you can do in Yellowstone with kids. The flowing, bubbling mud pits smell so bad and the sounds they all make are just the grossest. It’s awesome with kids and immature adults. The sights themselves are really unique too, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get some great wildlife viewing on the paths too! Watch for bison, foxes, eagles and even bears from time to time.
Stop into Canyon Village to grab lunch if you didn’t bring it with you today, and then head north following the signs for Tower. This will take you past Mount Washburn and give you some incredible views across the Yellowstone caldera. You’ll see valleys you can’t access, hillsides known for their grizzly bears and eventually you’ll arrive at Roosevelt Junction, just past Tower Falls (you’ll do the falls tomorrow).
At the Junction, head east into the Lamar Valley. So many visitors skip this area because there aren’t any geyser basins or waterfalls here. In the Lamar Valley you have something else to watch for: EPIC wildlife. With each visit, this is where we always end up with the best wildlife viewing. Watch for the famous Yellowstone wolves, bison herds, pronghorn antelope, bears and even badgers! We’ve also seen bighorn sheep and moose in the Lamar Valley, so enjoy some easy hiking and get your camera ready!
Day 4: Mammoth, Tower and Overlooked Yellowstone
Before you arrive at Mammoth Hot Springs, tell yourself that you are going to see a wonder of the natural world and that no matter how it looks in the moment, decide that you’ll be impressed. I say this because over time, the water that feeds Mammoth Hot Springs has shifted significantly, and continues to do so. When you visit, you’ll see some solid flows, such as the canary spring, which is gorgeous, but then you’ll see other famous ones, like the Minerva Terrace, that may be completely dry. The earth changes, y’all.
If you’re super lucky, and just go with it for a moment, you’ll actually get to visit Mammoth Hot Springs during or right after a rain storm. When the clouds open up, the terraces fill with water and they flow like they used to. It really cool. There are some great hikes that go all around Mammoth, so allow yourself time to venture into the forest and along the more remote terraces. You’ll love it!
Grab lunch to go or have an early lunch here in the village before you head up into the hills and along the backside of Yellowstone. I think this is a great itinerary day because it’s chill, it’s away from the popular spots, and you can really enjoy the rugged side of the Park. Driving through Swan Valley, past the Roaring Mountain and seeing some lesser visited spots is a beautiful way to end your time here. If this sounds too chill, then go the other way and head towards Tower and Roosevelt.
On your way to Tower Falls, stop at the Calcite Springs Overlook, which is the most beautiful view in Yellowstone. EPIC. Do the hike at Tower Falls, do the Black Tail Plateau Drive (wildlife watching) and stop at the Petrified Tree. You’ll have the chance for small hikes, or you can revisit some places you’ve already enjoyed. Yellowstone National Park never gets old for us, so we always can find a new trail or viewpoint to enjoy.
More Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
Now that you’ve got a winning four day Yellowstone itinerary to work with, what else can you mix into it? Lots, actually. There are several visitor centers and museums all around the park. Here are all the learning spots you can check out exhibits and meet Park Rangers:
- Mammoth visitor center
- Canyon visitor center
- Fishing Bridge visitor center (coolest bird exhibits!)
- Grant visitor center – lots of forest fire information
- Madison info station – good for park updates and ranger recommendations
- Norris Geyser Basin Museum – small but cool in the heart of the basin
- Old Faithful Visitor Center – THE place for geothermal learning
- Museum of the National Park Ranger
We try to stop into the visitor centers and museums to mix things up with our kids. Sometimes they get questions we can’t answer or sometimes us adults need advice from a ranger, so intentionally stopping into these service areas is great.
Another thing to consider in the evenings, even if you’re not camping in the park, is to stop into the evening campfire and ranger talks in the village areas and campgrounds. You can get schedule information in the visitor centers and in the newspaper the park provides. See what ranger-led activities you can enjoy.
Well I hope you’re excited to enjoy a fun filled, wildlife crazed, geyser-centric Yellowstone itinerary. Make it your own and plan some fun hikes and adventures. If you have any questions about visiting Yellowstone or want to run some ideas by us, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help others plan unforgettable trips!
