Epic 7-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary

Plan the ultimate 7-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks road trip with two itinerary options, starting north or south, plus must-see geysers, hikes, wildlife, and where to stay each night.

Planning a one-week adventure through Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks? This complete 7-day family itinerary includes two routes- one starting from West Yellowstone or Bozeman and another from Jackson, Wyoming. Plus the best hikes, scenic drives, wildlife spots, and where to stay each night.

most iconic photo spots in grand teton national park

Jump to Section

Introduction: Two Parks, Two Routes, One Unforgettable Week

Trying to figure out how to see Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park in just seven days can feel like solving a jigsaw puzzle. Both parks are huge, packed with must-see sights, and separated by some of the most scenic miles in the United States.

The good news? You can do both comfortably in a week with the right plan. This post lays out two versions of a 7-day itinerary:

One that starts in Bozeman or West Yellowstone, perfect for travelers coming through Montana and points North.
Another that begins in Jackson, Wyoming (or from Salt Lake City), ideal for visitors entering from the South.

Each itinerary hits all the best places: Old Faithful Geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, Jenny Lake, Oxbow Bend, Lamar Valley, and more, while leaving breathing room for short hikes, wildlife watching, and a few scoops of ice cream along the way.

🧭 Quick Planning Resources

Before you map out your route, these detailed guides will make planning easier:

Yellowstone National Park

Grand Teton National Park

🗺 At a Glance: Compare the Two 7-Day Routes

Feature	Option 1: Start in Bozeman / West Yellowstone (North → South)	Option 2: Start in Jackson / Salt Lake City (South → North)
Main Entry Gate	West Entrance (West Yellowstone) or North Entrance (Gardiner)	South Entrance (Jackson Hole)
Ideal For	Travelers arriving from Montana or Idaho Falls	Visitors flying into Jackson Hole Airport or driving from Salt Lake City
Route Direction	Yellowstone ➜ Grand Teton ➜ Return North	Grand Teton ➜ Yellowstone ➜ Return South
Top Highlights (Early in Trip)	Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone	Jenny Lake, Taggart Lake, Oxbow Bend, Mormon Row
Wildlife Hotspots	Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley	Moose-Wilson Road, Oxbow Bend, Hayden Valley
Midweek Base	Jackson Lake Lodge or Jackson, WY	Old Faithful Inn or West Yellowstone
End-of-Trip Highlights	Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Bear & Wolf Discovery Center	Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Bear & Wolf Discovery Center
Best For	Those who want to begin and end with Yellowstone (it’s massive) with the Grand Tetons in between	Families who want to start with the Tetons and finish with geysers & wildlife
Approx. Total Drive Time	~12–14 hours spread across 7 days	~12–14 hours spread across 7 days
Recommended Season	June – September (all roads open)	June – September (all roads open)

Which Itinerary Should You Choose?

Both routes include the same incredible sights—geyser basins, alpine lakes, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Jenny Lake—but in a different order.

If you’re arriving from…	Choose this route
Bozeman, MT / West Yellowstone / Gardiner	Option 1 – Start North, End North with a dip South in between
Jackson, WY / Salt Lake City / Idaho Falls	Option 2 – Start South, End North, with a longer drive South at the end

Grand Teton Itinerary: how to spend 3 days in the park

🗺 Option 1: Starting from Bozeman or West Yellowstone (North to South)

Day 1 – Welcome to Yellowstone’s Geyser Country

Enter through the West Entrance or Roosevelt Arch at Gardiner. Drive the Grand Loop Road toward:

Norris Geyser Basin – Steamboat Geyser and colorful thermal pools.
Fountain Paint Pot Trail – bubbling mud and pastel pools.
Midway Geyser Basin & Grand Prismatic Spring – walk the boardwalk or take the overlook trail. Goal: Make it here by the afternoon for the brightest colors and best views of Grand Prismatic Spring.
Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin – End your day at the Upper Geyser Basin area. Watch Old Faithful erupt, then wander to Castle and Riverside Geysers.

Overnight: West Yellowstone, Old Faithful Inn, or Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Where to eat: Assuming you are entering the parks in the morning, I would pack a picnic lunch. Then, for dinner, eat at the Old Faithful Inn if you are staying in the park. If you are staying in West Yellowstone, there are tons of great dining options.

Note: If you are coming from Gardiner, you will drive right past Mammoth Hot Springs. Don’t stop though.. You will get to see this at the end of the trip!

Day 2 – Wildlife, Waterfalls & Yellowstone Lake

Early Start: sunrise drive through Hayden Valley for bison, elk, or even grizzly bears.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: visit Artist Point, Lower Falls, and Uncle Tom’s Trail.
Yellowstone Lake & West Thumb Geyser Basin: steaming vents right beside the water.
If you have extra time, continue east toward Cody for dinner and a short visit. In the summer there is a fantastic local rodeo here!

Overnight: Lake Hotel, Canyon Village, or West Yellowstone. If you are lucky enough to score a reservation for Old Faithful Inn, you can stay there for a 2nd night.

Where to Eat: eat at your hotel or get a grab and go breakfast from one of the convenience stores. For this itinerary I would get lunch (and ice cream) at Canyon Village. For dinner, there is a super nice restaurant at the Lake Hotel. Otherwise, Old Faithful Inn has a great buffet and West Yellowstone has tons of options.

Day 3 – Into Grand Teton National Park

Drive the John D. Rockefeller Parkway (about an hour).

Taggart Lake Trail: easy 3-mile short hike with incredible mountain reflections. Plan to arrive here before 9am for the best experience.
Jenny Lake Ferry & Hidden Falls: ride across, hike to Inspiration Point. This will be your afternoon activity. I would pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at either Jenny Lake or Taggart Lake.
Evening Photography: Mormon Row barns or Oxbow Bend at sunset.

Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay Village, or Jackson, WY. We have stayed at both Jackson Lake Lodge and The Rockwell Inn in Jackson and they are both fantastic options for families.

Where to eat: For dinner you could either eat in Jackson or get a dining reservation for the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge.

Day 4 – Grand Teton Wildlife & Relaxation

Sunrise: Oxbow Bend, Schwabacher Landing or Snake River Overlook for glowing peaks.
String & Leigh Lakes: picnic and swim in calm alpine water. Spend most of the day here swimming, kayaking, and doing the easy String-Leigh Lake loop.
Have lunch at Dornan’s for some excellent pizza before heading to Jackson for the afternoon. Do some souvenir shopping here and if you have time, ride the tram up the mountain in Jackson Hole for some amazing views!
Evening: Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout in Jackson. Classic Western fun.

Overnight: Jackson or any of the lodges inside Grand Teton National Park

Day 5 – Jackson Adventures + Return to Yellowstone

Morning ideas:

Horseback riding near Teton Village.
Snake River float trip for gentle wildlife viewing.

After lunch, drive north via the South Entrance to the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Note: This will be a long drive but you have pretty much seen everything so it will be a relatively straight shot. Still, time permitting, I would stop at Hayden Valley one more time to see the baby bison.

Overnight: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Roosevelt area cabins, or anywhere in Gardiner, MT. Note: It’s important to stay near the north end of Yellowstone for this night because you will be getting up VERY very early to see wildlife the next day.

Day 6 – Northern Yellowstone Safari

Pre-dawn drive to Lamar Valley and Tower Junction, prime time for wolves and bears. Note: I highly recommend booking at tour either with the parks service or a private outfitter. There is no reason for you to drive at 4am (ha) and these guides know where to look for the best wildlife viewing. Plus, the tours typically come with snacks!

Stop at Tower Fall and Swan Lake Flat en route to Mammoth Hot Springs.

Explore the boardwalk terraces, then relax in the historic village. There are tons of great options for dining both in the Mammoth Hot Springs area and in Gardiner (which is about 10 minute drive from Mammoth)

Overnight: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Gardiner.

Day 7 – Wrap-Up & Departure

If leaving via West Yellowstone, visit the Bear & Wolf Discovery Center.

If heading north, enjoy one last stroll through Mammoth Village before returning to Bozeman.

Where to Stay (Option 1 Recap)

Nights	Suggested Base	Notes
1-2	West Yellowstone / Old Faithful / Lake Hotel	Central access to geysers
3-4	Jackson Lake Lodge / Colter Bay / Jackson	Gateway to Grand Teton
5-6	Mammoth Hot Springs / Gardiner	Easy access to Lamar Valley
7	Travel day	—

🏔 Option 2: Starting from Jackson or the South (South to North)

Day 1 – Arrive in Grand Teton National Park

Enter through the South Entrance or drive up from Jackson Hole Airport.

Taggart Lake Trail – gentle 3-mile intro hike.
Jenny Lake Ferry → Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point.
Evening: photograph Mormon Row or watch sunset at Oxbow Bend.

Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Colter Bay, or Jackson.

Day 2 – Sunrise Wildlife & Lake Time

Early Morning: Moose-Wilson Road or Signal Mountain for moose sightings.
Mid-Day: picnic and paddle at String Lake or Leigh Lake.
Evening: attend the Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout in Jackson.

Overnight: Jackson. There are tons of options in Jackson. Or, you could get an in-park reservation for Jackson Lake Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, or Colter Bay.

Day 3 – Jackson Fun & Drive to Yellowstone

Morning choices:

Horseback riding, float trip, or Jackson Hole Tram ride.
Lunch in town, then drive north via the South Entrance into Yellowstone.
Stop at West Thumb Geyser Basin before reaching Old Faithful.

Overnight: Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, or West Yellowstone.

Day 4 – Geysers & Grand Loop Highlights

Fountain Paint Pot and Midway Geyser Basin (don’t miss Grand Prismatic Spring).
Norris Geyser Basin for vibrant thermal features.
Return to Old Faithful area for sunset eruption and dinner.

Overnight: same as previous night.

Day 5 – Canyon Country & Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley at sunrise for bison and elk.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Artist Point, Lower Falls, Uncle Tom’s Trail.
Yellowstone Lake & West Thumb: great afternoon stop before heading north.

Evening Option: quick detour to Cody or continue to Gardiner/Mammoth.

Overnight: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel or Gardiner.

Day 6 – Northern Wildlife & Hot Springs

Lamar Valley morning safari: wolves, bears, and endless open space.
Visit Tower Fall and Swan Lake Flat for last scenic views.
Afternoon in Mammoth Hot Springs village; explore the terraces and visitor center.

Overnight: Mammoth or Gardiner.

Day 7 – Back South via West Yellowstone

On your last day, drive through West Yellowstone for souvenirs and a stop at the Bear & Wolf Discovery Center before returning south toward Jackson or Salt Lake City.

Where to Stay (Option 2 Recap)

Nights	Suggested Base	Notes
1-2	Jackson / Colter Bay / Jackson Lake Lodge	Best for early Grand Teton access
3-4	Old Faithful / West Yellowstone / Lake Hotel	Central Yellowstone geyser areas
5-6	Mammoth Hot Springs / Gardiner	Northern wildlife zone
7	Travel day	—

Practical Tips for Either Route

Start Early. Sunrise light and empty parking lots make every stop better.
Layer Clothing. Morning frost, midday heat, and evening chill all happen in one day.
Carry Snacks & Water. Few grocery stores inside the parks.
Download Google Maps Offline. Cell service vanishes fast.
Keep a Paper Map from the Visitor Center.
Respect Wildlife. 25 yards from elk and bison, 100 yards from bears.
Expect Long Drives. Most days include 2–3 hours behind the wheel, but scenery makes it fly by.

Final Thoughts

One week between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is the kind of trip that stays with you long after you unpack. Whether you begin in Jackson Hole or West Yellowstone, you’ll cross steaming geyser fields, stand beneath granite peaks, and maybe spot a grizzly lumbering through wildflower meadows.

Take it slow, savor every overlook, and don’t stress if you miss a stop, there’s always a next time, and these parks have a way of calling you back.

So gas up, cue your playlist, and set out. From the first hiss of a geyser to the last glow on the Tetons, this 7-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary truly delivers the best things these parks have to offer.

Epic 7-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary (Complete Family Road Trip Guide)

Introduction: Two Parks, Two Routes, One Unforgettable Week