Yellowstone is the quintessential bucket list destination. From bubbling and spewing volcanic features to supreme wildlife viewing, this park really has it all. Every year, four million people from all over the globe come to Yellowstone to observe the natural wonders offered by the nation’s first national park. In this guide, you will find all of the best things to do and see during your trip to Yellowstone. In addition, you will also find a free six-day itinerary to help you plan your adventure.
When to visit
To see all of what the park has to offer, the best time to visit is between May and October, as this is the time that most of the roads are open. The high season is between June and August, as these are the months that bring in the biggest crowds. We visited Yellowstone during the first week of September, with the hope of avoiding the high-season crowd. The park was still very crowded during this time. Although we were always able to find parking, there were a few times that we had to wait a while for a spot to open. The weather was perfect as it was warm during the day and cool at night. During the winter months (November – late April), most of the park roads are closed. It is important to check the national park website ahead of time for more information regarding road openings and closures.
Where to stay
In my opinion, the best way to experience Yellowstone is to stay inside the park. One main reason for this recommendation is that it will save you time. Yellowstone is a very big park and having accommodations inside the park will give you more time to explore. It is important to note that Yellowstone accommodations often sell out well in advance. Given this, it is highly recommended that you book your accommodations in advance.
Yellowstone Hotels
There are nine lodging facilities throughout the park. The Old Faithful Inn is the most requested lodge in the park. The inside of the Old Faithful Inn is beautiful and rustic. Even if you are not staying here, I highly recommend that you take a peek inside this historic hotel. Other popular hotels include Canyon Lodge and Cabins, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins. For more information and booking, visit the Yellowstone National Park Lodges website. It is important to book your accommodations well in advance of your trip to ensure availability. You can book hotels through Yellowstone National Park Lodges about 13 months in advance.
Yellowstone Campgrounds
There are 12 Yellowstone campgrounds. Five campgrounds accept reservations through Yellowstone National Park Lodges, which can be booked approximately 13 months in advance. For the other seven campgrounds, booking can be made through Recreation.gov six months in advance. For our visit to Yellowstone, we rented a camper van and stayed at various campgrounds around the park. Specifically, we stayed at Canyon, Grant, and Madison campgrounds. Camping inside the park definitely elevated our experience. From campfire meals to quiet nights under the starlit sky, our camp nights will always hold a special place in our Yellowstone memories. Although we enjoyed our stay at each campground, our favorite was Canyon Campground. Our site at Canyon Campground felt a little more private than sites at the other campgrounds. Plus the location and amenities were great.
Visit the national park website to find more information about Yellowstone campgrounds. Here you will find a table showing the features of each campground, opening dates, and where to book. Additionally, a map displaying the location of each campground is also available.
what to do in the park
Grand Prismatic Spring
There are two ways to see the Grand Prismatic Spring, both of which I highly recommend. To view the spring close-up, walk the boardwalk at Midway Geyser Basin. To see the spring from above, hike the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail, which is approximately 1.5 miles out and back. The parking for this trail can be found at the Fairy Falls Trailhead. This is one of the most popular areas of the park. Therefore, visitors should be prepared for limited parking and a high number of tourists.
Old Faithful Geyser / Upper Geyser Basin
Upper Geyser Basin is home to the largest concentration of geysers in the world. There are several miles of trails to explore and see the geysers. This area was especially beautiful to see in the early morning hours, as the steam lifted above the hydrothermal features and the sky glowed pink and orange during the sunrise.
Upper Geyser Basin is also home to the world-famous, Old Faithful Geyser. Old Faithful is one of the most predictable geysers in the park and for this reason, it is quite popular with park visitors. Old Faithful erupts approximately every 90 minutes for 1.5 to 5 minutes and shoots up to 8,400 gallons of hot water as high as 185 feet. There are two ways to see the eruption. From the ground, see the eruption from the viewing area that surrounds the geyser. Alternatively, you can hike to the Old Faithful Observation Point, which is a two-mile loop trail. This is one of the most popular areas in the park. Be prepared for a high number of tourists watching the Old Faithful eruption along with you.
Lower Geyser Basin / Fountain Paint Pots
The Fountain Paint Pots is a 0.5-mile boardwalk loop that includes all four hydrothermal features in the park: geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles. The highlights here include Silex Spring, Fountain Paint Pot, Red Sprouter, Fountain Geyser, and Clepsydra Geyser.
Great Fountain Geyser
The Great Fountain Geyser shoots water 75 to 220 feet high every 10 to 14 hours. Unlike Old Faithful’s short durations, Great Fountain Geyser’s eruptions last for approximately one hour. Before visiting, download the Yellowstone National Park App to obtain geyser prediction times.
Norris Geyser Basin
Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and oldest geothermal basin. The boardwalk trails loop around two hydrothermal areas: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. During our visit, we used a map from All Trails to guide us around the basin. Free ranger-led walks around the basin may also be an option for park visitors. For more information regarding ranger-led walks at Yellowstone, check the national park website.
Mammoth Hot Springs
The Lower Terrace boardwalk offers close-up views of the travertine terraces. The inviting colors and the ever-changing features make this area unique and beautiful. The highlights here include Liberty Cap, Palette Spring, Minerva Terrace, Cleopatra, Mound, Jupiter Terraces, and Canary Spring. Access the boardwalk at one of three lower parking lots on the park road south of Mammoth Village.
Wildlife Viewing
This was hands-down our favorite Yellowstone activity. The top spots for spotting wildlife include Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. In the valleys, it is possible to spot bison, elk, bears, and wolves. Dawn and dusk hours are the best times to spot wildlife, as these are the hours that they are typically the most active. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is one of the park’s most striking features. Explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by driving along the north and south rim and stopping at several viewpoints. Some of our favorites include Brink of the Lower Falls, Grand View, Inspiration Point, and Artist Point.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
West Thumb Geyser Basin is a smaller caldera within the larger Yellowstone Caldera. A boardwalk trail leads visitors around the geothermal features. During our visit, we used a map from All Trails to guide us around the basin. Some highlights include Fishing Cone, Abyss Pool, Thumb Paint Pots, and Twin Geyser.
Hiking Trails in Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River Overlook Trail is approximately 3.2 miles with 427 feet in elevation gain (according to All Trails). This trail should take approximately two to three hours. The trailhead for this hike is located in the Yellowstone River Picnic Area. The trail is known for its amazing views of the Yellowstone River.
The Trout Lake Trail is approximately 1.2 miles with 220 feet of elevation gain. It should take about one hour to complete. This shoreline trail surrounds the beautiful Trout Lake with a scenic mountain backdrop. In early summer, you may be able to spot trout in the lake.
Dunraven Pass to Mount Washburn. Plan at least four hours to complete this 6.8-mile hike. The elevation gain for this trail is approximately 1,394 feet. Although this hike is long and challenging, the views at the top and along the way are incredibly scenic especially during sunrise. Bears are known to frequent the area in search of pine tree nuts. During our trek, we spotted a young black bear high up in a pine tree.
Point Sublime Via Artist Point. The 2.7-mile hike to Point Sublime starts near the Artist Point parking lot. The elevation gain is approximately 341 feet. Plan for about two hours to complete the hike. The views at Point Sublime are very underwhelming. The real highlight here is the incredible views of the canyon along the way to Point Sublime.
The Storm Point Trail is a 2.5-mile loop trail. It is considered an easy trail with minimal elevation gain (98 feet). Plan for at least an hour to an hour and a half to complete this trail. Part of this hike hugs the shoreline of Lake Yellowstone, offering beautiful views. This hike is unique, as it offers visitors a variety of ecosystems to explore. Specifically, Storm Point Trail guides visitors through meadows, sandy bluffs, shorelines, and woods. Grizzlies frequent the area, which can sometimes close the trail.
The Natural Bridge Trail is a 3-mile out-and-back hike to a natural bridge. It is an easy trail with minimal elevation gain (approximately 181 feet). Plan for at least two hours to complete this hike.
The Old Faithful Observation Point Trail is approximately 2.1 miles with 237 feet of elevation gain. Coordinate the walk up to the observation point with an eruption of Old Faithful to see the event from above. Plan for at least one hour of hiking time.
The Mystic Falls Trail is approximately 2.4 miles with 147 feet of elevation gain. Plan for at least one hour to complete the hike. The trailhead for this hike is located at Biscuit Basin. The trail follows Little Firehole River to Mystic Falls, a 70-foot waterfall that feeds a series of cascades.
The Fairy Falls and Grand Prismatic Springs Overlook Trail is about 6.8 miles with 129 feet of elevation gain. Plan for three hours to complete the full hike. Not feeling up for a long hike or short on time? Skip Fairy Falls and just do the 1.5-mile out-and-back hike to the Grand Prismatic Springs Overlook.
Yellowstone Itinerary
Ready to plan your Yellowstone adventure? Use our six-day free Yellowstone Itinerary as a guide for planning your trip. Our itinerary includes a full schedule of activities to do and places to see. The itinerary is completely customizable. This allows you to add more activities or to take away activities if you are short on time.