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National Parks Road Trip · Wyoming & Montana

Yellowstone & Grand Teton: 7 Days

Watch Old Faithful erupt, look down on Grand Prismatic Spring, spot bison in Lamar Valley and take the boat across Jenny Lake below the Tetons.

  • 7 days / 6 nights
  • Round trip from Bozeman (BZN)
  • Self-drive, rental car
Grand Prismatic Spring’s rings of blue, green and orange beside a boardwalk in Yellowstone

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

10sights on the route
2national parks
1boat ride included
2nights inside Yellowstone
BozemanMammothLamar ValleyCanyonOld FaithfulGrand TetonWest YellowstoneBozeman
Part of your tripOptional add-on (not included in the trip price)
1Day 1

Bozeman to Gardiner: Mammoth Hot Springs

Into the park through the north entrance.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Why it is worth itHot water rising through limestone builds white and orange travertine terraces that change shape every year. Boardwalks loop over the terraces, and elk often rest on the lawns of the old Fort Yellowstone buildings nearby.

Insider tipStay on the boardwalks. The ground around hot springs is thin and the water is scalding.

2Day 2

Lamar Valley at dawn and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Wildlife at dawn and a canyon of yellow rock.

Lamar Valley

Why it is worth itA wide valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone, often called the Serengeti of North America. Bison herds graze here all summer, and it is the best place in the park to watch for wolves, early in the morning.

Insider tipBring binoculars, since animals are often far out in the valley. Stay at least 100 yards from bears and wolves, and 25 yards from other animals.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Why it is worth itA canyon about 20 miles long with yellow and pink walls, carved by the Yellowstone River. The Lower Falls drop 308 feet, almost twice the height of Niagara, and Artist Point looks straight at them.

Insider tipArtist Point is a short walk from its parking area and gives the classic view of the Lower Falls.

Optional add-on

Guided Lamar Valley Wildlife Safari

A small-group day with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes, looking for wolves, bears and bison. Lunch and tip included.

$665 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

Hayden Valley to Old Faithful

Bison country, then the geyser basin.

Hayden Valley

Why it is worth itAn open valley along the Yellowstone River between Canyon and Yellowstone Lake. Bison herds, elk and waterbirds are common, and grizzly bears are sometimes seen far out in the meadows.

Insider tipUse the pullouts to stop, and stay in your car if bison are near the road.

Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin

Why it is worth itOld Faithful erupts roughly every 90 minutes, sending water up to about 180 feet. Around it, the Upper Geyser Basin holds more geysers than anywhere else on Earth, linked by easy boardwalks.

Insider tipRangers post the predicted eruption times at the visitor center, so check them when you arrive.

4Day 4

West Thumb and into Grand Teton

Hot springs on the lake shore, then south into the Tetons.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

Why it is worth itHot springs and geysers right on the shore of Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America. A short boardwalk loop passes deep blue pools at the water’s edge.

Insider tipStay on the boardwalks. The ground around hot springs is thin and the water is scalding.

Oxbow Bend

Why it is worth itA slow curve of the Snake River where Mount Moran reflects in calm water. Early morning is best for the reflection, and moose, otters, pelicans and bald eagles are often seen here.

Insider tipUse the pullout and bring binoculars. Wildlife is often seen along the river.

5Day 5

Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and Mormon Row

A boat across the lake, a waterfall walk and the barns.

Jenny Lake

Why it is worth itA clear mountain lake at the foot of the Tetons. A shuttle boat crosses it to the trail to Hidden Falls, a 100-foot cascade, and Inspiration Point, a lookout high above the lake.

Insider tipYour shuttle boat ride is included. The trail on to Inspiration Point is short but steep.

Mormon Row

Why it is worth itA line of old barns and homesteads settled in the 1890s, with the Teton Range rising behind them. The T.A. Moulton Barn here is one of the most photographed barns in the country.

Insider tipMorning light on the Tetons behind the barns makes for the best photos.

Optional add-on

Snake River Scenic Float

A calm 10-mile guided float on the Snake River below the Tetons, about 2.5 to 3 hours. Tip included.

$225 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

6Day 6

North through both parks to Grand Prismatic Spring

North through both parks to the biggest hot spring.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Why it is worth itThe largest hot spring in the US, about 370 feet across, with rings of blue, green, yellow and orange made by heat-loving microbes. See it up close from the boardwalk, or from above at the Fairy Falls overlook.

Insider tipThe colors show best on a sunny day, and the overlook trail gives you the full view from above.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

This is a national parks road trip at your own pace. You fly into Bozeman, pick up your rental car and loop through Yellowstone and Grand Teton, sleeping inside Yellowstone at Canyon and next to Old Faithful, so you are out early when the wildlife is moving and the boardwalks are quiet. You watch for bison and wolves in Lamar Valley, stand at the brink of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and cross Jenny Lake by boat below the Tetons. Hotels, park passes and the boat are booked, and your car is arranged for you.

  • Two nights inside YellowstoneCanyon Lodge and Old Faithful Snow Lodge put you close to the sights before the day crowds arrive.
  • Geysers and hot springsOld Faithful, the Upper Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, West Thumb and the Mammoth terraces.
  • Wildlife valleysLamar Valley at dawn and Hayden Valley, the best places in the park to see bison and elk, and maybe wolves or bears.
  • Grand TetonOxbow Bend, Mormon Row and the Jenny Lake boat to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point (booked).

At a glance

Length
7 days / 6 nights
Starts and ends
Bozeman (BZN), round trip
Getting around
Self-drive in a rental car of your choice, arranged for you; about 590 miles in total, 1.5 to 3.5 hours of driving a day plus stops
Accommodations
Comfort Plus
Best time to go
Late May to late September, when every park road on the route is open
Great for
Couples, friends and families who love wildlife, geysers and mountain views
Flights
Not included; fly into and out of Bozeman (BZN)

Day by day

Day 1 and day 7 are travel days. Park roads are slow (45 mph at most, and bison have the right of way), so drive times allow for stops, and the plan can shift with weather, road work and wildlife.

Day 1Bozeman to Gardiner: Mammoth Hot Springs
Land at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and pick up your rental car. Drive about 90 miles (about 2 hours) through Livingston and Paradise Valley to Gardiner, the park’s original north entrance under the Roosevelt Arch. In the late afternoon, drive 5 miles up to Mammoth Hot Springs and walk the boardwalks over its stepped terraces; elk often graze on the lawns.
Stay: The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone, Gardiner, or similar (night 1 of 6).
Day 2Lamar Valley at dawn and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Set off before sunrise for Lamar Valley, about an hour east, when bison, elk, pronghorn and sometimes wolves and bears are most active; pull fully off the road to watch. Then drive back to Tower Junction and over Dunraven Pass to Canyon Village, about 65 miles in all (if the pass has not opened yet in late May, you go around by Norris). In the afternoon, walk to the brink of the Lower Falls and see the whole canyon from Artist Point. If you would rather have a guide, the Guided Lamar Valley Wildlife Safari is an optional add-on for this morning.
Stay: Canyon Lodge, inside the park, deluxe room (night 2 of 6).
Day 3Hayden Valley to Old Faithful
Start with a slow drive through Hayden Valley, just south of Canyon, where bison herds graze along the Yellowstone River. Then head west by Norris to Old Faithful, about 60 miles in all. Check in steps from the geyser, watch it erupt (rangers post the next predicted time), and walk the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks to Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser and Morning Glory Pool.
Stay: Old Faithful Snow Lodge, inside the park, deluxe room (night 3 of 6).
Day 4West Thumb and into Grand Teton
Catch an early eruption of Old Faithful, then cross the Continental Divide to West Thumb Geyser Basin, where hot springs steam on the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Continue south into Grand Teton National Park: stop at Oxbow Bend, where Mount Moran reflects in the Snake River, then take the Teton Park Road past Jenny Lake to Jackson, about 100 miles (about 3 hours of driving).
Stay: Hampton Inn Jackson Hole, breakfast included (night 4 of 6).
Day 5Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls and Mormon Row
Spend the morning at Jenny Lake: ride the shuttle boat across the lake (round trip included), walk an easy half mile to Hidden Falls, and climb another half mile to Inspiration Point for the view back over the lake. In the afternoon, photograph the old barns of Mormon Row with the Tetons behind them. The Snake River Scenic Float is an optional add-on for this afternoon.
Stay: Hampton Inn Jackson Hole (night 5 of 6).
Day 6North through both parks to Grand Prismatic Spring
Drive back north through Grand Teton and Yellowstone, about 125 miles (3.5 to 4 hours with stops). At Midway Geyser Basin, walk the boardwalk beside Grand Prismatic Spring, then, if you like, take the Fairy Falls trail to the overlook (about 1.2 miles round trip) to see its rainbow rings from above. Leave the park at West Yellowstone for the night.
Stay: Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, West Yellowstone, cabin with kitchenette (night 6 of 6).
Day 7Gallatin Canyon to Bozeman and fly home
Drive about 90 miles (about 2 hours) north through Gallatin Canyon, along the river, to Bozeman airport and return your car. Plan flights for the early afternoon or later.

Map

Your road trip route at a glance: Bozeman, Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Canyon, Old Faithful, Grand Teton and Jackson, then back north through both parks to West Yellowstone and Bozeman. Every stop and attraction is numbered, and optional add-ons are in blue.

Expand map
  1. 1Bozeman (BZN)
  2. 2Mammoth Hot Springs
  3. 3Lamar Valley
  4. 4Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
  5. 5Hayden Valley
  6. 6Old Faithful
  7. 7West Thumb Geyser Basin
  8. 8Oxbow Bend
  9. 9Jenny Lake
  10. 10Jackson
  11. 11Mormon Row
  12. 12Grand Prismatic Spring
  13. 13West Yellowstone
  14. 14Guided Lamar Valley Wildlife Safari (optional add-on)
  15. 15Snake River Scenic Float (optional add-on)

Included in your tripOptional add-on

What’s included

Included

  • 6 nights: 1 in Gardiner, 1 at Canyon Lodge and 1 at Old Faithful Snow Lodge inside Yellowstone, 2 in Jackson and 1 in West Yellowstone, with taxes
  • Rental car of your choice, arranged for you (pick up and return at Bozeman airport)
  • Yellowstone and Grand Teton park entrance passes
  • Jenny Lake shuttle boat, round trip
  • A day-by-day plan with drive times, wildlife-watching tips and a packing list, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals and drinks (breakfast is included at the Jackson hotel)
  • Fuel or charging, tolls and parking
  • The rental company’s deposit or credit card hold
  • Optional extra insurance or upgrades at the rental counter
  • Traffic and parking fines, and any damage to the car
  • The park fee for visitors who are not US residents ($100 per person age 16 and up, per park, paid at the gate)
  • Guided tours and activities (see the optional add-ons)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending

Your hotels, rental car, park passes and boat tickets are arranged for you. Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.

Questions

What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Up to 4 people share one room with 2 queen beds, and the price per person drops as more people share: 2 sharing saves a little, 3 sharing more, 4 sharing the most. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
Do I need a car?
Yes, this is a self-drive trip, and your rental car is arranged for you. Choose the car in the booking box, pick it up at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) when you land, and return it there on day 7. Every car offered handles the paved park roads; an SUV gives you more room and a higher view for wildlife watching. The driver signs the rental contract at the counter and needs a valid license and a credit card in their name. Fuel, tolls, parking, the rental deposit or card hold, extra insurance, fines and damage are paid by the driver. See the rental car terms.
Are flights included?
No, flights are up to you. Fly into and out of Bozeman (BZN). Land by early afternoon on day 1 so you reach Mammoth Hot Springs in daylight, and plan your flight home for the early afternoon or later on day 7. Your pre-trip guide includes timing tips.
When is the best time to go?
Trips start between May 22 and September 22, when the park roads on this route, including Dunraven Pass, are usually open and the Jenny Lake boat runs. June brings bison calves and green valleys, July and August are the warmest and busiest months, and September is quieter, with elk bugling. Snow can fall in the high country in any month, and weather or road work can close a road for a day.
Do visitors from outside the US pay more at the park gate?
Yes. Visitors age 16 and up who are not US residents pay an extra $100 per person for each park, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, at the entrance gate. It is not included in the trip price. Your park entrance passes are included.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip (they are in Bozeman, near the airport), choose your rental car, and choose how many travelers share each room. You can also add optional extras like the Snake River Scenic Float or the Guided Lamar Valley Wildlife Safari.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, road and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, close roads, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself. Fuel, tolls, parking, the rental deposit or card hold, extra insurance, fines and damage are paid by the driver.
  • Rental car. The car shown is a preferred model “or similar”. If it isn’t available, you get a similar car of the same class or better. The driver must meet the rental company’s age, license and credit card rules. Rental car terms
  • Wildlife and thermal areas. Stay at least 100 yards (91 m) from bears and wolves and 25 yards (23 m) from bison, elk and all other animals, and watch from pullouts, not the road. In geyser basins, stay on the boardwalks and trails; the ground can be thin crust over scalding water.
$6,168
2 travelers · 7 days / 6 nights
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