Feeling overwhelmed about planning your 4 day Yellowstone itinerary? You’ve come to the right place!
Yellowstone National Park embodies the ideal road trip destination. It’s got wildlife, natural wonders, beautiful scenery, lots of outdoor adventures, family-friendly activities, and so much more!
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My husband and I visited Yellowstone as part of a 2-week trip out west in August 2020. We had four days designated to Yellowstone, and for a first-time visitor, I think that’s about the perfect amount of time to see the highlights and get a good feel for the park and what it has to offer. While there is so much more that we didn’t get to see, I feel that we did the park justice in the amount of time we had.
So if you are looking for the best Yellowstone 4 day itinerary, look no further! Let me be your Yellowstone trip planner! Here’s everything you need to plan and make the most of your trip!
Best 4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Ok, let’s get into the good stuff! Here’s the road trip itinerary for four days in Yellowstone National Park.
pro tip:
This itinerary was created with West Yellowstone being the base camp for your trip. All maps, mileage, and drive times are based on this. I suggest you stay in this vicinity in order to make the most of your time at Yellowstone. I found it to be a great area to stay. If you are staying somewhere else, then your mileage and drive times will differ, but you can easily adjust this itinerary to work with wherever you’re staying.
Day 1 – Northern Section
Total distance: 171 miles
Length of drive: 5 hours
Start your Yellowstone trip itinerary by exploring the northern section of the park.
Blacktail Plateau Drive
Get an early start and drive north through the park towards Lamar Valley. You can head directly there if you’d like, but a nice detour is Blacktail Plateau Drive. It’s a one-way dirt road so if you’re going to take it, take it on your way to Lamar Valley. It offers some nice scenery and when we took it in August, we only saw a few other cars, so it’s a nice place to drive to get away from the crowds when visiting Yellowstone.
Lamar Valley
After finishing the Black Plateau Drive, continue through Lamar Valley. The earlier you get here, the better your chances of seeing the wildlife.
Did you know that Yellowstone has the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states? While some animals are more elusive than others (wolves, moose, bear, etc.) you have the potential to see bighorn sheep, bison, elk, moose, mountain goats, mule deer, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, black bears, Canada lynx, coyotes, grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolverines, and wolves.
We were fortunate to see bison, elk, pronghorn, a coyote, and a moose while in Yellowstone. We didn’t get to see a bear which was on my bucket list, but there’s always next time!
Trout Lake
After you’ve spotted some wildlife, make your way to Trout Lake.
It’s a short hike to the lake but it’s steep, so make sure you have proper footwear. This is a nice scenic area where you can walk around the water and take a little break. There weren’t many people here either when we went, so you’ll also get a break from the crowds.
If you packed a lunch this would also make a great spot for a picnic or a snack.
Lamar River Valley and Specimen Ridge Trails
After a bite to eat, if you want to do a bit more hiking, consider exploring parts of the Lamar River Valley and Specimen Ridge trails. I’m sensitive to heat so it was a little too warm for me to do these hikes in August, but they are on my list for next time!
More details on these and other trails can be found on the AllTrails website or app.
Tower Fall
After a bit of hiking (or after Trout Lake if you don’t want to hike) swing by Tower Fall. You can admire it from the viewing area or take the hike down to the bottom.
Mammoth Hot Springs
End your day with some time exploring Mammoth Hot Springs. Take some time to walk around the geothermal wonders and then take the Upper Terrace Loop drive to see some more of the features up close.
Day 2 – Geysers and Waterfalls
Total distance: 135 miles
Length of drive: 3 hours 30 minutes
BONUS: Mount Washburn
If you’re a hiker and want to get a good trek in this morning, get an early start, head to Dunraven Pass, and take the hike up to Mount Washburn. It’s a 6.8-mile out-and-back trail and is rated as moderate. You can get all the hike details here.
Upper and lower falls
This can either be your first stop of the day, or you can head directly here after hiking Mount Washburn. The Upper and Lower Falls of Yellowstone River near Canyon Village was one of my favorite parts of our 4 day Yellowstone road trip.
There are so many different places you can view the falls based on how much walking you want to do and how much time you want to spend. At the very least, I recommend checking out the Lower Falls from both sides of the river and then going down ALL the steps to the brink of the Lower Falls. It’s a LOT of steps but it’s worth it.
When we were there we hiked the South Rim Trail to Artist Point which was a beautiful walk with lots of lookouts. We had wanted to do Uncle Tom’s Trail but it was closed when we were there.
Hayden Valley
This is another great area of the park to see wildlife. This is also where we saw the moose! Drive along and see what you can spot!
Just be courteous to other drivers and if you do see any wildlife and want a closer look, find a safe, designated place to pull over to view. Don’t stop in the middle of the road and do your best to allow traffic to keep moving.
pro tip:
Hayden Valley is a very busy section of the park because of all the wildlife, especially the bison. They can sometimes wander into the road and cause a “bison jam” which will back up traffic. Park rangers will sometimes use emergency vehicles to move the bison off the road. Just keep alert and be patient if you have to wait for the wildlife. This is their home after all!
Mud volcano
This area has a lot of cool features, like Dragon’s Mouth Spring and the Mud Volcano.
Norris geyser basin
Wrap up your day with the Norris Geyser Basin. As the name implies, there are a lot of geysers here, like Steamboat Geyser and Echinus Geyser. See how many you can catch erupting!
Day 3 – The Famous Attractions
Total distance: 64 miles
Length of drive: 1 hour 45 minutes
Today is all about seeing the sites that make Yellowstone famous!
fountain paint pots
If you’re not tired of geysers yet, start your morning by walking around the Lower Geyser Basin and the Fountain Paint Pot Trail.
grand prismatic Spring
Grand Prismatic is part of the Midway Geyser Basin and is world-famous for its rainbow of colors. Anyone planning a trip to Yellowstone needs to stop here! Visiting in the middle of the day will show off the colors the brightest and has a better chance of not being too foggy.
You should view it from ground level first and then head down the road a minute or two to Fairy Falls Trail parking lot to hike up to the Prismatic Spring Overlook.
fairy falls
If you’re up for an easier hike today, continue down the trail from the Grand Prismatic overlook to Fairy Falls. It’s a 4.8-mile out-and-back trail. It can get a little crowded but it’s a beautiful waterfall and worth the hike.
This would also be a nice place to eat a packed lunch. You can see the hike details here.
Upper Geyser Basin & Morning Glory Pool
This is another section of geysers and pools that would be a great way to spend some time while waiting for the next eruption of Old Faithful.
I would suggest heading directly to Old Faithful after Fairy Falls and finding out when the next eruption is predicted. If you have time, hit up some of these trails. If the next eruption is soon, then you can explore these if you want to afterward.
old Faithful
Finish out your day with the grand finale of Old Faithful. This famous geyser erupts every 44 minutes to 2 hours and is well worth fighting the crowds to see.
As mentioned above, if you have some time to kill before the next eruption, you can explore the Upper Geyser Basin or just relax and walk around the general store, visitor center, lodge, and the beautiful Old Faithful Inn.
Day 4 – Southern Section
Total distance: 150 miles
Length of drive: 3 hours 30 minutes
On the final day of your 4 day Yellowstone itinerary, you can either hit up some of the areas you might have missed during your first 3 days or you can spend some time in the southern section of the park. When we were in Yellowstone, most of this part of the park was closed due to a wildfire, so this is the itinerary I would have done if the roads had been open.
Lone Star Geyser
Begin your day with a hike to Lone Star Geyser. This is an easy 5.3-mile out-and-back trail.
Lewis Falls
Next, take the drive down to view Lewis Falls.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
This area of geysers right along Yellowstone Lake looks very scenic.
Yellowstone Lake
Take the rest of the day to drive along Yellowstone Lake. You can either drive partially along it and then turn around and head back the way you came, or you can drive all the way along Route 20 until you reach Grand Loop Road and then drive back to West Yellowstone through Hayden Valley again for more wildlife viewing. The time and distance will be about the same for either choice.
If you have less than 4 days in Yellowstone…
If you can’t do Yellowstone in 4 days because you have less time, here are a couple of modified options to help you still see the best of the national park in the time you do have.
If you have 1 day in Yellowstone:
Make sure you hit up the main attractions:
- Upper and Lower Falls
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Grand Prismatic
- Upper Geyser Basin & Old Faithful Geyser
If you have additional time, you can drive up to see Mammoth Hot Springs or drive to Hayden Valley to look for wildlife.
If you have 2 days in Yellowstone:
On Day 1, visit Mammoth Hot Springs, drive through Lamar Valley to look for wildlife, stop at Tower Fall, continue to Upper and Lower Falls, and end at Norris Geyser Basin.
On Day 2, visit Grand Prismatic, head to Upper Geyser Basin & Old Faithful, drive along Yellowstone Lake and spend some time there, and then head up through Hayden Valley for wildlife watching in the evening.
If you have 3 days in Yellowstone:
Follow my four-day Yellowstone itinerary but skip Day 4.
If you have more than 4 days in Yellowstone…
If you have more than 4 days for your Yellowstone National Park itinerary, here are some things you can add:
- Beartooth Highway – this is one thing I wish we would have had time to do. This is a 68-mile road from Red Lodge to Cooke City that many consider the most beautiful drive in America. This road is also closed from around October to April/May depending on the snow, so check conditions before you go.
- Boiling River – a popular section of the Gardner River to go swimming. It’s located right on the Montana/Wyoming border off of Route 189.
- Add in some hikes – we did not get to do much hiking/walking on this trip so I don’t have any personal recommendations, but you can use the AllTrails website or app to find the best ones in the area. Some that I’d like to do next time include the Lone Star Geyser Trail and Shoshone Lake.
- Explore the town of West Yellowstone – we walked around the town a bit in the evenings to get dinner or just window shop. There are plenty of places to eat and pick up souvenirs, and also family-friendly activities for the kids, like the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center and the Zipline Adventure Park.
Quick facts about Yellowstone National Park
- Yellowstone is not only the first established national park in the United States but also in the world! It became a national park on March 1, 1872.
- Yellowstone is 3,472 square miles, which equates to over 2.2 MILLION acres! It’s one of the largest national parks in the US. Within these acres, there are about 290 waterfalls and over half of the world’s active geysers and hydrothermal features.
- In 2023, Yellowstone was the 7th most-visited national park with 3.2 million visitors.
Top 10 Best Things to do in Yellowstone National Park
Oh man, it is so hard to choose the top 10 things to do in Yellowstone! The park is massive and there are dozens of amazing sights to see.
However, here is what I believe are the things every first-time visitor needs to see when exploring Yellowstone:
- Old Faithful
- Grand Prismatic
- The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone / Upper & Lower Falls
- Mammoth Springs
- Hayden Valley
- Norris Geyser Basin
- Lamar Valley
- Yellowstone Lake
- West Thumb Geyser Basin
- Tower Fall
The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is open all year round and there are activities to do in every season, but parts of the park do close down in the shoulder seasons and in winter.
View current conditions for Yellowstone National Park here.
The roads in the interior of the park (Old Faithful, Upper and Lower Falls, etc.) are closed during the winter as are many visitor centers and facilities, so keep this in mind when you’re planning your trip.
However, in winter there are very few visitors, and if you enjoy winter activities like snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling, you’ll get to see a side of the park not many others do! Check out what other things you can do in Yellowstone in the winter.
On the flip side, the summer is the busiest time to visit the park. Half of the yearly visitors to Yellowstone come in June, July, and August. You will for sure be fighting big crowds and the heat, and accommodations will be harder to book and will be more expensive. You also risk the chance of wildfires closing parts of the park.
However, all the facilities and roads are open at this time, so you’ll be able to experience just about everything in the park in the summer.
Spring and fall are great times to visit Yellowstone. The crowds are fewer, the weather is cooler, and you’ll have more options for places to stay. Generally, the interior roads start opening around April and start closing around October. Check the Yellowstone road status page for up-to-date information.
So no matter when you decide to visit, there are plenty of things to see and do!
How to get to Yellowstone National Park
If you are flying to Yellowstone National Park, the closest airport is West Yellowstone which has flights from early May to mid-October from Salt Lake City. Other nearby airports include Cody and Jackson in Wyoming, Bozeman and Billings in Montana, and Idaho Falls.
If you are driving, here are the approximate driving times to West Yellowstone from some of the closest larger cities:
Boseman, Montana: 1.5 hours
Billings, Montana: 4 hours
Cody, Wyoming: 3.5 – 5 hours, depending on seasonal road closures
Jackson, Wyoming: 2.5 hours
Idaho Falls, Idaho: 2 hours
NOTE: There are five entrances to the park, but the most popular (and therefore the busiest entrance) is West Yellowstone. Since this is a popular place to stay (and my personal recommendation), all the above drive times are to the town of West Yellowstone, but if you are arriving from another side of the park (Cody, WY for example) it will take you less time to reach the park itself.
How to get around Yellowstone National Park
Having your own vehicle is going to give you the best experience in Yellowstone as there are no shuttles in the park. You’ll be able to plan your own itinerary based on what you want to see and spend as much time as you want at any of the sights.
pro tip:
Consider downloading your maps, itinerary, and directions before leaving so you can access them offline. Cell phone service can be spotty in Yellowstone and you’ll want to make sure you know how to get around the park.
Google Maps is a great option. You can download any map you create and navigate without cell phone service.
If you will need to rent a car for your road trip, I highly recommend using Discover Cars. They search all the rental companies for the best price, and if your plans change, you always get free cancellation.
However, if you do not have your own car, there are a couple of other options.
There are a few local Yellowstone tours and shuttle bus companies that operate in the area. You can find out more about them here.
However, I’d recommend using Get Your Guide to book a tour or any activities. You can check reviews and you will often have a smaller or private group and a more authentic, enjoyable experience.
What to pack for your 4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
In order to make the most of your 4 day Yellowstone itinerary, here are some things you should not forget:
National Park Pass
If you have the National Park Pass, make sure you don’t forget it! They come with a rearview mirror holder so you can hang it up and not have to dig around for it when you enter the park.
Camera
This is a given, but you are going to be so amazed by all the beauty and geothermal wonders, you’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t have a good camera to capture it all.
A good phone camera would work well for most landscapes, but if you want to get some awesome wildlife pictures, you might want something with a zoom lens.
Binoculars
Is that a moose or just a log? If you have binoculars, you won’t have to guess!
Hiking shoes & good socks
If you plan on doing any kind of hiking, I’d recommend hiking shoes or boots rather than sneakers. The socks you wear with your boots will also make a huge difference in how your feet feel. I like Cloudline wool socks, but there are lots of great brands out there.
Layers
While Yellowstone can get very hot in the summer, especially around the geothermal pools and geysers, you should make sure you pack along a variety of clothing, including clothes you can layer. If you head out early or stay out late, it might be a bit chilly and I’m sure you’d rather be prepared than be cold.
Water
More than likely, you’ll be out and about in the park all day and may not have quick access to a store. Plus it can get VERY hot in the summer and you will want to stay hydrated.
While the visitor centers do sell water, it will be much easier to just bring lots of water with you so you don’t have to worry about running out or changing your plan in order to go find some.
Hiking pack + the 10 essentials
While most of the trails and boardwalks in Yellowstone National Park are well-traveled and you’ll see people frequently, you still want to be prepared. Bring along a hiking backpack or something with good back support and keep it stocked with the 10 essentials for hiking and you’ll be set.
Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat
Nothing can ruin a trip faster than sunburn, am I right? Yellowstone is hot and often very sunny in the summer, so you’ll want to make sure you protect your skin and your eyes from the sun. A hat would be a good idea as well.
Bug spray
Certain parts of the park can get buggy, so just be prepared and carry some with you.
Bear Spray
Spotting bears is one of the big things on people’s Yellowstone to-do list, but usually from the safety of your car!
If you plan to do some hiking, just make sure you hike with at least one other person and carry bear spray (and have it easily accessible and know how to use it). Pay attention to your surroundings, make plenty of noise, and you’ll be fine!
NOTE: You can’t fly with bear spray so I’d recommend purchasing it once you arrive if you are traveling by plane.
You should also give any other animals that you encounter plenty of space too. Any wildlife can be unpredictable, and you want to keep yourself and the critters safe!
Swimsuit & Towel
If you plan to spend some time at any of the lakes or hot springs, you’ll want to make sure you have a swimsuit and towel along.
Walkie Talkies
Cell service isn’t great in the park, and if you are traveling in a group and want to split up when visiting some of the landmarks, walkie-talkies can be a great way to keep in touch with the others in your group.
Find the best road trip walkie-talkie options here.
Optional: Hiking poles
While not a necessity, I thought I’d include this one since a lot of people find them useful. I tend to use hiking poles more when I’m backpacking than just day hiking, but some of the hikes in Yellowstone can be long and challenging and hiking poles might come in handy.
Places to eat in Yellowstone National Park
We didn’t eat out much on our trip, but we did eat at the Firehole Bar-B-Que Company in West Yellowstone and it was quite good. Some other recommended places include Ernie’s Bakery & Deli and Wild West Pizzaria & Saloon, also both in West Yellowstone. If you make it up to Cooke City, Miners Saloon is also supposed to be good.
If you’d like to eat in the park, there aren’t a lot of options. I would suggest packing a lunch along on most of your days. However, lots of people want to get a chance to eat at the historic Old Faithful Inn. There are a couple of restaurants there. This might be a nice place to relax and eat before or after viewing Old Faithful.
Where to stay in Yellowstone National Park
We stayed in our friends’ RV on this trip and parked at Yellowstone Grizzly RV Park. We don’t have a lot of experience with RV parks but it was a nice one in my opinion.
If you want to stay in the park, there are nine lodges to choose from, including Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and the famous Old Faithful Inn. However, these places tend to be on the more expensive side and can fill up VERY quickly.
pro tip:
No matter where you stay, make sure you plan ahead and book as soon as you can. Places can book up very quickly, especially in the summer.
But don’t stress! There are plenty of reasonably priced accommodations of all kinds outside of the park. In fact, I wrote a whole post on the best ones so you don’t have to spend hours doing the research!
How to avoid crowds in Yellowstone National Park
As the second most visited national park, it’s going to be pretty tough to avoid the crowds. Everyone comes to see Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring, and for good reason!
But how do you get away from the masses when there are just so many people in the park? Here are a couple of tips:
Visit during the shoulder seasons
Yellowstone is at its busiest between June and August. If you have the flexibility, try to come during another time of the year.
If you come in late April to May, the interior roads start opening up and there will be a lot fewer visitors. Plus this is the time of year the bison and pronghorn give birth to their babies.
September to early October is also a great time of year to visit. The interior roads do start to close sometime in October, but you’ll have a greater chance of seeing bears as they come down from the mountains, and you’ll have gorgeous fall colors!
Arrive early and stay late
As with most national parks, the earlier you get in, the smaller the crowd will be. The park is open 24 hours a day, so if you can swing it, get in as early as you can to enjoy the first hour of daylight with fewer people around. You can catch the sunrise and have a better chance of seeing wildlife too.
You can also choose to stay in the park late. A lot of tourists leave the park around dinnertime, but if you pack your dinner and stay out until sunset, you’ll not only get a gorgeous view, but this is also a great time to see animals. This is also when I’d recommend going to see some of the biggest attractions, like Old Faithful or the Upper and Lower Falls.
Consider exploring less popular areas
Yellowstone National Park as a whole is incredibly busy, but there are definitely places that don’t see the crowds of Grand Prismatic and Mammoth Hot Springs.
The area south and east of Old Faithful, around Yellowstone Lake, and down to the Wyoming border is a less-visited part of the park that still has a lot to offer. There are tons of hiking trails and lakes along this section, and you can also see waterfalls and some geysers too.
Parts along the northern section of the park, between Tower/Roosevelt and the Northeast Entrance Station, can also be less crowded. We found hardly any other cars on Blacktail Plateau Drive and the area around Trout Lake.
If avoiding crowds is a top priority for you, consider spending more time in these areas, away from the popular attractions.
Places to visit around Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone is a perfect jumping-off point to so many other great locations. If you want to extend your Yellowstone National Park itinerary to include a few other places, here are some suggestions:
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Teton National Park
- Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho
- Bighorn National Forest
- Black Hills & Badlands National Park
Yellowstone National Park FAQs
When is Yellowstone National Park open?
Yellowstone National Park is open all year round, 24 hours a day. Parts of the park are only open seasonally because of snow, but there are things to do in the park all seasons. Check out the Yellowstone National Park Service website for more details.
How much does it cost to enter Yellowstone National Park?
A 7-day park permit costs $35 per vehicle.
If you have an America the Beautiful pass, entry is free. I highly recommend getting this pass if you plan to visit more than one national park in a year – it will save you money. A one-year pass costs $80.
A Yellowstone National Park annual pass is $70, but this would only be worth it if you are going to be visiting the park for longer than a week and you aren’t planning to go to any other national parks within the year.
There are also several days throughout the year when entering any national park is free! Check out the list of free National Park days here.
How many days do you need to see Yellowstone?
We spent a full 4 days in Yellowstone when we visited in August 2020, and I think that was the perfect amount of time for first-timers. You get to see all the main sites without being too rushed, but it also leaves some time for you to relax if you wish.
If you want to do more hiking and also explore more off-the-beaten-path places, you might want to add an extra day or two.
What is the best month to visit Yellowstone National Park?
Overall, I’d say the best month to visit Yellowstone would be May or September. Most of the interior roads to the park are open, but it isn’t as hot or crowded as in June, July, and August.
How long does it take to drive the loop in Yellowstone?
There are actually two loops in Yellowstone, the Upper Loop and the Lower Loop. Essentially, if you wanted to drive them both in their entirety in one day, you would make a figure 8. This would take about 5-6 hours to complete without stops.
The Upper Loop takes approximately 2 hours to drive without stops. This section includes Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Fall, Mt Washburn, and Lamar Valley.
The Lower Loop is a little larger and takes just under 3 hours to drive without stops. Here you would see Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone Lake, and the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.
Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone is basically the outside of the two loops. It is 142 miles around. If you wanted to drive this in one day, it would take approximately 4-7 hours. This would all depend on how many stops you wanted to make along the way.
Conclusion: 4 Day Yellowstone itinerary
And there you have it! I hope this was helpful for you in planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park.
If you want to see a more inside scoop of what our Yellowstone trip was like, check out the video below from Happily Ever Hanks. They are good friends of ours and traveled with us on our 2-week trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.
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