A day packed with wildlife, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and more! This itinerary has everything you need including maps, links, expert tips, history, and information about each stop. 

**This itinerary begins at the Northeast Entrance, exits through the South or West Entrance, and does not include Mammoth Hot Springs. If you would like a customized itinerary, visit my site!**

West Yellowstone, MT, USA

Red Lodge, MT, USA

Cooke City, MT, USA

Yellowstone National Park, United States

Yellowstone in a Day

The Northeast Entrance and Beartooth Highway

Without a doubt the most scenic route into the park, this 68 mile road climbs to almost 11,000 feet above sea level as it winds through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The road usually opens to travel in Late May due to snow, and the western towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City host accommodations for Yellowstone visitors. 

Remember that in order to enter Yellowstone National Park, you will need a Parks Pass. These can be purchased at the entrance for $30 per vehicle, along with $80 passes that cover all National Parks for 1 year. You can also enter the park on one of 6 "Fee Free" days in 2024. You don't need a reservation to enter the park, but you do for lodging and dinner reservations, which fill up very quickly. 

There are unlimited camping opportunities outside entrances to the park, some are reservation only campsites, while some are first-come first-serve national forest sites. Find these sites using The Dyrt, Hipcamp, or other campsite apps. Follow Leave No Trace and all other regulations for land use. 

Calling to attract wildlife and feeding (all) wildlife is ILLEGAL. We are visitors in their environment, and all wildlife no matter how big or small should be treated with the most respect possible. Stay 100 yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from all other animals (including chipmunks/squirrels). If your presence causes them to change their behavior, you are too close. Bison and elk can and do attack humans if provoked. 

After Lamar Valley, you'll turn left at Tower Junction and drive Dunraven Pass, one of the most beautiful drives in the park. Dunraven Pass also opens in late May or early June due to snow, make sure you know if it's open if your trip is during this time. At the end of Dunraven Pass is the Canyon Village 4-way intersection. If you'd like to stop for gas, food, souvenirs, or to check out the Visitor Center, turn left!

After finishing at Canyon Village, turn left to continue to the canyon. If you choose not to stop at Canyon Village, continue straight through the intersection from Dunraven Pass.

Take the first left after the intersection and park in the first parking lot on the left. Look for a sign that says "Brink of Lower Falls." After exploring the lower falls, you'll need to continue driving on this one-way North Rim Drive and stay to the left, eventually coming back to the original four-way intersection, where you'll go left again!

This short but steep trail will take your breath away as you look over the edge into the power that is 308 feet tall Lower Falls. The largest waterfall in the park, this waterfall can push anywhere from 5,000 to 60,000 gallons of water per second into the canyon below. 

The designation of Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872 can be traced back to the Hayden Expedition of 1871. Artist Thomas Moran accompanied the expedition and created paintings of the spectacular landscapes, notably the view of Lower Falls from Artist Point.  

Wildlife Safety in Yellowstone

Continue driving until you reach the THIRD left, look out for a sign indicating Artist Point, all the way at the end of South Rim Drive.

After leaving Artist Point and taking a left off of South Rim Drive, continue driving until you reach Fishing Bridge Junction, where you'll turn left. You will pass the Visitor Center and Pelican Creek Trailhead on the right before arriving at the Storm Point trailhead. 

Storm Point is an incredible trail with views of the lake as well as prime habitat for Yellow-Bellied Marmots, deer, geese, and birds of prey. Please adhere to all signage and restricted areas, there are many restoration projects in this area. 

Lake Hotel Dining Room | Dining Options at Yellowstone Lakel

Exit the way you came, turning left onto Grand Loop Road and continuing until you make a left for Lake Hotel. If you choose not to eat at Lake Hotel, feel free to grab snacks from the general store or eat at Old Faithful!

This is one of the best thermal areas to visit because it has incredible hot springs such as Abyss Pool, Black Pool, and Fishing Cone. It borders Yellowstone Lake and you can see how the thermal features react with the lake. It is often less crowded than other thermal areas closer to Old Faithful. 

**Optional: One of the more difficult trails due to the elevation gain, this is one of the best views of Yellowstone Lake and the surrounding Absaroka Mountain Range. You can find this hike in the same parking lot as the West Thumb Geyser Basin, just leave the basin area and walk straight across the parking lot. 

- I would recommend taking the boardwalk all the way up to Morning Glory Pool, one of the most beautiful and colorful hot springs in the park.

 - There is no bad place to watch Old Faithful erupt. It might be around 30 minutes past the expected eruption time, but it is well worth the wait. 

- Watch your step! Thermal areas are dangerous, stay on the boardwalks.

The Dining Room | Dining Options at Old Faithful Inn

**Optional: If there's still time, Grand Prismatic Spring is just up the road from Old Faithful going towards West Yellowstone. There are two options to view Grand Prismatic. You can see it from above via the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook or you can stand next to it via the Midway Geyser Basin. Many people prefer the overlook, however I believe the basin is just as impressive. Both these places are likely to be crowded, and on a cold day there may be a lot of steam that clouds the view. 

After West Thumb, turn left at the intersection and then keep right towards Old Faithful. Driving through the busy Old Faithful area can be a little bit confusing, but keep right and follow signs for the Lodge/Inn and there will be lots of parking available. 

You could stop at Fountain Paint Pots, Firehole Falls, or anything else that catches your eye on the way out of the park. The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone is great and closes around 8pm in the summertime. 

You could stop at Lewis Falls, Moose Falls, or anything else that catches your eye on the way out. Leaving through the South Entrance will take you down the John D. Rockefeller, Jr Memorial Parkway and into Grand Teton National Park. Though lodging inside (most) National Parks is not the cheapest, there are many options available, the closest to the Yellowstone South Entrance being Headwaters Lodge & Cabins. Camping outside the park is another affordable and accessible option for those who enjoy camping. 

Yellowstone in a Day

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