Last updated on June 7th, 2026
In this 5 days at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks itinerary we’re covering everything you need to know before you go, plus where to eat, where to stay, and things to do in both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks!
Located 2-3 hours apart, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are perfect to combine into one epic national park trip! Between the two parks you’ll experience towering, dramatic mountain peaks, crystal clear alpine lakes, wildlife around every corner, plus colorful hot springs, erupting geysers, and landscapes that feel straight out of another planet.
In this guide, we’re pulling together our 3 day Grand Teton itinerary and our 2 day Yellowstone itinerary into one seamless 5 day plan that hits all the must-see spots. Expect iconic viewpoints, unforgettable hikes, wildlife encounters, and some beautiful scenery every single day. We’ll cover exactly how to split your time between the two parks, where to stay, where to eat, and everything you need to know to plan an unforgettable 5 days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone.
Want to Learn More as you explore?
We highly suggest downloading the Guide Along – Grand Teton and Yellowstone (totally worth the cost!!) audio tours to navigate you on the road. Even when you don’t have service it knows where you are and provides commentary and history about the area. As well as alerts you when to stop for specific sights. These guides are fun to listen to and the narrator feels like a fun friend in the car with you!
- 5 Day Grand Teton & Yellowstone Itinerary Map
- Day 1: Grand Teton National Park
- Day 2: Grand Teton National Park
- Day 3: Grand Teton National Park
- Day 4: Yellowstone National Park
- Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
- Planning your trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
- Where to stay at Grand Teton and Yellowstone
- Want to get FREE flights and hotel stays?
- Tips for visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
- Looking for more things to do in Wyoming?
- Ready to explore Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks?
- About the Author
5 Day Grand Teton & Yellowstone Itinerary Map
Want to learn more about the parks as you explore them? Get GuideAlong! This audio guide for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone will share tons of interesting history and information about the parks. There’s no set route required, you can explore at your own pace and still learn as you go!
Day 1: Grand Teton National Park
Watch the sunrise at Schwabacher Landing
Kick off your 5 day Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary with a beautiful sunrise! While you can admire the sunrise from many areas, Schwabacher Landing offers one of the best views of the Tetons. You can see the views from the parking area, but there is also a short and flat half mile trail you can walk along the water. Beyond the views, it’s a popular place to spot moose. So keep an eye out!
The gravel road to get to the parking lot can be kind of rough, but if you drive slowly, any type of car should be fine.
Visit Jenny Lake
Spend the rest of your morning and early afternoon exploring the Jenny Lake area of the park! This is probably the most popular area due to the water activities and hikes located here. We highly recommend doing the Hidden Falls,Inspiration Point, and/or the Cascade Canyon hike.
- If you do all three, the total mileage is 15 miles. However, you can take the Jenny Lake shuttle boat across the lake to cut off 4 miles, making the total hike 11 miles.
- The cost for the boat ride is: $20/adult roundtrip, $12/adult one way, $17/senior roundtrip (no one way option), $12/child roundtrip, or $10/child one way.
- If you’re looking for a shorter hike, we suggest just doing Hidden Falls andI nspiration Point, which would be about 2-6 miles depending on if you take the boat or not. It’s still full of beautiful views!
Check out another lake
If you still have energy after your hiking, check out either Taggart Lake(3.8 miles) or String Lake (3.7 miles). These would be great spots to relax at for the rest of the day. If it’s warm enough out, bring a floaty to go float on the lake!
Get dinner in town
Finish your first of 3 days at Grand Teton with dinner in Jackson! Our go-to spot is Hand Fire Pizza, which is located in an old movie theater. Not only is the vibe cool, but the pizza is also great. But some other good spots include Everest Momo Shack, Miazga’s, andLiberty Burger.
If you want a drink after dinner, check out the famousMillion Dollar Cowboy Bar!
Day 2: Grand Teton National Park
Watch the sunrise at Mormon Row
Wake up early for sunrise at Mormon Row! This iconic former Mormon settlement has two barns that people line up to photograph in the morning as the sun rises and hits the Tetons. It is absolutely magical! Just make sure to arrive early to snag a good photo spot, it gets very busy.
Hike to one of the park’s alpine lakes
Spend the rest of the day going on a beautiful lake hike! Here are a couple good options:
Delta Lake (7.4 miles, 2,329 ft elevation gain): This blue lake is gorgeous! The hike starts out on the maintained Amphitheater lake trail, but then turns off onto an unmaintained trail that is full of boulders and steep dirt sections. It’s not easy and definitely not for a beginner hiker, but 100% worth it! Watch our hiking video to determine if you’re up for the challenge.
Surprise and Amphitheater Lakes (9.9 miles, 2,952 ft elevation gain): While this hike is arguably harder elevation gain-wise than Delta Lake, it is a fully maintained trail, so you will not need to climb over boulders. The lake at the end looks beautiful!
If you’re looking for something a bit easier, check out either Taggart Lake (3.8 miles) or String Lake (3.7 miles).
A+K Tip: Make sure to pack plenty of snacks and lunch regardless of which lake you choose!
Spend time in downtown Jackson
Spend the rest of your day wandering around Jackson. There are lots of shops to check out! We personally love MADE and Mountain Dandy.
Then end the day with dinner, checking out one of the spots we listed earlier and enjoy some local dessert. We loved the huckleberry ice cream from Moo’s Gourmet Ice Cream!
Day 3: Grand Teton National Park
Have Breakfast in town
Sleep in a tiny bit and grab breakfast and coffee at Picnic or Persephone Bakery! These two spots have the same owner and both have super cute interiors, delicious and healthy food, amazing coffee, and some incredible looking pastries! We have visited both of these on every visit to the area. It’s a must-do!
Visit Oxbow Bend
Make the 45 minute drive to Oxbow Bend, which is a popular photo spot overlooking the Snake River and Mount Moran. There’s no trail here, but the views are incredible!
Visit Jackson Lake
From there, head to the Jackson Lake Overlook to soak up the views of this large and beautiful lake.
After seeing the lake from the overlook, go spend some time on the water! Whether kayaking or actual boating is your thing, Signal Mountain Lodge rents a variety of options to get on the water. You can also just lay out on the beach (warning, it’s a bit rocky) near Colter Bay!
Drive to Yellowstone
To end day 3 of your Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary, you’ll want to make the drive to Yellowstone so you can start exploring the new park bright and early tomorrow. Drive time depends on where you stay in the park, likely between 2-3 hours.
Day 4: Yellowstone National Park
See the most iconic spot in the park
Kick off your 2 days at Yellowstone with a bang and see Old Faithful erupt!
The eruption times for Old Faithful change daily, so keep track of what times it will be erupting with Geyser Times. They give you a window that it may happen, so plan to arrive early so you don’t miss it. They do not post the times super far in advance, so we looked at the previous couple days’ eruption times to get a general sense of when it would erupt that morning. This helped us figure out what time to arrive at the park. We then checked Geyser Times on our drive to the park to see which time slot we would be there for.
We loved doing this first thing because for a few reasons. First, it was pretty epic! Secondly, we were able to have a more relaxed day and not worry about scheduling around an eruption or accidentally missing it. And lastly, you can then go again and see more than once!
Visit more geysers
Spend the rest of the morning walking around Upper Geyser Basin to the Morning Glory Pool, which is about 1.5 miles one way, but almost all on flat boardwalks.
Every step on this boardwalk will leave you amazed. From the smaller hot springs to the Grand Geyser (which is insane!), we were oohing and ahhing the entire time! We had a list of the spots we wanted to see, but we ended up stopping at almost every single geyser and hot spring.
At the end of the path is the Morning Glory Pool, which has vibrant colors and a deep hole in the middle that makes you feel like you’ll be sucked into another dimension. This pool used to be blue, but people have thrown trash into it and it has changed color over time, but the yellows, greens, and blues are still extremely vivid!
Hike to Biscuit Basin
After the Morning Glory Pool, take the trail to Biscuit Basin, which adds around another 2 miles round trip. We contemplated just driving to Biscuit Basin, which is what most people do, but we are so glad we walked!
We saw only a handful of people on the trail and this trail had some of the most beautiful blue pools of the whole day! Once you arrive at Biscuit Basin, take the boardwalk around to see some even more vivid blue pools. And if you’re lucky, some bison!
Eat Huckleberry ice cream
After a busy morning and early afternoon, take a break for some mid-day huckleberry ice cream! Eating huckleberry ice cream as much as possible is a requirement when visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone. We got ice cream at the Old Faithful Inn, but the Old Faithful General Store also sells it. Warning: the scoops at Old Faithful Inn are HUGE!
See the Grand Prismatic Spring
Take the quick hike up to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook. This is the best way, in our opinion, to see the Grand Prismatic, as you get to see it from higher up. With this perspective you’ll really get a grasp of its size, plus the colors are more defined. They say it’s best to visit this around noon on a sunny day for the most vivid colors.
Hike to Fairy Falls
If you’re doing well on time, continue on the main trail from the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook to Fairy Falls. In total, Fairy Falls is around 5 miles. We were pretty exhausted at this point, but did the hike anyway, as it looked really cool!
The trail is easy, not packed, at least when we went, and leads you to a super neat waterfall! You can also continue on to Imperial Geyser from here, which is 0.6 miles.
Want to get 30% off an AllTrails Plus membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!
We use AllTrails Plus on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.
Walk the Boardwalk
Finally, end the day at the Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalk. You park in the parking lot, which had a wait when we went, and then walk the boardwalk up to the spring. It was extremely busy when we went, but if you want to get up close and personal with the spring, it’s worth checking out!
We still preferred the overlook over the boardwalk, as you can’t really see the size and colors as well at eye level, but if you have time during your Yellowstone itinerary, then definitely do both!
Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
Visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Start the morning with the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls! While Yellowstone may be known for its geysers, it also boasts an impressive canyon. Here you’ll find rugged tan walls, the Yellowstone river running through, and a stunning waterfall. Seeing it is a must-do during your time at Yellowstone!
There are many ways to enjoy the canyon, both from the north and south rim, and most without much of a walk at all. Here are our top spots to check out:
South Rim: South Rim Trail ( the mileage varies depending on how far you go) or Artist Point, which is a popular spot to view the falls.
North Rim: This is where we spent our time! We loved the Lower Lookout Point, which required a steep, but relatively short, walk down to an overlook. This view was amazing! There is also an easier to access overlook right where you start the hike down called Lookout Point.
Just down the road from these spots is Grand View which gives you a grand view of the canyon. Brink of the Lower Falls is also a good spot to visit which gives you a view from the top of the waterfall. And Inspiration Point gives you a similar view to Lookout Point, but a lot farther away, so it’s more canyon focused and less waterfall focused.
See Tower Fall
Drive about 35 minutes from the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to Tower Fall. This 132 ft tall waterfall is named after the jagged towers that are behind the waterfall, which are very unique! It is a super quick and easy stop, with the walk to the overlook being only 150 yards from the parking lot.
One thing to note is that there is a trail to the side of the overlook, but it does not take you down to the falls. The overlook is the only spot to see them. We would hate for you to walk all the way down there and be disappointed!
Look for wildlife
Get back on the road and head to Lamar Valley! This valley, along with Hayden Valley, is famous for being a great spot to see bison! We didn’t even drive that far and probably saw 50+ bison, including one that walked right next to our van. However, while they might look friendly, they can be very dangerous if they are provoked. So please keep a safe distance, at least 25 yards or two school bus lengths.
Want to get more out of your visit to the Lamar Valley? Book this half-day guided tour with lunch to learn so much about the area and wildlife from your local tour guide! And don’t forget to use our code APLUSK10 for 10% off!
Visit Mammoth Hot Springs
Keep driving north to Mammoth Hot Springs, which are massive travertine formations that some describe as an inside out cave. One of the most iconic sights here is the Minerva Terrace, which looks like stairs and includes multiple colors (some of it almost looks pink!). It’s unlike anything else in the park!
Have dinner in Gardiner
Celebrate the end of a fun day, and trip, in Yellowstone with dinner in Gardiner, Montana! There are quite a few restaurants in town, but the quality can vary. Our top pick would be Follow Yer’ Nose BBQ Smokewagon, which has Texas style BBQ!
Planning your trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
How to get to Yellowstone and Grand Teton
There are a handful of ways to get to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. But with the parks being a bit far from any major city, it’s definitely not the easiest to get to.
If flying, the closest option to Yellowstone is the very small Yellowstone Airport in West Yellowstone, Montana. While the closest option to Grand Teton is the Jackson Hole Airport, which American Airlines, Delta, United, and SkyWest fly in and out of, and isn’t too far from Yellowstone either.
The next closest airports are in Cody, Wyoming or Bozeman, Montana. However, these are smaller airports with limited flights and could be pricey. But if convenience is worth the extra cost, these airports are the most convenient.
As for larger airports, the two best options are Salt Lake City, which is around 300 miles away, and Denver, which is around 500 miles away. So if you’re down for a road trip, these two airports are a good option for your Grand Teton and Yellowstone road trip!
Getting around Grand Teton and Yellowstone
If you want to fully enjoy the parks, we recommend renting a car for your 5 days at Grand Teton and Yellowstone. While there are tours that can take you around, having the flexibility to enjoy the parks at your own pace is totally worth the driving!
We are actually surprised how driving friendly these parks are compared to other national parks, which cater more to hikers. There are many quicker hikes and for many sights you will drive, park your car, and then walk to a boardwalk or some other overlook. This makes these parks a great place for all ages and activity levels!
When to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone
While Grand Teton and Yellowstone are accessible any time of the year, some roads, campgrounds, and lodges shut down in the winter months. We would recommend visiting between May and September to have decent weather and the chance to experience all aspects of the park.
But if you really want to avoid the crowds, May and September will not be as crowded because kids are in school. We visited the weekend after Labor Day and the parks didn’t feel too busy which was a nice surprise!
Despite it being best to visit in the spring and summer, that doesn’t mean you cannot visit during the winter! You’ll experience way less crowds and great cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. But be prepared to see a bit less due to road closures.
Where to stay at Grand Teton and Yellowstone
Because the parks are located 2-3 hours apart, you will need to stay in different locations for each park, to cut down on driving. But with both park’s popularity, you have many lodging options to choose from!
National Park Lodges
Both Grand Tetons and Yellowstone have many lodges inside the park to stay in during your visit. For the ultimate experience and shortest travel time to the sights, we recommend staying there. Grand Teton has 6 lodges to choose from that allow you to be close to the action, while having the comforts of a hotel. Yellowstone has a whopping 9 lodges and cabins on the park’s property! One thing to note is that these lodges do not have TVs or internet. That could be a pro or con depending on how unplugged you want to be.
National Park Campgrounds
With 8 campgrounds located at Grand Teton National Park, there is something for everyone. Among these campgrounds you can find tent sites, RV sites with hookups, and even some tent cabins. All campgrounds can be reserved in advance and do fill up, so make sure to book early!
Alternatively there are also backcountry camping areas, which require advance planning to get permits. Permits go live on Monday, February 11 at 8 am MST and advance permits close on May 15. All backcountry campers must carry a bear canister, but they provide these for you!
Yellowstone has 12 campgrounds and over 2,000 sites! All but one allow reservations, but Mammoth Campground which offers first-come, first-served sites from October 15 – April 1. When we visited the weekend after Labor Day, we were able to snag a campsite super last minute, which was a huge surprise.
Vacation Rentals
Jackson (Closer to Grand Teton)
- Option #1: A 1 bathroom studio that’s one block from the town square
- Option #2: A 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment that’s beautifully decorated
- Option #3: A 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment near Snow King Mountain
- Option #4: A 3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom townhouse that’s perfect for 6-8 people
West Yellowstone (Closer to Yellowstone)
- Option #1: A cozy 1 bedroom condo just minutes from the West entrance and ~50 minutes to Old Faithful.
- Option #2: A queen room at a super cute lodge.
- Option #3: 2 bed, 2 bath condo.
Gardiner (Closer to Yellowstone)
Hotels
Jackson (Closer to Grand Teton)
- Rustic Inn Creekside
- Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole
- The Lexington
- Inn on the Creek
- Mountain Modern Motel
- Anvil Hotel
West Yellowstone (Closer to Yellowstone)
Gardiner (Closer to Yellowstone)
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Glamping
If you want to experience the great outdoors, but with some luxury, we highly recommend checking out Under Canvas. It is a glamping resort with luxurious tents with comfy beds and some with private bathrooms! They also have a restaurant on site!
Boondocking
If you will be visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in your RV or van like we did, then we highly recommend staying at some free camping spots while you’re here. It’s a great way to save money on your trip.
Since our first visit, the area has cracked down a lot on free camping and requires you to camp in a designated site. While this helps keep the area from being too overrun with people, it does make free camping more competitive. Some popular areas to camp include Shadow Mountain, Upper Teton View, and Spread Creek Road.
Curious how we find free camping? We have a guide for how to find the best free camping throughout the country!
Tips for visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks
Start early
Yellowstone is the 4th most visited and Grand Teton National Park is the 8th most visited National Park in the United States. So starting your day early is KEY to avoiding massive crowds and getting a parking spot. And as an extra perk, sunrise is the most beautiful time in the parks and a better time to spot wildlife!
Buy or rent bear spray
These National Parks are home to both black and grizzly bears! Sadly we didn’t see any bears during our multiple trips, but no matter what, always carrybear spray. And make sure you know what to do if you see a bear!
For those getting there by car, we recommend you buy bear spray in advance and bring it with you. But for those flying in, you have to either buy the spray there or rent it, since you can’t fly with it. You can rent from Bear Aware at Teton Village or the Jackson Hole Airport.
Get the America the Beautiful Pass
There is a fee to visit these National Parks, which is $35 per car for a 7 day visit for each park. However, we highly recommend buying the America the Beautiful Pass instead! This pass will unlock access to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton, plus over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including other National Parks, for an entire year. Visiting both Grand Teton and Yellowstone in one trip makes the pass almost pay for itself!
Wear sunscreen and drink lots of water!
While the temperature isn’t brutal in the summer, we got very hot hiking some of the trails and since we were at a higher elevation than normal, sunscreen and water were a must! We also suggest bringing electrolytes for longer hikes. Our favorite is LMNT and if you use this link you can get a free sample pack with any order.
Pack food
There isn’t really anywhere to eat in the parks besides small stores and lodge restaurants. We suggest packing some snacks and food to save some money! You can see our favorite hiking snacks here.
Trails are NOT dog-friendly
If you bring your furry friend with you on adventures, it’s important to note that dogs are not allowed on the trails in Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Parks. They are allowed in some parts of the park, but only where cars are allowed, including roads and road shoulders, campgrounds, picnic areas, and parking lots.
Curious what we do with Kona when she cannot join us? Check out our tips for traveling with a dog!
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About the Author
This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!
Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!