Yellowstone Park has been on our family bucket list for years, so when we saw that the park reopened for visitors this last week, we quickly booked our trip and jumped in the car!
Planning a trip to Yellowstone has always felt daunting because there is just so much to see and I didn’t want to miss anything. Luckily, a couple good friends shared all their tips and maps with me so that I could fit in all the main things to see.
*Due to COVID, visitors in the park are at only 10% of what they normally see this time of year. It’s the perfect time to visit without crowds!
Here are my suggestions for a 5-day trip through Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone Park. (Our drive from California added one day on each end of this trip)
Tips before you leave:
- Download both the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park apps and click the option to “make available when offline.” Cell service is slim to none in the parks, so these apps were lifesavers and helped us find fun stops along our drive!
- Purchase bear spray - it costs over $50 around the park, so save some money and get it from a local store in your hometown
- Get a good pair of binoculars and a tripod for them. Many of the animals are too far out to see well, and having a tripod helps for parents to locate and then the kids can just look through them.
- Bring walkie-talkies. There are numerous “spotters” around the parks who use the walkie talkies to tell what animals they see and where. Scan the stations when you’re out looking for wildlife.
Day 1: Grand Teton National Park
 |  |  |
Start your day in Jackson, Wyoming at Snow King Mountain. After a day or more of being in the car, this place is awesome for outdoor adventure with the Teton Mountain Range as your backdrop. Activities include the Cowboy Mountain Coaster, mini-golf, treetop adventure, Amaze’N Maze, Alpine Slide, and more! There is fun for the whole family.
Grab lunch in downtown Jackson. Some delicious restaurants that we enjoyed included Liberty Burger, Snake River Brewing, and Hand Fire Pizza. Be sure to visit downtown square too!
Spend the afternoon exploring Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. Jenny Lake is about a 30-minute drive from Jackson. There is a shuttle boat that will take you to the other side of the lake where you can hike to Hidden Falls, and then continue to Inspiration Point (1 mile total each way). The shuttle costs $50 round trip for a family (2 adults and their children). The hike around the lake is 2.5 miles each way if you choose to not take the boat.
Moose, pronghorn, and fox are seen in this area from Jackson to Jenny Lake.
Click here to see my Captain’s Log and all the photos from today’s activities.
We stayed at The Lexington Hotel, a luxury hotel at affordable prices in the heart of downtown Jackson.
 |  |  |
Day 2: Grand Teton National Park
DIY wildlife safari - Drive toward the town of Wilson and take Moose-Wilson Road into the park. The backroads are full of moose and beware of them crossing the road while you’re driving.
Take a 4-mile loop hike at Taggart Lake OR continue your wildlife safari.
 |  |  |
Continue the wildlife safari to the Kelly Loop on the east side of the park where you’ll see pronghorn, moose, and bison.
Head north toward Jackson Lake and use the app to find stops that interest your family. There were bison and elk throughout the fields and you might even spot some grizzly bears!
At the Jackson Lake Junction, head back across the dam and down toward the town of Jackson. If you packed a lunch, find a picnic spot on the app and enjoy your lunch, or head back to town.
For the afternoon, book a fun adventure of white water rafting, a scenic float, horseback ride, fishing tour, or rent some e-bikes to take a ride. Here are a full list of options for activities within the park. Looking for free activities in the park? Check out 10 free activities here.
Click here to see my Captain’s Log and all the photos from today’s activities.
Day 3: Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone
We booked a hotel (Three Bear Lodge) in West Yellowstone for the next three nights.
Drive all the way through Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park. We had more wildlife viewing along the drive, and around Jackson Lake and the lodge is where we had our grizzly sighting. Always be on the lookout for large groups of cars stopped on the road and ask what they are looking at. The locals and the visitors are all happy to share what they find.
Take a break at Colter Bay Visitor Center and get some great photos of the Teton mountains.
 |  |  |
Continue north to Yellowstone Park and enter through the south entrance.
Make a left and travel west at West Thumb.
Stop at Old Faithful. If you have the app downloaded, you can check on the predicted times for the next eruption. Get your seats about 15 minutes before the predicted time. It goes off every 60-90 minutes, so if you get there early, enjoy some lunch in the cafe or browse the gift shop and visitor center.
As soon as you leave Old Faithful, make a left into Black Sand Basin for more unique geysers to explore.
Travel another 10 minutes up the road and turn into the parking lot for Fairy Falls Trailhead. Follow the trail to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook for a stunning view and amazing photo opportunities.
 |  |  |
Head toward West Yellowstone and stop at any other places that might interest your family (Fountain Paint Pot, Great Fountain Geyser, and Firehole Canyon Drive).
There are numerous hotels, motels, cabins and RV parks in West Yellowstone. The town is built for tourists and has an adorable downtown with shops and great food. We had delicious food at Firehole Bar-B-Que Co., Beartooth Barbecue, and Las Palmitas Taco Bus.
Click here to see my Captain’s Log and all the photos from today’s activities.
Day 4: Yellowstone National Park
What I’m about to say may sound like an awful idea, but you’ll thank me. Set your alarm for 4 am and get on the road to Lamar Valley before the sun is up! The best wildlife experiences happen at dawn and dusk, so if you want to see ALL the animals, you’ve got to get up early.
 |  |  |
The drive is about 2 hours and you’ll have the opportunity to see bears and wolves, along with bison herds, elk, deer, coyotes, and so many more. Again, look for the cars on the side of the road and join the viewing party. This is a great time for those walkie talkies to listen for where the spotters are finding the animals.
As you drive back toward West Yellowstone, stop at Mammoth Springs. Visit the cafe and refill on coffee and snacks. Walk the boardwalks and view all the amazing geological displays!
Use the app to map out any other spots you want to see along the way.
Lunch in West Yellowstone and nap time!
Spend the afternoon exploring downtown West Yellowstone. Visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and get tickets for the IMAX Yellowstone movie that gives a great history of the park.
Click here to see my Captain’s Log and all the photos from today’s activities.
Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
We saved the best for last… the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. You can experience the canyon from a variety of overlooks, taking in the amazing geological history and hydrothermal features along with the upper and lower falls. There are a few different hike options as well through the canyon. Artist Point is the best place for that family photo!
 |  |  |
Visit the Canyon Lodge for lunch or a picnic.
Plan a few stops on the drive back toward West Yellowstone or head south to visit Yellowstone Lake.
Finish off your trip with a little more adventure at Yellowstone Aerial Adventures. Take to the high ropes course and zip lines with your family. We did the 2-hour ZAP pass and it was the perfect amount of time.
 |  |  |
Click here to see my Captain’s Log and all the photos from today’s activities.
Every trip to Yellowstone will be different and amazing in its own way! Make it your own and enjoy the beauty of nature. This will be a trip we will never forget. Now to figure out how to fit ALL the photos into one photo book!
*Our full trip was 7 days, with 5 days in the parks and 2 days of driving.
