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Visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks on the same road trip is the easiest way to check these two parks off your US National Park bucket list. Being in such close proximity to one another it just makes sense to check them both out.

Each park is very different from the other, and that really goes for all the national parks, but Yellowstone gives you that geothermal activity, filled with geysers and a distinct rotten egg smell, while Grand Teton is mountains and rugged forest, perfect for hikers, with less crowds than it’s neighbor. If you are planning a visit to these two incredible parks on your next road trip, these itineraries will help you make the most out of your time.

Background and History of the two parks

Yellowstone is considered the first park to be designated a national park in the United States in 1872 when the Yellowstone National Park Protection Act was established. Prior to this there were several expeditions, with the first organized expedition in 1860, which failed as they attempted to explore the Yellowstone Plateau. In 1870, the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition occurred and the Old Faithful Geyser was named. In 1948, Yellowstone had its first 1 million visitors and now sees around 4.5 million visitors a year.

Close to Yellowstone is Grand Teton National Park.  The establishment of Grand Teton National Park as it is today took place in 1950 after a long controversy of some people in Wyoming not wanting to hand over control of the area to the federal government while others were for it because it would mean conservation of these areas. Those against thought that they would lose their “recreation privileges” by giving the land over to the National Park Service. In the end, conservation won, and the park was established and includes the Teton range and the valley of Jackson Hole. The park now sees around 3 million visitors a year.

Best time to visit

Peak season at both of these parks is during the summer months. Park roads can get exceptionally busy this year, especially with people pulling over to see some of the parks famous wildlife. If you want fewer crowds a great time to visit is early October. It will be easier to find parking and you won’t have to fight the crowds to visit some of the amazing geysers and trails in the parks.

Though the parks are open year-round, winter is an exceptionally challenging time to visit, with many areas closed due to the significant snowfall the park receives. But it is also a unique way to see the parks and the animals who call these parks home.

Entrance fees and passes

Grand Teton National Park – $35 per car single entrance

Yellowstone National Park – $35 per car single entrance

In my opinion the America the beautiful pass is the best way to go, because it is an annual pass costing $80 that gives you access to all the US National Parks. So, if you plan to visit multiple parks in a year or enter to a couple parks more than once, it can definitely save you money. If you only plan to visit these two parks in a year with only a single entry into each, then you are better off with the standard entrance fees.

How to get to the parks

The closest airport is the Jackson Hole airport or you can arrive as part of a road trip (this is how I experienced these parks as a stop along a cross country road trip). Driving between the parks is a 2 1/2 hour drive with options of staying in Jackson, Idaho Falls, or even just outside of Yellowstone itself.

Yellowstone Itinerary

This park is steeped in history and has been shaped into what it is today by many, becoming one of the most popular national parks in the world. It also has some pretty cool geothermal activity too. As you walk the paths to the different geysers and geothermal sites, there is a smell of Sulphur in the air and a hot steam that constantly washes over you. From geysers, to hot springs, to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Yellowstone Falls, in Canyon Village there is something for everyone.

Visit Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces

At Mammoth Hot Springs, there are a bunch of trails, many short routes that take you to some cool spots to see more of the geothermal activity. A must see are the Mammoth Hot Springs terraces. With the waters pouring over the edges into each other, these terraces have some of the coolest mineral shapes from the mineral rich waters that look like frozen waterfalls in spots. This was one of my favorite places in the park.

Midway Geyser Basin

One of the smaller basins, take the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstones largest hot spring. Make sure to stay on trail. There are also several geysers in the area to check out before you head on to the next stop along the way.

Upper Geyser Basin

One of the best things to see here is Morning Glory. The colors in this pool are some of the most stunning and bright and vibrant I have ever seen in a natural setting. There are paths around this area that will take you to other active pools, but Morning Glory is the best one of the bunch.

Visit the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is the first canyon downstream from Yellowstone Falls along the Yellowstone River. The canyon is approximately 24 miles long and is an impressive sight to behold. Check out the overlooks for the best views of the falls.

Wildlife viewing

The park is very user friendly, with a very well-connected scenic drive and platforms for access to up close and personal views of these natural wonders of nature. It is one of the best places in the country to see wildlife in their natural habitat. Along the way you can see bison, wolves, grizzly bears, bald eagles, deer and more.

Just remember, these are wild animals and are capable of doing more than just injuring a person. In 2015, 5 visitors were gored by Bison because they got to close. Trust me that selfie isn’t worth it. When we visited there was a family taking pictures standing just a couple feet away from a bull bison and you could tell that bison was getting pretty pissed off. I could feel the anxiety welling up as I just waited for the bison to attack the young child that kept inching closer and closer.

A great spot to see big herds of bison is the Lamar Valley and for large herds of bison, grizzly and black bears, elk, wolves and others, head to Hayden Valley. If you want more information check out my post on the incredible wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.

Watch Old Faithful erupt

This is quintessential Yellowstone. Everyone comes here to see this geyser erupt. It’s kind of crazy just how regular it is. It is also one of the busiest spots in the park, so get there early if you want to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Grand Teton Itinerary

With over 200 miles in trails, there is something here for everyone and the wildlife is out of this world. You will want to give yourself as much time as possible and get an early start if you only have a day or two to visit this park. There are several full day hikes, including Lupine Meadow Trail and Death Canyon Trail. Make sure to bring bear spray with you as it is not uncommon to see them in this park.

Lupine Meadow Trail

We chose to do the Lupine Meadow Trail to Amphitheater Lake first. Roundtrip, this is a strenuous 10.2-mile hike, with an elevation change of 2,980ft. There are a lot of switchbacks on this trail but there are also some really pretty flat, meadow sections where you can see mule deer and ruffled grouse. There are views of the Tetons and Jackson Hole along the way as well. If you are looking to have wildlife encounters, this trail is a good bet.

At one point during this trail we thought we saw a moose in the woods and stopped to check it out. The movement in the trees stopped and I thought that it must have gone off so I continued on along the trail, leaving my boyfriend behind, when suddenly he shouted, “It’s a bear!” I turned and saw a bear slowly meandering across the trail in between us. My heart immediately shot up into my mouth and I did the one thing you should never do, I ran. The bear, however, didn’t care one iota for us and just went on his merry way but my boyfriend was not very impressed. With my adrenaline pumping and him shouting at me that I’m not supposed to run I finally slowed down.

Once I got ahold of myself we rounded a corner to see a peaceful mule dear snacking on the meadow grass. I stopped here, caught my breath and settled my heart down into it’s proper place while I took in the beautiful creature.

About 5 miles into the hike there is a side trail to Surprise Lake.

It’s a short quarter mile hike off the main trail to the lake but it is worth the sidebar if you have the time. After Surprise Lake it’s the final hike to Amphitheater Lake, arguably the most beautiful spot in the park. The lake is surrounded by Middle Teton, Disappointment Peak (11,618-feet), Grand Teton, Mount Owen, and Teewinot Mountain. The views here will take your breath away and it’s a great place to have some lunch.

Death Canyon Trail

We did the Death Canyon Trail the next day and I’m not going to lie I was looking all around me, ever vigilant for bears after the previous days encounter. Honestly, after that encounter I do it on every hike we go on, no matter where in the world I am. Death Canyon Trail is a 10.5-mile trail, if you do the whole thing and is considered strenuous with an approximate elevation gain of about 2,500ft. You can opt to do a shorter version, however, which is what we did, to the Death Canyon Patrol Cabin, which is a strenuous 7.9-miles roundtrip, with an elevation gain of 2040ft. This trail sounds scary but it is a spectacular hike, with beautiful scenery every step of the way.

You start the hike at the Death Canyon Trailhead and after a short distance you will turn onto the Valley Trail, which leads to the Patrol Cabin. At 1 mile you reach the Phelps Lake Overlook, an area surrounded by trees and a beautiful panorama view of Phelps Lake.

At around 1.7-miles you reach the Death Canyon Trail junction and at 2.5-miles you are officially in the Canyon, with a lovely river trickling through and rock walls soring overhead on either side of you. Once you reach the upper part of the canyon the hike levels out and becomes very easy walking. There are lots of spots along the river to stop for lunch (this seems to be a theme for me) and to get some great pictures.

At the end is the historic Death Canyon Patrol Cabin, originally built as a barn in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It became a ranger patrol cabin in 1945 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Concluding Thoughts

Both of these parks are special and must visits when visiting the area. If you are looking for your next National Park adventure check out these top 10 must visit national parks and if you want to add one more on to your Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip, make sure to stop at Glacier National Park (one of my favorite US National Parks).