Best 4 Days in Yellowstone Itinerary for Your First Time at the National Park
This 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary features the best geysers, waterfalls, lakes and valleys of the first national park in the U.S.
Bubbling hot springs, gushing waterfalls, bison roaming in river valleys — it’s all in store on this Yellowstone 4 day itinerary. Yellowstone National Park spreads out over more than 2.2 million acres of wilderness in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and is known for its hydrothermal features like geysers, mud pots and boiling rivers.
With five different park entrances spread far apart and more than 900 miles of trails and boardwalks, it’s important to arrive with a plan like this 4 day Yellowstone itinerary to make sure you hit all the highlights and avoid the crowds whenever possible. As one of the top-visited parks in the nation, Yellowstone gets very busy at top spots like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring, and along roadways whenever bison are around (it’s called a “bison jam”).
After a couple of trips to this bucket list park, I’ve put together what I think is the ideal itinerary for your first visit. The Yellowstone itinerary for 4 days hits all the scenic highlights with time for some hiking and exploring, too.
Below, I’ve highlighted the best spots to visit in the park and ideas for where to stay each night. This route works best for flying in and out of Bozeman, Montana, or traveling between Bozeman and Jackson, Wyoming, and the south.
Keep reading for my favorite 4 day Yellowstone itinerary!
Yellowstone Itinerary 4 Days
This 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary includes the park's top trails, sights, and drives. The Google Map below has all the activities pinned and color-coded by day for easy planning.
Day 1 — Mammoth Hot Springs and the North
From Bozeman, I recommend starting this Yellowstone 4 day itinerary by driving to Red Lodge, Montana, and taking the breathtaking Beartooth Highway though the mountain and into the park. If you’re short on time or arriving in the afternoon on Day 1, you can head straight to Gardiner, Montana, and just visit the Mammoth Hot Springs area today.
Beartooth Highway
Even though it’s outside the park boundaries, I highly recommend including a drive on the Beartooth Highway in your Yellowstone plans. This is my favorite scenic drive in the area!
Spanning about 70 miles of Route 212 between Red Lodge, Montana, and Yellowstone’s historic Northeast Entrance Station, the route traverses the Beartooth mountain pass to a peak at 10,947 feet above sea level. On the way, you’ll wind along hairpin turns and pass scenic overlooks where you can stop to soak in the views of mountains, glaciers and alpine lakes.
The road typically opens sometime in May or June and closes for the season around October. You can add it to your 4 days in Yellowstone road trip on the way in or out of the park. Red Lodge is about 150 miles from Bozeman.
Lamar Valley
One of the best wildlife-watching zones of Yellowstone, the Lamar Valley is in the northeastern end of the park along the Lamar River. Driving through here around dawn and dusk, you may spot bison, bears, bald eagles, wolves and coyotes. Pullouts are located along the road so you can safely watch wildlife from your car.
Plan to hit this spot in the late afternoon if you arrive via the Beartooth Highway through the Northeast Entrance Station, or make a special trip early in the next morning if you’re staying in Canyon Village or Gardiner. It’s about an hour drive from either location.
It’s very important to keep at least 100 yards away from wolves and bears and 25 yards away from other large animals like bison and elk at all times.
Undine Falls
Undine falls is one of the most picturesque and easy to access waterfalls in Yellowstone, with three tiers cascading down Lava Creek. You don’t need to spend much time here, as it’s easy to walk to a lookout from a paved parking area off Grand Loop Road about 5 miles from the Mammoth area.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Mammoth Hot Springs is a collection of hydrothermal features near the northern entrance to Yellowstone.
Boardwalk paths and stairs wind through the landscape of a lower terrace, up close to the travertine terraces in shades of white and orange that sort of cascade down in tiers or steps with pools of steaming water. The upper terrace has a 2-mile loop road with a couple of spots to park and walk along the flatter white top of the formation to see milky turquoise hot springs.
The small village of Mammoth is home to historic Fort Yellowstone, occupied by the Army between 1886 and 1918 in an effort to protect the land before the National Park Service was established.
The Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is also located here. Public flush toilets and running water are available near the lower terrace, though parking is competitive in this area.
Where to Stay
I recommend staying in Gardiner or Mammoth on this night, but Canyon Village would work as well. West Yellowstone is a pretty far drive for the morning activities scheduled on day 2 of this 4 days in Yellowstone itinerary.
Day 2 — Northeast Yellowstone and Norris Geyser Basin
Day 2 of this Yellowstone 4 days itinerary mainly covers the northeast section of Yellowstone. If you want to watch wildlife in the Lamar Valley, early morning is the best time. But, you could also slightly rearrange this to visit around sunset for another opportunity.
Lamar Valley at Dawn
If you’re an early riser, get out for a dawn driving tour of the Lamar Valley when wildlife are most active. The valley is about an hour from the Gardiner-Mammoth area and a few minutes farther from Canyon Village.
Tower Fall
The 132-foot Tower Fall is one of the stunning landmarks that instigated Congress to initiate Yellowstone as the first-ever national park in 1872. Visitors can view the cascade surrounded by pointy pinnacle rocks from an easy-to-reach lookout a short stroll from a parking area and general store.
Dunraven Pass-Mt. Washburn Trail
At 10,243 feet, Mount Washburn is a famous hiking destination for its incredible panoramic vistas stretching miles into the distance. At the summit, a fire lookout still in use has a shelter with exhibits.
There are two options to reach the top — a nearly 7-mile round-trip route from the Dunraven Pass Trailhead and a 5.8-mile path from Chittenden Road for bikers and hikers. Both trails are moderately difficult with incline and typically take at least 3 hours to hike.
Grizzlies are known to hang out in this area in fall, so the NPS does not recommend the trail in September and October. Carrying and knowing how to use bear spray while hiking in Yellowstone is also wise.
Canyon Village
If you need lunch or a snack, pop over to the restaurant or general store at Canyon Village. The complex also has a Visitor Education Center with a film and exhibits about the park and restrooms.
This area is also where you’ll find the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its waterfalls, but I put that on the agenda for the next day as the lighting is best and crowds lower in the morning.
Norris Geyser Basin
The Norris Geyser Basin is both the oldest and hottest in Yellowstone, and home to Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest active geyser with 300-plus foot unpredictable eruptions.
Boardwalks and dirt paths meander around dozens of acid geysers, steam vents and boiling springs. You can follow a 0.6-mile loop in the Porcelain Basin, which is wide open and tree-less, or a 1 or 1.6-mile loop in the Back Basin, a more wooded area with a ton of geysers, including the famous Steamboat.
This section of the park has a large paved parking lot that fills up, toilet facilities with running water, a small museum and bookstore, and a tent and RV campground nearby.
Gibbon Falls
Gibbon Falls on the west side park is an easy roadside stop between the Norris and Lower Geyser Basins. The waterfall drops 84 feet over the Yellowstone Caldera rim in a fanned out cascade.
There is a paved parking area and walkway along the top so you can get different angles of the falls.
Where to Stay
Canyon Village would be the most convenient, but West Yellowstone makes a good base for the next couple of nights and has cheaper hotel options.
Day 3 — Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Lake and the South
Your 4 days Yellowstone itinerary should include a day on the southwest side of the park, where the massive Yellowstone Lake shapes the landscape. If you’re an early riser, head to the Hayden Valley first for wildlife watching at dawn before backtracking to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Otherwise, you can drive through the valley closer to midday and possibly still spot herds of bison in the distance.
With extra time on this day, you can complete the lower loop road and pop by Old Faithful to watch an eruption or hike to the Grand Prismatic overlook since you’ll be driving right by them. Otherwise, save these activities for the final day in Yellowstone.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Yellowstone River flows through the colorful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, dropping a pair of waterfalls viewed from north and south rims. The Upper Falls are 109 feet tall and the more impressive Lower Falls 308 feet tall.
For a quick overview, follow South Rim Drive and pause at the Upper Falls view (there are also flush toilets here) before heading to famous Artist Point, where you may catch a rainbow against the Lower Falls mid-morning on a sunny day.
The North Rim Drive has the most overlooks, but the best view of Lower Falls is from the bottom of the Red Rock trail at Lookout Point. You have to hike down and back up a short and steep 500 feet of elevation on switchbacks and steps, but it’s worth it for the up-close vista.
Another very steep hike for an interesting vantage point is at Brink of the Lower Falls, where you can watch and hear the water thunder over the edge from a platform right at the top.
If you want to spend more time in this area, there are hiking paths along both the north and south rims and lookouts like Grand View, Inspiration Point and Point Sublime (2.7 mile hike) that highlight the river weaving through the canyon beyond the waterfalls.
Hayden Valley
The Hayden Valley is one of the top spots for wildlife watching in Yellowstone, particularly around dawn. If you don’t mind backtracking, you could do this drive in the early morning hours before visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Located along Grand Loop Road between Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake, the valley is home to large herds of bison. You might also spot bears and wolves. Remember to keep at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from elk, bison and other wildlife.
As you drive through, you can stop at overlooks and walk the 0.6-mile Mud Volcano Trail loop.
Yellowstone Lake
The largest lake in the U.S. at an elevation over 7,000 feet, Yellowstone Lake is notable for its frigid temps (41 degrees on average) with extremely hot underwater geysers and springs (252 degrees in one spot).
If you’re short on time, you can just check out the views as you cruise down Grand Loop Road and take a side route on Gull Point Drive to roll right alongside the water. To spend more time on the lake, you can boat, kayak, fish and more in summer.
The park’s Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Lake Lodge Cabins, and Grant Village are all on the shores of Yellowstone Lake and a great base if you want to spend more time here.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
West Thumb Geyser Basin is an underrated gem, with steaming pools and cones on the banks of Yellowstone Lake at the southern end of the park.
The boardwalk here is an easy 0.6-mile loop, with highlights including the Black Pool (it’s actually turquoise and stunning) and the Fishing Cone, a geyser in the lake where anglers used to cook their catches on the hook before the practice was prohibited.
Where to Stay
West Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake and Old Faithful hotels are the best options for this night. Canyon Village could work as well.
Day 4 — West Geyser Basins and Old Faithful
The final activities on this 4 day itinerary in Yellowstone are some of the most famous, but I put them last because they’re along the route driving south out of the park (toward Grand Teton National Park). If your Yellowstone road trip is taking you back to Bozeman instead, you can add the Upper Geyser Basin onto the end of Day 3 and just do the Midway and Lower basins today for a quicker exit from the west side of the park.
Lower Geyser Basin
Located along the Firehole River, the Lower Geyser Basin is the largest geyser basin in the park, covering some 18 square miles.
There are a few different areas you should check out here. Start with a short but often crowded one-way drive on Firehole Canyon Road. It’s only about 2 miles and passes Firehole Falls and the Firehole River swimming area (check current conditions to see if swimming is allowed).
Next, the Fountain Paint Pot zone has a short boardwalk trail to see hot springs, geysers, fumaroles and mud pots. Fountain Geyser on this path erupts about every 4.5 to 7 hours, so you may get lucky and catch it spouting.
You definitely don’t want to miss the Firehole Lake Drive in the Lower basin, which runs in a one-way loop for about 3.5 miles. Along the route, stop to see the Great Fountain Geyser, which erupts about 100 feet high every 10 to 14 hours from a reflective pool.
A little further down the road, White Dome Geyser shoots up more frequently (at unpredictable times) but less dramatically. Toward the end of the drive, you can stroll short boardwalks over a pair of steaming lakes.
Midway Geyser Basin and Grand Prismatic Spring
The Midway Geyser Basin is home to Grand Prismatic Spring, one of the most photographed features in Yellowstone. A boardwalk loop also includes three other impressive pools — the dormant Excelsior Geyser, the Opal Pool and the Turquoise Pool.
The parking lot here is very busy, so it’s best to arrive early in the morning or late in the day to avoid waiting in long traffic lines for a spot. The boardwalk loop is pretty short though, so there is a constant flow of cars exiting.
While you’ll be able to walk right alongside Grand Prismatic Spring from the trail, the best view is actually from above, where you can see the entire blue pool ringed by vibrant orange. To get this vantage point, you have to hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook from the Fairy Falls Trail Parking Lot.
The trail is 1.6 miles roundtrip, with a steep climb toward the end. You can combine it with a hike to Fairy Falls, less than 6 miles roundtrip.
Fairy Falls
The 200-foot tall Fairy Falls is one of the most popular Yellowstone waterfalls, but you have to hike to see it. The shortest path is from the Fairy Falls parking area to the south, a 5.4-mile hike with a short spur trail along the way to the Grand Prismatic Overlook of the Midway Geyser Basin.
Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful
The Upper Geyser Basin is home to the famous Old Faithful, a predictable geyser that shoots 100-plus feet into the air every 68 to 94 minutes on average. The National Park Service publishes eruption predictions that are accurate about 90 percent of the time within a 10-minute window before and after.
While the viewing area around Old Faithful can get crowded around eruption times, the Upper Geyser Basin is actually quite large, with miles of boardwalks winding through the steaming and bubbling landscape. For a quick walk while you wait for Old Faithful, you can make a loop of Geyser Hill (less than a mile) or hike up to Observation Point (1.6 miles) for an elevated view of the basin and Old Faithful.
The historic Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, and Old Faithful Lodge surround the Old Faithful viewing area. There are also a lot of amenities here, including restrooms, a general store, a service station, a visitor center, restaurants and plenty of parking.
Tips for Visiting Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone National Park planning guide below has tips for where to stay, what to pack, and how to find the different entrance points to the park.
When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park?
When you’re planning your 4 days in Yellowstone National Park itinerary, you want to make sure you know what to expect as far as weather, crowds and prices.
Summer is by far the busiest season, with visitation in July and August approaching 1 million a month in recent years. Because of this, hotels and campgrounds book up early, popular destinations are crowded, and some parking lots and roads are full of traffic. The weather in summer is mild in the day, averaging in the 70s, with cooler nights.
The shoulder months in spring and fall are a great time to visit Yellowstone for lower crowds and prices. You do need to keep an eye on the current weather and road and business closures though, especially before May and after October. Temps in these seasons can vary from the 30s to 60s in the day and well below freezing at night.
Winter is a more challenging season to visit independently, as almost all roads are closed to automobiles and many hotels and businesses shut down. But, you’ll get to see a deserted winter wonderland if you do choose this time.
You can book snowmobile tours, wolf-watching excursions, and other unique experiences during winter in Yellowstone. Prepare for frigid weather, though, with highs peaking around 20 and lows below 0 (the record is -66 degrees).
Check the National Park Service website for the most up-to-date information on the status of park roads.
How to Get to Yellowstone National Park
There are five different Yellowstone entrances spread far apart.
From Bozeman, Montana, you’ll likely head for the West or North access points. The busiest is the West Entrance Station, located in West Yellowstone in Montana. The North Entrance Station is known for the grand Roosevelt Arch, built in 1903, and is near the Mammoth Hot Springs area just outside of Gardiner, Montana. It’s also the only station open year-round.
The Northeast Entrance Station is one of the most remote, with the Beartooth Mountain Pass to the east. The nearest town is the tiny Cooke City-Silver Gate community about 5 miles away. This station is a log building from 1935 listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The South Entrance Station to Yellowstone is less than 60 miles from Jackson, Wyoming, and just a few minutes from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. The East Entrance Station near Yellowstone Lake is about 65 miles from Cody, Wyoming. This is where you’d enter road tripping from places like Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, or Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
Use this 3 days in Jackson Hole itinerary to plan a trip to Grand Teton National Park.
What Airports are Near Yellowstone National Park?
There are a few different options for where to fly into Yellowstone. Generally, the closer you land, the smaller the airport, which often means expensive flights and more layovers on the way.
The absolute closest option is the West Yellowstone Airport in Montana, just 5 miles from the West Entrance Station. Routes here are seasonal and limited.
Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is about 50 miles from the South Entrance. This is a great option if you also plan to visit Grand Teton National Park on the same trip.
The Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming, is about 55 miles from the East Entrance and connects to a couple of big cities in neighboring states.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Montana is a popular choice about 80 miles from the North Entrance Station and 90 Miles from the West Entrance Station. Nonstop routes from a couple dozen destinations (and growing) are available from most major U.S. carriers and a few budget airlines as well.
For more routes and better prices, you can also look at Salt Lake City International Airport, less than 5 hours from West Yellowstone, and Denver International Airport, close to 9 hours from the South and East entrances.
How Many Days Do You Need at Yellowstone National Park?
Is 4 days in Yellowstone enough time? While you could spend endless amounts of time exploring the 2.2 million acres of parklands and 900 miles of hiking trails in Yellowstone, a 4 day Yellowstone itinerary is the perfect amount of time for your first trip to see the major sites, hike some shorter trails, and drive the upper and lower circles of Grand Loop Road.
If you’re passing through on a road trip and only have one or two days in Yellowstone, I’d recommend focusing on the lower loop first, as that will get you to Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, several major thermal basins, and Yellowstone Lake. This itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton includes just a couple of days in each park.
With more than 4 days in Yellowstone National Park, you can add in longer hikes, avoid midday visits at the busy spots, drive the Beartooth Highway, and slow down at spots like Yellowstone Lake and the Lamar Valley.
Where to Stay Near Yellowstone National Park
The first thing to decide when looking for places to stay near Yellowstone National Park is whether you’d prefer to base yourself in one place or change locations to cut down on driving time. The park is huge, so if you stay in just one hotel, you may end up driving a couple of hours each way to get to some of the places on this Yellowstone itinerary. I recommend picking two hotels and staying a couple of nights in each one.
The next thing to consider is whether you’ll stay inside or outside the park. The benefits to staying in a Yellowstone hotel include not having to wait at the entry booths in the morning and quicker access to some attractions, though you’ll still have a far drive to others. The huge con is the high price and lack of availability at the Yellowstone park hotels, as they tend to book out months in advance.
Gardiner
Some of the top rated places to stay in Gardiner include the Roosevelt Hotel, Yellowstone Gateway Inn and Yellowstone Riverside Cottages.
West Yellowstone
There are tons of options for where to stay in West Yellowstone, including top rated accommodations like Faithful Street Inn and Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone, as well as glamping accommodations outside town like Under Canvas Yellowstone.
Yellowstone Hotels and Campgrounds
A few of the properties date to the early 1900s, including the historic Old Faithful Inn, one of the largest log buildings in the world. Even if you don't stay, you can pop into the lobby to see the stone fireplace, shop in the gift store, or book a reservation at the restaurant.
The National Park Service manages seven campgrounds in Yellowstone, some that you must reserve ahead and others that are first come, first served. Campground reservations are also competitive, so reserve one as soon as you know your travel dates.
What to Pack For Yellowstone National Park
These are a few of the top items I recommend packing for Yellowstone. For apparel, make sure you have layers, comfortable shoes or hiking boots, and a daypack.
Binoculars are a must for wildlife watching. I also suggest investing in a good zoom lens for your camera to capture wildlife shots. A mini tripod with a remote is great for taking photos of you and your travel buddies at all the bucket list places in Yellowstone.
Do not forget to pick up bear spray when you arrive. You cannot fly with it in your carry on or checked luggage, but you can buy it from local sporting stores or rent it from the Canyon Village Visitor Center.
Yellowstone Tickets and Passes
The entrance fee for Yellowstone National Park is $35 per car and is good for seven days, so you’ll just need to pay once on for Yellowstone 4 days itinerary.
If you plan to visit another couple of national parks within a year of your Yellowstone trip, you may want to invest in the America the Beautiful Pass, which gets you annual entry to more than 2,000 national parks and federal recreation areas for $80.
Grand Teton National Park entry is also $35, so the annual parks pass would almost pay for itself if you’re going to Yellowstone and Grand Teton on the same trip.
These are the most popular national parks in the United States.
Yellowstone National Park Tours
Sometimes it is easier to have someone else take care of the details of your trip so you don’t have to deal with annoying issues like parking and traffic. These guided tours will help make your trip to Yellowstone a breeze.
This 2 day guided tour of Yellowstone from Jackson includes both the upper and lower park loops for a scenic overview of all the geysers, waterfalls and wildlife.
This guided day trip to Yellowstone from West Yellowstone highlights the lower park loop attractions like Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and Grand Prismatic Spring.
