On my recent roadtrip with my mom we ended up spending 2 days in Yellowstone National park! I’ll be honest Yellowstone National Park has never been a bucket list destination for me. I’m not really sure why. Our plan was to originally spend one day at the Grand Tetons National Park and one day at Yellowstone. Our plans changed and we ended up doing Yellowstone National Park for 2 days instead of one as we never made it to the Grand Tetons. Like most of my travels we booked the trip kind of last minute. But with that said let’s learn How to Spend Your First Time Visiting Yellowstone National Park.
My mom and I stayed outside of the park. Our first night we were in Idaho Falls the second night we were in Big Sky Montana. Each day we were up early and went to the the West Yellowstone entrance. My itinerary will be based around the West Yellowstone entrance but we’re still going to go over Yellowstone must knows.
The size of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is huge. I did not realized how big Yellowstone was until I was planning on going with my mom. It’s impossible to do the whole park in 2 days. You probably need a 4-7 if you want explore the park in full and enjoy it. Without feeling rushed.
Yellowstone encompasses 3 states Wyoming, Montana, and a small portion of Idaho. With the majority of the park in Wyoming. The whole park is 3471 square miles which is 2,221,766 acres. Yellowstones highest elevation is 11,358 feet and the lowest point of 5,252 feet. The park forms a figure eight!
How long does it take to drive Yellowstone?
If you’re planning on doing the Grand Loop of Yellowstone the drive will take 4-7 hours depending on your stops, the traffic, and if they’re doing road construction. Think traffic jams caused by bison!
Yellowstone National Park Entrances
Yellowstone has 4 main entrances: West entrance, North entrance, South entrance, and East entrance.
The West entrance of Yellowstone is located in West Yellowstone, Montana. It’s the busiest and most popular entrance of Yellowstone. It close the the Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, and Upper Geyser Basin.
The South entrance of Yellowstone is located in Moran, Wyoming. The south entrance is closest to the Grand Teton National Park and the West Thumb Geyser Basin.
The East entrance of Yellowstone is located in Cody, Wyoming. It’s closest to the Yellowstone Lake.
The North entrance of Yellowstone is the only Yellowstone entrance that is open year round! You sit right next to Gardiner, Montana. You’re closest location is going to be Mammoth Hot Springs.
Is there Cell Service in Yellowstone National Park?
At the main lodges like Old Failhtful village (strongest and most reliable cell service in the village), Canyon Village, Grant Village you should be able to get some cell service it might not be great though.
When you’re heading out to the sites like Hayden Valley, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Springs or pretty much anywhere else in the park you’re NOT gonna have any service so it might give you piece of mind to download google maps before going to the park.
Are there gas stations in Yellowstone National Park
Yes, there are gas stations throughout the park. 6 to be exact.
- Old Faithful
- Canyon Village
- Fishing bridge (near Lake Yellowstone)
- Grant Village (near the South Entrance)
- Mammoth Hot Springs (near the North Entrance)
- Tower/Roosevelt Junction (close to Lamar Valley)
According to the parks website all the gas stations are equipped with 24/7 credit card fueling. All the gas stations listed above also are equipped with car service stations. Most of these gas stations are closed in the winter.
Yellowstone Weather
It CAN and DOES snow in the summer months! The summer morning temps in Yellowstone can be as low as 30F.
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Food in Yellowstone
In general you should bring your own food for the park and clean up after yourself. But at the main gas station areas. They have food to buy.
Parking at sites in Yellowstone
Parking can be a REAL struggle especially if you’re entering the park with the morning rush. It will feel like your fighting for parking a parking space. Please arrive to the park as early as you can to beat the crowds! and be prepared that you might have to walk farther than you’d expect to get to the sights.
YES, YOU SHOULD BUY BEAR SPRAY FOR YELLOWSTONE
My itinerary for Your First Time Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Since, we were driving from Idaho Falls we had about an hour and 45 minute drive to the West Yellowstone Entrance. We ended up getting to the Yellowstone entrance a little bit before 9am. I think we waited in line for about 30 ish minutes.
Yellowstone Geysers
Our first was the Midway Geyser also known as Grand prismatic spring! The we went to Old Faithful Geyser and did some shopping, Then, we went to the Fountain paint pots. We tried to visit the the grand prismatic spring overlook which is a short hike with parking found at the Fairy Falls parking lot. But, when I tell you there was NO parking. Even the parking on the side of the road was completely full. So we had to skip it.
Grand Prismatic Springs Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Springs located at the Midway Geyser Basin with a small parking lot that fills up fast! So, get tot the park early to beat the crowds. You will thank yourself. The geyser is 370 feet wide and over 120 feet deep! It’s the largest hot spring int the US and the 3rd largest in the world! The different colors of the geyser are related to the different kinds of bacteria(thermophiles) that live in each section.
Rules for visiting the geyser
- Stay on the boardwalk!
- Go early morning or later in the evening to beat the crowds.
Planning on going to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook?
It’s 1.6 mile hike from the Fairy Falls parking lot. You will walk up a decently sized hill. The parking will fill up fast!! Plan accordingly.
Old Faithful Yellowstone National Park
Our next stop was Old Faithful since we couldn’t find any parking at the Fairy Falls parking lot. Old faithful is located in the Upper Geyser Basin near the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center. Follow the road signs. At old faithful theres a massive parking lot. I would be shocked if it filled up.
There’s a large gift shop, food available, gas stations, and a service station!
Old faithful erupts roughly 20 times a day and the the rangers can predict eruptions very accurately. Visit the Geyser Time website to see when the next eruptions will be!
I would try to plan your stop around the next predicted geyser time and arrive 15 ish minutes before it’s schedule to erupt otherwise you might have to wait an hour or more the next eruption!
Fountain Paint Pot Trials
Please do not skip the Fountain Paint Pot Trials! It’s a quick 30-45 minute walk depending on how fast you go through it! You’re gonna walk through 4 different types of geothermal activity.
Stop 1: Silex Spring.
- Silex spring dissolve silica from underlying volcanic rock.
Stop 2: Mudpots – The Fountain Paint Pots
- You’re going to see boiling mud. I actually thought it was pretty cool!
Stop 3: Fumaroles (steam vents)
- Steam coming out of the vents in the ground! You can hear them hiss.
Stop 4: They’re multiple geyser that are coming up on the path but they aren’t always erupting
- Morning Geyser barely erupts but it’s one of the largest geysers in the park
- Spasm Geyser constantly erupts unless neighbor erupts then it will lay dormant for a few minutes before starting up again.
- Clepsydra Geyser constantly spashes water from it’s vents.
Stop 4: Celestine Pool
- The first place you’re gonna walk past is the Celestine Pool. It’s a beautiful crystal blue hot spring.
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Yellowstone Day 2 for Your First Time Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Day 2 of Yellowstone was all about seeing the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone!
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is an absolutely must see! It’s located near the canyon village area. The canyon is 20 miles long, 1,000 feet deep, and 4,000 feet wide. It consists of the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. The South Rim is the most popular location because of the Artist Point Trail. There is also the North Rim. Check out both places.
Stop 1: South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- The South Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone has Artist Point Trail. It a gravel not well paved path up to a view point of the falls. I was getting either major elevation sickness or it was the drastic cliff drop off but I just couldn’t do that walk…
- The South Rim offers multiple view points of the Upper Falls besides Artist Point if you can’t or don’t want to walk up the trail. You’ll still see beautiful views!
Stop 2: North Rim of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- At the North Rim you’ll be able to see the lower falls!
- The North Rim isn’t as spectacular as the South Rim bit if you have the time I would make the stop.
Stop 3: Hayden Valley
- Hayden Valley is consider one of the main wildlife viewing areas!
Stop 4: Valley Stops near the Gibbon River
- We started to head back to the West Yellowstone Entrance. You’re gonna drive past some beautiful valleys so we stop at some of the pull out locations.
Stop 5: Artist’s Paintpots Trailhead
- We planned to stop here but the parking lot was full and line to get parking was INSANE. So we ended up skipping it.
Stop 6: Gibbon Falls
- Quick stop to see the Gibbon Falls. Would recommend it!
I hope this helps with your first time visiting Yellowstone National Park
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