Yellowstone should absolutely be on your bucket list, if it isn’t already! It is one of the most unique places in the country, if not the world, and spending even a few days there will deepen your appreciation of nature’s wonders. Use this 4 day itinerary to get the most out of your time in Yellowstone.

A few years ago, we visited Yellowstone and were blown away by the diversity of landscapes and geological features, and of course, all of the animals! We’d raved about it so much to our family, that during the pandemic, our moms suggested it as a perfect meeting point between Seattle and Minneapolis.

Both times we visited the park were in late September, and it was a perfect time to go. Crowds significantly decrease once school is back in session, but all the roads are still open and it’s not too cold.

Our itinerary makes the most of the unique features of Yellowstone, but there is absolutely still more to do and see if you wanted to spend more time there.

Check out a map of our itinerary here! The park is very big and it can take a long time to drive from one section to another. Keep this in mind when booking your lodging.

Day 1

Morning

Yellowstone has a few gateway towns – but all major airports are at least an hour’s drive from the park. We flew in to Bozeman, MT, rented a car, and drove about an hour and 45 minutes to the north entrance.

First, pop into the Albright Visitor Center to learn about the history of the park and safe visiting practices, especially as it pertains to wildlife. There are often lots of elk that hang out in this area, too!

Just down the road is Mammoth Hot Springs. Walking on the boardwalks in this area will start to give you an idea of the very strange hydrothermal features you will see throughout the park. Be prepared for some unique smells too!

Afternoon

Next, head east to the Lamar Valley. This area is often called ‘America’s Serengeti’ because of the wide open spaces often filled with herds of bison, elk, and pronghorn. Wildlife viewing is best at dawn and dusk, so if you want to see more elusive animals, definitely prioritize viewing at either of those times.

If you have a little time before dusk, take a detour South at Tower Junction to visit Tower Fall. The road was closed this year, but there are some cool volcanic rock formations and a beautiful waterfall that are both worth seeing.

Slough Creek Road is an excellent wildlife viewing offshoot from the main road through the Lamar Valley. It is gravel and does have potholes – so it may not be an option depending on your vehicle. We got lucky and saw a grizzly bear there eating some plants for dinner! Always be sure to keep your distance, even if others are not.

Lodging and camping reservations in the park can be hard to come by, but I highly recommend staying in Canyon Village. There is a huge campground (both RVs and tent camping) and the Canyon Lodge & Cabins. All lodging and campaign reservations within the park are managed by Xanterra Travel. We camped there for the next two nights on the previous visit, but when we went with our family this summer (camping was not an option our moms were comfortable with!), we had to drive all the way to West Yellowstone after driving all day. It is totally do-able, but if you do want to cut down on the driving, Canyon Village is a great option because of its central location.

Day 2

Morning

Wake up before sunrise today and head south to Hayden Valley for some wildlife viewing! It can sometimes be hard to spot animals, but look for other cars pulled over or people gathered. There’s a good chance someone else has spotted something, and you just never know what it might be until you get out and look yourself!

tip: bring binoculars or a spotting scope! Otherwise that black dot might not look like anything but a black dot…

Next, head further south to Yellowstone Lake. If you are ready for food, or just need to warm up, head to Lake Village. There are nice views of the lake and on a clear day, you might get some views of the Absaroka Mountains. A better view point will be on the east side of the lake at the Lake Butte Overlook.

Afternoon

Spend the afternoon exploring the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone! Start on the south rim and head to Artist Point. This is where you’ll get the iconic view of the falls and canyon

Then take the North Rim Drive, and stop as many times as you want for different views of the canyon, starting with a trek down to the Brink of the Lower Falls.

Head back to Hayden Valley for dusk wildlife viewing if you plan to stay in Canyon Village. Otherwise, if you are staying in West Yellowstone, head to Madison Valley for your dusk animal scouting.

Day 3

Morning

Start the day with the Norris Geyser Basin and Artist Paintpots. Between these two spots, you’ll get to see four different hydrothermal features of Yellowstone: geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots!

Afternoon

Stop for lunch at one of the picnic sites near Gibbon Falls, and then head to Grand Prismatic Spring.

You can see the spring up close on the boardwalk, along with a handful of other springs, but it’s the short hike up to the overlook that cannot be missed! The hike starts from the Fairy Falls Trail parking lot, just south of the Grand Prismatic Spring parking.

Spend the night at the Old Faithful Inn if you can snag a reservation. It was built in 1904 and is considered the largest log structure in the world! The lobby is worth visiting even if you aren’t staying here. They also have a deck with a great view of Old Faithful, so you can enjoy a drink while you wait for the next eruption.

Day 4

Morning

Start the morning with another viewing of Old Faithful, before heading on the boardwalk around the Upper Geyser Basin. Use the NPS Yellowstone National Park app to see live geyser predictions, and try to time your visit to the geysers. Most will be impractical to schedule your visit around, but you don’t want to show up to one and see a crowd walking away, knowing you just missed an eruption!

The Yellowstone app also has a guided audio tour of the Upper Geyser Basin that provides a little more information about each feature you’re walking by. And keep your eyes peeled, you never know who might be hanging out nearby!

Afternoon

Now that you’ve had your fill of geysers, fumaroles and sulfur smells, head back to Bozeman for your flight home. Or extend your trip and visit Grand Teton National Park, an hour drive south from Old Faithful.