4 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
Going to Yellowstone soon? And need the top highlights? Keep reading this experience-based Yellowstone Itinerary to find out the best sights broken down by day.
Yellowstone is home to so many hot springs, geysers, mudpots and other hydrothermal features. These natural wonders are a must see for all ages! Use this outlined itinerary as a guide to see the best of Yellowstone in 4 days!
When to go?
The summer season runs from April to October, but the park is probably the busiest from May to August. I went to Yellowstone in September after Labor Day. The parking lots were not too full, there wasn’t much of a crowd, and all the kids were back in school. However, some trails and roads may begin to close at the end of September. Click here for the official hours.
TIP: Before traveling, download the free Yellowstone app from the National Park Service from the App Store or Google Play. In the app settings, download the offline content. This will show your location on the map, even without cellular network.
My Top 3 Faves
- Grand Prismatic Spring
- Grand Geyser
- Boiling River
Day 1: Yellowstone Lake
- Lewis Falls
- West Thumb Basin
- Yellowstone Lake Scenic Cruise
- Storm Point hike
- Mud Volcano & Sulphur Caldron
- Hayden Valley
The West Thumb Geyser is the first area from the South Entrance that includes mudpots, hot springs, and geysers that runoff into the Yellowstone Lake.
TIP: While driving through Hayden Valley, or even any other part of Yellowstone, add extra time for possible animal crossings. These ‘bison jams’ can last anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Day 2: Old Faithful
- Artist Paint Pots
- Lower Geyser Basin (Fountain Paint Pot)
- Fire Hole Lake Drive & Swimming Hole
- Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring)
- Biscuit Basin
- Upper Geyser Basin (Old Faithful and Grand Geyser)
The Grand Prismatic Spring is the world’s largest hot spring and the most beautiful, in my opinion. The short hike from the Fairy Falls trail head leads to an elevated view of the hot spring.
TIP: Download the Geysers App fro the App Store or Google Play. This free National Park Service app provides the prediction times for Old Faithful, Grand, Castle, Great Fountain, Daisy, and Riverside Geysers (when available). The prediction times will may be off, but if there is a crowd near the geyser, chances are it will go off soon.
Day 3: Mammoth Hot Springs
- Norris Geyser Basin (Steamboat)
- Roaring Mountain
- Upper and Lower Terraces
- Boiling River
- Fort Yellowstone
The Boiling River swimming area was one of my favorite spots in Yellowstone. The river’s name says it all. There is a section of the Boiling River (hot spring water) that meets the Gardner River (glacier water) to create a natural hot tub. But you have to find the perfect section to sit in or else the water will be icy cold or boiling hot. There is a parking lot about 5-10 minutes north of the Mammoth Hot Springs right before the Montana-Wyoming border.
Day 4: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
- Mount Washburn
- North Rim
- Lower Falls
- Grand View
- Inspiration Point
- South Rim
- Uncle Tom’s Point
- Artist Point
This itinerary is a suggested guideline to see the most of Yellowstone based off my experience. For specific questions, please comment below and I will try to help.