Perfect 7 Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton Itinerary

Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons are some of the most amazing national parks! See it all on this 7 day Yellowstone & Grand Teton itinerary.

Snow-capped mountains, bubbling hot springs, and wildlife roaming freely — the allure of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park is undeniable. We finally made it out west for a bucket list trip exploring Wyoming’s wild wonders.

I put together this easy itinerary for my family’s Yellowstone trip. We also wanted to see the Grand Tetons while we were right there, so I crafted the perfect Yellowstone & Grand Teton itinerary that hits the highlights of both national parks, covers a ton of ground, and isn’t too strenuous.

If you’re looking for a Yellowstone vacation that hits all the corners of the park, doesn’t have a ton of hiking, and includes a scenic drive through the Grand Tetons, then you’re going to love my Yellowstone & Grand Teton 7 day itinerary!

7 Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton Itinerary Overview

This 7 day itinerary starts with your arrival in Jackson, Wyoming and then sets out for a drive through Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone National Park, spends a few days in Yellowstone, and then drives back through the Grand Tetons to end back in Jackson.

Detailed Yellowstone & Grand Teton 7 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Jackson and Explore

We flew into Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), though it isn’t the closest airport to Yellowstone, because we wanted to be able to explore Grand Teton as well, so starting and ending our trip here was the most convenient choice. (There are some direct flights from Atlanta, so that’s a big plus for us.)

What’s fun is, JAC is the only commercial airport in the US located inside a national park! That’s right, the Jackson Hole Airport is actually inside Grand Teton National Park.

I recommend getting a flight that lands in the early afternoon so you can spend plenty of time exploring Jackson.

You’ll also want to rent a car at the airport so you can be ready for this road trip across Wyoming.

Check in at the Rustic Inn Creekside

For our time in Jackson, both the first night and the last night of our itinerary, we stayed at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa at Jackson Hole.

This hotel is rustic meets luxury. There are guestrooms inside a log cabin, motel-like building or private cabins and spa suites. Each room is decorated with a Western theme for a hit of rustic, but the bedding, linens, and bath amenities are pure luxury.

The resort has an outdoor pool, hot tub, and sauna that are open year-round. Plus, there’s a fitness center, a spa, a nature preserve with a walking path around the creek, an an onsite bar and bistro.

It’s a really cozy place to stay. And the location is great as well. It’s only about a 15 minute drive from the airport, and it’s walkable to Jackson’s Town Square. They also have a golf cart shuttle that can take you to the Town Square if you don’t want to walk.

You can read my full review of the Rustic Inn here.

Visit the National Elk Refuge

Just across the street from the Rustic Inn is the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. This is a small museum and welcome center that overlooks the 24,700 acres of grasslands that serve as a refuge for elk in the winter.

You won’t see elk on the refuge until December through April. In the summer, this area is just a beautiful grassland.

Still, it’s worth stopping in to the museum to learn a little about the wildlife you’ll find in Grand Teton and Yellowstone.

See the Antler Arches on Jackson Town Square

The Town Square in Jackson is an iconic photo spot. Each corner has an arch made from elk antlers collected from the Elk Refuge. The first antler arch was built in 1953, and each arch is disassembled and recreated periodically. This is a great spot for a family picture!

All around the Town Square are local shops, souvenirs, restaurants, and bars. This is the perfect time to do a little shopping and exploring.

See the Jackson Hole Town Square Shootout

The Jackson Hole Town Square Shootout is a hilarious Wild West tradition that happens nightly (except Sundays) in the summer.

The free family-friendly shootout takes place on the north corner of the Square. Depending on where you stand to spectate, you’ll either be on the side of the law or on the side of the outlaws.

The shootout is silly, musical, and theatrical. Which side wins depends on who’s spectators holler the loudest.

Dinner at Roosevelts

Named for President Theodore Roosevelt, Roosevelts is an all-American restaurant with a Western flair just off the Town Square.

I recommend the Speak Softly And Carry A Big Steak, the Cowboy Carbonara, or the McKinley’s Prime Rib Sandwich.

Evening Relaxing at the Hotel

Spend the evening relaxing at the hotel; there’s a lot to do tomorrow!

I definitely recommend taking a dip in the heated pool, the hot tub, and trying out the sauna at the Rustic Inn. Even in the summer, the evenings can get cool, and warming up in the hot tub can feel really refreshing at night.

Day 2: Grand Teton to Yellowstone

On day 2, you’ll check out of the Rustic Inn and hit the road. You’ll want to get on the road a little early because Grand Teton National Park starts to get crowded around 10 a.m.

For the drive up, we did stops along US-191 (don’t worry, on the way back on day 6, you’ll get to take the scenic drive along Teton Park Road). Interestingly, you don’t reach a station to pay a park pass fee from this direction until you hit Moran.

There are a ton of scenic spots to pull off along this drive, so you can kind of fly by the seat of your pants and just pull over when you see a view you like. I’ve included some really iconic spots that you probably won’t want to miss. Most stops don’t take very long, and you can expect to be in Yellowstone by lunch!

Grand Teton National Park Sign

Your first stop should be the Grand Teton National Park Sign. This sign just outside of Jackson is the best of the welcome signs because you can actually get the Grand Tetons in the background!

And hitting it first thing in the morning means you likely won’t have any other people or cars in your photo. Be sure to get a group photo! (My selfie stick definitely came in handy for this trip.)

Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 with an executive order by President Coolidge, and it was expanded in 1950 with land from Rockefeller that had comprised the Jackson Hole National Monument. The park protects the 40 mile long Teton mountain range, which was named les trois tétons by early 19-th century French-speaking trappers. So yes, the name means exactly what you think it does: the three teats.

Look for the Grand Teton, the tallest mountain peak at 13,775 feet. There are dozens of small glaciers between the mountain peaks, and some of the rocks in the park 2.7 billion years old.

Mormon Row

Mormon Row is a bunch of historic Mormon homesteads from the late 1800s. Mormon settlers first arrived here in 1890 from Idaho and established a community named Grovont.

They built 27 homesteads here because the soil was fertile, they were sheltered from winds by Blacktail Butte, and there was easy access to the Gros Ventre River.

Today, Mormon Row is a popular photography spot. The barns of John and Thomas Alma Moulton have a rustic feel with an incredible backdrop of the Tetons.

Snake River Overlook

At Snake River Overlook, you’ll get the iconic view, famously photographed by Ansel Adams in 1902, of the Teton peaks rising above a bend in the Snake River. It’s definitely one of the prettiest views of the Grand Tetons!

Oxbow Bend

At Oxbow Bend, you’ll get the iconic view of Mt. Moran reflected in the Snake River. Mt. Moran is the dominant peak in the northern section of the Tetons, with prominent glaciers making for a picturesque mountain face.

There’s a well-worn dirt path from the pull-off down to the riverside. It’s not a far or challenging walk for most.

Yellowstone National Park South Entrance

You’ve made it to Yellowstone National Park! You can get a picture at the welcome sign just before the park gate (it does kind of sneak up on you, so we missed this one, but we took a picture at the North Entrance sign on day 5).

There are vault toilets just past the entrance, so this is a good place for a restroom break as there really aren’t a ton of opportunities in the Grand Tetons.

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 as America’s first national park. Its 2.2 million acres have unique hydrothermal areas with about half the world’s active geysers, geological wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, and an abundance of wildlife.

And for the next 3.5 days, you’re going to see a ton of Yellowstone!

Moose Falls

Not far past the south entrance is the pull-off to hike to Moose Falls. This short and easy hike takes you to a gushing 30-foot waterfall that was so-named because moose were plentiful in this part of the park when it was discovered.

The hike is about 0.1 mile in total over a well-worn dirt path. There’s a slight decline on the hike there, and the only challenging part are the steps down to the base of the falls. But you don’t even have to go down to the base to fully see the falls.

Lunch at Grant Village Dining Room

Grant Village Dining Room is an all-day restaurant at Yellowstone’s Grant Village. This casual dining spot doesn’t require reservations for lunch.

The dining room overlooks the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake, and they have huge picture windows so you can get a great view while you dine.

They have a varied menu that includes sandwiches, burgers, and salads.

Continental Divide at Isla Lake

As you drive through the park, you’ll pass a few different Continental Divide markers; the Continental Divide separates which rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean and which flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

The one at Isla Lake is interesting because it’s the marker with highest elevation (8,262 feet), and Isla Lake actually flows from the divide in both directions.

Check-In at Old Faithful Inn

The Old Faithful Inn is the most iconic place to stay within Yellowstone National Park. This historic hotel opened in 1904, and it was built with logs and stone from inside the park. It’s one of the largest log-style structures in the world, with a 76-foot ceiling in its lobby.

You’re not going to get any more authentic than this!

If you choose to stay in the Old House, you’ll be in the original rooms of the hotel that do not have private bathrooms. If you stay in one of the wings (added on in 1919 and 1927), you’ll have a more traditional hotel room with a private bath. But none of the rooms have air conditioning, internet, or TV. So you can fully unplug and enjoy the seclusion of the park.

(Also, Yellowstone lodges celebrate Christmas on August 25 since most accommodations are closed during the winter. This is a tradition that began in the 1930s as a chance for the employees to celebrate together before the end of the summer season. So that’s why a lot of my August photos have holiday decorations in them!)

Read my review of the Old Faithful Inn here.

Old Faithful Inn Tour

Throughout the day, the Old Faithful Inn hosts a free tour of the historic inn. This is a great way to learn about the inn’s history! You even get to see inside a historic guest room.

The tour takes about 45 minutes. It starts in the lobby, takes a step outside to look at the exterior, looks inside a historic guest room on the first floor, and ends up on the second floor of the lobby overlooking the dining room.

See Old Faithful

Old Faithful is one of the most predictable geysers in the park, erupting every 44 minutes to 2 hours. It has a nice tall eruption that lasts for a few minutes. Seeing Old Faithful is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone.

Of course, where this falls in your itinerary depends on the geyser. So when you get to the Old Faithful Inn, check the next predicted eruption time at the front desk (you can also find the prediction at the Old Faithful Visitor Center). And if you miss it on this day, you may be able to catch it on other afternoons.

You’ll want to arrive 20-30 minutes before the predicted time if you want to get a seat on the boardwalk around the geyser. It gets really crowded, and the prediction times are just a prediction, so you never know how long you’ll have to wait for the eruption to actually start.

Here are a few other places you can go to watch Old Faithful if you don’t want to join the crowds at the boardwalk:

• Old Faithful Observation Point Trail — 1 mile round trip hike, so you’ll need to plan ahead
• Viewing Deck on the second floor of the Old Faithful Inn — some seating, also gets crowded, but you can grab a drink from the second floor bar and enjoy while you watch
• Old Faithful Inn Guest Room — some rooms have a view of the geyser, but they’re priced at a premium
• Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria — the dining room has huge picture windows facing the geyser, so get a seat by the window for a nice view

We saw Old Faithful three different times on our trip: once from the boardwalk, once from the inn’s viewing deck, and once from the lodge cafeteria. The boardwalk view is the best, of course, but you have plenty of opportunity to see Old Faithful!

Upper Geyser Basin Trail

The Upper Geyser Basin Trail is 4.9 miles of interconnected looping boardwalks around the entire geyser basin in which Old Faithful is located.

Besides Old Faithful, there are plenty of other predictable geysers in this area like Castle Geyser, Grand Geyser, Daisy Geyser, and Riverside Geyser. There’s also Morning Glory Pool, which has some beautiful colors.

Dinner at Old Faithful Inn Dining Room

The Old Faithful Inn Dining Room is a cozy eatery befitting the inn’s log-cabin vibes. Advanced reservations are required for dinner.

Their menu serves American classics from steak to chicken. They’re also known for their extensive buffet.

Drinks at Bear Pit Lounge

The Bear Pit Lounge is tucked away in the back corner by the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. Take a look at the Bear Pit Panels, a series of whimsical panels etched in sandblasted glass that depict bears in various Western and bar scenes.

Grab a classic cocktail, or the hotel’s signature Huckleberry Margarita. You can also grab a drink from the bar on the second floor lobby. There’s not a lot to do at night besides sit around the grand lobby and play games with your family.

Go Star-Gazing

Yellowstone National Park is the perfect place for star-gazing! You don’t even have to go very far away from the lodges in order to get a star-studded view.

We walked just to the Old Faithful boardwalk and were able to see the Milky Way with just our eyes. We brought binoculars along to sharpen the focus.

Be sure to bring along a flashlight as it’s extremely dark even with the light of the lodges in the background. You’ll want to keep an eye out for animals, and be sure to make some noise to keep them away.

Day 3: Grand Prismatic Spring, Lower Geyser Basin, Norris Geyser Basin

Today’s itinerary is going to take you on a drive through the western part of Yellowstone National Park, going as far north as Norris Geyser Basin.

Before you head out, I recommend grabbing lunch to-go from the Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli, which has sandwiches, chips, drinks, and more that are grab-and-go.

I also recommend heading out early to beat the crowds as Grand Prismatic Spring and Norris Geyser Basin are both very popular.

Fairy Falls Trail

Fairy Falls Trail is a 1.6 mile round-trip hike that will take you to an overlook view of Grand Prismatic Spring, the park’s famed colorful hot spring.

This is going to be the best view of all the colors that give the hot spring its name, and you can see just how massive the spring is.

The hike is moderate. It starts pretty flat on a wide dirt path. About half-way, the trail starts an incline to get to the overlook.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the park. It’s also home to microscopic organisms that love the heat and, grouped together, make up the incredible color that the spring is known for.

Colorless and yellow thermophile organisms grow in the hottest water, which is what gives the center of the spring its vibrant blue hue. Orange, brown, and green thermophiles grow in cooler waters, creating the rainbow of rings on the outer edges of the spring.

The less than 1 mile boardwalk in the Midway Geyser Basin takes you to the edge of Grand Prismatic Spring. There are other hot springs and geysers here, so the entire boardwalk gets enveloped by steam (and it doesn’t always smell great). It’s also very windy here, so I recommend leaving your hat in the car!

Firehole Lake Drive

Firehole Lake Drive is a 3 mile, one-way road that winds through part of the Lower Geyser Basin. There are lots of pull-off spots and boardwalks to view geysers and hot springs.

Interesting thermal features along this drive include the Great Fountain Geyser, which erupts every 8-12 hours; the White Dome Geyser; the namesake Firehole Lake; and the colorful Firehole Spring.

Picnic Lunch

Yellowstone has plenty of picnic areas where you can pull off for lunch. There are dedicated areas with picnic tables, and some areas have vault toilets as well.

You can also just pick a scenic spot and eat in your car. This is what we did, with a view of geysers along Firehole Lake Drive.

Gibbon Falls

Gibbon Falls is an 84-foot waterfall over a part of the Yellowstone caldera rim.

From the parking lot, it’s an easy walk on a paved path to view the waterfall from above. I do recommend continuing downhill past the main viewing area just to get away from the crowd and get a different view; you don’t need to walk very far along the path to get a nice clear view.

Norris Geyser Basin

The Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest and oldest hydrothermal area in the park. There’s a 1.5 mile boardwalk for the Back Basin that takes you Steamboat Geyser, which rarely erupts but is the world’s tallest geyser when it does. Then there’s the 0.75 mile boardwalk for the Porcelain Basin.

Parking here gets really crowded in the afternoon, so be prepared to park in the overflow parking that’s along the street. It’s about an extra 0.5 mile walk from overflow parking just to get to the start of the boardwalks.

Firehole Falls

The see Firehole Falls, you’ll drive along the one-way Firehole Canyon Drive. This scenic drive along the Firehole River will take you past the 40-foot Firehole Falls waterfall.

Dinner at Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria

The Old Faithful Lodge Cafeteria is a cafeteria-style eatery at the Old Faithful Lodge with options like sandwiches, barbecue, hot dogs, Indian, salads, wraps, and gyros. There’s definitely something for everyone. And the dining room has a great view of Old Faithful, so grab a seat by the window if you can.

Day 4: West Thumb Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Day 4 explores the eastern portion of the Grand Loop, going as far north as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Before leaving for the day, I recommend grabbing lunch to-go from the Old Faithful Inn Bear Paw Deli, which has sandwiches, chips, drinks, and more that are grab-and-go.

West Thumb Geyser Basin

At West Thumb Geyser Basin, you’ll be able to see all the geothermal activity that Yellowstone is known for all in one place: geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles.

And it’s really interesting that some of the formations are bubbling up from in the lake. This 0.5 mile boardwalk is an easy walk, and it goes right along the edge of Yellowstone Lake.

Mud Volcano

Mud Volcano is the stinkiest part of the park. This is because some of the park’s most acidic features are located here, and the hydrogen sulfide gas that accompanies them creates a pungent rotten egg smell.

There’s a lot of gurgling activity here. There are many fault lines that converge here, so earthquakes are common and the formations are very active and some of the most interesting to watch.

The trail is about 0.6 miles long, and you’ll see formations like the namesake Mud Volcano, Sour Lake, and Dragon’s Mouth Spring.

Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is one of the best places to view wildlife in Yellowstone, so as you drive along, be prepared to pull over with other tourists to watch bison and hopefully catch a glimpse of bears, wolves, and other animals.

There are a ton of little pull-off areas all throughout Hayden Valley, so pull over wherever and enjoy the view. Wherever you see a lot of cars is likely where there’s wildlife. Be sure to have your binoculars ready!

Picnic Lunch

I recommend pulling over in Hayden Valley and having your picnic lunch with a view of bison! There are some good viewing areas with parking spaces not far from Mud Volcano.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone South Rim

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is an impressive canyon carved by the Yellowstone River that has waterfalls, scenic views, and even some hydrothermal features within the canyon walls.

For this itinerary, we’re sticking to the top of the canyon, starting with scenic stops along the South Rim. The South Rim drive is a two-way, out-and-back drive, so I like starting at the furthest point and working our way back.

• Artist Point — This is one of the most picturesque views of the 20-mile-long, 1,000-foot-deep canyon and the towering Lower Falls. This overlook is so-named because it’s a similar view to an iconic oil painting done by Thomas Moran in 1872. It’s just a short 0.1 mile walk on a paved path with a few stone steps to the overlook.
• Upper Falls View — Get a look at the Upper Falls at an overlook that’s just a short walk on a paved trail.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone North Rim

Next, you’ll want to explore the North Rim of the canyon. North Rim Drive is a one-way road that loops you from the Grand Loop along the North Rim of the canyon to Canyon Village.

Be sure to first see the Brink of the Upper Falls before entering North Rim Drive as there’s no turning around once you’ve started on the one-way drive.

Here are some scenic stops along the North Rim:

• Brink of the Upper Falls — Accessed from the Grand Loop, this short paved trail takes you down some stairs to overlook the Upper Falls right where it crests the canyon.
• Lookout Point — This is an easy walk down a short paved path for a nice view of the canyon and the Lower Falls. This is actually the view from the oil painting done by Moran in 1872.
• Grand View — This short paved path takes you to a panoramic view of the canyon.
• Inspiration Point — This short paved path takes you to another panoramic view with a few different overlooks. You’ll also pass by the Glacial Boulder, a huge rock that was dropped here by a glacier 80,000 years ago.
• Canyon Village — Canyon Village has a small museum, a general store and gift shop where you can do some shopping and get some ice cream, and different eateries.

When heading back to the Old Faithful Inn, I recommend taking the drive through Hayden Valley again, even though it’s a longer drive, because this is the only day of this itinerary you drive through this part of the park.

Dinner at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining Room

The Obsidian Dining Room at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge is an upscale casual restaurant with a unique menu of wild game dishes like duck, bison, elk, and wild boar.

This is a great place to dine if you’re looking to branch out and try dishes you won’t get anywhere else, like Bison Tartare, a Wild Game Sausage Charcuterie, Bison Short Ribs, or a Wild Boar Bolognese.

Day 5: Lamar Valley, Roosevelt Arch, Mammoth Hot Springs

This is the last day in Yellowstone, and it goes to the far north reaches of the park. And you get to go into Montana! Make sure you have your park pass with you as you’ll need to exit the park in Gardiner, Montana to see the Roosevelt Arch.

This is really the only day when you can expect to be driving back in the dark, so be very vigilant for wildlife on the drive back to the hotel (this is when we finally got to see a bear!).

Before leaving for the day, grab a to-go lunch so you can have a scenic picnic.

Fountain Paint Pot Trail

The Fountain Paint Pot Trail is part of the Lower Geyser Basin. There’s a 0.5 mile boardwalk that takes you around formations like the Fountain Paint Pot and Fountain Geyser.

This is a good stop early in the morning to break up your long drive to the north end of the park.

This is also where I learned that the estimates of the park getting busy at 9 a.m. were right on the money because we had no trouble parking when we got there, but as we were leaving at 9 a.m., the parking lot was packed with cars circling looking for a spot. So this is a reminder to get a little bit of a head start.

Washburn Hot Spring Overlook

As you drive the Grand Loop north of Canyon Village, there are a ton of great spots to pull off and enjoy the views.

The Washburn Hot Spring Overlook is a great pull-off with parking spaces that gives you a great view of the Yellowstone Caldera. This is the supervolcano that forms Yellowstone National Park. The caldera (the bowl-like depression of the valley) was formed by supereruptions 2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago.

Tower Fall

To reach Tower Fall, you’ll park at the Tower General Store and walk down the short paved trail to Tower Falls Overlook. This impressive waterfall plunges 132 feet. It’s surrounded by some really cool rock column formations that give the falls, and this area, its name.

If you’re looking for a difficult hike, you can continue to take the 0.75 mile unpaved portion of the Tower Falls Trail down to the banks of Tower Creek to see where it flows into the Yellowstone River. It’s a steep climb back up, so I don’t recommend it if you’re not prepared for a hike.

Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is one of the best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.

These grasslands are home to some of the largest wild herds of bison in the country. Drive slowly and keep your eyes peeled for bison; it won’t take long before you find a herd.

Lamar Valley is also a great place to spot bears, wolves, coyotes, pronghorn antelope, and elk. One our trip, we saw bison, coyotes, and pronghorn antelope here.

The best strategy is just to drive through and pull off whenever you see wildlife or other cars pulled over. Be sure to bring your binoculars!

This drive goes toward the Northeast Entrance, but you likely don’t want to drive that far. I recommend turning around near Soda Butte, an interesting conical mound formed centuries ago by a hot spring, and heading back toward Tower Junction.

Picnic Lunch

I recommend pulling over wherever you feel comfortable in Lamar Valley and enjoying a picnic lunch in your car with a view of bison. We picked a nice spot that had a view of bison on both sides, and we even saw a coyote scurrying about.

Petrified Tree

Millions of years ago, Yellowstone’s ancient volcanos erupted and buried forests in ash and water, petrifying trees before they could rot. This single Petrified Tree is what remains of the petrified forest.

It’s just a short walk up a paved hill to get to the Petrified Tree.

Roosevelt Arch & Gardiner, Montana

Head to the North Entrance. Shortly before, you’ll pass into the part of the Yellowstone National Park that’s in Montana, driving along a winding road surrounded by walls of mountains, and exiting the park into Gardiner, Montana.

Gardiner has been a main park entrance since Yellowstone was created in 1872. North Entrance Road was the first major road in the park, connecting the railroad station in Gardiner to Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth.

The Roosevelt Arch is a rustic arch that served as the entrance from 1903. President Theodore Roosevelt was visiting during construction and placed the cornerstone to the arch, which was then named for him.

The arch is no longer an entrance to the park; the official entrance is a few hundred yards away. You can still drive through it, and walk through it, though it’s set a little off the main road so it’s more of an attraction rather than a functional piece of the main road.

This is also a great spot to get your Yellowstone National Park welcome sign photo if you missed it at the South Entrance!

The main stretch of Gardiner is a cute Old-West-style town with mostly souvenir shops, some art galleries, sporting good stores, and some eateries. Do a little souvenir shopping here to find gifts and mementos that are a little different than what you’d find at all the park gift shops.

Keep an eye out for elk in this area. We saw a family of elk wandering by the Roosevelt Arch and taking a stroll through the town in Gardiner!

Fort Yellowstone

Fort Yellowstone is where the US Army stayed when they were managing Yellowstone National Park in the 1890s and early 1900s. The Army’s job was to protect the park’s resources from poachers, developers, and unruly tourists who would kill the wildlife and damage the natural formations. The Army was stationed here until the National Park Service was established in 1916.

Today, the historic buildings are used by the National Park Service as headquarters and employee housing. You can visit the Albright Visitor Center & Museum to learn more about the park, and you can take a self-guided tour of the grounds to see the historic buildings.

Keep an eye out for elk in this area, too. There were some wandering the grounds and standing just outside the door of some homes! Always keep a safe distance from wildlife.

Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is known for its travertine terraces, layers of white and tan limestone deposits that give the hot springs a watercolor look.

This is an incredibly popular area, and you may need to park way out and walk to the Lower Terraces boardwalk. The Upper Terraces can be accessed from the boardwalk or by driving.

• Lower Terraces — This 1.7 mile looping boardwalk has lots of stairs and steep inclines. You’ll see formations like the Liberty Cap, Mound Spring, Jupiter Terrace, Cleopatra Terrace, Devils Thumb, and Minerva Terrace.
• Upper Terraces — I recommend driving here. The one-way Upper Terrace Drive loop has pull-offs with overlooks like Main Terrace Overlook and the Fort Yellowstone Overlook where you can see all of Mammoth from above. If the park is exceptionally crowded, this drive may get changed to a walk-through area.

Undine Falls

Undine Falls is a beautiful 60-foot waterfall that is easily viewed via a short paved path to an overlook. The waterfall flows over a series of three drops along Lava Creek.

Dinner at the Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room

The Roosevelt Lodge Dining Room is a rustic casual restaurant in the lobby of the historic Roosevelt Lodge, built on the site that President Roosevelt used to camp.

This log-cabin-style building with a cozy stone fireplace is the perfect spot for a rustic Old West dinner. You can get hearty American dishes like a Bison Burger, Rosie Baked Beans, or Ribs.

Day 6: Grand Teton, Signal Mountain, Jenny Lake

On day 6, you’ll check out of the Old Faithful Inn, depart from Yellowstone, and take another scenic drive through the Grand Tetons to spend your last night in Jackson.

Jackson Lake Overlook

Jackson Lake Overlook is a quick pull-off where you can get a great view of the Grand Tetons rising above the serene Jackson Lake.

Colter Bay Visitor Center

The Colter Bay Visitor Center is a nice little pit stop. The visitor center overlooks Colter Bay in the crook of Jackson Lake. There’s a small museum with a collection of Native American artifacts. There are also some hiking trails along the lake shore if you need to stretch your legs.

Jackson Lake Dam

Those dam enthusiasts will love checking out Jackson Lake Dam. You can walk along the top where you’ll get incredible lake views of the Grand Tetons. And you can also check out the dam from the bottom on the Snake River side.

Signal Mountain Overlook Trail & Jackson Point Overlook

Drive to the top of Signal Mountain for a short paved path to an overlook at 7,720 feet. From the Signal Mountain Overlook, you’ll get great panoramic views of Jackson Hole.

On the way back down the mountain, stop at a small parking area to access the Jackson Point Overlook. This short, partially paved path takes you to an overlook on the other side of the mountain with a view of the Tetons over the lake.

Lunch at The Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge

For lunch, you won’t want to miss eating at The Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge.

The Mural Room is named for its ten-panel mural painted by Carl Roters of the 1837 Rendezvous. But the real draw of the dining room i the panoramic view out the huge picture windows of Mt. Moran over Jackson Lake.

The restaurant’s menu serves salads, sandwiches, wraps, and lighter fare for lunch, and no reservations are required.

Mount Moran Turnout

Get another great view of Mt. Moran at this turnout. As you continue to drive this scenic route, you’ll get closer and closer to the looming Teton Mountain Range.

Jenny Lake Hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point

Jenny Lake is a beautiful lake at the base of the Grand Tetons. And it’s also a wildly popular spot and one of the best things to do in Grand Teton National Park. There is limited parking, so you may have to park out on the main road and walk a ways, especially in the early afternoon.

The main thing to do at Jenny Lake is to take the ferry across for an easy hike to a hidden waterfall and a more moderate hike to an overlook of Jackson Hole. Be sure you check the ferry times so you don’t miss the last boat back.

The hike to Hidden Falls is an easy 0.5 mile hike from the boat dock. This takes you to a secluded 100-foot waterfall. Be on the lookout for moose along this trail; we saw a huge moose just chilling on the side of the trail!

The hike to Inspiration Point is 0.5 miles from Hidden Falls (so about 1 mile from the boat dock) to the best overlook of Jenny Lake and Jackson Hole. This hike gets a little more difficult than the one to Hidden Falls. If you don’t want to make the full hike, there is a lower overlook that has pretty much the same view about halfway up. Continuing all the way to the top does take a difficult route with a lot of incline and following along the edge of a ledge.

But the view at the top is definitely worth it!

Check-In at the Rustic Inn

Check-in at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa at Jackson Hole for your last night.

If you didn’t get the chance to enjoy the outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, nature trail, or spa facilities earlier in your trip, this is a great time to do so.

Drinks at Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is a landmark watering hole on the Jackson Town Square that is known for its country music, Western dancing, and saddle bar stools.

It gets pretty crowded, but it’s fun for a quick drink before dinner.

Dinner at Snake River Brewing

For dinner, head to Snake River Brewing, Wyoming’s oldest brewpub and an award-winning small craft brewery.

They serve organic beers, pizza, pasta, and pub favorites on the menu.

Day 7: Head Home

On your final day, you’ll need to check out of the Rustic Inn and head to the airport to drop off your rental car and catch a flight home. If you bought any bear spray while on your trip, be sure to deposit that before going through security!

Flights from west to east leave pretty early in the morning, so the airport is most busy in the morning since most flights are to the east coast. The airport is small, but you’ll still need to leave plenty of time to get through security, especially if you’re visiting during the busy summer season.

Tips for Visiting Yellowstone & Grand Teton

• Summer is the busy season (June through August), with July being the height. If you want to avoid huge crowds but still get some nice weather, you can aim for late-May to early-June or late-August to early-September. We visited the last week in August and the crowds were pretty manageable.
• Keep a safe distance from wildlife. Keep at least 25 yards away from wildlife, and at least 100 yards from bears and wolves. You don’t need to get that close to take a picture; your camera has a zoom.
• Bear spray is recommended. You can rent it at the airport, at outdoor outfitters, and other places around both parks.
• The America the Beautiful Pass can be great if you’re planning on visiting other National Parks within a year. You can also just get a pass that’s valid for 7 days, which will cover the length of your trip. Seniors should definitely get the America the Beautiful Pass because it’s only $80 for a lifetime pass!
• If you want to stay at the Old Faithful Inn or other Yellowstone lodges, be sure to book well in advance as these popular hotels book up fast!
• Yellowstone is most crowded from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Grand Teton is most crowded from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so get an early start to beat the crowds.
• Drive the speed limit and maintain a safe following distance. Wildlife is common on the roads, plus in congested areas you’ll need to be vigilant for pedestrians and cars stopping.
• Leave No Trace. Pack out what you bring in, properly dispose of trash, and leave our National Parks pristine.

7 Days in Yellowstone & Grand Teton FAQ

Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park

Want to stay inside Yellowstone National Park? It’s the best place to stay when visiting! There are 9 lodges inside the park:

• Where We Stayed: Old Faithful Inn
• Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins
• Old Faithful Lodge Cabins
• Canyon Lodge & Cabins
• Lake Lodge Cabins
• Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins
• Grant Village
• Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabin
• Roosevelt Lodge Cabins

Yellowstone also has 12 campgrounds that you can reserve in advance.

Top Yellowstone & Grand Teton Tours

Want a little extra guidance on your trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Here are a few guided tour options:

Top Yellowstone Tours:

• Yellowstone Lower Loop Full-Day Tour
• Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Rim and Loop Hike with Lunch

Top Grand Teton Tours:

• Grand Teton Wildlife Safari in a Enclosed or Open-Air Vehicle
• Sunrise 4-Hour Grand Teton Wildlife Adventure
• Scenic Wildlife Float in Jackson Hole

More Yellowstone & Grand Teton Travel Tips

Plan your perfect Yellowstone & Grand Teton vacation with these helpful articles:

• 34 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
• Old Faithful Inn Review: Is It Worth It?
• 19 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park
• Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa Review: Jackson Hole Hotel

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Ready to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels near Yellowstone and top hotels near Grand Teton using Expedia.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.

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Cheers!

Paige

Did you find this 7 Day Yellowstone & Grand Teton itinerary helpful? Let me know in the comments!