A 5-Day Yellowstone Itinerary You’ll Want to Copy

Yellowstone National Park has wonderful things to offer every type of traveler. If you are visiting, you should plan for at least five days. Here is an extensive itinerary that covers everything you need to do.

The 3,500 sq mile national park spreads into parts of Idaho and Montana. Canyons, forests, alpine rivers, geysers, and hot springs will be seen. Yellowstone has so much to offer every visitor, making it one of the best national parks in the United States (and potentially the entire world).

It is home to many animal species, including antelopes, bison, wolves, elk, and bears. Visiting the park will introduce you to different aspects of nature and allow you to explore at your own pace and convenience.

Yellowstone National Park is a top-notch national park and tourist destination. As a result, Yellowstone is frequented by many tourists throughout the year. It’s a must-visit, no matter if you are outdoorsy or not. This iconic national park should be on your bucket-list destination list.

If you are wondering how to plan your trip, this 5-day Yellowstone itinerary will get you to all the absolute must-see places in Yellowstone National Park, packing tips, preparation, places to stay, and a day-by-day breakdown of where to go.

First, let’s break down some of the key items before you arrive at Yellowstone National Park.

Tips for Planning a Trip to Yellowstone National Park

How Many Days Do You Need?

Yellowstone National Park, with its vast expanse of natural beauty, is an adventure that generally requires at least three to four days to explore the main sights adequately. This timeframe allows travelers to enjoy the geysers, waterfalls, wildlife, and serene landscapes with depth and leisure.

However, an ideal visit would last a week for those interested in hiking or in-depth wildlife spotting.

How to Get There

Yellowstone National Park can take 2 to 5 hours on a flight from most U.S. cities in the Northwest corner of Wyoming. Yellowstone Airport is the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park. If you arrive at this airport, you will enter via West Yellowstone at the west entrance.

The most notable way to fly into this airport is via Delta Air Lines, which has daily connections to and from Salt Lake City, Utah. Check the cheapest flights to see if you can fly to this airport from your location.

Outside of that, the next closest airport is Jackson Hole Airport, which will provide you with direct access to the south entrance. Jackson Hole is a great stop on your Yellowstone trip as it’s a legendary western mountain town, and it provides easy access to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.

If this interests you, check the cheapest flights into Jackson Hole to lock in your trip. The Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport is 90 miles from the north and west entrances. You will need a vehicle to visit the park. We recommend getting a rental car at the airport in Bozeman since it’s right on site and very easy to get in and go from there.

If you fly into Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport, you’ll access Yellowstone via the north entrance. Flying in Bozeman gives you a great chance to visit and see Montana.

However, the opposite is true if you want to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. If this interests you, check the cheapest flights into Bozeman to secure your trip.

Best Places to Stay in Yellowstone

Yellowstone offers some great accommodation options, ranging from campgrounds to luxurious resorts. Location and affordability are the main factors in choosing the best places to stay in Yellowstone.

Here are some of my favorites. West Yellowstone is located at the gateway to Yellowstone National Park and offers affordable accommodations close to the park (15 minutes). The most popular choices in West Yellowstone are Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins, Yellowstone Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and the historic Yellowstone Park Hotel.

I also recommend staying in Cody, located on the eastern side of Yellowstone and close to Lamar Valley (20 minutes). When choosing the best places to stay in Cody, I recommend Buffalo Cabin Village or the Historic Irma Hotel. Other options include The Cody and Cody Yellowstone Holiday Inn.

Grand Teton National Park is a neighboring park to Yellowstone. It offers great proximity to the Tetons (20 minutes) and affordable accommodation alternatives such as Campground Bedroll & Breakfast, Colter Bay Village, and Cowboy Village Resort. You’ll access the national park via the south entrance if you stay there.

The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone

The best time to visit Yellowstone largely depends on what you want to do and see. The summer months (June – August) offer great opportunities for hikers with a higher chance of spotting wildlife.

If you are going to stay within the park during the winter, I recommend going mid-December to early January (at the latest) when there is less risk of extreme weather conditions.

You should also know that each season has its pros and cons. For example, the fall is an especially great time to visit Yellowstone because of the changing colors of the trees; however, it can also be extremely busy, which means it is harder to spot wildlife, and there are longer waiting times at popular attractions.

If you want to build the absolute best Yellowstone itinerary on a budget, the top option is to visit during the shoulder seasons (spring and fall).

The weather is generally mild, the park isn’t unbearably busy, wildlife spotting is fantastic throughout the year, and you can take advantage of lower accommodation rates.

A Word of Warning…

Even though Yellowstone has some great hotels, it can be difficult to get a room during peak season (June – August) as well as on national holidays such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving.

If possible, I recommend making your hotel bookings ahead of time. However, if this is not an option, you may have to resort to camping or settle for more affordable options outside of the park, which can limit your activities and attraction choices.

Yellow Packing List: What to Include in Your Yellowstone Trip Itinerary

Yellowstone is one of the best destinations to explore in America, and to start an expedition to such beauty, you need to pack all the travel necessities.

You may want to consider packing light depending on when you visit Yellowstone and the duration of your stay. If you spend 5-days in Yellowstone, pack with flexibility in mind, as the weather can be variable. Here’s what we’ve organized for your packing essentials for Yellowstone:

• Sunscreen (must not forget if you are traveling in the summer)
• Sunglasses
• Hat or Visor
• Sleeping Bag (for camping)
• Tent (for camping)
• Bear spray
• Bottle
• Raincoat (in case it rains)
• Waterproof phone case
• Comfortable waterproof shoes
• Tank tops
• Light clothing for variable temperatures (for men, for women)
• Quick-dry towel
• Camping cookware
• First aid kit
• Portable charger
• Hiking wool socks
• Bug Spray

For more information on what to pack, visit the park’s website, which provides a comprehensive list of items you will need while visiting Yellowstone National Park. If you want additional preparation tools for visiting Yellowstone, download our free printable travel planner.

Best Places to Eat in Yellowstone

There are some great eateries in and around Yellowstone National Park. I recommend trying as many of them as possible to experience this region’s best food.

Here are some of my favorite restaurants in or near Yellowstone:

• Tower-Roosevelt General Store – This convenience store is located on the way to Tower Fall, with great panoramic views of the Yellowstone River and a little deli offering delicious sandwiches and wraps.
• Colter Bay Village Market—This grocery store is located inside Colter Bay Village and offers a good selection of groceries, snacks, camping supplies, and more.
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room – This restaurant is located at one end of Lake Yellowstone Hotel and offers great food in a relaxed atmosphere.
• The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dining Room – This restaurant is located inside the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and offers fine dining in a room with panoramic views.
• Canyon Lodge Food Court – This location has multiple food outlets serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round.
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel Food Cart – If you are looking for a quick meal or snack, look no further than this food cart outside Lake Yellowstone Hotel.
• Lake Lodge Dining Room – This restaurant features an Asian-style buffet available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone offers countless attractions and activities to visitors. However, it can be difficult to sort through all the options available, so I have compiled this list of my favorite things to do in Yellowstone.

Hiking

Numerous hiking trails are accessible year-round within the park, including Jenny Lake Trailhead, Cascade Corner & Indian Pond Trailhead, Bechler River Trailhead, Observation Peak Trail, Mt Washburn Trailhead, Summit Lake & Swan Lake Flats, Huckleberry Hot Springs, and more.

If you are short on time, I recommend one of the many sightseeing tours offered by Yellowstone National Park Lodges Sightseeing Tours.

Check out these top-rated tours to make your excursion that much easier. They even have a full 4-day nature tour that includes lodging (one of the best tours for Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Boating

Five lakes within the park offer boating activities such as fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and more. These lakes include Yellowstone Lake, Lewis Lake, Heart Lake, Jenny Lake, and String Lake.

Campgrounds

The park has nine campgrounds, including Bridge Bay, Canyon, Fishing Bridge RV Park & Campground, Grant Village, Madison, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Tower-Roosevelt.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted year-round in the park at both day-use areas and designated fishing sites. Many rivers are located within the park boundaries, where fishing is also allowed. These rivers include Yellowstone, Gardner, Slough Creek, and Lamar.

Check out this private Yellowstone fishing trip with a guide to take you into the backcountry.

Ranger Programs

Ranger-led programs occur year-round at many locations throughout the park, including the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center & Geyser Link Educational Program, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and Mammoth Hot Springs Year-Round Ranger Station.

Campfire Programs

Several locations throughout the park offer campfire programs, such as Upper Geyser Basin Fire Circle, Madison Campground Amphitheater, Bridge Bay Marina Amphitheater, Fishing Bridge RV Park & Campground Amphitheater, and Tower Fall Campground Amphitheater.

Yellowstone Backcountry

Yellowstone National Park offers one of the best backpacking experiences in North America. There are two ways to access the backcountry: hiking or boating/rafting down the Yellowstone River.

Wildlife Viewing

Yellowstone is home to abundant wildlife, so it is worth taking binoculars and spotting scopes. Some of the animals you may see include black bears, grizzly bears, bison, elk, moose, wolves, coyotes, bighorn sheep and mountain goats, trumpeter swans, and other waterfowl, beavers/river otters, golden and bald eagles, sandhill cranes, and osprey.

Mammoth Hot Springs

The park’s largest thermal feature is located near the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park and offers visitors a unique experience to learn about this interesting area.

The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park for all the activities mentioned above and for tourist attractions is during June when you can witness incredible displays of wildflowers and other exciting attractions.

The best place to view these beautiful flowers is on Firehole Lake Drive, near Madison Junction on the west side of Yellowstone National Park.

See Related: Ultimate Grand Circle Road Trip Itinerary

5-Days in Yellowstone Itinerary

Now that you know the lay of the land and some of the best things to do in Yellowstone. Let’s get into this epic Yellowstone itinerary in a breakdown of each day.

Day 1 -Southwest Section

The best way to start your Yellowstone National Park itinerary is by exploring the largest active volcano system in the world. Not many are aware of the fact that the entire park sits on top of a supervolcano.

Start your Yellowstone itinerary on the southwest side of the park. Start your day as early as you can and visit the Old Faithful. It is usually filled with tourists and is very popular, but you can avoid the crowd if you arrive early.

Start your day by 7:30 a.m. and make the first stop at the Visitor Center. You can find out the exact eruption time and plan accordingly.

It usually blows every 90 minutes, and if you have time, catch the short film in the theater, which introduces the park. After the explosion, walk through the Upper Geyser Basin. It is home to some of the largest active geysers in the world. Walk past the hot spring and bubbling geysers just a few inches away from your feet.

After completing the Geyser Basin Walk, walk to the Old Faithful Inn. It was built in the 1900s and is known as the largest log structure in the world. Inside, you will notice the huge stone fireplace, iron clock, and pine railings. It is elegant and rustic, a delight for architecture lovers.

The Old Faithful Inn is the crown jewel of Yellowstone National Park and the jewel of the entire National Park System. It’s a must in your Yellowstone itinerary. The famous geyser is well-known worldwide and shoots over 200 feet in the air. The geyser erupts every 90 minutes. You will find a crowd here whenever you visit. The crowd is here for a reason: to watch an incredible sight in the United States.

The eruption times will be called out on signs around the parking lot and the hiking trails. You will see the geyser start bubbling before the eruption, and it is a sight that you will remember for the rest of your life. You will never be disappointed here and have a story to tell when you head home.

See Related: The Ultimate Colorado Springs Itinerary

Day 2- Central and South Section

Start your second day of the Yellowstone itinerary at the park with West Thumb Geyser Basin. You will notice a broad walk along the west thumb of Yellowstone Lake, with spouts bubbling underneath the lake. Yellowstone Lake has crystal clear water and bright colors showing off sporadically.

There are 80 different geysers and Hot Spring pools here. Each pool has a different color, ranging from blue to red to white and green. You will see extraordinary geysers at the West Thumb Geyser Basin, like the Bluebell Pool, the Fishing Cone Geyser, and the Black Pool.

With a 1 mile drive to the Lake Butte Overlook, you will see stunning views of Yellowstone Lake. After this, start to explore the central part of the park.

A 1200-foot-deep canyon cut in the rocks is picture-perfect. This place is a must-visit and can only be experienced in person. No amount of pictures or words can do justice to its beauty.

After this, take a 24-mile drive along the Yellowstone River and stop off at the seven overlooks to get the best view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is not on the same level as THE Grand Canyon. However, sometimes more minor is better.

Why? The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone features the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, which Grand Canyon National Park doesn’t have. These rushing waterfalls are a must-see when you visit Yellowstone National Park.

Many scenic viewpoints can be reached on foot, but the walks can be slightly steep. The total distance can be about seven miles. If you want to have lunch, there are several picnic areas you can choose from.

Take a detour to the Mud Volcano, also known as the smelliest part of Yellowstone. You will notice that the air is reeking of sulfur here. Take a short trek to the Dragon’s Mouth Spring. It is a hot spring with a cavernous mouth, so it is named Dragon’s Mouth Spring.

You will notice the water rhythmically sloshing in and out of the cavern, which gives an impression of a large overflow, but the actual discharge is much smaller.

Carry your binoculars with you throughout the day. Head to the Hayden Valley between the upper and lower falls, one of Yellowstone’s best areas. It has the best wildlife, and you will take pictures of packs of wolves, bison, grizzly bears, and more.

See Related: Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary

Day 3- Hiking

Explore the beautiful park on foot today. You can take fantastic hikes in Yellowstone. Choose from the below-mentioned hiking options:

• Mount Washburn Trail – The 6.4-mile round trip has excellent panoramic views on the lookout. It is one of the most popular day hikes in the park. There are 1,400 feet of moderate climb, and you can enjoy open views along the way with diverse plant life. The 10,243-foot summit gives an endless panorama of Yellowstone, and the peak has a fire lookout tower with an enclosed deck.

• Purple Mountain Trail—This 6-mile trail has moderate difficulty and wonderful views of the valley in West Yellowstone. You will climb 1,500 feet to a panoramic view of rivers. The trail is slightly strenuous and unsuitable for those with underlying health conditions. It would be best if you carried bear spray for this hiking trail.
• Fairy Falls Trail – The 5-mile trek is easy and will take you to a cascading waterfall. It is Yellowstone’s tallest waterfall, and you can combine the hike to the falls with the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook.
• Avalanche Peak Trail—This is another 5-mile trek. It is a steep hike along the ridgeline. The trail is heavily trafficked and features a lake. This trail is rated as difficult, and many activity options are available here from May to September.

If you are not keen on hiking, you can head to Grand Teton National Park, located 10 miles south of Yellowstone National Park. The national park includes several major Teton Range peaks and Jackson Hole’s northern section.

It is an ideal destination for hiking, mountaineering, fishing, and many other forms of recreation. You can drive in more than 1,000 campsites of hiking trails that give access to camping areas.

See Related: Joshua Tree National Park Itinerary

Day 4 – Northwest Section

Spot the best wildlife in the Northwest part of Yellowstone. You will see some of the most elusive wildlife, like wolves and grizzly bears. Lamar Valley is the main location. Start your day early, keep the binoculars handy, and carry bear spray.

You may see bald eagles, badgers, bison, pronghorn, coyotes, or deer. More than 100 bison are roaming here, and you will notice many species that you might not be able to recognize.

Lamar Valley is a must-do on your Yellowstone trip itinerary. Drive to the Tower Fall from here. It is the most popular waterfall in Yellowstone and a must in your Yellowstone itinerary map. Head to the fall’s base on a half-mile hike or take in the views from an overlook.

It is a 132-foot waterfall that falls on a huge cliffside and flows into the river. It is not a huge hike down and is recommended to all. You will see an exposed cliff side of the sulfuric rock, a yellow shade.

See Related: National Parks to Visit in November

Day 5- Northwest section

On the fifth day of the best Yellowstone itinerary, explore Mammoth Hot Springs. The area is usually packed with tourists and remains congested.

Hence, get up early and head out. Your drive to Mammoth Hot Springs will be different, with big boulders on each side of the road to guide you to the area. Once you reach it, take the boardwalk to the Terraces. It has uniquely layered calcium deposits that are leftover from the hot springs.

Many of the different Mammoth Hot Springs are different shades of yellow, red, and orange. You will notice a splendid contrast in their color counterparts. The smell, sight, and sounds will take your breath away when you walk through the boardwalk.

You can also hike near Mammoth Hot Springs. Head over to Boiling River near Mammoth Hot Springs, as it is one hot spring where you can swim. There is a short 1-mile hike at Wraith Falls and a moderate 4.6-mile round-trip hike at Bunsen Peak. It has a 1,300-foot climb. You will find the tallest active geyser at Norris Geyser Basin.

The Steamboat Geyser is very popular amongst tourists. Its eruptions are few and far between, but you will see some gurgling. This valley has some of the hottest and oldest pools in the park.

On the last day of the Yellowstone National Park itinerary five days, take a detour outside the park. The Beartooth Highway is considered one of the most scenic drives in the United States and is outside the Northwest Gate.

This is one of the most comprehensive itineraries for Yellowstone for you to plan your trip. It includes everything you must do when you are at this beautiful destination. Before you head to Yellowstone, plan your days and include every must-see and must-do. You do not want to miss out on anything at this beautiful destination.

There is not enough time at Yellowstone, but it is best to start with five days to cover every part of the park. Take your time and explore the various hot springs and rivers in the park. Start planning your holiday by keeping our Yellowstone itinerary in mind.

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