Yellowstone National Park One Day Itinerary

Use this Yellowstone National Park one day itinerary to maximize the short time you have to explore a small part of this very large park. Yellowstone’s 2 million acres of land is divided into 2 main sections and 9 areas.

This Yellowstone National Park travel guide will focus on two separate travel itineraries for each of the main sections of Yellowstone.

Yellowstone National Park one day itinerary

Check out this 1-day Yellowstone itinerary to plan your vacation: best times to visit, what to pack, where to stay, and things to do!

In order for you to get the most out of your one day in Yellowstone, this guide lists all the attractions, hiking trails, services and accommodations for each 1-day itinerary detailed below.

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Visiting Yellowstone National Park

On a recent trip to Yellowstone, we picked up this book filled with tips from a park ranger for planning one, two, three, four, and five day visits to the park. We highly recommend it: A Ranger’s Pocket Guide to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone is one of the most popular National Parks in the United States. On March 1, 1872 Yellowstone was established as America’s first national park. The park covers an area of 2,219 square miles. The average elevation is 8,180 feet above sea level.

It is famous for its geothermal activity—especially Old Faithful Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring—and for its large concentration of wildlife.

We visit Yellowstone multiple times a year because we love it that much! Our favorite things to see and photograph are the Yellowstone waterfalls, geysers and wildlife.

Check out our guide detailing the best places to see Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park!

Best Time of Year to Visit Yellowstone

The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is during one of the park’s shoulder seasons in the spring from April through May, and in the fall from September through October. The park is crowded throughout July and August when most families are on summer vacation.

Additionally, you can further reduce your encounters with park crowds by visiting Yellowstone National Park during nonpeak hours, which are either before 8:00 am or after 3:00 pm.

Our favorite months for a Yellowstone vacation are May, October and during the winter. We think they are the best times to visit yellowstone for wildlife.

Man sticking head out of bombardier snowcoach at Yellowstone in the winter
Bombardier snowcoach at Yellowstone in the winter

Yellowstone Operating Hours

Yellowstone National Park is open to visitors 365 days a year, twenty-four hours a day if you use the North Entrance, which is located just outside of Gardiner, Montana. This road is regularly plowed during the winter season and will lead visitors to Cooke City, Montana, and the Northeast section of the park

The southern loop part of the park is closed throughout November (to prepare for winter) and between the end of March and early April (to prepare for summer). The entrances in the southern loop are West Yellowstone, South from Grand Teton, and East near Cody, Wyoming.

In mid-December, the roads open to oversnow travel only via snowmobile, snowcoach, snowshoe and cross-country ski. Planning a Yellowstone winter vacation is a unique experience you’ll never forget! We highly recommend Alpen Guides – riding the bombardier snowcoach was amazing!

See the website for specific Yellowstone park roads information. When roads are open they can be used by park guests twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Yellowstone Entrance Fees

There are a variety of passes available to visit Yellowstone. Check the website for the most current Yellowstone fee prices and information.

If you plan to visit Grand Teton National Park through the south entrance, you will need to purchase a separate admission pass for Yellowstone AND Grand Teton, or purchase the National Parks Pass.

Yellowstone National Park Weather

Since most of the park sits above 6,000 feet (1829 m) in elevation, daily Yellowstone National Park weather patterns can vary unpredictability throughout each month of the year. Therefore, expect significant seasonal changes in temperature, rain, and snow. Accordingly, regardless of when you visit, be sure to pack a fleece jacket, rain gear, and lots of layers.

In spring and fall specifically, daytime temperatures can vary between 30°F and 60°F (0°C to 20°C) in a single day, with overnight lows in the teens and single digits (-5°C to -20°C). Snow is also common throughout these seasons, with accumulations of 12 inches (30.5 cm) in a twenty-four hour period being quite normal.

In contrast, summer, daytime temperatures can often climb as high as 70°F (25°C), and even 80°F (30°C) in lower elevation areas. Nights are also typically cooler, with temperatures that may drop below freezing at higher elevations. Thunderstorms are also common throughout the afternoon.

In winter, park guests can expect average, daytime temperatures between zero and 20°F (-20°C to -5°C), with sub-zero temperatures common throughout the evening. Visitors should also prepare for a signifcant amount of snow, with average snowfall levels around 150 inches (381 cm) per year. However, higher elevations will typically receive twice this amount of snow.

Packing for a winter vacation in Yellowstone

Yellowstone Pets Policy

Because of the number of different animal species that are found within Yellowstone National Park, bringing your pet with you can limit the number of activities you can participate in.

Pets are not permitted on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas.

Therefore, if you do decide to bring a pet with you on your Yellowstone vacation, please remember that pets may only accompany people in developed areas and must remain within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds at all times.

Pets must also always be physically controlled while in either a car, crate, or on a leash that is no more than six feet long. As a result, pets may not be left unattended or tied to an object at any time.

And while pets may be left in a vehicle for a short period of time, it is recommended that someone stay with the animal to help monitor their continued well being. Owners are also required to pick up after their pets and dispose of their waste.

Yellowstone National Park Map

Printable and interactive Yellowstone maps will help you navigate through the park.

Yellowstone National Park One Day Itinerary: Northern Loop

Exploring the Upper Loop is the first option for spending one day at Yellowstone. There are two entrances with direct access to the north loop of Yellowstone: North (Gardiner) and Northeast (Cooke City).

You can use the other three Yellowstone National Park southern loop entrances and drive to the northern loop from West (West Yellowstone), South (Grand Teton), and East (Cody).

There are four areas in the northern loop of Yellowstone:

  • Mammoth
  • Tower-Roosevelt
  • Canyon
  • Norris

Yellowstone Visitor Centers in the North Loop

  • Norris Area Museums (The Norris Geyser Basin Museum and the Museum of the National Park Ranger are open daily between late May and late September)
  • Albright Visitor Center at Mammoth (open daily, year-round, between 9:00 and 5:00 pm, at Mammoth Hot Springs)

Many of these visitor centers also contain park stores that sell a variety of different souvenirs: books, artwork, and educational materials.

Yellowstone Service Stations in the Northern Loop

These service stations offer 24-hour, year-round, credit card fueling: Mammoth Hot Springs and Tower Junction

Yellowstone North Loop Cell Service

Like most national parks, cellular service is limited in Yellowstone since cell towers are only found at Mammoth Hot Springs and Mount Washburn in the northern park of the park. Service can also be found at the North entrance.

Guests can use free WIFI services at Albright Visitor Center in Mammoth Hot Springs (WIFI is also available at some hotels and lodges around the park).

Yellowstone Medical Services in the North Loop

  • Mammoth Clinic

All clinics are open to the public and fully equipped for most medical emergencies and routine care. Services include injury/illness treatment, x-rays, and some lab and pharmacy services. If in-patient care is required, clinic staff can stabilize patients and transfer them to hospitals outside the park.

Miscellaneous Services in the Northern Loop of Yellowstone

  • Powell Lock for locksmith services
  • US Post Office: Mammoth Hot Springs

For visitor convenience, general stores, gift shops, mini stores, and park stores can be found throughout the park allow visitors to buy a wide variety of gifts, food, and travel essentials.

Check the Yellowstone website for operating hours and seasons for the various services in the park.

plan your dream vacation to yellowstone

Yellowstone National Park Northern Loop: Things to See, Do, and Photograph

Here’s a list of things to do at Yellowstone National Park to add to your vacation itinerary when visiting the North Loop.

You can book a tour to drive the Yellowstone Loop! If you want to drive yourself, we recommend the GyPSy Yellowstone Audio Tour!!

We are listing the northern loop points of interest in geographic order starting and ending in Mammoth Hot Springs.

Mammoth hot springs road
Mammoth hot springs road

Mammoth Hot Springs & the North Entrance

The North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana is the only one of the five that remains open all year. The town of Gardiner has a variety of accommodation, restaurants, shops, gas stations, a grocery store and more.

One notable historical feature is Roosevelt Arch, which was the main entrance to Yellowstone when it was dedicated in 1903 by the 26th president.

From Gardiner drive toward Mammoth Hot Springs. There are no geysers or large pools in Mammoth. Instead you’ll see warm, subterranean water has created large areas of beautiful terraces. You can see a bit of these terraces from the main highway, but the trails, boardwalks and a one-way loop drive provide better access.

Mammoth is a small town with a hotel, the historic Fort Yellowstone, a visitor center and some shops.

We love to plan our Yellowstone vacation in the fall around the elk rut. It’s amazing to see the elk congregate on the lawns and fields in Mammoth and at the North Entrance.

The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is the only place in the northern loop to offer Yellowstone winter lodging.

Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner Attractions:

  • Roosevelt Arch – Gardiner, MT
  • Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center – Gardiner, MT
  • Yellowstone Summer Tours – rafting tours in Gardiner, MT
  • Albright Visitor Center
  • Historic Fort Yellowstone
  • Mammoth Hot Springs: Lower & Upper Terrace Drive
  • Day Hikes in Mammoth

Mammoth and Gardiner Lodging

Our Favorite Places to Stay in Gardiner:

Undine Falls at Yellowstone
Undine Falls at Yellowstone

Mammoth to Roosevelt

From Mammoth, drive toward Roosevelt. Along the way you’ll pass Undine Falls, Wraith Falls, Blacktail Plateau Drive, and the Petrified Tree.

If it’s open, we recommend driving Blacktail Plateau Drive, a 6 mile one-way dirt road that takes you off the paved road to experience the solitude of the Yellowstone wilderness. Driving on this road is slower than the main road, which makes it easier to spot the elk, bison and bears in area and enjoy the views.

You’ll find the Roosevelt Lodge, cabins, a store, restaurant, gas station, and horse rentals. One of the fun things to do here is ride out to Yancy’s Hole on a horse or in a covered wagon to enjoy the popular Old West Dinner Cookout.

Roosevelt Area Attractions and Lodging:

Soda Butte in Lamar Valley
Soda Butte in Lamar Valley

Roosevelt to Lamar Valley & the Northeast Entrance

If you want to see wildlife, add Lamar Valley to your northern loop itinerary. It’s a wide open, grassy expanse which makes it easier to spot wildlife. Bison are most common here, and many hundreds may often be seen, sometimes walking right next to or along the road. But if you’re lucky, you’ll see wolves and grizzly bears. Spring and fall are the best times to visit yellowstone for wildlife.

When you reach the often smelly Soda Butte formation, the road will turn toward the northeast. You’ll travel through beautiful wooded and mountainous landscape and come to the Northeast Entrance.

Past the national park boundary there are two small towns, Silver Gate and Cooke City. There are basic facilities in these towns. The US 212 highway from here begins a long, continuous descent through the Shoshone National Forest.

The road from Gardiner to Cooke City is open year-round. Many people plan their Yellowstone winter vacations based in Gardiner so they can drive through this section of the park in their own vehicle.

Lamar Valley and the Northeast Attractions:

Lamar Valley and the Northeast Lodging:

Our Favorite Places to Stay in Silver Gate and Cooke City:

Roosevelt to Tower

From Roosevelt head toward Tower Falls. Hike the short trail to see the 132 foot waterfall. There’s a general store and snack bar here too.

Tower Attractions and Lodging:

Mount Washburn sign at the end of the hiking trail in Yellowstone
Mount Washburn sign

Tower to Canyon

From Tower you’ll drive south along Dunraven Pass over Mount Washburn (10,243 feet). Dunraven Pass (8,859 feet) is the highest road pass in Yellowstone. It can get snow at any time of year, even summer. It may close during a regional snow storm, and it is always the first road to close in the fall as the park prepares for the winter.

This road is the perfect location to view various areas of the park from a high vantage. If you want to get even higher, hike the trail to the summit of Mount Washburn in just a few short miles!

Grand-Canyon-of-Yellowstone-Lower-Falls-photo-jeepers (1)
Lower Falls at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Canyon Village

The Yellowstone River flows over two large waterfalls and drops into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

It’s a spectacular canyon with steep walls formed of jagged, eroded, chemically altered volcanic rocks of unusually bright colors – red, pink, orange and white.

Viewpoints for the Upper Falls:

  • Upper Falls Trail
  • Uncle Tom’s Trail
  • Artist Point

North Rim Viewpoints for the Lower Falls:

  • Brink of Lower Falls
  • Lookout Point
  • Red Rock Point
  • Grandview Point
  • Inspiration Point

Canyon Area Attractions:

Lake Area Services and Lodging:

  • Canyon Village general store, restaurant, cafeteria, and deli
  • Canyon Village gas station
  • Canyon Village public restrooms
  • Canyon Lodge
  • Canyon Campground
Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone
Norris Geyser Basin at Yellowstone

Canyon to Norris

From Canyon to Norris you’ll drive through Gibbon Meadows and find Virginia Cascade. This area is a good place to see wildlife like grizzly bears and elk!

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. There are two distinct sections here. The Back Basin is in a regenerating forest setting and contains geysers and hot springs tucked among the trees.

The Porcelain Basin is characterized by a lack of vegetation. No plants can live in the hot, acidic, water emitted from the numerous thermal features in the basin.

You’ll find Steamboat Geyser at Norris. It’s the largest active geyser in the world.
Steamboat can reach 380 feet and its steam phase can be heard miles away.
Unfortunately, Steamboat is rare, and difficult to predict.

Norris Area Attractions and Lodging:

Rustic Falls at Yellowstone National Park
Rustic Falls at Yellowstone National Park

Norris to Mammoth

As you drive from Norris back to Mammoth, you’ll pass Roaring Mountain, Beryl Spring, Obsidian Cliff, Sheepeater Cliffs, Swan Lake Flat, and Rustic Falls.

Watch for grizzly bears and black bears along this drive. The meadow around Swan Lake is a fun place to stop – we’ve seen grizzly bears, elk, and swans here!

Once you leave the open meadow area and head down the mountain toward Mammoth, be sure to pull off at the second turn out on the right. You can’t easily see Rustic Falls as you drive down so you’ll need to stop, get out, and look back to see these pretty falls!

Now you’ve got a general idea of all there is to see along the Yellowstone northern loop!

Yellowstone National Park One Day Itinerary: Northern Loop

Exploring the Lower Loop is the second option for spending one day at Yellowstone. There are three entrances to access the southern loop of Yellowstone: West (West Yellowstone), South (Grand Teton), and East (Cody).

There are seven areas in the southern loop of Yellowstone:

  • Madison
  • Old Faithful
  • Lake
  • West Thumb Geyser Basin
  • Grant Village
  • Canyon
  • Norris

Yellowstone Visitor Centers in the Southern Loop

  • Old Faithful Visitor Education Center (open daily between April and early November)
  • Canyon Visitor Education Center (open daily between May and mid-October)
  • Fishing Bridge Museum and Visitor Center (open daily between late May and late September)
  • Grant Village Visitor Center (open daily between late May and late September)
  • Madison Information Station (open daily between late May and late September)
  • Norris Area Museums (The Norris Geyser Basin Museum and the Museum of the National Park Ranger are open daily between late May and late September)
  • West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center (open daily, year-round and located in the town of West Yellowstone)

Many of these visitor centers also contain park stores that sell a variety of different souvenirs: books, artwork, and educational materials.

Yellowstone Service Stations in the Southern Loop

These service stations offer 24-hour, year-round, credit card fueling: Canyon Village, Fishing Bridge, Grant Village, and Old Faithful.

Yellowstone Southern Loop Cell Service

Like most national parks, cellular service is limited in Yellowstone since cell towers are only found at West Yellowstone, Old Faithful, and Grant Village in the Southern Loop of the park. Service can also be found at the West entrance.

Yellowstone Medical Services in the South Loop

  • Lake Clinic
  • Old Faithful Clinic during the summer

All clinics are open to the public and fully equipped for most medical emergencies and routine care. Services include injury/illness treatment, x-rays, and some lab and pharmacy services. If in-patient care is required, clinic staff can stabilize patients and transfer them to hospitals outside the park.

Miscellaneous Services in the Southern Loop of Yellowstone

  • Powell Lock for locksmith services
  • US Post Offices: Canyon Village, Grant Village, Lake Village, and Old Faithful. 

For visitor convenience, general stores, gift shops, mini stores, and park stores can be found throughout the park allow visitors to buy a wide variety of gifts, food, and travel essentials.

Check the Yellowstone website for operating hours and seasons for the various services in the park.

Yellowstone National Park Southern Loop: Things to See, Do, and Photograph

We are listing the southern loop points of interest in geographic order starting and ending in West Yellowstone.

You can also access the southern loop from the South (Grand Teton) and East (Cody) or the two entrances in the north loop of Yellowstone: North (Gardiner) and Northeast (Cooke City).

Firehole Falls in Yellowstone
Firehole Falls in Yellowstone

West Yellowstone to Madison

From West Yellowstone, you’ll drive east next to the Madison River then head south at the Madison Junction and drive next to the Firehole River. These two rivers are known for great fly fishing. And you’ll often see wildlife along the rivers as well.

One of our favorite things to do is view and photograph spectacular Yellowstone Waterfalls. Don’t miss the scenic drive in Firehole Canyon to see Firehole Falls.

West Yellowstone and Madison Attractions:

Madison & West Yellowstone Lodging

Our Favorite Places to Stay in West Yellowstone:

Grand Prismatic at Yellowstone
Grand Prismatic at Yellowstone

Lower and Midway Geyser Basins

As you continue south you’ll drive through the Lower Geyser Basin where you’ll find the Fountain Paint Pots and other hot pools and geysers.

When you reach the Midway Geyser Basin, the one must-stop location is Grand Prismatic Spring. It’s a huge oval pool surrounded by unusually colorful bands of algae and travertine terraces, with wavy run off channels.

A half mile boardwalk trail runs part way around the spring, past two much smaller pools (Opal and Turquoise) and Excelsior Geyser, formerly the largest geyser on Earth.

Iconic Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park.
Old Faithful at Yellowstone

Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin

Watching Old Faithful Geyser erupt is a quintessential Yellowstone National Park experience that people from all over the world come to enjoy. In fact, it was the unique, predictability of Old Faithful’s eruptions that led the American government to establish Yellowstone as the first national park in the world, in 1872.

No Yellowstone vacation would be complete without a trip to Old Faithful, one of almost 500 geysers in the park, and one of six that park rangers can currently predict.

For the best view of the eruption, try watching from either the Old Faithful viewing area or from the boardwalks that wind around the geyser itself.

The geysers of the Upper Basin in Yellowstone National Park represent the most concentrated group in the world – over 250 are found in an area just 2 miles across.

The Old Faithful Snow Lodge is the only place in the southern loop to offer Yellowstone winter lodging. You’ll need to reserve a Yellowstone snowcoach for transportation to and from the lodge.

Old Faithful Area Attractions and Services:

boardwalk in the Yellowstone West Thumb area
Boardwalk in the Yellowstone West Thumb area

West Thumb & Grant Village

From Old Faithful, continue south and east toward the West Thumb Geyser Basin. Two circular boardwalk trails totaling 0.75 miles pass by colorful hot pools and springs, steam vents and mud pots.

Most of the geysers here are just bubbling pools, but it has the added attraction of being right next to Yellowstone Lake.

Grant Village is a developed area in the park with both a hotel-style lodge and a large campground with lots of amenities.

Near Grant Village you’ll have the option to head toward the South entrance for visiting Grand Teton National Park.

West Thumb Attractions:

  • West Thumb Geyser Basin
  • West Thumb Information Station

Grant Village Lodging and Services:

  • Grant Village Lodge and Dining Room
  • Grant Village Campground
  • Grant Village Lake House Restaurant
  • Grant Village General Store – grill and ice cream counter
  • Grant Village Service Station, Public Restrooms
  • Grant Village Marina
Moose Falls at Yellowstone National Park
Moose Falls at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone South Entrance to Grand Teton

The drive toward Grand Teton is beautiful. There are a few hiking trails and photographic spots we recommend: Lewis Lake, Lewis Falls and Moose Falls.

If you’re like us and like to photograph waterfalls, then definitely stop at Moose Falls!

Because Grand Teton National Park begins just south of Yellowstone, there are no towns with hotels until Jackson Hole, about 57 miles away.

Yellowstone South Attractions:

Yellowstone South Lodging and Services:

• Lewis Lake Campground
• Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch
• Headwaters Campground & RV Park

Bridge Bay, Lake Village & Fishing Bridge

Continuing north from Grant you’ll drive along Yellowstone Lake. It’s the largest lake in the USA at this elevation (7,773 above sea level). Activities you can do here are rafting, kayaking, paddling, boating, and fishing. The water is generally too cold for swimming, and the whole surface is frozen solid for several months in winter. 

Conditions can change quickly on the lake. We recommend you book a Yellowstone kayaking tour so you’re with a guide!

A fun stop in Bridge Bay is a short hike along a forested trail to a small rhyolite natural bridge, framing a minor stream.

Lake Village has a hotel, ranger station, post office, visitor center and day hiking trails.

The road forks just after the village where the left branch leads to the popular Canyon area and the right fork crosses the Yellowstone River over the historic Fishing Bridge.

From here the road follows the north shore for a while then turns away from the lake towards the East Entrance of the national park. About 50 miles after the park entrance you’ll reach Cody, Wyoming where you’ll find a good variety of lodging and food options.

Lake Area Attractions:

Lake Area Lodging:

Bison standing on the road in Yellowstone.
Bison standing on the road in Yellowstone

Hayden Valley

From Lake, you’ll head north and follow the Yellowstone River into the wide open grasslands and marshes of Hayden Valley. This is one of the best locations for roadside wildlife viewing in Yellowstone. Spring and fall are the best times to visit yellowstone for wildlife.

Before the river enters the flatland of Hayden Valley, it descends at LeHardys Rapids. You’ll then pass through an interesting, and smelly, thermal region with a variety of mudpots, fumaroles, sulphurous springs and odorous pools.

Bison are often found in this area. PLEASE follow the wildlife regulations for the park. Wild animals are unpredictable and dangerous. Every year people are injured when they approach animals too closely. Animals that attack people may need to be relocated or killed.

To protect yourself and the animals you come to watch, always remain at least 100 yards (91 meters) from bears or wolves, and at least 25 yards (23 meters) from all other wildlife.

Lower Falls at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Lower Falls at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Canyon Village

The Yellowstone River flows over two large waterfalls and drops into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

It’s a spectacular canyon with steep walls formed of jagged, eroded, chemically altered volcanic rocks of unusually bright colors – red, pink, orange and white.

Viewpoints for the Upper Falls:

  • Upper Falls Trail
  • Uncle Tom’s Trail
  • Artist Point

North Rim Viewpoints for the Lower Falls:

  • Brink of Lower Falls
  • Lookout Point
  • Red Rock Point
  • Grandview Point
  • Inspiration Point

Canyon Area Attractions:

Lake Area Services and Lodging:

  • Canyon Village general store, restaurant, cafeteria, and deli
  • Canyon Village gas station
  • Canyon Village public restrooms
  • Canyon Lodge
  • Canyon Campground
Gibbon Falls at Yellowstone.
Gibbon Falls at Yellowstone

Norris to Madison

The Norris Geyser Basin is full of dynamic thermal activity you can see, and it’s home to Steamboat Geyser, the largest active geyser in the world.

From Canyon to Norris you’ll drive through Gibbon Meadows and find Virginia Cascade.

From Norris to Madison you’ll see the Artists Paint Pots, a collection of small but colorful springs, mud pots and sporadically-erupting geysers. And be sure to stop at Gibbon Falls, an impressive wide waterfall.

Norris Area Attractions and Lodging:

From Madison you head back to West Yellowstone where we started. Now you’ve got a general idea of all there is to see along the Yellowstone southern loop!

Yellowstone maps and guides

Yellowstone Tours and Day Trips

plan your dream vacation to yellowstone

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