Looking to visit one of the most diverse National Parks in the United States but only have a short amount of time? Here is the itinerary that Ben & I used to visit Yellowstone in just 3 days from our campsite nearby.

A few tips before the trip based on our experience:

• Double check the NPS website to get any updates on road closures – this may unfortunately change your well-thought plans!
• Purchase your park pass ahead of time to save time at the gate
• Get up and get to the park as early as you can – this will not only save you time at the gate, but also allows you to beat some of the crowd at several stops
• Divide the park up into different days and mark down the things you want – there is a lot to see and do in the park, if you don’t organize or prioritize you might end up missing out

Day One: Old Faithful & Yellowstone Lake

When we first got up that morning, we double checked with the official geyser activity website to get the approximate time Old Faithful would erupt.  We packed up our gear and headed out around 7:00 AM to seize the day!

• Stop #1 – Fountain Paint Pot
  • Find a parking spot and take a walk around the boardwalk surrounded by hydrothermal features! 
  • When we visited, we came face-to-face with a Bison hanging out next to one of the hydrothermal vents!
  • Approximate time: 30 minutes
• Stop #2 – Grand Prismatic Spring via Fairy Falls Trail 
  • Parking is very limited at this site, so getting that early head start will hopefully give you a headstart before you end up circling the parking lot for too long!
    • If you are not able to get parking and don’t want to wait for a spot to open up, try parking at the Midway Geyser Basin. You’ll still get to see the basins – just without the aerial view. 
  • Take the 1.2 mile there-and-back hike to get a great view of the spring! Beware, this trailhead is not completely paved and does have stairs. 
  • Approximate time: 1 hour
• Stop #3 – Old Faithful
  • Find a parking spot at the Old Faithful Visitor Center – luckily, the parking lot is spacious compared to most others in the park. However, as you get closer to the predicted eruption time you might find yourself parked towards the very back. We got there about 40 minutes prior to the eruption and found ourselves in the “middle” of the parking lot
  • If you have time, take a walk around the geyser or stop by the visitor center before the show! If you are looking for a front row seat to the show, make sure you keep an eye on the crowds. 
  • If you want to stretch your legs or get a different view of Old Faithful, take a hike up Observation Point Trail (1.6 miles there-and-back)
  • Approximate time: 2 hours
• Stop #4 – Picnic & West Thumb Geyser Basin Trail
  • We continued our drive southeast towards Yellowstone Lake and made a pit stop around West Thumb for some lunch!
  • After filling our stomachs, we took a walk around the trail/boardwalks to get a closer view of the lake! 
  • Approximate time: 1 hour
• Stop #5 – Mud Volcano
  • We made a stop at the one of resurgent domes from the Yellowstone volcano’s eruption ~640,000 years ago. This is definitely one of the most pungent spots in the park, in my opinion. 
  • Trails will take you around a 0.6 mile loop to see the various features
  • Approximate time: 30 – 45 minutes
• Stop #6 – The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
  • By far one of the most underrated features of the park and should be on everyone’s “Must See List” when they go to Yellowstone. There are multiple viewpoints & outlooks for you to catch it at multiple angles
  • There are multiple hikes in the area for those who still have the energy to explore. We took the short, 0.1 mile hike to Artist Point to get a breath-taking view of of the canyon. 
  • Some other notable hikes in the area that we wish we could have had time to do: Observation Peak Trail, Seven Mile Hole Trail
  • Approximate time: 1 hour

After the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, we headed back to our campsite for the evening to rest up for day 2!

Day Two: Half-day White-Water Rafting on the Yellowstone River & Mammoth Hot Springs

Another early morning, beginning around 7:00 AM again, this time heading up to Gardiner, MT just outside the North Entrance for a day of white water rafting! 

• Stop #1 – Gardiner, MT and Rafting
  • Read more about our excursion here:
  • Approximate time: 4 hours
• Stop #2 – Mammoth Hot Springs
  • Definitely one of the more crowded stops throughout the entire trip, we got to walk around the historic Fort Yellowstone and explored the hot springs along ~1.75 miles of boardwalk. 

After exploring the area, we headed back to the campsite in preparation for our last day in Yellowstone.

Day Three: Lamar Valley

With only one item on our agenda this day, we took our time getting up and cooking breakfast at the camp. The late start made it noticeably more corwded when we reached the park gate, as it took some extra time getting in. Unfortunately, we did not get to visit the Roosevelt Lodge area, as it was going through renovation during our trip. If available, this would be the perfect opportunity to make a stop as well!

• Stop #1 – Blacktail Plateau Drive
  • Just before reaching the Roosevelt Lodge area, you will have the opportunity to turn off the road for a backroad drive (beware, this road only goes one way). I was surprised by how few people took this opportunity. On this route we ended up seeing a variety of wildlife and getting the backcountry feel, without having to leave the car!
  • Beware, this is not a paved road – mostly dirt and rocks. While the road is not long, it is a slow drive
  • Approximate time: 45 minutes
• Stop #2 – Lamar Valley
  • This area will provide you with a dramatically different view & scenery compared to the rest of the park and the perfect stop for those with an interest in photography. 
  • There will be multiple opportunities to pull over and see a plethora of wildlife – the most notable being the bison herds. Make sure you pay close attention to the road to watch out for both wildlife as well as other park visitors!
• Stop #3 – Hike to Trout Lake
  • We stopped at Trout Lake for a quick 1.5 mile hike around the small lake surrounded by the mountains to stretch our legs. During our hike, we came across a beaver building a dam on the edge of the lake! 

We slowly made our way back to camp, stopping at all the viewpoints along the way (as well as the gift shops) to make the most of our last day in the park. 

To date, Yellowstone has been one of the top 5 national parks I have had a chance to visit. I highly recommend a trip for anyone with a love for outdoors and great views. 

Interested in Other Post About National Parks?

• Shenandoah National Park – Big Meadows Campground Review
• Shenandoah National Park – Camping in Snow & Hail
• Mt. Rainier National Park – Back Bear Encounter

Leave a comment below if you are planning a trip to Yellowstone or if you had a favorite part when you visited!