Last Updated:  1/23/24 – Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guide

For those of you who know me, you know how much I love scenic landscapes.  I guess that is what has drawn me to our national parks.  They have some of the most beautiful landscapes this world has to offer. 

There is nothing more serene than being in nature with nothing to occupy your mind except for Mother Nature’s beauty.  That is what got me into photography in the first place.  I wanted a way in which to capture those moments to share with others.

I have been to exactly half of the 46 National Parks in the continental United States, with plans to visit the remainder of the parks here and outside the 48 continental states.  I have plans to write about each and every one of those parks so that I can share with you my experiences and any tips I might have collected along the way.

No better place to start than with this country’s first national park and two of my favorite national parks – Yellowstone and Grand Teton.  As you can see in the map below, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are located in very close proximity to each other, in Northwest Wyoming.  In fact, Yellowstone National Park is so large that it covers small parts of Montana and Idaho as well.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton Guide Navigation Menu

How to Get There

When we visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton, we drove so that we could take in some of the views along the way.  To give you an idea of how long it will take you to get there, I put together a little drive timetable below to give you an idea.

If you aren’t interested in driving, you can always fly into Billings, Montana, and then drive to Yellowstone National Park.  From the airport in Billings, it is about a 3-hour drive to Yellowstone.  From Yellowstone, it is about an hour’s drive South to get to Grand Teton National Park.

As you can see in the map below, Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are in very close proximity to each other, which makes them ideal parks to combine into one trip.  While you will want to spend more than just one day exploring these amazing parks, they are so close that you can spend part of a day in Yellowstone and then the other part of a day in Grand Teton.  Ideally, I would recommend at least 2-3 days in Yellowstone and at least a full day in Grand Teton, if not more, to fully explore these amazing parks.

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Best Time to Visit

Yellowstone and Grand Teton are fun to visit any time of the year, and the best time to visit will ultimately depend on what you want to see when you’re there.  Summer (June through August) is the peak season for the parks, so the parks will be the most crowded during these months.  However, if you get off the beaten (or paved) paths and explore the backcountry of the parks, you can escape the crowds any time of year.

If you are into snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, then the winter months (December through March) will be of the most interest to you.  The park is so quiet and peaceful during the winter, and the thermal features are extra beautiful under a fresh blanket of snow.  I have included some information on the temperature and average precipitation levels throughout the year below to assist you in deciding when it would be the best time for you to visit the parks.

Average Temperature (°F)

As you can see in the chart below, the temperatures in Yellowstone and the Grand Teton can get quite chilly during the winter months.  If you are planning on visiting in the winter to do some skiing, snowshoeing, or snowmobiling, then I would make sure you bring the appropriate winter gear with you.  During the summer months, the temperatures are quite a bit warmer and can even get hot during the days, but the nights can still be chilly.  Even if you are visiting during the summer months, I would recommend bringing a sweatshirt and a pair of long pants for the evenings.

Average Precipitation (Inches)

If you are looking to spend a lot of time outdoors and would like to find the dryest time of year to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, I would recommend looking at July through October.  These tend to be the dryest months of the year for the area.  Since July and August are during the busy season, your best bet might be to look at early autumn during September and October.

Average Visitors (In 1,000’s of Visitors)

As you can see in the chart below, the busiest months for Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks are the summer months of June through September.  Even the shoulder months of May and October see quite a few visitors, but the congestion isn’t as bad as it is during the summer months.

Where to Stay

When you visit Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks, there are a lot of options to choose from in terms of accommodations.  If you would like to stay outdoors, there a plenty of great campgrounds to choose from.  However, I would make sure you reserve your spot early if you would like to visit during the busy summer months as the campgrounds do fill up.

If staying outdoors isn’t your thing, there are also some beautiful lodges to choose from within the park and plenty of hotel options at various price points outside the park.  Regardless of what you choose, I have you covered as I provide some great recommendations for both camping and lodging below.

Campsites

If you would like to camp in Yellowstone or the Grand Teton National Park, I have included a map and a list of several of the most popular campgrounds for you to review below.

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Yellowstone Lodges

Yellowstone National Park is known for its historic and beautiful lodges.  They are more expensive than hotels outside of the park, but if you are looking for that extra special touch to your Yellowstone adventure, then staying at one of the park’s beautiful lodges may be just what you are looking for.  In case you are interested, I have included a map layout of all the park’s lodges and cabins for you to review below.

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Yellowstone Hotels

If you aren’t interested in spending the money to stay at one of the lodges inside the park, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a nice place to stay near Yellowstone.  Some hotels are available just outside the park and in neighboring cities that are very nice and more affordable.  However, I would strongly recommend that you book your hotels well in advance, especially for the busy summer months, as the hotels near Yellowstone book up very quickly.

The closest city outside the park with hotels is West Yellowstone, which sits in the state of Montana, just outside the west side of the park.  On the east side of the park in the state of Wyoming, the city of Cody also has some good hotels, but it is a bit further away from the park.  From your hotel in Cody, it will take you about an hour to get back to the park.  If you are interested in looking for a hotel outside of Yellowstone National Park, I have included several recommendations for you below at different price points.

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Grand Teton Hotels

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are close enough that you could possibly stay at one hotel or lodge while you explore both parks.  However, they are just far enough apart so it may make more sense to get separate lodging close to each park while you explore them.

The closest city to Grand Teton National Park is Jackson, Wyoming, which is probably your best bet for finding a nearby hotel.  As with Yellowstone, book your hotel early as they fill up quickly.  If you are interested in exploring hotel options closer to Grand Teton National Park, I have included some recommendations at different price points below for you to review.

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Top Place to Eat

If you are visiting Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks, you are going to work up quite an appetite exploring these amazing landscapes.  Here are a few restaurants that I recommend checking out while you visit.  My favorite, by far, is breakfast at Leeks Lodge near Grand Teton National Park.  The blueberry pancakes (pictured below) are divine.

Top Things to See

There are so many things to see in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.  To give you a place to start in your planning, I have outlined some of my top spots in both parks for you below.  I have also included some great resources below where you can find more information about the parks.

• Yellowstone National Park Map
• Yellowstone National Park – Plan Your Visit
• Grand Teton National Park Map
• Grand Teton National Park – Plan Your Visit

Top Things to See in Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest national parks in the United States, and there are a lot of things to see and do inside the park.  To give you a head-start on your planning, I have highlighted the top 10 things I would recommend seeing in Yellowstone below.  I have also included a map so that you can get a sense of where each of these attractions is located and how to plan to see them.

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Grand Prismatic Hot Spring

The largest hot spring in the United States, the Grand Prismatic hot spring is my favorite site in Yellowstone National Park.  Different colored algae grow in the different temperature bands of the hot spring, giving it beautiful rings of color. 

There is a boardwalk that takes you right up to the hot spring, but if you have the time and are adventurous, I would suggest taking the hike up behind the hot spring onto the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring Overlook.  The views are amazing!

Hike to Overlook Viewpoint

There is an absolutely fantastic view of the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring from the scenic overlook viewpoint that is on the hills up behind the hot spring.  If you would like to get some views like you see above, I have included a map below that shows you how to access the trail that takes you to this viewpoint.

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Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls

The Yellowstone Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone consists of the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls.  Several hikes give you a great view of the falls, as well as the Lookout Point, Artist Point, and Falls Overlook, which allows you to get to the precipice of the falls.

Old Faithful Geyser

Arguably the most famous attraction in Yellowstone National Park, I probably don’t need to give you an introduction to Old Faithful geyser.  Popular because of its predictability, Old Faithful erupts every 45-125 minutes and can usually be predicted by park staff almost to the minute. 

There is plenty of seating up close to the geyser, but if you want to get a really great perspective of the eruption, take the Observation Point Trail.  There are some great views of Old Faithful from this trail.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Located in the far North of Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs is a very large group of hot springs on a travertine hill. It includes over 60 thermal features, including the Angel Springs, Devil’s Kitchen and Devil’s Thumb, Marble Terrace, Painted Pool, and the Sulpher Pits. 

There is a boardwalk that takes you through the hot springs, and if you have the time I would absolutely recommend exploring the thermal features here.  A great way to get more information about the Mammoth Hot Springs region of Yellowstone is to check out this online Virtual Tour.

Hayden and Lamar Valleys

I absolutely love the valleys of Yellowstone National Park, and Hayden and Lamar Valley are arguably the park’s most famous.  They are, without a doubt, the best place to view wildlife in the parks.  You are almost guaranteed to see bison, elk, and antelope grazing in the valleys. 

And if you are lucky, you will get to see grizzly bears wandering through or the wolf packs that patrol the valleys for prey.  Bringing binoculars (spotting scopes are even better) is an absolute must as the valleys are very big and sometimes the wildlife you want to see is quite a ways away.

Yellowstone Lake

Not as often mentioned as the park’s thermal features, hot springs, and waterfalls, Yellowstone Lake should not be overlooked when planning a trip to the park.  It is the largest body of water within the park, covering 136 square miles, and has an average depth of 136 feet.  My favorite part of the lake is seeing the thermal features releasing steam next to the shoreline.  Makes for some fascinating views.

Roosevelt Arch

Found at the Northern entrance to the park, the arch is one of the most iconic images of Yellowstone National Park.  It welcomes visitors with the message, “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, which was taken from the Organic Act (the legislation passed in 1872 that designated Yellowstone as the world’s first national park).  President Roosevelt himself laid the cornerstone of the arch in 1903, and the arch has been welcoming visitors to Yellowstone ever since its completion.

Norris Geyser Basin

The Norris Geyser Basin is a large geothermal area in Yellowstone National Park that includes a large number of geysers and other thermal features.  These features include Porkchop Geyser, Whale’s Mouth, Pinwheel Geyser, Emerald Spring, and Steamboat Geyser.  This is an area of Yellowstone that is another absolute must-see.  For a neat tour of the Norris Geyser Basin region of Yellowstone, check out this online Virtual Tour.

Top Things to See in Grand Teton National Park

The Grand Teton National Park is renowned for its breathtaking alpine views, incredible hiking trails, and abundance of amazing wildlife. If you are starting to put together your itinerary for visiting the Grand Tetons, I have highlighted some of the top things I would recommend seeing below.

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Jenny Lake

Formed by glaciers, Jenny Lake is jaw-droppingly beautiful, especially at sunrise and sunset.  If you like camping and kayaking, I would absolutely recommend camping out at one of the campgrounds by the lake and enjoying some time out on the lake in a kayak.  On top of being incredibly peaceful, the views from the lake are gorgeous.  If you are looking for a campground, the Jenny Lake Campground is a great option.

The Teton Range

They are pretty hard to miss.  Often likened to the Matterhorn of Switzerland because of its jagged peaks, the Teton Range has the most Swiss Alps feel of any other place in the US Rocky Mountains.  There are plenty of places to take in the view of the peaks, and I would suggest soaking them all in.

Teton Park Road

A great way of doing an initial investigation of the park is to take the Teton Park Road.  I would still recommend getting out of the car and exploring the backcountry, but some of the views from the park road should not be missed.  One of my favorite viewpoints is the Snake River Overlook.  There is just something about the river winding its way at the foot of the mountains that is just so beautiful.   If you are interested in some other scenic drives, here are some ideas to explore.

Mormon Row

This is one of my favorite spots in Grand Teton National Park.  The view of these old buildings at the foot of the Teton Range is stunning.  Make sure you bring your camera because you can get some fantastic shots here.

Here is a map on how to get to Mormon Row:

Grand Teton Kayaking

In my opinion, if you want to really see the Grand Teton National Park, you have to get out of the car and explore.  There is no better way to take in the beauty of this park than from a boat on a lake.  Especially when the lake is at the foot of the prettiest mountain range in the continental United States.  I would recommend Jenny Lake.  And if you don’t own kayaks, don’t worry, you can rent them there.

Snake River Overlook

This is one of my favorite scenic overlooks on the Teton Park Road.  The view of the Teton Range resting just beyond the meandering Snake River is a sight to behold.  I would absolutely recommend making a pit stop to take in the scenery.

Grand Teton Hiking

Getting out in the backcountry to explore our national parks always pays off, and that is no different from Grand Teton.  There are views you just can’t see from the road.  If you have the time, I strongly recommend getting out and hiking, even if it is just a short hike.  Here is a great resource for some of the more popular hikes in Grand Teton.

Grand Teton Camping

If you like camping, Grand Teton National Park is a great place to do it.  The campsites at the campgrounds aren’t right on top of each other, so you actually feel like you are camping.  Nothing like sleeping out in nature and this is a gorgeous place to do it.  Just make sure you respect the campgrounds and practice proper bear etiquette.  Here are some more options for campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park.

Jackson Hole Gondola

No trip to Grand Teton is complete without a pit stop in Jackson, Wyoming.  Jackson Hole ski resort is gorgeous, as is the city of Jackson.  The shopping and restaurants are fun to take in.  But my favorite part of visiting Jackson is going on the Jackson Hole gondola.  The sites from the top are out-of-this-world.  Here is some more information on the Jackson Hole gondola.

Photo Gallery

The Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park are such incredibly beautiful areas with so many amazing things to see and photograph.  I have included galleries below of just some of the beautiful pictures I was able to take while visiting these wonderful parks.

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