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Wyoming, United States

Yellowstone National Park

Plan three to four days: one in the geyser basins, one in the canyon and Hayden Valley, one for Mammoth and Lamar. Below: 5 sights, 3 activities and 1 place to eat, plus how Yellowstone National Park fits into a longer trip.

Plan Yellowstone National Park with friendsBrowse 10 places
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Places
10

5 See · 3 Do · 1 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Glacier to Yellowstone

Best season
Jun – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

22°C / 72°F avg high

Coolest month
December

-7°C / 19°F avg high

Wettest month
December

about 91 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Yellowstone National Park

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

5 sights worth building a day around across Upper Geyser Basin, Norris and Canyon Village. All 5 are free to visit.

  • Old Faithful in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Old Faithful

    Yellowstone's best-known geyser, erupting roughly every 60–110 minutes.

    Tip Check predicted eruption times at the visitor center or NPS app.

    • Upper Geyser Basin
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Early morning
  • Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Jim Peaco · Public domain
    See

    Old Faithful Inn

    1904 log hotel with a seven-story lobby and stone fireplace, open to all visitors.

    Tip Inn open about May to early October; free lobby tours in season.

    • Upper Geyser Basin
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Afternoon
  • Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Norris Geyser Basin

    The park's hottest, most acidic basin, home to Steamboat, the world's tallest active geyser.

    Tip Walk both Porcelain and Back Basin loops.

    • Norris
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Morning
  • Artist Point in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: My camera and me · CC BY-SA 2.0
    See

    Artist Point

    Classic viewpoint of the Lower Falls and the yellow walls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

    Tip Add Brink of the Lower Falls trail on the North Rim.

    • Canyon Village
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • Morning
  • Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Brocken Inaglory · CC BY-SA 3.0
    See

    Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

    Travertine terraces built by hot springs, with boardwalks and elk around the village.

    Tip Drive the Upper Terrace loop before walking the lower boardwalks.

    • Mammoth
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Morning

Do

3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Midway Geyser Basin, Canyon to Lake and Northeast Entrance Road. All 3 are free to visit.

  • Fairy Falls Trail Grand Prismatic Overlook in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Carmona Cadet · Google
    Do

    Fairy Falls Trail Grand Prismatic Overlook

    Short climb to a raised platform above Grand Prismatic Spring for the full color rings.

    Tip Go late morning on sunny days once steam lifts.

    • Midway Geyser Basin
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Late morning
  • Hayden Valley in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: J. Schmidt · Public domain
    Do

    Hayden Valley

    Open valley along the Yellowstone River with bison herds and frequent wolf and bear sightings.

    Tip Use pullouts only; bring binoculars or a spotting scope.

    • Canyon to Lake
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dawn or dusk
  • Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: D C · Google
    Do

    Lamar Valley

    Broad northern valley known as the best wolf-watching area in the park.

    Tip Arrive before sunrise and look for groups with spotting scopes.

    • Northeast Entrance Road
    • Free
    • 3 hr
    • Dawn

Eat

Where we would book a table in Yellowstone National Park in Lake Village.

  • Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins · Google
    Eat

    Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room

    Dining room in the park's oldest hotel, overlooking Yellowstone Lake.

    Tip Open about mid-May to early October; dinner reservations recommended.

    • Lake Village
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Yellowstone National Park in Upper Geyser Basin.

  • Bear Pit Lounge in Yellowstone National ParkPhoto: Ethan Marshall · Google
    Drink

    Bear Pit Lounge

    Small bar off the Old Faithful Inn dining room with historic etched-glass panels.

    Tip Grab a drink between eruptions.

    • Upper Geyser Basin
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Evening

How to fit Yellowstone National Park into a trip

Yellowstone National Park is stop 2 of 3 on our Glacier to Yellowstone route. Follow it as-is or lift Yellowstone National Park into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Yellowstone National Park month by month

Average daily highs run from -7°C / 19°F in December to 22°C / 72°F in July. December is the wettest month, with about 91 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Yellowstone National Park weather and the best time to visit →

Near Yellowstone National Park

3 other destinations from our guides within about 150 km (93 mi), measured in a straight line.

Yellowstone National Park questions, answered

How many days do you need in Yellowstone National Park?

Our route notes suggest 3–4 days in Yellowstone National Park. On our Glacier to Yellowstone route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Yellowstone National Park best known for?

Plan three to four days: one in the geyser basins, one in the canyon and Hayden Valley, one for Mammoth and Lamar. Standouts on our list: Old Faithful (Yellowstone's best-known geyser, erupting roughly every 60–110 minutes); Old Faithful Inn (1904 log hotel with a seven-story lobby and stone fireplace, open to all visitors); Norris Geyser Basin (The park's hottest, most acidic basin, home to Steamboat, the world's tallest active geyser).

When is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park?

Our Glacier to Yellowstone route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (22°C / 72°F), the coolest in December (-7°C / 19°F) and the most rain in December (about 91 mm).

What are the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park?

Start with Old Faithful, Old Faithful Inn, Fairy Falls Trail Grand Prismatic Overlook, Norris Geyser Basin and Artist Point. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 3 activities, 1 place to eat and 1 bar or café.

What is near Yellowstone National Park?

The closest destinations in our guides are Yellowstone (about 20 km / 13 mi), Grand Teton National Park (about 71 km / 44 mi) and Jackson (about 107 km / 67 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Yellowstone National Park with your crew

Open the Glacier to Yellowstone route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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