Yellowstone National Park Three Day Travel Itinerary
Here’s a condensed weekend itinerary for America’s most epic national park
Yellowstone isn’t a place you just stumble into – it’s a place where trying to grasp the scale of everything is difficult for the human brain. It turn out trying to pack 3,500 square miles of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho (it’s that big) into three days is, well, impossible.
That’s why it pays to plan ahead so you can cram in as many geysers, deadly lakes, canyons, valleys and hopefully bears and wolves into the time you have. In our itinerary, we highlight the must-see places, as well as a few spots where you can escape the crowds (of which there will be plenty) and take it all in. So jump in for a balanced experience of Yellowstone with this three day itinerary.
Packing and Preparing
Before you hit the road, the key takeaway is that Yellowstone can be unpredictable. One moment you’re watching Old Faithful erupt in blazing sunshine, the next you’re dodging for cover a huge hailstones pelt the ground.
A moisture-wicking base layer, waterproof jacket, brimmed hat or cap and as many layers as you can carry are the first things into your backpack. Depending on the time of year (this itinerary is aimed at Spring-Summer when the weather is more favourable), sunscreen, sunglasses and even a UV-blocking parasol can also help. The sun’s rays can be harder to deal with at Yellowstone’s higher elevation.
Oh, and on’t even bother leaving the car without a solid pair of hiking boots – sneakers just won’t cut it on the rocky, dusty, muddy and slippery surfaces you’ll encounter even if you stick to the tourist trail.
Aside from all of that, it depends on how ‘wild’ you want to go. For the more hidden trails, pack your GPS device, maps, additional food and water and a can of bear spray.
This guide is designed for driving, as having a car will help you to see more of the park in a shorter timeframe.
Where to Stay
You can camp and stay in lodges inside the park at designated places (no wild camping is allowed), but these fill up extremely quickly and you’ll probably need to book about a year out.
Your best bet is to find somewhere in West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Cooke City or even Bozeman, where you’ll most likely fly into. Check out the Kelly Inn or the Explorer Cabins for the closest, most convenient places to stay in Yellowtone National Park.
Day One: Geysers and Bison
Old Faithful | Janson George / Shutterstock
Your Yellowstone adventure starts here! Start your trip from the west entrance as early as you humanly can. Traffic leading into the park can be a nightmare, so beating the crowds comes down to your appetite for an early start.
Start in the Lower Geyser Basin and ideally watch the sun rise over the Fountain Paint Pot Trail. Here, mud pools bubble and boul and fumaroles smoke away. It can be ethereal if the light is right. Keep an eye out for wandering bison for that perfect early morning photo.
As the traffic begins rolling in, continue onto the Midway Geyser Basin and the Grand Prismatic Spring. If it’s a sunny day, the spring’s colours look otherworldly. Our top tip is to take the short uphill trail to the overlook, offering the very best views over the Dali-like landscape.
Your next stop is, well, the showstopper of the trip. Old Faithful is probably Yellowstone’s most iconic landmark. The geyser is famous for its timely eruption, with jets of boiling water and steam blasting up to 180 feet in the air roughly every 90 minutes, give or take. Use the wait between eruptions to follow the Upper Geyser Boardwalk which passes dozens of other active geysers that aren’t as crowded.
Although many visitors choose to dine at the Old Faithful Inn, this is where your pre-packed picnic allows you skip long wait lines and save some extra cash!
As the afternoon progresses, continue your tour back to Madison Junction and keep your eyes open. As the sun dips, elk, bison and bald eagles come out to eat and drink, so watch the meadows and drive slowly. Swing by the Firehole River Swimming Area to cool off if it’s a hot day before heading off for some rest – tomorrow is another big one!
Day Two: Yellowstone Lake
The Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River | VarnaK / Shutterstock
Again, an early start aids you at Yellowstone Lake, a gigantic high altitude body of water that’s a picture postcard regardless of the season or weather. A good stopping point is West Thumb Geyser Basin on the western shore, where bubbling, steaming mounds provide the ideal foreground.
Follow the edge of the lake to Hayden Valley, hands down one of the best places in Yellowstone to see bison. If you’re extra lucky, you may even spot a grizzly bear or wolves if you’re arrived early enough, so grab your binoculars or long lens and be patient. And if you see a crowd of people or cars that have pulled over, stop too – they’ve probably spotted something interesting.
Push on and arrive at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Park up at Artist Point (the name is a clue) and soak up the dramatic, awe-inspiring views of the Lower Falls. Then, it’s time to tighten your laces and hit the trail!
Join the South Rim Trail and connect with Uncle Tom’s Trail (almost always closed in winter or snowy conditions, so don’t bother). It’s a thigh-burner, but the reward is access to the brink of the Lower Falls, with roaring white water giving a sense of the power of the Yellowstone River.
The Canyon Lodge Eatery is a good spot to rehydrate and grab some carbs for the next winding loop around the Norris Geyser Basin a short drive away. This is the hottest and most volatile part of the park, so take care around geysers and stick to the paths. The Porcelain Basin loop offers more amazing views.
Finish the day with a meal in Gardiner or sleep off the hiking with an early night.
Day Three: Lamar Valley and Mammoth Hot Springs
Lamar Valley is often dubbed the Serengeti of North America and it’s your last chance to spot the wildlife that you haven’t ticked off the list yet. Again, pre-dawn is primetime for wolf and bear spotting (from a safe distance), but coyotes, pronghorns and bison are active in the area.
Follow the valley and use turnouts and rest stops to scan the landscape – coffee and snacks optional.
By midday, head back west to Mammoth Hot Springs and the famous terraces. The springs are less violent than Yellowstone's geysers, but the shifting colours and shapes of the mud, rocks, water, sulfur and minerals makes for some superb shots. Follow the boardwalks to get up close, safely.
Wrap up your final day in Yellowstone with a trip to the historic Fort Yellowstone area and keep an eye out for elk that often wander onto the lawns for some easy grazing. The Mammoth Dining Room serves up bison burgers before you head back to the parking lot.
Wrapping Up
Although three days isn’t quite enough to get the complete Yellowstone experience, you’ll certainly see the defining features and must-see areas. With a touch of luck and some resilience when it comes to early starts and late finishes, you’re more likely to spot wandering wolves or grizzly bears pawing at the lake, so forgo those relaxing mornings.
But the real magic happens when you skip the tight schedule and checklists and just soak up the natural beauty of the park, and maybe spend a little longer if you’re enjoying what you see. This itinerary is your starting point, but chatting with other visitors or grabbing a park ranger or even a guide will reveal places where bears have been spotted, or the trails where the footfall is a little lower that day.
If you have time, consider visiting some of the other national parks, national forests and other places of interest near Yellowstone. Or, if crowds and driving aren’t your thing, check out our overview of Shoshone National Forest, a great alternative to Yellowstone that also has its own amazing natural features and similar levels of wildlife.
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