- Matt & Cheryl
- April 11, 2024
Your Yellowstone Itinerary
Most travelers spend hours or days trying to figure out the most popular sites and hidden gems to visit. We create detailed itineraries that give you a step-by-step game plan so you can get to the best places at the right times and have a trip your family will remember forever!
Yellowstone was set aside as the world’s first national park in 1872, and it remains among the most beloved national parks in the world! Yellowstone has everything: wildlife, mountains, meadows, canyons, waterfalls, and the largest high-elevation lake in America. And I haven’t even mentioned its most iconic feature: Old Faithful. Yellowstone has something for everyone.
Places
Not Sure Which Yellowstone Entrance is Right for You?
Download our Free Quick and Easy Guide to Yellowstone’s Entrances!
Inside the Park
- North Entrance. 2nd most common entrance, located next to Gardiner, MT, about 10 min away from Mammoth.
- Mammoth. Elk roam through this little village next to cascading hot springs located on the nearby hillside.
- Norris. Huge geyser basin with a variety of interesting geysers and hot springs.
- Madison. Not a major site, but a junction with a campground, visitor center, river access, and wildlife.
- West Entrance. Most common entrance, located next to the small city of West Yellowstone.
- . There are three geyser basins in this area, and Old Faithful is the most popular attraction.
- Grand Prismatic Spring. The most impressive formation in the Midway Geyser Basin.
- . Beautiful geyser basin on the shores of Lake Yellowstone, camping, lodging, and restaurants.
- Yellowstone Lake Area. Lodging on the lake as well as boating access.
- East Entrance. Beautiful drive but far away from the main sites. Located near Cody, WY.
- Hayden Valley. Huge wildlife-filled valley with the Yellowstone River running through it.
- Canyon Village. Services located near the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
- Mount Washburn. Tallest peak in the park, this is accessed from Dunraven Pass.
- Tower-Roosevelt. Junction where Teddy Roosevelt once camped, Tower Fall is located here.
- Lamar Valley. Remote wildlife-filled valley. Camping, hiking, and a scenic drive.
- Northeast Entrance. Least-used entrance, it is sandwiched between Lamar Valley and the Beartooth Highway.
- South Entrance. Entrance connecting Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
Outside the Park
- West Yellowstone. Gateway town with some great things to do outside the park.
- . Beautiful lakes located right next to each other thanks to a tragic earthquake.
- Island Park. Cabin-filled area; some use as a base camp for visiting Yellowstone.
- Gardiner. Gateway town to the North Entrance. Resorts, rafting, hot springs are found here.
- Cody. The most enjoyable Yellowstone “gateway” town, worthy of one or two days itself.
- Bozeman. Fast-growing city and common place for Yellowstone visitors to fly into.
- Cooke City, Beartooth, and Red Lodge. Gateway towns and road to the Northeast Entrance.
- Virginia City, Montana. One of the best Old West towns.
- Grand Teton. A must-see, and very different national park located just south of Yellowstone.
- Jackson. Where Old West meets upscale, this is a love-it-or-hate-it town.
Read
- How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Yellowstone
- Which Yellowstone Entrance is Right for You?
- 21 Tips for Visiting Yellowstone
- When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone?
- Does Yellowstone Require a Timed Reservation Ticket?
- Is Old Faithful Still Faithful?
- Can I Ride an ATV in Yellowstone
- Can I Ride Horses in Yellowstone?
- Where Can I Book a Helicopter Tour of Yellowstone or Grand Teton
- 11 Things to Do Outside Yellowstone National Park
- Driving in Yellowstone: 10 Things You Need to Know
- Flying to Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Here’s What you Need to Know
- Where Should You Stay When Visiting Yellowstone?
- Your Yellowstone Camping Guide: the best campgrounds plus what you need to know
- What are the Best Places to Eat in Yellowstone?
- Old West Dinner Cookout in Yellowstone National Park: Our Review
- Spotting Wildlife in Yellowstone: Where to Rent Binoculars or a Scope
- Do I Really Need Bear Spray in Yellowstone?
- Bear Spray: Everything You Need to Know Before Using It
- Winter in Yellowstone: What to Expect + Things to Do
Watch
- Yellowstone Trip Planner (80 min)
- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Yellowstone National Park (18 min)
- Yellowstone: The Complete Guide to the World’s First National Park (57 min)
- Yellowstone if You are Disabled or Impaired (19 min)
- 14 Things to Do in West Yellowstone, MT (14 min)
- (35 min)
- Cody, Wyoming: The Wild West Town (27 min)
- Northern Yellowstone: Where the Wild Things Roam (26 min)
- 21 Tips For YELLOWSTONE (11 min)
- Yellowstone’s Best Campsites + 10 Things You Need to Know (12 min)
- 10 Things NOT to Do When Driving in Yellowstone (11 min)
- 15 Ways to Escape the Crowds in Yellowstone! (14 min)
- 20 Blunders to Avoid When Visiting Yellowstone (10 min)
- Secret Tips for Visiting Yellowstone (12 min)
- Yellowstone in the Fall: 7 Things to Know (10 min)
- 5 Great Places Everyone Should Visit (47 min)
- How To Visit Yellowstone In Winter: 14 Things To Know (10 min)
- Top 10 Activities To Do NEAR Yellowstone National Park (19 min)
- (23 min)
- Winter in Yellowstone: 4 Magical Days in a Winter Wonderland (25 min)
- 3-Day Road Trip Through Yellowstone: Old Faithful, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Lake (21 min)
Download Your Itinerary Now!
Matt & Cheryl
We're Matt & Cheryl, and we love traveling, especially in our awesome Rocky Mountains. We were both born and raised in Utah and have been helping people travel to the West since 2020.
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