Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary: 4 Days in the National Parks
This Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary wraps the best of both national parks into one epic road trip.
Gushing geysers, pointy peaks and stunning lakes and waterfalls are all a part of this 4 day itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The two popular national parks are located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and pair perfectly together for a road trip.
Since there are more than 2.5 million acres to explore between the two destinations, it’s important to arrive with a game plan to maximize your time. This Yellowstone Grand Tetons itinerary will help you make the most of each day and hit all the highlights along the way.
I spent over a week hiking and sightseeing in the parks last fall to uncover the best things to do and craft the ultimate Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. This guide will show you what to do with 4 days in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, but you could also combine this 3 day Grand Teton and 4 day Yellowstone itinerary for a longer trip.
Where to Stay at Yellowstone and Grand Teton
There are a few towns near Yellowstone and Grand Teton to consider for your time in the national parks.
Outside of the park, West Yellowstone makes the most sense for this itinerary and has a blend of historic hotels and contemporary accommodations to suit every taste. A few top rated options downtown include the Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone and Faithful Street Inn
For Grand Teton, you’ll want to look for hotels around the town of Jackson. There are several highly rated options to chose from downtown or on the outskirts, like the Western-style Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole or the log cabins at Cowboy Village Resort.
4 Day Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary
This 4 day Grand Teton Yellowstone Itinerary works best if you are flying into Bozeman and out of Jackson, but you can also reverse it or do it as a loop from either airport with some minor adjustments. I suggest using the map below to craft a route most logical for your flying or driving plans.
On the route below, I’ve divided the main Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone into two smaller circles (upper and lower), while Grand Teton’s Teton Park Road can also make a driving loop with Highway 191 into Jackson.
To save this Google Map for reference, click on the square in the top right corner.
Day 1 — Yellowstone Upper Loop
With a full day at Yellowstone, you should be able to fit in all of these activities on the upper Grand Loop Road in the park. If you’re arriving mid-day, you may have to stick to the ones on the route to your first hotel or bump the long hike at Mount Washburn to save time.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Located at the north entrance to Yellowstone, the Mammoth Hot Springs area has hydrothermal features on two terraces. Boardwalks crisscrossing the lower terrace allow you to get up close to the steaming orange and white travertine tiers. At the upper terrace, a 2-mile road loops around the hot springs and walkways provide sweeping views over the landscape.
At the base in the small village of Mammoth, you can tour historic Fort Yellowstone, an Army post from 1886 to 1918 during the early years of the national park.
Lamar Valley
The Lamar Valley is one of the best spots to watch for wildlife in Yellowstone. Located on the Lamar River on the northeast side of the park, the valley is home to bison, wolves, bears, coyotes and bald eagles.
Dawn and dusk are the most active times for most of the animals, but you can sometimes spot bison herds in the distance even if you don’t make it here for the prime hours. Pullouts along the road allow you to safely observe wildlife from your car. Remember to stay 100-plus yards away from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from bison, elk and other large animals in the park.
Tower Fall
At 132-feet high, Tower Fall surrounded by pinnacle rocks is one of the most popular waterfall views in Yellowstone. An easy walk from a general store and parking area leads to a lookout point where you can snap photos.
Mount Washburn Hike
If you’re up for a moderate hike, Mount Washburn is one of the top treks in the park with stunning panoramas from a fire lookout at the 10,243-foot-high peak.
To reach the top, you can either follow a nearly 7-mile round-trip trail from the Dunraven Pass Trailhead or a 5.8-mile route from Chittenden Road. Both paths take a good 3 hours or more with the incline. Bikers can also use the Chittenden Road option.
Grizzly bears frequent the area, so the National Park Service recommends staying away in fall when they are most active. Carrying bear spray for protection is also advised.
Canyon Village
Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are the next big destination, but I recommend saving the Grand Canyon’s waterfalls for the next morning, as it won’t be as crowded and the light will be better for photos.
At the village, you can pop into the Visitor Education Center for a park film and exhibits or stop for food at the restaurant and general store.
Norris Geyser Basin
While it’s not as famous as the Upper Geyser Basin with its Old Faithful, the Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and oldest one in the park. Steamboat Geyser here is the world’s tallest active geyser at 300-feet, but eruptions are unpredictable.
You will be able to spot smaller spouts, bubbling springs, acid geysers, steam vents and more along the walking paths here. The Porcelain Basin has a 0.6-mile boardwalk with open views over the thermal landscape, while the more wooded Back Basin offers 1 or 1.6-mile loops packed with geysers.
Day 2 — Yellowstone Lower Loop
This full day in Yellowstone is the perfect time to drive the big lower loop, which encompasses the most famous destinations in the national park. It is a bit tight to squeeze it all into one day unless you start super early, but you can save a couple of activities for the following morning on your way to Grand Teton National Park.
If you’re staying in Canyon Village, you could bump the Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or West Thumb Geyser Basin to the following day. If you’re in West Yellowstone or the Old Faithful area, save the Upper or Midway Geyser Basin for the next morning.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Carved by the Yellowstone River, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is about 20 miles long and features two gushing cascades — the 109-foot Upper Falls and the 308-foot Lower Falls.
A handful of overlooks along South Rim Drive and North Rim Drive offer different vantage points of both waterfalls and trails along the rim and down into the canyon. The South Rim is the quickest route to see both with a stop at the Upper Falls view and famous Artist Point, where you can sometimes spot a rainbow on the Lower Falls.
The North Rim has even more lookouts, like the Brink of the Upper Falls and Brink of the Lower Falls, where you can hike to the top of each waterfall to see it gushing loudly down. Lookout Point offers an easy-to-reach vista of the Lower Falls, or you can hike down a short and steep trail from here to the Red Rock overlook — my favorite up-close view.
Hayden Valley
Hayden Valley on the east side of the park is known as a top wildlife-watching spot. If you’re an early riser, get here around dawn before visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for a chance to spot wolves and bears. Otherwise, you might still catch some of the large bison herds throughout the day. There are several pull outs along the road for easy spying.
Yellowstone Lake
While you probably won’t have time for fishing and boating on a short 4 day itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton, you’ll at least be able to take a peek at Yellowstone Lake as you drive the lower loop.
With 141 miles of shoreline, Yellowstone Lake is the largest in the national park. While most of the lake is super cold at an average 41 degrees, it also has extreme hot spots with underwater springs and geysers hitting up to 252 degrees.
For a quick lake visit, take the side route on Gull Point Drive off Grand Loop Road that runs right along the water.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Located on the banks of Yellowstone Lake, the West Thumb Geyser Basin is worth a quick stop. A 0.6-mile boardwalk loop passes by boiling pools and steaming cones, some actually in the lake. Make sure you stop for photos at the turquoise Black Pool and the Fishing Cone geyser, where fishermen once would cook up what they caught from the lake before the practice was banned.
Midway Geyser Basin
Midway Geyser Basin’s claim to fame is Grand Prismatic Spring. You can get up close to it and a few other hot pools on a crowded boardwalk loop (be prepared to wait for parking midday).
The best view of Grand Prismatic Spring, though, is from above at the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook, where you can see the whole turquoise pool ringed with orange and white. To reach this lookout, start at the Fairy Falls trailhead and take the short spur trail less than a mile in. It’s about 1.6 miles roundtrip with a steep climb up to the viewpoint.
Lower Geyser Basin
The Lower Geyser Basin is the largest one in Yellowstone, covering about 18 square miles along the Firehole River. There are a few different spots to focus on here, but you can touch on the highlights pretty quickly if you’re short on time.
Start by turning onto Firehole Lake Drive, a 3.5-mile loop where you can pull over at the Great Fountain Geyser (it erupts every 10 to 14 hours), White Dome Geyser (frequent but unpredictable), and a couple of steaming lakes.
For a quick stroll by some fumaroles and mud pots, stop at the Fountain Paint Pots. The boardwalk trail here passes the Fountain Geyser which erupts every 4.5 to 7 hours.
If you have extra time, add a drive on Firehole Canyon Road, a tight one-way route along the Firehole River and Firehole Falls.
Day 3 — Yellowstone to Grand Teton
If you stay in West Yellowstone or the Old Faithful area, you can spend part of the morning finishing up at the geyser basins on this side of the park before heading toward Grand Teton by early afternoon.
Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Since Old Faithful is most likely on your Yellowstone bucket list, plan to stop at the Upper Geyser Basin to watch it erupt 100-feet high about every 68 to 94 minutes. Check the current predictions here.
The Upper Geyser Basin has miles of boardwalks to explore, but if you’re short on time, stick to the loop of Geyser Hill (under a mile) or hike the 1.6 mile round-trip route to Observation Point overlooking Old Faithful. Both trails are close to the geyser so you can walk them while you wait for the next eruption.
This area is one of the most developed in the park, so it’s a great place to stop for snacks, fill up the tank, use the restroom, or grab a bite. The Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge and Old Faithful Snow Lodge are also here but book up months ahead.
Yellowstone to Grand Teton Drive
The Yellowstone to Grand Teton road trip will likely take at least a couple of hours, depending on where you start from in Yellowstone. The national park boundary lines are actually only a few miles from each other, though.
The drive from West Yellowstone to Grand Teton is about 2 to 2.5 hours. On that route, you’ll be able to stop at the Lower, Midway or Upper Geyser Basin for any activities you didn’t get to the day before. Old Faithful is 60 miles from Colter Bay Village, where you’ll find the first Grand Teton visitor center.
Canyon Village to Grand Teton National Park is closer to 2 hours, passing by the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone Lake on the way. If you’re staying in Canyon Village, I recommend including Old Faithful in the day with the full lower loop and bumping the West Thumb Geyser Basin and Lamar Valley wildlife watching to this morning instead.
Colter Bay
Located on Jackson Lake, Colter Bay Village is the first developed area in Grand Teton National Park as you approach from the north with a visitor center, gas station, restaurants, campgrounds and cabins.
You can pause here for a quick picnic or spend a little more time following the Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail, a 2-mile loop along the waterfront.
U.S. Highway 191/26/89
While many Grand Teton National Park hikes and activities are along Teton Park Road, the highway that runs through the Jackson Hole valley actually has some of the best views of the mountains behind the Snake River. This U.S. Highway is an overlap of 191, 26 and 89, but I’ll refer to it as 191 for simplicity.
I recommend spending your half day in the park driving this route toward Jackson while stopping at as many overlooks as you have time for. I’ve included some of the best ones below, but you’ll spot plenty of others as you go (Glacier View Turnout, Teton Point Turnout, etc).
Oxbow Bend
The Oxbow Bend of the Snake River is one of the first scenic overlooks you’ll want to pause for on Highway 191. It’s a popular sunrise photography spot, but any time of day you can watch the birds and look for a mountain reflection when the water is still.
J.P. Cunningham Cabin
This quick stop has a 0.3-mile loop trail around the J.P. Cunningham Cabin. Built in 1888, the ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and makes a pretty photo against the mountain backdrop. If you’re short on time, you’ll get even better rustic ranch scenes at Mormon Row.
Snake River Overlook
From the Snake River Overlook, you can see the waterway winding below along the base of the Teton Range. It’s one of the most recognizable landmarks of the national park thanks to a famous photo taken here by Ansel Adams. A large parking lot just off the highway here makes this one very easy to access.
Schwabacher Landing
Schwabacher Landing is my favorite spot to see the Teton Range reflecting in the Snake River and another photographer hotspot.
It does require a bit more effort to reach this view than most of the others along 191 as you have to drive 1 mile downhill on a bumpy, unpaved road. I was able to make it in a regular car in dry conditions. From the dirt parking lot, a short path leads to the river and multiple reflective vantage points.
Mormon Row
Established by settlers in the late 1800s, the Mormon Row historic district holds the remnants of 27 homesteads. A few barns and homes are still standing and make for a bucolic scene with a backdrop of the Tetons.
If you run out of daylight to stop here, you can tag it onto the next morning as it’s not too far from the park entrance at Moose.
Day 4 — Grand Teton National Park
With a full day in Grand Teton National Park, focus on Teton Park Road and a hike or two from the list below that matches your interest level. If you need to make it all the way back north to West Yellowstone of Bozeman today, you’ll still have time to drive the road and stop at Jenny Lake, but you may need to limit the hiking.
Teton Park Road
Teton Park Road is the main drive through the national park, following the base of the mountains for about 20 miles between park headquarters in Moose and the Jackson Lake Dam.
Along the road are scenic stops like the Mountain View and Potholes turnouts, trailheads for lake and mountain hikes, a couple of rustic chapels, and a scenic drive up Signal Mountain Road. A few of the most popular highlights you can squeeze into one day are below.
Taggart and Bradley Lake Loop
This 5-mile loop trail wraps in a pair of alpine lakes set against a mountainous backdrop. If you don’t have time to do the whole thing to Taggart and Bradley lakes, you can make it to just Taggart Lake on a 3-mile, round-trip hike.
With just a day in Grand Teton, you may have to pick between this activity and the Jenny Lake trail below, but early risers and fast movers may be able to squeeze both in.
Jenny Lake Scenic Drive
The short loop drive on Jenny Lake Road leads to a scenic lookout right on the water. It’s a pretty spot to see the lake if you aren’t heading to the hiking trails, but you could skip it if you’re short on time and already made a stop at the lake.
Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point
The Jenny Lake area is one of the most popular destinations in the park, with waterside walks, boat rides, and trails to waterfalls and overlooks. If you enjoy hiking, the trek to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls should be on your Grand Teton National Park bucket list.
In summer, you can ride a shuttle across the lake to the trailhead for a 2-mile, round-trip hike. Without the boat ride, add on another 4 miles round trip to walk around the lakeside to the trailhead. The path to reach Hidden Falls is uphill but short and easy. A rocky and moderately difficult trail continues from there to Inspiration Point for a view over the lake.
Signal Mountain Road
The summit of Signal Mountain has one of the best views over the Jackson Hole Valley, and luckily, you can drive straight up to the top.
The 5-mile long Signal Mountain Road climbs and winds up about 800 feet to a small parking area with a short climb to an overlook. The panoramic valley vista includes forests, lakes, rivers and occasional sightings of tiny elk or bison below.
Jackson Lake Dam
If you have extra time, make a quick stop at Jackson Lake Dam at the end of Teton Park Road. Jackson Lake meets the Snake River here, and when conditions are right, you can catch the mountains reflecting in the water.
Exiting Grand Teton National Park
As you wrap up Teton Park Road, you can either loop back down Highway 191 to Jackson (about 35 miles), stopping at any viewpoints you missed the day before), or exit north back through Yellowstone National Park toward West Yellowstone (90 miles) and Bozeman (180 miles).
Planning a Trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park
Use these tips to plan where to stay, when to go, and what to pack for aYellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary.
Grand Teton or Yellowstone
If you’re short on time and trying to decide on Yellowstone vs Grand Teton for your national park vacation, I highly recommend doing both. The two national parks are neighbors and visiting them at the same time makes sense.
Despite the proximity, the landscapes of the pair are pretty different, though, which may help you narrow down your choice.
Yellowstone is best known for its hydrothermal features like geysers, hot springs, mud pots and steam vents. The national park is 2.2 million acres, though, so you also get a ton of other landscapes, including waterfalls, rivers, lakes, mountains and valleys. Yellowstone is very diverse and accessible for a variety of activities, whether you’re looking for family-friendly boardwalks, wildlife photography, challenging mountain trails or scenic drives.
Grand Teton National Park is much smaller at about 310,000 acres, but the mountain vistas here are some of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. The park is in the valley of the 40-mile-long Teton Range, with rivers and alpine lakes. There are some fun and challenging hikes, but you can also just cruise along the Teton Park Road and Highway 191 loop for easy sightseeing close to the car.
Best Season for Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Summer is by far the busiest time to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, since the weather is mild, in the 70s during the day and cool overnight. Since both destinations are among the top 10 most visited national parks in the U.S., crowds hit the millions in summer. If you can only visit between June and August, be sure to book your hotel months ahead of time and be prepared for surge pricing, traffic, and full parking lots.
If your schedule is more flexible, late spring and early fall can be a great time for fewer crowds and lower prices. Some tourist amenities and hotels do shut down after September and reopen in May, but typically you can still visit into October before roads in Yellowstone start to close for wintry weather.
Winter (which can start by early to mid fall) is a more challenging time to visit Yellowstone independently, as most park roads are closed to cars. But, you can book snowmobile tours to see the winter wonderland and watch for wolves. Jackson Hole remains popular in winter since there are a few ski resorts in the mountains, but many park services close at the end of September. Teton Park Road closes to vehicles from November through April, but during this time, you can hike, ski and snowshoe on the road.
Check the national park website for the latest updates on road closures and weather.
Distance from Yellowstone to Grand Tetons
The South Entrance Station for Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park’s northernmost entry sign are only about 10 minutes apart, but it will take much longer to make the Yellowstone to Grand Teton drive.
Depending on where you’re starting, plan for at least 2 hours between the pair. West Yellowstone to Grand Teton takes about 2.5 hours, while it’s closer to 2 hours from Canyon Village in Yellowstone.
The shortest route from Bozeman to Jackson is 4 to 5 hours.
How Many Days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone
You may be wondering how many days to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Is a 4 day Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary enough time to see both parks? While I do think 5 to 7 days would be more ideal if you don’t want to rush, you can still see plenty of both parks with only 4 days.
As suggested in this itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton, I would split it up for about 2 to 3 days in Yellowstone and 1 to 2 days in Grand Teton to be able to quickly drive and sightsee through the major roads in both parks. With this kind of itinerary, you have to pick just a couple of hikes to focus on or start scratching out some major sights to carve out more time.
For an overview 4 day itinerary in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, I’d focus on the lower loop in Yellowstone and the upper loop if you have enough time, and the Teton Park Road and Highway 191 loop in Grand Teton.
Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tours
This 4 day nature tour to Yellowstone and Grand Teton focuses on the wildlife in both parks. It includes 3 nights of accommodation and dawn and dusk safari-style drives to look for bison, bears and wolves.
This 4 day trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton includes a guided tour to the top attractions in both national parks, 3 nights of hotels, and transportation.
This 2 day tour of Yellowstone from Jackson is the perfect add-on to a Grand Teton vacation. It includes Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and other popular attractions on the lower and upper park loops.
What to Pack for Yellowstone and Grand Teton
What to pack for Yellowstone and Grand Teton should include comfortable outfits with layers for colder nights and rain, hiking sneakers or boots, a daypack, camping supplies (if applicable), a water bottle, binoculars, and photography gear. You should also buy or rent bear spray when you get to the park, or bring your own if you’re driving. Airlines do not allow bear spray in checked luggage or carry-ons.
Tickets for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
The entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle for 7 days at Yellowstone or Grand Teton. You pay a separate admission to each park.
If you plan to visit any other national parks within a year, it’s usually a better deal to buy the annual America the Beautiful Pass, which includes admission to over 2,000 national parks and recreation areas for $80. Citizens over 62 can purchase an annual pass for only $20 or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.
Read More About Grand Teton and Yellowstone
These guide books will help you prepare for your Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary.
