4 Nights at Yellowstone National Park

There is so much to see and do, so I jotted down a brief outline of our days before heading to Grand Teton for 4 nights. I hope it helps you navigate the roads. If you plan to go, please reach out. I have so much more to say!

First up is our country’s first National Park, Yellowstone.  The main roads form a figure 8, which is helpful.  We divided the park into sections—the upper part of the 8, the middle of the 8, and the lower loop of the 8.

Fly into Bozeman, Montana, and spend at least 4 nights, so you are not rushing.  We stayed at the Grand Canyon Lodge inside the park.  We splurged on a suite with a balcony overlooking a wooded area.  

Day 1 - Lamar Valley is considered the best spot for wildlife, and it did not disappoint. What surprised us was the grunting noise the Bison made (although only in August mating season)

Once you reach the end of Lamar Valley, don’t stop! Continue driving through the small cowboy town of Cookie City onto the picturesque Beartooth Highway.

We also went on a few cool hikes along the way.

Day 2 - Explore Mammoth Hot Spring, Norris Geyser Basin, Gibbon Falls, and a hike I read about to a secret waterfall from dirtinmyshoes.com.  

What surprised the kids most at Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Basin was the smell of sulfur. The bubbling noise our planet makes is unbelievable.

Norris Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs exceeded our expectations. The geysers’ blasts were miraculous.

Day 3 - Old Faithful and the Grand Prismatic. 

Grand Prismatic doesn’t have much parking, so we went first to beat the crowds, but it is best to view it after Old Faithful.  To see the stunning colors, it should be sunny and hot. Because the mornings are chilly, there is too much steam to see the stunning colors.  So, we went back later in the afternoon when it warmed up and are so happy we did. It looks exactly like what you see in books.

So, Old Faithful first. It erupts every 90 minutes. If you arrive and have time before it erupts, check out the Old Faithful Inn’s lobby and walk the boardwalks around the other geysers. If you get there and it’s about to erupt, explore the area afterward.

Then off to see the colorful Grand Prismatic. I suggest viewing it at ground level first. The parking lot is small. Rather than trying to find a spot, park along the street. It’s not a long walk. 

After walking the boardwalks: Drive back a mile. Park at the Fairy Falls parking lot. Take the overlook trail for a must-see birds-eye view of the Grand Prismatic.

You could make the trail first instead of backtracking a mile, but I recommend seeing it at ground level first.

Day 4 - Check out of the Yellowstone hotel and head to Grand Teton.

Spend the morning exploring the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Then hold your nose and head to the Mud Volcanoes. On your way to the Mud Volcanoes, drive through Hayden Valley, another majestic spot to view the animals. Spend the afternoon around Yellowstone Lake, hiking the Pelican Creek Nature Trail, then head to West Thumb Geyser Basin, a cool loop with thermal features all around the lake.  

From there, it’s an hour’s drive to Jackson Hole or to the hotel we stayed at in the park, Signal Mountain Lodge. Cabin 156 has its own balcony overlooking Jackson Lake and the Grand Tetons. I would also suggest checking out Jackson Lodge or staying in the town of Jackson, which is convenient.