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3 day Yellowstone itinerary is perfect if you want to see the highlights of the park and enjoy fun activities like hiking and camping.
Located in the northwestern Wyoming, Yellowstone boasts amazing geothermal activity and abundant wildlife. It’s the only place in the world where you can watch free-roaming bison and bears, see the shooting geysers and the bubbling springs hot enough to cook your lunch.
I visited Yellowstone several times, and after getting so many questions about it, decided to come with a perfect itinerary, that’s not too short and not too long.
Is 3 days enough to see Yellowstone?
Three days is enough to see major highlights of Yellowstone and do a couple of short hikes. It’s a perfect amount of time to get a basic introduction to the park, and spend a few nights camping. If you want to explore more remote areas of Yellowstone and enjoy wildife watching, consider spending more days at this national park.
How to plan your 3 day Yellowstone itinerary
While visiting Yellowstone is a must, planning a perfect Yellowstone itinerary is not easy: This national park occupies over 2.2 million acres – more than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined!
Although some travelers say that 3 days in Yellowstone is too short for seeing this national park, I’m here to tell you that it’s not true – while Yellowstone is huge, you can still see it in 3 days.
DAY 1 IN YELLOWSTONE
Start early (around 7-8 a.m.) to see the biggest highlights of the park. Begin your trip at the south entrance and drive north to maximize your time.
PRO TIP: Yellowstone is one of the largest national parks in the United States and driving distances are huge. Parking is scarce in summer around the most popular spots. Arrive early to most popular spots in Yellowstone such as Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful and Norris Geyser Basin.
1. West Thumb Basin
After entering the park, drive toward West Thumb Geyser Basin, a scenic area with hot springs along the shores of Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in the lower 48. It’s a great place to begin your one day Yellowstone itinerary.
PRO TIP: If you want to skip the crowds, take a hike to Lone Star Geyser along the way. Not many people come here, and you can see it erupt every 3 hours at about 45 feet!
2. Old Faithful
From West Thumb, head west along Craig Pass toward Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the world, that erupts at predictable times (about every hour and a half, plus or minus 15 minutes). You can find a screen with the approximate time inside Visitor Education Center.
After watching Old Faithful, take a walk around Geyser Hill where you can see more geothermal features like hot springs and geysers. You can also grab a bite at one of the resturants in the visitor center.
3. Grand Prismatic Spring
Continue north toward Grand Prismatic Spring. You can observe this natural wonder from a platform that requires a short hike from a parking lot or from a wooden walkway at Midway Geyser Basin.
4. Stop in Madison for lunch
Next, head to Madison, a small village that has stores, restaurants and accommodations. Here you can have lunch, buy some snacks and ask questions at the visitor center.
5. Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Proceed toward Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Ideally, you should visit both rims, but if you are short on time, you can get awesome good views of the waterfalls from one of the overlooks.
You can also hike to the Brink of The Lower Falls or The Upper Falls. Check out Artist Point and Uncle’s Tom Trail, if you want to stretch your legs.
6. Watch wildlife and catch sunset at Hayden Valley
Finish your day at Hayden Valley where you can spot bison and other wildlife in the evening. You can spend the night at one of the campsites like Bridge Bay, Grant Village, or Old Faithful Inn, one of the most popular hotels at Yellowstone.
I recommend the campground at Lewis Lake. It’s a great option near the south entrance of Yellowstone.
If you are looking for more comfort, spend a night West Yellowstone, where you can find tons of hotels. You can also camp in Madison or stay in Canyon Lodge at Canyon Village.
DAY 2 YELLOWSTONE
Here’s how you can plan your second day in Yellowstone, if you stayed in West Yellowstone or Madison Campground.
1. Norris Geyser Basin
In the morning, take a drive to Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and oldest of Yellowstone thermal areas. This is one of the most popular places in Yellowstone, so arrive early. Right across from Norris, check out the Museum of the National Park Ranger.
Along the way to Norris Geyser Basin, make a stop at Monument Geyser Basin and Artists Paintpots.
2. Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin
Visit Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin before arriving at Grand Prismatic Spring. If you decide to head to the Observation Point, you can also take a 5-mile round-trip hike to Fairy Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone that drops from 220 feet.
3. Fountain Pot Trail
Stop at the Fountain Pot Trail and Fountain Flat Drive before arriving at the Junction in Madison. Spend the night in West Yellowstone or Canyon Village.
Another option is to stay at the Madison campground. Since it’s a popular place, and it can be hard to find a spot here during busy summer months.
4. Stop for lunch at Mammoth Hot Springs
Stop for lunch at Mammoth Hot Springs before touring the springs along the woods terraces. If you feel adventurous, hike to the top of Bunsen Peak, a popular trail south of the springs.
5. Spend the evening in Lamar Valley
Head to Lamar Valley, one of the best areas in Yellowstone for wildlife watching. If you plan on photographing bison, stay at least 25 miles away. Bison seem slow and docile but they can be dangerous and unpredictable if they feel threatened.
Many people come here with binoculars and wait for wildlife on the side of the road. But the truth is you can spot a bison when you drive if you get lucky without having to wait for hours.
Where to stay
For your second night in Yellowstone, I suggest staying in a different part of the park. This sounds like a hassle, but since Yellowstone is huge, you might have to drive for more than an hour if you end up on a different side of the park.
If you stayed in Canyon Village:
Morning: Explore Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you leave early, you will have time to check both rims and do some hiking. Head north on Dunraven Pass from where you can access the 6.2-mile Mount Washburn hike for amazing views of the park.
Afternoon: Have lunch at Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room. From there, continue east to Lamar Valley to see wildlife.
Evening: Head back west toward Mammoth Hot Springs. You can spend the night at a hotel or campsite, however, they also tend to fill up very quickly during the high season.
A great alternative is Gardiner, a small town just outside of the north entrance to Yellowstone with many hotels and campgrounds.
DAY 3 IN YELLOWSTONE
3 days in Yellowstone is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of Yellowstone without skipping anything. My suggested Yellowstone itinerary for 3 days is similar to that for 1 day in Yellowstone, but it adds more stops including Boiling River Hot Spring, a natural hot spring near Roosevelt Arch at the northern entrance of the park.
For your third day in Yellowstone, I recommend doing a combination of hikes and scenic overlooks that don’t see as much traffic and as some of the most popular stops in the park.
For example, you can hike to Mount Washburn. You can also stop at Washburn Hot Springs Overlook, and Tower Fall.
Note that the road between Tower Fall and Canyon Village is closed from mid-October to late May.
Here are some other activities that you could add to your Yellowstone 3 day itinerary:
- Museum and Information Station at Norris Geyser Basin
- Museum of the National Park Ranger near Norris
- Yellowstone Forever Institute at Lamar Valley
- Old Faithful Visitor Education Center
- Spend time photographing wildlife at Lamar Valley
Afternoon: Head south and stop at then Roaring Mountain Overlook. Stop for lunch in Norris. Drive toward Canyon Village and check out one of the short trails to Ice Lake, Wolf Lake or Grebe Lake along the way.
Check out Roosevelt Arch
If you are leaving through the north entrance, check out the historic Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone’s North Entrance. Take a hike to Bunsen Peak for incredible views of the park.
Soak in the hot springs
Boiling River Hot Spring that is perfect to soak in after a day of adventures!
Where to stay
Evening: Head toward West Yellowstone, if you want to stay in a hotel. You can also camp in Madison or stay in Canyon Lodge at Canyon Village near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
You can also go back to Mammoth Springs or Gardiner in Montana for the night.
HOW TO GET TO YELLOWSTONE
- Flying: If you’re traveling from a long distance, flying to the nearest major airport is a convenient option. The closest airports to Yellowstone are Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana, and Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) in Idaho. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the park.
- Driving: Yellowstone is accessible by car, and driving can be a scenic and flexible way to reach the park. The park has five entrance gates, so depending on your direction, you can enter through the North Entrance (Gardiner, Montana), Northeast Entrance (Cooke City, Montana), East Entrance (Cody, Wyoming), South Entrance (Jackson, Wyoming), or West Entrance (West Yellowstone, Montana).
- Public Transportation: While public transportation options to Yellowstone are limited, there are some bus services available. For example, the park offers shuttle buses that operate within the park during the summer season. Some tour companies provide transportation from nearby towns to Yellowstone.
YELLOWSTONE ITINERARY 3 DAYS: FAQ’S
What is the best month to see Yellowstone?
The best months to see Yellowstone are Sepetmber and October. The peak season is over and the crowds begin to drop, which means you can have bettter chances to see wildlife and enjoy popular areas. On the other hand, June, July and August are the busiest months, when the park gets very crowded.
What is the best time to visit Yellowstone?
Most visitors come to Yellowstone from May through October when the majority of the park’s roads are open and temperatures are warm enough to hike and enjoy Yellowstone’s natural wonders. July and August are the busiest, when camping spots and hotels at Yellowstone are booked up for weeks.
The best time to visit Yellowstone is mid-to-late September when temperatures begin to cool down and crowds recede. If you plan on camping at Yellowstone during this time, be sure to prepare for colder nights, as temperatures begin to drop at night.
Another option is to visit Yellowstone during the early season from late May through June. Just make sure to bring warm clothes: It’s not uncommon to see snow here as late as May or June!
How many days do I need to see Yellowstone and Grand Teton?
If you plan to visit Yellowstone and Grand teton on the same trip, plan between 5-7 days. You are looking to cover long distances and it’s best to leave some extra time for all stops and activities.
America The Beautiful Pass
If you travel to Yellowstone, chances are you are going to visit other national parks in the area. A typical fee for a national park entrance is $35, while a national parks pass that gives you entrance to most national parks for one year is $80.
How many days to spend in Yellowstone?
3 days in Yellowstone is an ideal amount of time to see some of the best things to do of Yellowstone. If you are going to spend less than three days at the park, consider buying one of Yellowstone tours to get a good overview of the park.
WHERE TO STAY IN YELLOWSTONE
You can start your day in one area of the park and finish it on the opposite side. Since Yellowstone is huge, it makes sense to stay in different areas of the park, even if it means having to pack up every day.
Some parts of Yellowstone are as much as two hours apart and you wouldn’t want to drive that long just to get back to your campsite or hotel before leaving early morning.
Here are a couple of options for best places to stay in Yellowstone:
- Old Faithful Inn – One of the most popular hotels in Yellowstone, Old Faithful Inn is located near the namesake geyser. While the price here can be a bit high, it’s a great place if you want to watch Old Faithful in the morning before crowds arrive.
- Old Faithful Lodge – Another lodge conveniently located near Old Faithful. Like other hotels in Yellowstone, it can get full quickly, so don’t forget to book it in advance.
- Mammoth Hot Springs – A hotel near the northern entrance of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs is located near stores, restaurants and some of the most prominent historic landmarks.
- Canyon Lodge – located in Canyon village near Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
- Lake Village – located north of West Thumb, Lake Village has two hotels, Lake Hotel and Lake Lodge. It’s a good place to stay for your day one at Yellowstone, as you can simply go clockwise from here.
PLACES TO STAY NEAR YELLOWSTONE
Gardiner
Gardiner is a small town in Montana outside of Yellowstone. When the campground and hotel at Mammoth Springs are full, many Yellowstone visitors head to Gardiner. Here are a couple of options for places to stay in Gardiner:
- Yellowstone Gateway Inn is a nice accommodation just two minutes outside the north entrance of Yellowstone. It’s also close to Gallatin National Forest.
- Dreamcatcher Tipi Hotel – This authentic tipi will is one of the greatest places to stay in Gardiner. Gorgeous, cozy and authentic!
- Yellowstone Hot Springs Cabins – Beautiful cabins inside and out that get rave reviews! Built in AirBnb style, they offer good privacy and tons of space.
West Yellowstone
A small town in Montana, West Yellowstone is adjacent to Yellowstone National Park and offers plenty of places to stay.
Popular hotels in West Yellowstone are Geyser Inn ( near Yellowstone Historic Center Museum and Paddle On Adventures), Travelers Lodge and Moose Creek Cabins.
CAMPING IN YELLOWSTONE
Campgrounds at Yellowstone are available on first-come first-serve basis in Lewis Lake, Norris, Pebble Creek, Slough Creek and Mammoth. Note that while more remote campgrounds such as Lewis Lake tend to be less busy, popular spots like Norris and Mammoth are almost always full during the high season.
PRO TIP: If you plan on switching your camping in Yellowstone, arrive in the morning while the spots are available.
Planning a Trip to Yellowstone
If you need help planning your Yellowstone itinerary, take a look at my article. It will help you to avoid mistakes and make the most out of your trip to America’s oldest national park!