The Ultimate 7-Day Grand Teton To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary

I dreamed of visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks for years! I finally explored this fantastic area for a whole week, and it was a wonderful time! Grand Teton’s mountain ranges are some of the most beautiful ones in the United States, and of course, Yellowstone’s thermal pools are some of the best in the world. There is so much to do in the area, so planning a trip can be pretty overwhelming. Because of this, I have created the perfect Grand Teton to Yellowstone road trip itinerary. This post is packed with maps, hikes, hotels, and much more!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. 

Map Of Itinerary On

The map below is color-coded by the day. As you can see, I tried to add each activity relatively close to each other, so you don’t have to drive too far.

>>>Check Out The Official National Park Map Of Both Parks Here<<<

Where To Stay

• Kelly Inn West Yellowstone: Located in the town called West Yellowstone, and has an indoor pool and hot tub, and complimentary breakfast. >>>Book Here
• The Roosevelt Hotel – Yellowstone: Located in the town called Gardiner. >>>Book Here
• Yellowstone Camping: We ended up camping at Bridge Bay campground. You can book a campground here.
• Hotel Jackson: A beautiful modern hotel located near Jackson Hole that features a restaurant and hot tub. >>>Check Prices Here
• Inn on The Creek: A cozy Inn located near a cute creek and has complimentary breakfast. >>>Check Prices Here
• Jenny Lake Campground: We stayed here and loved being so close to Jenny Lake. We did not have to worry about parking. >>>Check It Out Here

Best Time To Visit Yellowstone And Grand Teton

The best time to visit Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone is June to October. July and August are usually busy months, while September is a great time to get away from the crowds and see the excellent fall colors. Mid May through June might still have snow on some trails like the Delta Lake hike.

What To Pack For Yellowstone To Grand Teton Road Trip

• Sunscreen: Super important and it is part of the ten essentials!  >Buy Sunscreen
• Chapstick: This one has SPF so your lips won’t get burned! >Check Out This Chapstick
• Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
• Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
• Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent dehydration while hiking. The great thing about this reservoir is that it doesn’t have a plastic taste. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
• Water: Stay nice and hydrated. It was soooooo hot when hiking here. Bring water to every hike.
• Sunglasses: It can get sunny in the summer, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
• Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. >>>Check Out These Snacks
• Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography.  >Buy Sony Camera Here
• First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
• Day Pack to carry all your things: To carry all your gear, water, and food, you need a good backpack. Osprey is known to have some of the best backpacks in the market. >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
• Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
• Leggings or Hiking Pants: I always wear leggings while hiking because it is what I feel most comfortable with! >Click For My Favorite Hiking Leggings
• Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
• Sports Bra: For women. >Check This One Here
• Jacket: I always have a jacket in my backpack, even if it is hot. I do it just in case of an emergency. It did get cold while hiking so I am glad I had this. >Buy My Favorite Jacket
• Rain Jacket: The worst feeling in the world is being wet and cold while hiking. You can get hypothermia, so always carry a poncho or a rain jacket when you hike Wyoming. There was a time that it started pouring on us while hiking Delta Lake. >Check Out My Rain Jacket Here
• Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
• Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here
• Bear Spray: There are so many bears here! Stay safe and hike with some spray. Everyone should carry one. >Check It Out Here
• National Park Pass:  I highly recommend getting a year-long America The Beautiful Pass. >>>Get It Here

Where to Fly In and Out And How To Get Around

I recommend flying into Jackson Hole Airport and then flying out of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport for this itinerary. You can also do this itinerary vise versa, fly into Bozeman, and then fly out of Jackson Hole.

>>>Rent A Car Here<<<

7-Day Grand Teton To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Get To Jackson Hole

Fly into Jackson Hole Airport and then start exploring the cute city of Jackson. There are many restaurants and shops in this fantastic city, and some of the best restaurants include The Blue Lion, Calico, Trio, and Liberty Burger.

You can also check out the Teton Village, the ski resort near Jackson. It is filled with restaurants, hotels, ski lifts, and a cable car. You can take a cable car up to the top of the mountain to view the Tetons from above.

Hike To Taggart Lake

If you got to Jackson Hole pretty early and have time for a quick hike in the afternoon, I recommend hiking Taggart Lake. Taggart Lake Trail is an easy to moderate trail, and it gives you a snippet of the fantastic views you will be experiencing in the next week.

Day 2

Sunrise At Mormon Row

Mormon Row is probably the number one spot for sunrise in the park. This is such a breathtaking area. I had been dying to take this photo for years, and I am so glad I finally did. When you arrive at this area, there are many other photographers, but there is usually plenty of parking spots.

Watch the sun come up and hit the fantastic Teton Mountain Range. Sunrise at the Grand Tetons is out of this world and can not be missed.

Blacktail Ponds Overlook

Right after sunrise at Mormon Row, head on over to a beautiful scenic viewpoint, Blacktail Pond, a truly breathtaking area, and take photos.

Chapel Of Transfiguration

This cute little chapel is located near the park entrance and is an easy stop. There were no crowds here early in the morning, so it was pretty easy to snap this cute picture.

Jenny Lake

Hopefully, you are one of the first few people at Jenny Lake because this area gets crazy! I have seen the parking situation get out of hand, and Jenny Lake gets crowded!!! You can explore around the lake or hike to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls. This is what most people do in the area, and you can read more on it below.

Inspiration Point And Hidden Falls

Okay, getting to Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls can be confusing. Why? Because you can hike to the other side of Jenny Lake or take a ferry. It all depends on what you want to do. You can either walk or pay for the ferry to take you to the other side.

We decided to take the ferry there and then hike back. I wish I would have taken the ferry both ways as I wanted to explore some more, but I will do that next time! Look at the map below to visualize the hike/ferry ride. I also want to note that we waited in line to get on the ferry, but it only took about 30 minutes. It was pretty quick, even though the line looked pretty long.

If you reference the map above, you will start where it says “Jenny Lake Visitor Center”. You can hike from there or take the ferry. The hike doesn’t have much elevation gain until you are near Hidden Falls, but the trail is long.

Hidden Falls is breathtaking but very crowded. It is a good spot for lunch, though. Inspiration Point wasn’t my favorite, but most people should experience it. I did see many people struggling to get to Inspiration Point, so the elevation gain is a little much for some people.

I highly recommend continuing on the trail after Inspiration Falls if you have more time and energy. The views of the mountains in the canyon are breathtaking (shown below). I felt like this was probably the best part of the hike, and there were not many people there.

Day 3

Sunrise At Schwabacher Landing

I loved experiencing the sunrise at Schwabacher Landing. The breathtaking river right in front of the mountain range makes it a perfect sunrise spot. This was probably my second favorite place to photograph in the national park.

Snake River Overlook

After the Schwabacher Landing sunrise, head on over to the Snake River Overlook for a different perspective of the mountain range. Plenty of parking and, of course, another breathtaking viewpoint.

Hike To Delta Lake

When it comes to Grand Teton National Park, Delta Lake was my favorite part! I loved swimming and relaxing at this stunning lake. It is a difficult hike, though. The trail goes straight uphill, and if you go on a sunny day as we did, the sun is relentless. Bring a ton of water.

Towards the end of the trail, you have to scramble rocks, and it can get confusing where to go. Bring a map! We got lost for a bit.

I only recommend this for moderate to experienced hikers. I hike around Washington every week and I felt like this was a difficult trail.

Hang Out At Leigh And String Lakes

There are many activities to do at Leigh and String Lake. I was surprised at how many people were hanging out at String Lake in the late afternoon, and it felt like I was at a beach party! This is a great place to kayak or lounge around or swim. If you do not like crowds, then no worries because you can walk on over to Leigh Lake, and there are fewer people in this area. If you bring your kayak, you have to check it in before entering the park. You can read more of it here. Or you can rent a kayak from Jenny Lake here.

Day 4

Sunrise At Oxbow Bend And Check Out Jackson Lake

This is another excellent sunrise spot at Grand Teton National Park. I know that three days in a row of getting up for sunrise seems like a lot but trust me, it is worth it!!! Grand Teton National Park is known for its glorious sunrises. Plus, you don’t need to get up as early at Yellowstone, so you might as well do it in Grand Teton.

Drive-Up To Signal Mountain

Signal Mountain has a different view than the rest of the national park. Most of Grand Teton National Park centers around the Grand Teton Mountain range, and Signal Mountain has views of the hills and mountains on the eastern side.

If you want an awesome view of Jackson Lake, make sure you stop at the Jackson Lake Overlook trail. The trailhead is on the way to the Signal Mountain peak. The trail is very quick and short. If you are hungry, you can eat at Jackson Lake Lodge after this.

After Signal Mountain head to Yellowstone National Park.

Read More: 26 Awesome Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park

Check Out Lewis Falls

Lewis Falls is a quick stop lookout from Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone. Parking can be a bit difficult so keep an eye out when you get close to the waterfall.

Check Out Thumb Geyser Basin

What I loved most about West Thumb Geyser was that it was right next to the large Yellowstone Lake. It is such an enchanting area! The parking lot is huge so parking is pretty easy. There are so many thermal pools in the area like Big Cone, Beach Geyser, Lakeshore Geyser, Twin Geysers, Fishing Cone, Abyss Pool, King Geyser, and Occasional Geyser. The trail to see all these geysers is pretty short and easy.

Mud Volcano

Mud Volcano was probably my least favorite thing about Yellowstone National Park. So if you are running short on time, you can skip it. Or you can park, get out and look at one of the mud pots and then walk back to your car. You do not need to hike the whole trail as it looks the same everywhere in the area.

This area is not as blue and vibrant as the other areas of Yellowstone because the water is acidic compared to the rest of the park. The acidity breaks down the rock to clay, giving it this cloudy white appearance. It is still cool to experience because it is different than other places in the park. But like I said, if time is short, you can skip it.

Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is probably one of the most popular areas of Yellowstone National Park. It is filled with buffalo and traffic jams! Yup, that is right! Buffalo roams around the road, resulting in many tourists taking photos, which then results in traffic jams.

There are many places to pull over to take photos of these lovely creatures. Or you can drive and see them while on the road. My campground was next to this area, so we noticed the buffalo loved to be near the road around sunset. Just be aware that you might be stuck in traffic for a while.

Day 5

Old Faithful Geyser

Day 5 on this itinerary will probably be the busiest and most traffic-prone day. I highly recommend waking up early on this day. This is probably the most popular spot in the park which means hoards of people. There are many parking spots at Old Faithful, but we still wanted to get here extra early just in case.

There are many places to sit and see Old Faithful the Geyser, and if you go into one of the many buildings in the area, they also have the approximate time that Old Faithful will erupt.

It does tend to get more crowded when it is closer to the time. Before or after the eruption, I recommend going on a stroll and seeing some of the other attractions in the area like Grand Geyser, Morning Glory Pool, and Biscuit Basin. The pools in the area are breathtaking.

Black Sand Basin

Head on over to Black Sand Basin after experiencing Old Faithful. What I loved about this area was that it was not too crowded and you could stop for a few minutes to see the wonderfully colored thermal pools.

Grand Prismatic Spring

Visiting Grand Prismatic Spring can be confusing. There are two ways of experiencing it, and I recommend doing both. You have to drive to two different areas, which can be a pain because the parking is not the best and it is one of the most popular areas in the park.

You can look at Grand Prismatic from up close, or you can hike and see it from above. The pictures above are a good representation of how each viewpoint looks like. The hike to the upper view is pretty easy, but it is around 1.5 miles round trip. You can find more information on the trailhead here. I feel like seeing it from both viewpoints is well worth it. I was so excited to see Grand Prismatic, and it did not disappoint.

Fairy Falls

If you want to see ab underrated waterfall at Yellowstone, then definitely add in Fairy Falls. This is a great hike! And part of the trail is also a part of the Grand Prismatic trail that I mentioned above. The trail is a little long, but it is mainly flat, so I consider this easy. I loved how it wasn’t too crowded and that most people were getting in the water on a hot summer day. It is such a great hike!

Gibbons Falls

Gibbons Falls is an easy pit stop when you are heading north, and it is a breathtaking waterfall. The parking lot is pretty tiny, but luckily there is a high turnover.

Artist Paint Pots

Artist Paint Pots has around 50 springs, geysers, and mud pots. The trail to see this magical bright red/orange area is about 0.6 miles round trip, and it is an easy stop. I will warn you that the parking here is crazy, especially on a busy day.

Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser is a great place to end your day. It is a big area so you can see as little or as much as you want. There are so many thermal pools here! I loved the bright blue ones. So stunning.

The northern loop is shorter and includes Ledge Geyser, Guardian Geyser Steam Vent, Crackling Lake, Little Whirligig Geyser, Colloidal Pool, Pinwheel Geyser, Swiss Cheese Pool, Porcelain Springs, Blue Geyser, and Hurricane Vent.

The southern area has two longer loops and includes Emerald Spring, Cistern Spring, Steamboat Geyser, and many others.

Read More: 25 Absolute Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park

Day 6

The Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area is probably my favorite area in Yellowstone. It is so spectacular! The lower and upper falls are enormous, and I love that there are many different viewpoints. We went to all the viewpoints and took many photos. You can also hike around the area, as shown in the dashed line in the map below.

I recommend allotting a few hours for this area because there are many crowds and many viewpoints/trails.

Mt. Washburn Trail

Mt. Washburn trail is one of the most popular hikes in this national park. The rolling hills and beautiful trees make it a perfect trail for people that want to stretch their legs a bit. The trail is long (6.8 miles round trip), so make sure you bring a lot of snacks and water. The trail was closed for a while due to road construction, so hopefully, it will be fully reopened by the time you go on your trip.

Tower Falls

Experiencing Tower Falls at Yellowstone National Park is a must! Especially because the viewpoint is a quick walk. There used to be a hike that took you down below to the falls but due to erosion, it is no longer open.

Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is another great place to spot wildlife without the crowds. It is a lot less crowded than Hayden Valley but similar. People hang out here for days to see if they can spot wolves. You can also catch grizzly bears, bald eagles, bison, and coyotes.

Day 7

Mammoth Hot Springs

I loved exploring this area as it is pretty different from the rest of the national park. Mammoth Hot Springs has been made for thousands of years and are travertine formations mainly made of limestone. This place is out of this world, and you can walk around it and even drive it. My favorite part was the Canary Spring area.

If you look at the map below, you can see that you can drive the Upper Terraces and walk the Lower Terraces, and we ended up exploring both areas by walking and driving.

Boiling River

One of the only places you can get a chance to swim in a thermal spring is the Boiling River. Many people come here to experience the thermal pools but when I went to Yellowstone it was sadly closed. You can find out more information here. Maybe it will be open by the time you head to Yellowstone.

Final Thoughts On Yellowstone And Grand Teton Itinerary

Thanks for reading all about the best Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary. Make sure to check out my other outdoor posts:

• 26 Awesome Things To Do In Grand Teton National Park
• Best Things To Do In Big Bend National Park
• Best Things To Do In Glacier National Park
• 25 Absolute Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park
• 13 Stunning Idaho Hot Springs
• 12 Great Tips On Biking Going To The Sun Road In Glacier National Park

Pin For Later: Grand Teton And Yellowstone Itinerary