A 3-Day Yellowstone Itinerary That Splits the Loop Properly

⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

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   Drive from where are you driving from?BZN is ~1 hr 45 north · Drive

   Bozeman is the usual airport, about an hour and three quarters north. West Yellowstone sits right at the west entrance and is the best base for the first two days of this plan.

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   Upper Geyser Basin and Old FaithfulHalf the world’s geysers · Viewpoint

   Not one geyser but the densest concentration on the planet, linked by miles of boardwalk. The visitor centre posts predicted eruption windows for Old Faithful and several others, so walk the basin between them rather than sitting and waiting.

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   Grand Prismatic Overlook~1 mi from Fairy Falls trailhead · Hike

   The boardwalk beside Grand Prismatic shows you steam. The overlook shows you the spring. It is about a mile from the Fairy Falls trailhead with a short climb at the end, and it is the difference between a good photo and the photo.

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   Midway Geyser BasinThe boardwalk alongside · Viewpoint

   The boardwalk that runs right along the edge of Grand Prismatic and Excelsior Geyser Crater. Worth doing as well as the overlook, because the scale up close is different.

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   Night in West YellowstoneTwo nights at the west entrance · lodge

   The most practical base for the geyser basins and the canyon. In-park lodges are lovely and book out the better part of a year ahead.

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   Artist PointThe classic canyon view · Viewpoint

   On the south rim, looking straight down the yellow gorge to the Lower Falls. It is the picture that sold the park to Congress, and it is a two minute walk from the parking area.

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   North rim driveLookout Point, Grand View · route

   A one-way drive along the north rim with a string of overlooks, plus the steep stair trails that drop several hundred feet toward the river. The climb back out at 7,700 feet is the part people underestimate.

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   Hayden ValleyBison, and grizzly at distance · mtn

   A broad river valley between the canyon and the lake, and one of the two great wildlife areas in the park. Bison are close to guaranteed. Early morning and evening are when the bears come out on the far slopes.

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   Second night in West YellowstoneSame base · lodge

   Same room. Tomorrow is the north of the park, so this is the last night on this side.

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   Lamar Valley at dawnFirst light, binoculars · mtn

   The best wildlife watching in the lower 48, and strictly a dawn and dusk activity. Bison, elk, pronghorn and the descendants of the wolves reintroduced in 1995. Look for the roadside cluster of spotting scopes and ask.

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   Mammoth Hot SpringsTravertine terraces · Water

   Terraces of travertine built up by hot water carrying dissolved limestone, constantly changing as vents open and close. Completely different from the geyser basins, and there are usually elk on the lawns by the old fort buildings.

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   Night in GardinerNorth entrance · lodge

   At the north entrance, and about $30 a night cheaper than West Yellowstone. Staying here is what makes a genuine dawn start for Lamar Valley realistic.

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   Drive home from Gardiner~1 hr 30 to Bozeman · Drive

   Gardiner to Bozeman airport is about an hour and a half up the Paradise Valley, which is a pleasant drive in its own right.

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