Often called the Hollywood of U.S. national parks, Yellowstone is world-renowned for its geothermal features (geysers and hot springs!) and incredible wildlife (gray wolves, grizzly bears, herds of bison and more!). Its landscape is incredibly diverse, including rugged mountains, valleys, canyons, grasslands and forests. As the oldest national park in the country, it tends to claim the spotlight over neighboring Grand Teton, a subset of the Rockies named for the dramatic peaks of the Teton Range. But while Grand Teton may be Yellowstone’s little sister, it is equally impressive and jaw-dropping.
With so much ground to cover, a multi-day Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary that incorporates a variety of experiences, sometimes with expert guides at the helm, is the key to a memorable, stress-free family adventure through these national treasures.
What to See on a Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary
Yellowstone: Geothermal Wonders and Wildlife Galore
“Yellowstone encompasses over 3,400 square miles, which makes it larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined,” notes senior Ciao Bambino Travel Advisor Melissa Rosdahl. “I recommend at least four days to really enjoy it.”
For starters, Melissa suggests flying into Bozeman, Montana, and out of Jackson, Wyoming (or vice versa), to avoid a long drive backtracking. A rental car is necessary to get around and to allow for self-exploration when you’re not engaged in guided activities. Though Yellowstone boasts several national park lodges within its borders, including the historic Old Faithful Inn and Lake Yellowstone Hotel (both of which can sell out a full year in advance), Melissa often books clients at higher-end properties just outside the park that offer more onsite activities, connecting room availability and dining options. Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana, is one of her favorites and can organize everything from fly fishing and leather crafting to stargazing and yoga.
TIP: Ciao Bambino Travel Advisors can book Sage Lodge and other accommodations with exclusive perks and amenities, such as daily breakfast and room upgrades upon availability.
Of course, the park is the star attraction, especially wildlife sightings, so Melissa partners with well-established local tour companies to get guests where they need to be for the best odds of spotting wolves, bears, bison, elk, pronghorn, coyotes, eagles, osprey and other creatures. “These tour operators are experts in their field,” she explains. “They pick you up and know to avoid crowded areas; they track animal activity and can share details about animal behavior; they have binoculars and spotting scopes and can even arrange boxed lunches depending on the time of the tour, so you really don’t have to worry about anything.”
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Even Yellowstone’s own nonprofit educational arm, Yellowstone Forever, runs group and private tours to familiarize visitors with the park’s incredible history and wildlife. Among the most popular is an eight-hour wildlife-spotting day tour (from 6am to 2pm), concentrating on the hills and grasslands of the northeastern Lamar Valley, where many of the animals are known to roam. Though the early start can be a little tough, it will feel more than worth it when your family spots bison crossing a stream, a wolf pup playing beside its mother or ospreys flapping in their nest.
The majority of wildlife-viewing tours in Yellowstone and Grand Teton all begin around sunrise when animals are most active. Most travelers quickly realize the payoff of rising early, Melissa notes, so she’ll book morning excursions and then leave afternoons open for recreation and relaxation back at the hotel.
Yellowstone is also a literal hotbed of geothermal activity, as it sits on a caldera created by a volcanic eruption some 631,000 years ago. Two of the park’s most visited features are Old Faithful, the star geyser known to faithfully erupt to a height of 130 to 140 feet approximately every 90 minutes, and stunning Grand Prismatic Spring, with its bright orange, yellow and green outer bands circling a deep blue pool. (Fun fact: Grand Prismatic get its bright hues from different species of heat-loving bacteria living in the progressively cooler rings around the spring, while the deep blue center appears so because water scatters blue wavelengths of light more than others, reflecting the color back to our eyes.) Tour both with a qualified guide or ask about ranger-led programs at the visitors’ centers. Kids, especially younger ones, will also love completing the Junior Ranger booklet, chock-full of facts and word scrambles about the park’s flora and fauna.
Grand Teton: Mountain Hikes and Water Activities
As you head steadily south through Wyoming, leaving Yellowstone and entering Grand Teton, the landscape gives way to jagged peaks, mountain meadows and alpine lakes. The forests, wetlands and valley floor of the Tetons are home to more than 1,000 plant species, 60 mammal species and 300 bird species. At just 480 square miles, Grand Teton is much smaller than its neighbor to the north, but there’s plenty to fill several days here.
Melissa often reserves wildlife tours in Grand Teton as well, with naturalists guiding families to areas where bears and moose are known to be active. The tours can be done in combination with one of the park’s signature hikes, such as the 7.1-mile Jenny Lake loop or the shorter and easier Taggart Lake trail.
The Snake River, which boasts swift sections as well as calmer channels, runs through the park and is especially popular for river rafting and scenic boat floats, another excursion that’s a big hit with families. Melissa likes to book visitors with Barker-Ewing, a family-owned operator that’s been running scenic river floats in the park since 1963. For something more sedate, rent kayaks or canoes and paddle through Jackson Lake or Jenny Lake, with spectacular views of the mountains towering over the water.
Leave a day to explore the town of Jackson, with rows of appealing shops and restaurants and a pretty central square flanked by arched gates made from shed antlers. And for a grand finale, Melissa suggests a night at the Jackson Hole Rodeo, which takes place Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Relevant Links:
Browse all ideas for nature and wildlife trips on Ciao Bambino
Best American national parks to visit in winter
All-season fun in Montana with kids
Best things to do in Jackson Hole with kids in every season
Best off-the-slopes winter activities in Big Sky, Montana
A fantastic luxury cabin rental in Jackson Hole
Photos by Lisa Frederick.
Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.
