Latitudes with Lucy

I spent the summer of 2023 working in Glacier National Park, and I decided to road trip through Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks on my drive out. I didn’t have a lot of time between the end of the school year and the start of my season in Glacier, so I only had one day to see Yellowstone National Park. Fortunately, you can see many of Yellowstone’s most famous sights in a single day.

Coming from Grand Teton National Park, I entered Yellowstone from the South Entrance. I stayed at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and woke early the morning of May 31 to see as much of Yellowstone as I could on my journey north to Glacier.

The best time of year to visit Yellowstone

My first trip to Yellowstone was in August 2017, and I thought the park was completely overrated. The summer crowds of tourists had scared much of the wildlife deep into the wilderness. On my second visit in May 2023, I had the most magical experience in Yellowstone. Late May is, in my experience, the best time to visit Yellowstone. It probably won’t be snowy (though there is the occasional late season snowstorm), and wildlife sightings are plentiful while tourist season isn’t yet at its peak.

Yellowstone National Park Interactive Map

1. Old Faithful
2. Grand Prismatic Spring
3. Gibbon Falls
4. Artists Paintpots Trail
5. Yellowstone Lake
6. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
7. Tower Fall
8. Mammoth Hot Springs
9. Wildlife

Old Faithful

Watching a geyser erupt should be on everyone’s Yellowstone bucket list. Old Faithful is the park’s most famous geyser because it erupts approximately every 90 minutes, making it easy to catch a show. In the early morning of May 31, there weren’t many people watching Old Faithful erupt, but you should expect a crowd in the summer months. While I waited for Old Faithful to erupt, I wandered the boardwalks around the geyser basin and was lucky enough to catch an additional geyser eruption. You can monitor geyser eruption predictions on the Yellowstone National Park Service website, though the estimated times can be quite variable.

Grand Prismatic Spring

The biggest downside to squeezing Yellowstone into a day was having to visit Grand Prismatic Spring in the early morning. The ideal time to see Grand Prismatic is midday, as the overhead sun should clear up the steam.

There is a boardwalk to the edge of Grand Prismatic, but the best way to admire its vibrant colors is from above. From Fairy Falls Trailhead, take the short trail up to an overlook of Grand Prismatic Spring. Grand Prismatic is a spring, not a geyser, so don’t expect to see it erupt.

Gibbon Falls

This view of Gibbon Falls is just a quick stop along the road. The overlook is only a short walk down a paved trail from the parking area.

Artists Paintpots Trail

Artists Paintpots is my favorite short hike in Yellowstone! A stroll through the forest brings you to a clearing with many brightly colored hydrothermal features. This spot is best known for its “mudpots,” which make the most pleasing bubbling sounds.

Yellowstone Lake

To see Yellowstone Lake, we took a detour from our journey north through the park, and I’m not convinced it was worth the extra time. The view in the picture is near Lake Yellowstone Hotel. We didn’t have enough time to get out on a boat tour or other water excursion, so there wasn’t much to do beyond the view from the parking lot. If you have to cut something for time, this would definitely be my pick. There are plenty of other beautiful mountain vistas in Yellowstone National Park!

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is best seen by its many overlooks. Artist Point and Lookout Point are my two favorites, as they have the best views of Lower Falls.

On our drive from Canyon Village to Tower Junction, we stopped at a random pullout for this incredible mountain valley view.

During my May visit, it was no surprise that we encountered some rain. I loved how lush and green it made the landscape.

Tower Fall

Tower Fall is much smaller than the falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River, but I was still thoroughly impressed. It’s only a short walk to the overlook pictured.

Mammoth Hot Springs

At the very north end of the park, the last stop on my tour of Yellowstone National Park is Mammoth Hot Springs. Even though I’d visited before, I was still shocked on our drive up to Mammoth Hot Springs. The colorful terraces appear in stark contrast to the rest of the hillside, and it feels like stepping onto a different planet as you explore the boardwalks around the springs.

Wildlife

Of course, most visitors’ favorite part of Yellowstone National Park is the wildlife. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see bison, and you also might also spot a moose, elk, wolf, grizzly, or black bear. Bears are frequently spotted in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, but I didn’t see any on this trip. (Fortunately, I had seen moose and bears the previous day in Grand Teton National Park.) I did spot a wolf on my drive out of the North Entrance near Lamar Valley.

Important notes before your visit:

While most guides would probably recommend spending a few days in Yellowstone, you can still get a fantastic impression of the best the park has to offer in just one day. However, my itinerary may not be realistic during peak tourist season in Yellowstone—you might find yourself stuck in traffic or circling parking lots until a spot opens. Additionally, I began my day at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge—if you are coming from outside of the park, you must account for the additional driving time and the line at the entrance station.

While you’re in the area, don’t miss visiting Grand Teton National Park!