Being our first national park – Yellowstone is also one of the busiest! Rightly so – as it’s full of eye popping sites! My husband and I road tripped to Wyoming (from our home base in Colorado) in late September. The park is still busy, but nothing compared to the crowds of summer. Also, with a bit cooler fall weather – it’s the perfect time to visit for autumn colors and wildlife activity.
Day 1
We stayed in Grant Village the night before, so we could get an early start on our first day in Yellowstone (the 6am alarm was a bit painful for this night owl 😉 ). After eating breakfast on the run, we enjoyed the steamy sunrise views over Yellowstone Lake – as we headed to the North Loop in the Park.
Lamar Valley
Lamar Valley was our first goal on day 1 – as we hoped to see some early morning wildlife here. With luck on our side and an early start, we were rewarded with numerous bison sightings… on the road, in the valley, just off the roadside… they were everywhere (just like the videos you see on social media)! The road to Lamar takes you east off the north loop, so you’ll need to back track to get back on route for day 1. Don’t skip this drive – it’s EPIC and I now understand why it’s called “America’s Serengeti”! The sweeping valley, river views, and herds of buffalo – it was our favorite spot in Yellowstone!
Mammoth Hot Springs
Still on the high of visiting Lamar Valley – we got back on the loop and made a stop in Mammoth Hot Springs. With unique features and colors – it’s worth a walk through its terraces. The village is also a perfect stop for lunch and with the only spot we found with reliable wi-fi in the park – a good place to catch up work if needed.
Roosevelt Arch
Visiting the Roosevelt Arch is also a little detour off the route – but IMHO worth a few extra miles. Entering from the north, Roosevelt Arch is the original main entrance to Yellowstone. It’s named after President Roosevelt, as he happened to be visiting the park as it was being constructed – and was asked to lay the cornerstone.
Today ranks as one of our favorite travel days! We saw bison (and more bison!), elk, fox, bear, pronghorns, & swan during our day driving the North Loop.
Day 2
We started day 2 with no alarm and a bit later start around 8:30am. Waiting a bit longer is the right call, as it gives time for the fog to lift as you start your day in Hayden Valley.
Hayden Valley
Driving from the south, there are some pretty views with geyser activity along the river. It’s a nice, uncrowded spot to stretch your legs. Arriving in Hayden Valley – you’ll be greeted with more big camera lens than you’ve probably ever seen! 😉 Along with the Lamar Valley – it’s one of the more popular spots to view bison. There are numerous pullovers to catch the views and watch for wildlife here.
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone has two scenic drives – the North and South Rim Drives. The drives offer waterfall and canyon views… but if you’ve visited larger canyons or waterfalls – it’s a bit underwhelming.
Norris Geyser Basin
The Norris Geyser Basin is one of the hottest hydrothermal areas in Yellowstone and also home to Steamboat Geyser (it doesn’t erupt often – but spurts 400′ high when it does!). Even though the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone wasn’t my favorite spot in the park – Norris exceeded my expectations! Make sure to walk through this area, as the opalescent colors are spectacular!
Grand Prismatic
You’ve probably seen the pics of Grand Prismatic on social media and it’s as colorful as you imagine! But to get the full spectrum – make sure you drive the short distance to the Ferry Falls trailhead and take the short hike (be prepared for a bit of incline on the walk) to view Grand Prismatic from above! Take note the Grand Prismatic parking lot is very small for how popular this site is… we parked on the road (as most did), so be prepared to get your steps in here (and a lot of people!).
Old Faithful
I have childhood memories of witnessing Old Faithful erupt on a road trip with my Grandparents… so I thought it fitting it being the grand finale of my adult Yellowstone trip. It’s currently erupting for about 1-2 minutes (so have your camera ready!) and on average about 90 minutes apart. The schedule is posted at the Visitor Centers. Also, while in this area – I suggest you walk through the Old Faithful Inn lobby, with its impressive architecture of local wood and stone.
Tips for your 2 day itinerary:
-We stayed in Grant Village, as it was the only spot left in the park on this spur of the moment trip. But starting from Canyon Village or Lake Village is ideal for focusing on one park loop each day.
-Book your hotel for 3 nights, as you need 2 full long days in Yellowstone for this itinerary.
-Purchase the Shaka Guide Yellowstone and Grand Teton NP combo – it’s highly entertaining and informative.
–I think it’s easiest staying inside the park – there’s so much to see and do, you don’t want to waste time driving if you stay outside the park (if you do stay outside the park – West Yellowstone, MT is a good choice).
-You could flip days on driving the loops… but I recommend in this order, Old Faithful is fitting as the finale to your trip to Yellowstone NP.
–This schedule will best work in the spring or fall, when traffic is lighter and parking lots less crowded than during the busy summer season (it’d be difficult to fit all this in when battling the traffic and crowds).
–Prepare to be off the grid – there’s not cell service in the majority of the park (and wi-fi in most of the villages is very slow or spotty at best). We did find decent wi-fi in Mammoth Springs.
-Don’t worry about not getting enough steps during these 2 days of driving. We logged 13 miles in 2 days with our numerous small hikes and walks!
–This may be an unpopular opinion, but if you don’t have time to fit all this in your 2 days… I suggest cutting out the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (it’s pretty, but doesn’t compare to the Grand Canyon). Other areas of Yellowstone NP are much more impressive. 🙂
–Take snacks, as there’s only a few places to get food in the village areas. Some already had limited hours or were closed for the season during our visit in late September. Also, dinner reservations have to be made well in advance!
Hope this helps with planning your own adventures in Yellowstone – put it at the top of your list of places to visit in the U.S.!
Until the next adventure – bon voyage
Kris
