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While one could spend a week or more exploring Yellowstone, this “loop” gives you a great feel of the park in about 6-10 hours. (Of course, time depends on how long you spend at each location, traffic, wildlife sightings etc.)
We have the stops listed below in order, but of course you can pick and choose which ones seem more exciting to you and how long you have in your day to hit the sights. (Numbers are must-sees to us and the letters/subcategories are optional add-ons)
You will drive about 45 minutes from Peach Sky Retreat (an hour from Livingston proper) before hitting the town of Gardiner. This is the last town before the North Entrance of the park! We recommend fueling up and grabbing snacks in Gardiner to 1. save some money and 2. avoid the worst-case scenario of running out of gas in the middle of bison territory. Not to worry, depending on the season, gas and snacks are available in different locations in the park. May-October, you’ll be just fine!
This is usually where we stop!
You’ll know you arrived at the park when you see the famous Roosevelt Arch to your right and obviously, the big Yellowstone National Park sign. We always stop to take a selfie at the iconic arch which has been there since 1903. If you do, text it to us!
Upon arrival, it is $35/car for 7 days. We recommend getting a map and newsletter at the gate from the park ranger. There is little to no cell service in the park.
Once you enter the park, your first main attraction on our list is Mammoth Hot Springs. On your way there, you’ll pass through the town of Mammoth which is the Park’s Headquarters. In town there’s a welcome center, a great gift shop and clean bathrooms. The Mammoth Hotel is a great place to stop as well. Just beyond the hotel is Melissa’s favorite gift shop where you should get a Wilcoxsin’s huckleberry ice cream sandwich. You will pass here on the way out as well, if you want to get right to the hot springs.
As you approach, you’ll see a parking lot on the right and a boardwalk to climb up to the terraces of the hot springs. We recommend driving past the main parking lot mentioned and following the winding road for approximately 1 mile until you reach a smaller parking lot. Make an immediate RIGHT into the gate and drive the upper terraces loop. You can see much of the springs by driving through and it is one way in and one way out. There are a few small parking lots on the route if you want to get out and explore.
The next stop is a bit of a drive (approximately 35 miles to Firehole Canyon and 43 miles to Grand Prismatic) As you travel this route and the entire park, notice the diverse topography and changes, forests, meadows, and valleys. It’s one of the miracles of the Park.
You know you’re going the right way if you pass Norris Geyser Basin and Madison Junction intersection (West Entrance).
Firehole Canyon
A few miles past Madison Junction, look for Firehole Canyon on your right. Like Terraces at Mammoth, this is a loop, one way in and one way out.
Follow the river and look at the cliffs on the other side. Drive to the parking lot and we recommend the short walk to see the waterfall on the other side of the parking lot.
Follow the road out and continue to watch the canyon on the right. You might even get lucky and see an Osprey Nest close to the road.
Once you are approaching, there are two ways to see this sight. If you have time, do both but if you are to only pick one, we recommend the second.
1. Enter the main parking lot to Midway Geyser Basin. This parking lot often backs up, but there are a lot of spots, it typically moves fast! This is a boardwalk that takes you past several impressive hot springs with the big feature: the Grand Prismatic Spring.
2. Drive past the main entrance and follow the river around the right bend. On your right, you’ll see another parking lot that is somewhat nondescript. That’s our spot :) Pull in there. This is an approximate 1-mile round trip hike that takes you to the overlook. This is the best way to view the Grand Prismatic and appreciate the vast colors and magnitude from above.
Upon leaving the parking lot, again make a RIGHT. Next stop, Old Faithful!
Follow all the signs to Old Faithful - When you get there, it will give you many places to park. We recommend parking close to the Old Faithful Inn towards the back between the information center and the Inn which is near the geyser as well. There is also a gas station and auto repair shop if needed.
Once you get there, we recommend looking up what time Old Faithful should go off next. They do publish schedules online and all times are +/- 10 minutes or more from the predicted time, so keep that in mind when considering your options. Sometimes they have sandwich boards near the visitor center and near the geyser with the next time posted. Old Faithful got its name for its frequent and somewhat predictable eruptions. Approximately every hour and forty five minutes.
If it's erupting soon, go grab a seat and watch the most famous attraction in the park!
If you have some time before the next “showing”, we suggest going into the Old Faithful Inn, grabbing a coffee, ice cream and/or visiting the gift shop inside the inn (it’s a little more limited in assortment but some nice things!) See below for another bigger souvenir option!
It’s a beautiful old hotel that was completed in 1904 for $140,000. The enormous wood structure with its soaring, seventy-six-foot-tall lobby is considered a masterpiece of rustic “Parkitecture.” The hotel remains one of the largest log-style structures in the world and is a National Historic Landmark. There is also a big deck where you can watch Old Faithful.
After, you can go see the visitor center or even go across the street from the visitor center for the biggest Yellowstone gift shop in the park - lots to choose from.
Ready to keep going?
Exit Old Faithful and follow signs for West Thumb. You will pass over the Continental Divide twice. Stop and take a picture at the signs. The Continental Divide is a natural boundary or ridge that separates a continent's river systems, with each system flowing into a different ocean, bay, or sea. In North America, the Continental Divide separates the Atlantic and Pacific watersheds. It's a line of mountains for most of its length.
West Thumb
Depending on time, this is a good quick stop. Pull into the parking lot and walk the boardwalk to see a series of small thermal spots and an amazing view of Lake Yellowstone.
The Yellowstone River begins on the slopes of Yount Peak in the Absaroka Range of Wyoming. It then flows through Yellowstone National Park, streaming in and out of Yellowstone Lake, and drops 422 feet into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone (we will stop there next). The river runs out of the park in Gardiner, Montana, working its way eastward out of Montana and into North Dakota, where it eventually joins the Missouri River almost 700 miles ultimately reaching the Mississippi.
Make a right out of West Thumb towards Canyon Village. Beautiful drive along the lake for about 40 miles to Canyon Village
As you approach Canyon Village, take the first right to the upper falls Artist’s Point. Drive in until you reach the parking lot at the end and then walk the short path down to view the falls. Hopefully by now it is getting late in the day and the sun is setting to the west directly over the falls. Climb the stairs (short) down to see a view of the falls. Then go up the steps to the upper observation. Look at the walls of this canyon, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, as they change colors with the changing lights. This is also why it’s called Artist’s Point.
Once done, proceed to the main road again and make a RIGHT.
**NOTE: If it’s getting late, dark or you’ve just had enough, at the first main intersection after leaving Canyon Village. (Also gas at this intersection) Make a left. Follow this to Madison Junction. At Madison make a right and follow back to Mammoth and out of the North Entrance. It’s faster.
Mount Washburn
From Artist’s Point, you’ll drive about 13.6 miles til you get to Mount Washburn and keep an eye out for a quick RIGHT! It is one of the highest peaks in the Park.
Drive to the end of the parking lot and take a look around. Great views if it’s clear out!
Exit Mount Washburn and turn RIGHT towards Hayden Valley for the next view of always changing scenery. Enjoy from the car or stop if you see something you like.
Tower Falls
The road home will have you pass Tower Falls. It’s about 10 miles from Mount Washburn and you will see signs on the RIGHT. Park there and it is a short walk to the falls. Bathrooms and gift shop too.
Exit Tower Falls and make right and follow to Roosevelt Junction.
Pass through Roosevelt (remaining straight) and this will lead you back to Mammoth for a refuel, bathroom break or to grab a last minute souvenir/snack and you’re on your way home!
We recommend going to The Old Saloon $$ (406) 333-4482, Follow Yer Nose BBQ $$, (406) 224-2847 or the Yellowstone Valley Lodge $$$$ (406) 333-4162 for dinner on the way back if you are hungry. Call and make sure they are open when you are back and have service - depending on the time of year or day of the week, they may or not be serving food.
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