Day 1 – Getting there
Yellowstone is the first national park of the world.
96 % of the park is in Wyoming, 3 % in Montana and 1 % in Idaho.
Quickest way to get to the Park is by air.
There are several small airports close to the park. The Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is on North side, Yellowstone Regional Airport (Cody WY) is on East side, Jackson Hole Airport is on South side and Yellowstone airport is on West side.
My trip started from Bozeman MT, I decided to fly to Bozeman simply because cost of flying to Bozeman from Chicago was half as compared to any other airports in the Yellowstone area.
Where to Stay
Gardiner is a small beautiful town on the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It offers multiple hotels and restaurants.
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins Yellowstone Big Rock Inn 902 Scott St, Gardiner, MT, 59030 Yellowstone Gateway Inn 103 Bigelow Lane, Gardiner, MT, 59030
Where to Eat
Breakfast: Yellowstone Grill, 404 Scott St, Gardiner MT Lunch/Dinner: Lighthouse Restaurant, 752 Hwy 89 S, Gardiner, MT Lunch/Dinner: The Raven Grill, 118 East Park Street, Gardiner, MT
Day 2 – Roosevelt Arch to West Yellowstone
Things to do
Roosevelt Arch – Time to spend: 15 minutes.
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt laid cornerstone of Roosevelt Arch. Arch became the first entrance point of the first National Park of the world.
Know More
Mammoth Hot Springs – Time to Spend: 1-2 hour
Mammoth Hot Springs deposits about 2 tons of calcium carbonate or travertine limestone per day. There are two ways to see Hot Springs. You can either 1.75 miles on boardwalk or if you do not wish to walk, you could drive a very short scenic drive called upper terraces drive. Surrounding area has general store, gift shops, restaurant and beautiful Mammoth Springs Hotel. During summer its really hard to find a lodging inside Yellowstone but if you plan early you could definitely find a lodge.
Norris Geyser – Time to spend: 1.5 hours
Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. This area has 2.5 miles of boardwalk. The largest geyser in the world is located here. Its called Steamboat Geyser. It does not erupt often but when it does it pushes water more than 370 feet high.
Click here to see steamboat geyser on youtube
Artists Paint pots Trail
This is 1 mile of boardwalk offers several hot springs and very unique mud pots.
Grand Prismatic Spring – Time to spend: 2 hour
This is my favorite spot in Yellowstone National Park and I have no words to describe how beautiful this place is. Grand Prismatic Spring is the third largest hot spring in the world and the largest in United States. Hot Spring is approximately 50m deep and about 110m in diameter . There is a board walk around the hot spring but to get an aerial view you have to do a short hike. Grand Prismatic overlook is located on Fairy Falls trail. It is a short 20 min walk to overlook from the trail head of Fairy Falls.
Old Faithful: Time to spend: 90 min
It is not the biggest but most regular geyser in Yellowstone National Park. Since 2000 it has been erupting every 45-120 minutes.
Check in the visitor center for eruption timings.
By R. Robinson – Downloaded from National Park Service Photo Gallery:www.nps.gov/archive/yell/slidefile/history/1946_1999/thermalfeatures/Images/11017.jpg
Where to Eat
Breakfast: Yellowstone Grill, 404 Scott St, Gardiner MT Lunch: Mammoth Hotel Dining Room - Menu Dinner: Old Faithful Inn Dining Room - Menu
Where to sleep
Its ideal to stay in a hotel inside the park but I was not lucky enough to find a hotel there. If you cannot find accommodation inside the park then West Yellowstone area is a great place to stay. It also has a lot of restaurants and gift shops.
Hotels inside the park
Old Faithful Inn Grant Village Lodging Old Faithful Inn
Hotels in West Yellowstone
World Mark West Yellowstone, 110 Gray Wolf Ave, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone Best Western Desert Inn, 133 North Canyon Street, West Yellowstone
Day 3 – Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone and Hayden Valley
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone – Time to spend: 3.5 – 4 hours
This place is ranked 1 by TripAdvisor.com in places to see in Yellowstone National Park. The area is divided into two sections North Rim and South Rim. Both the sides can be easily accessed through road. There are several overlooks in the area with plenty of parking. Almost all of the overlooks are handicap accessible. I stopped at every view point in this map except inspiration point which was closed in July 2018 because of construction. Please see below for the map.
Things to do
North Rim view points
- Bring of Lower Falls – 0.8 mile (out and back) moderate hike
- Red Rock Point – Hike – 0,8 miles (out and back) moderate hike
- Lookout point
- Grand View
- Inspiration Point
South Rim
- Uncle Tom’s Trail – Moderate 0.6 mile (out and back)
- Artist Point
Hayden Valley – Time to spend: 1.5 hour
Aside from the gorgeous wide open views, Hayden Valley is great place for wild life viewing. Best time to see wild life is early in the morning or around sunset time. I wasn’t lucky enough to see a bear but I did see hundreds of bisons. The Valley approximately covers 130 square km area of Yellowstone National Park. Aside from the gorgeous wide open views, Hayden Valley is great place for wild life viewing. Best time to see wild life is early in the morning or around sunset time. I wasn’t lucky enough to see a bear but I did see hundreds of bisons. The Valley approximately covers 130 square km area of Yellowstone National Park.
Where to Sleep
Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins Grant Village Old Faithful Inn
Where to Eat
Grant Village Dining room Lake Hotel Dining Room Grant Village Lake House Restaurant
Day Four – Yellowstone National Park to Grand Teton NP
Things to do
West Thumb Geyser Basin
Moose Falls
Jackson Lake Overlook
Signal Mountain Summit Road
This road is less travelled which makes it great for serious wild life watchers. Black bears can be spotted in this area. I saw two black bears on my way signal mountain summit. Check out a video here
Potholes Turnout
Jackson, WY
Where to Stay
Hotel Jackson, Jackson 50 N Glenwood St, Jackson, WY, 83001 The Lexington at Jackson Hole Hotel & Suites, Jackson3-star 285 North Cache, Jackson, WY, 83001 Wort Hotel, Jackson WY 50 N Glenwood St, Jackson, WY, 83001
Day 5 – Jackson, Grand Teton Village and Jenny Lake
Things to Do
Teton Village Gondola – Time to spend: 2 hours
Gondola ride can be booked here
Jenny Lake Tour – Time to spend: 2 hours
Jenny lake boat tours can be booked here.
Mormon Row Historic District and Antelope Flats – Time to spend: 15- 45 min
Oxbow Bend – Time to spend: 15 min
Where to Stay
Jackson Lake Lodge Grant Village Lodge
Day 6 – Lamar Valley
Things to do
Tower Falls – Time to spend: 30 min
This wasn’t super exciting but its a very short walk from a parking lot.
LAMAR VALLEY
If you are looking for wild life then this is the place for you. This valley is home to bisons, wolfs, bears, elks and coyotes. Bisons and Elks are not hard to spot as, they are pretty much every where is the valley. If you want to see Grizzly bears and Wolfs then visit the valley early morning or close to sunset.
Where to Stay
Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins Roosevelt Lodge Yellowstone Big Rock Inn, 902 Scott St, Gardiner, MT, 59030 Yellowstone Gateway Inn 103 Bigelow Lane, Gardiner, MT, 59030
Where to Eat
Breakfast: Yellowstone Grill, 404 Scott St, Gardiner MT Lunch/Dinner: Lighthouse Restaurant, 752 Hwy 89 S, Gardiner, MT Lunch/Dinner: The Raven Grill, 118 East Park Street, Gardiner, MT
Day Seven
Drive to Bozeman airport to fly back home.
Fahad On Road 
Thanks for wonderful guide, just what i needed to plan my family vacation for next year!
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