Nature route · ~5 days
Yellowstone & the Tetons
Geysers, hot springs, and a wall of granite peaks — the wild heart of the American Rockies.
A self-drive loop through the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem: the jagged Teton range rising straight off the valley floor, and Yellowstone itself — the world's first national park, a supervolcano of geysers, rainbow hot springs, canyons, and some of the best wildlife watching in North America.
- Length 5–6 days
- Stops 2 wonders
- Budget $1,300–3,600 pp
- Region Greater Yellowstone, United States
Trip map
The route
Stops in travel order — tap any one for the full wonder guide.
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Grand Teton 2 nights
Wyoming, USA
The Teton range erupting 2,000 m off the valley with no foothills — reflected in the Snake River and Jenny Lake.
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Yellowstone 3 nights
Wyoming / Montana / Idaho, United States
Geysers, the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and bison, elk, wolves and bears — the park that started it all.
Day by day
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Jackson to Grand Teton
Base Jackson / Teton Park
- Jackson to the heart of Grand Teton — about 30–60 min
Fly into Jackson Hole and drive straight into the mountains. An afternoon along the Teton Park Road, with the range mirrored in the Snake River at Oxbow Bend.
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Grand Teton
Base Jackson / Teton Park
- Park driving and lakeshore trails
Jenny Lake and the shuttle boat to Hidden Falls, the Taggart Lake walk, and wildlife on the valley floor at dawn and dusk. The peaks are at their best in early and late light.
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North into Yellowstone
Base Yellowstone (Old Faithful / Grant Village)
- Grand Teton to Yellowstone's geyser basins — about 2–3h with stops
Drive north into Yellowstone. The Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful, then the surreal colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring from the overlook trail.
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Yellowstone's lower loop
Base Yellowstone (Canyon Village)
- Geyser basins to the canyon — 1.5–2.5h with frequent stops
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its waterfalls, then Hayden Valley for bison herds and, at first or last light, a chance of wolves and bears.
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Yellowstone's upper loop
Base Yellowstone (Mammoth) or return
- Canyon to Mammoth and the northern range — 1.5–2.5h
The travertine terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs and the wildlife-rich Lamar Valley, the park's best corner for spotting wolves and bears through a scope.
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Return to Jackson
Base Onward
- Yellowstone back to Jackson — about 3–4h depending on your exit
Loop back south through Grand Teton to Jackson for onward travel, or exit north via Bozeman, Montana.
What it costs
Per person, two sharing, 5 nights, self-driving from Jackson. Excludes flights.
| Category | Range (per person) |
|---|---|
| TransportRental car and fuel split two ways over ~700 km of park driving. | $300–750 |
| Lodging5 nights; in-park lodges book out a year ahead and cost more than gateway towns. | $600–1,900 |
| FoodGroceries, park cafeterias, and casual meals. | $250–600 |
| Fees & guidesPark pass; an optional guided wildlife-watching tour is extra. | $150–350 |
| Estimated total | $1,300–3,600 |
What moves the number
- In-park lodges vs gateway-town motels, and how early you book
- Peak summer demand and holiday weekends
- Rental-car class and fuel
- Whether you hire a wildlife guide with a spotting scope
Indicative mid-2026 ranges; confirm current rates and park road openings before booking. Quoted in US dollars. These are honest ranges, not quotes — real prices swing with season, group size, and how you travel. Always confirm current fares, room rates, permits, and fees with operators before you commit.
Best season & getting around
🗓️ Best time to go
Summer to early autumn, roughly June to September, when the park roads are fully open and wildlife is active; September adds the elk rut and thinner crowds. Many Yellowstone roads are closed by snow from around November to April/May — check park opening dates, as they shift year to year. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
🧭 Getting around
A self-drive loop; fly into Jackson Hole (closest) or Bozeman, Montana. Distances inside Yellowstone are large and wildlife jams slow everything down, so budget generous drive times. A single 'America the Beautiful' or park pass covers both parks. Never approach wildlife — keep well back from bison, elk, and bears.
Know before you go
- In-park lodges (Old Faithful Inn, Jackson Lake Lodge and others) book up to a year ahead for summer — reserve early or stay in gateway towns.
- Yellowstone sits on an active geothermal supervolcano: stay on the boardwalks in thermal areas, where the ground can be thin and the water scalding.
- This is prime bear and bison country — carry bear spray on trails, never approach wildlife, and keep the legally required distance.
- All distances, times, and prices are approximate; park road opening and closing dates shift year to year with snow.
Set aside on the map in 1872 as the world’s first national park, Yellowstone is still the wild heart of the American Rockies — a restless supervolcano of geysers and rainbow-rimmed hot springs, of canyons and waterfalls, and of valleys where bison, elk, wolves, and bears go about their lives in the open. Paired with neighbouring Grand Teton, whose granite peaks erupt straight off the valley floor without foothills, it makes one of the great wildlife-and-landscape road trips on Earth.
This five-night loop from Jackson keeps the driving honest — distances inside the park are long and wildlife jams are frequent — and the season firmly in mind: come between June and September, when the roads are open and the animals are active, book your beds early, and treat both the geothermal ground and the wildlife with the respect they demand.
Yellowstone & the Tetons: common questions
How many days is the Yellowstone & the Tetons?
5–6 days — the plan is built around 5 nights. ~700 km loop from Jackson, Wyoming
When is the best time to do the Yellowstone & the Tetons?
Summer to early autumn, roughly June to September, when the park roads are fully open and wildlife is active; September adds the elk rut and thinner crowds. Many Yellowstone roads are closed by snow from around November to April/May — check park opening dates, as they shift year to year. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
How much does the Yellowstone & the Tetons cost?
A rough guide is $1,300–3,600 per person (Per person, two sharing, 5 nights, self-driving from Jackson. Excludes flights.). Indicative mid-2026 ranges; confirm current rates and park road openings before booking. It varies with in-park lodges vs gateway-town motels, and how early you book, peak summer demand and holiday weekends, rental-car class and fuel.
How do you get around on the Yellowstone & the Tetons?
A self-drive loop; fly into Jackson Hole (closest) or Bozeman, Montana. Distances inside Yellowstone are large and wildlife jams slow everything down, so budget generous drive times. A single 'America the Beautiful' or park pass covers both parks. Never approach wildlife — keep well back from bison, elk, and bears.
Which natural wonders does the Yellowstone & the Tetons include?
Grand Teton, Yellowstone.
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