Lewis River, Yellowstone National Park, looking towards north 20110818 3 — Yellowstone National Park
Photo: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Free travel itinerary template · 3 days

Yellowstone National Park 3-Day Itinerary

Lower Geyser Basin to Old Faithful; Canyon and Hayden Valley; Mammoth and northern range. Three geographic clusters avoid repeatedly crossing the park. Wildlife traffic is slow; thermal boardwalks, animal distances and current closures take priority over the suggested time blocks.

Curated from official tourism guides · Researched 2026-11-10Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

  • Access / base: West Yellowstone / Madison for the first day; north or canyon lodging for later days. Gateway travel and flights are outside the park sightseeing days.
  • Season: Main summer road season; winter road access requires a different plan.
  • Three geographic clusters avoid repeatedly crossing the park. Wildlife traffic is slow; thermal boardwalks, animal distances and current closures take priority over the suggested time blocks.
  • Check current NPS alerts, roads, reservations, permits, trail closures and transport at https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm and the linked park guides before choosing dates. A park pass does not include timed entry, a tour, ferry, flight, campsite or concession ticket.
  • The sequence is an editable planning suggestion, not a live timetable or turn-by-turn navigation. Visit blocks include time to explore and rest; traffic, queues, weather, accessibility and booked departures may require a shorter day. Bring an offline official map and arrange return transport.
  • Available approximate map pins are adapted from https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park, revision 5422898, Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0. Missing pins are left blank; confirm the real trailhead / landing with NPS or your operator.

Yellowstone National Park itinerary: 3 days at a glance

Every stop and suggested time, day by day

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: Lower Geyser Basin to Old Faithful

  • Fountain Paint Pot · 90 min
  • Food, water and route transfer break · 60 min
  • Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalk · 90 min
  • Transfer to the next park stop · 30 min
  • Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin · 240 min

Day 2: Canyon and Hayden Valley

  • Artist Point · 60 min
  • Food, water and route transfer break · 60 min
  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone rim viewpoints · 150 min
  • Transfer to the next park stop · 30 min
  • Hayden Valley pullouts · 120 min

Day 3: Mammoth and northern range

  • Mammoth Hot Springs terraces · 180 min
  • Food, water and route transfer break · 60 min
  • Undine Falls overlook · 45 min
  • Transfer to the next park stop · 30 min
  • Lamar Valley designated pullouts · 150 min

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Day 1
  • 08:0090m
    Fountain Paint Pot, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/thermal-basin-exploring.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. No verified map pin is supplied. Use the official park map to locate the trailhead, viewpoint or operator-agreed landing.

  • 09:3060m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 10:3090m
    Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalk, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Stay on the boardwalk; the overlook is a separate walk, not included automatically. Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. Coordinate source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prismatic_Spring. Approximate map pin; confirm the actual trailhead and open route with the official park map.

  • 12:0030m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 12:30240m
    Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Geyser predictions vary; no exact eruption time is promised. Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. No verified map pin is supplied. Use the official park map to locate the trailhead, viewpoint or operator-agreed landing.

Day 2
  • 08:0060m
    Artist Point, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. Coordinate source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist_Point. Approximate map pin; confirm the actual trailhead and open route with the official park map.

  • 09:0060m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 10:00150m
    Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone rim viewpoints, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Use only open overlooks and avoid closed stairs or cliff edges. Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. No verified map pin is supplied. Use the official park map to locate the trailhead, viewpoint or operator-agreed landing.

  • 12:3030m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 13:00120m
    Hayden Valley pullouts, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Wildlife sightings are optional; never stop in the travel lane or approach animals. Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. Coordinate source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park. Approximate map pin; confirm the actual trailhead and open route with the official park map.

Day 3
  • 08:00180m
    Mammoth Hot Springs terraces, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. Coordinate source: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park. Approximate map pin; confirm the actual trailhead and open route with the official park map.

  • 11:0060m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 12:0045m
    Undine Falls overlook, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. No verified map pin is supplied. Use the official park map to locate the trailhead, viewpoint or operator-agreed landing.

  • 12:4530m
    Yellowstone National ParkMap

    Editable allowance, not a measured travel time or included service. Follow the described district sequence and verify current driving, shuttle or trail connections. Bring food where no services operate.

  • 13:15150m
    Lamar Valley designated pullouts, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and IdahoMap

    Allow the long drive and park only in legal pullouts; turn back early enough for your accommodation. Official park source: https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm. Access reviewed 2026-11-10; recheck before travel. No verified map pin is supplied. Use the official park map to locate the trailhead, viewpoint or operator-agreed landing.

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