We went to Yellowstone National Park for the first time in the summer of 2021. We loved it so much that we have been back two times, and we would go back again any day. We are drawn to Yellowstone because of the wildlife, diversity of landscape, and the ability to find solitude. Here is a list of the things we thought about as we were planning our first trip. 

When to go and for how long

We are both educators so our time frame to travel is pretty limited to summer. We traveled in the beginning of August and found that the weather was nice and the crowds were manageable. Yellowstone is very busy in the summer, but it is big enough that it is easy to escape the masses. Temperatures in August were mild, we were never too hot or too cold.

This was our first time to Yellowstone and we also wanted to add a few days to the trip to visit the Grand Tetons. Plus, since Yellowstone is so large and diverse, we thought it would benefit us to spend time staying in different sections of the park. It is important to remember that it can take a while to drive to different places in Yellowstone, sometimes a few hours. This can be made worse if there is construction or a traffic jam because of wildlife in the area. Remember that you visit a national park to see nature, so slow down and enjoy the ride.

We ended up planning our trip to be twelve days, with eight days in Yellowstone and four days in Grand Tetons. We found that this was more than enough time to really enjoy different parts of the park with great hikes and time for wildlife viewing. You can easily make a shorter itinerary, but I would also was recommend you visit for the maximum amount of time possible. It will pay off.  

Where to stay

There are big benefits to getting up early in Yellowstone. It can help you avoid crowds, get out early on hikes, and wildlife is most active in the morning or evenings. We found that it was best to stay inside the park to allows us to maximize the amount of time we had exploring. 

Yellowstone has nine lodges within the park, each with their own unique character. On our first trip we stayed in Canyon Lodge, Lake Hotel, Old Faithful Inn, and Mammoth Lodge. Spreading out through these four accommodations allowed us fuller access to the park.

Canyon Lodge is a basic hotel format. There is quick access to some services like restaurants, gift shops and visitor centers. It is also a good home base for visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. 

Lake Hotel has historic charm and of course easy access to the lake area. Lake Hotel has a nice restaurant, but both the rooms and meals can be pricey. Lake is such a unique area, be sure to spend some time here.

Old Faithful Inn was our favorite place to stay. We would recommend staying in a historic room. It is well worth the extra few dollars, even if you have to share a bathroom. The Inn has a gift shop, cafe, and restaurant. Of course the main draw is being able to see Old Faithful just by walking outside the main entrance. 

Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is in the northern part of the park. It can get busy in this area because the north entrance is very popular with travelers. The hotel and cabins are both very nice. The hot springs are within walking distance. Lamar Valley is also within a reasonable drive.

What to see

It was important for us to see wildlife including the big five: black bears, grizzlies, gray wolves, elk, and bison. The best places to see wildlife are in Hayden and Lamar Valleys. However, you never know where wildlife is going to appear. We often see bears in the Lake Butte area. Just keep your eyes opened and be ready to safely stop. 

During your first visit you will surely want to see the big draws like Old Faithful, Lake Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. These are all amazing areas, but they can get busy. It’s best to get there early to find parking and get the best view. 

There are plenty of great hikes in the park, of varying difficulty. Read about those in a different post.

What to pack

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Here are top five things to consider packing
1. Hiking boots – a good pair of boots are important. Most hikes aren’t too treacherous, so just make sure they are comfortable and have good traction. Our go to are Oboz Sawtooth Waterproof boots are even better. 

2. Layered hiking clothes – bring layers when you pack. Temperatures can change throughout the day, even in summer. We often found that we we started the day wearing a hoodie and long hiking pants. By afternoon, we were in shorts and a t-shirt. 

3. Binoculars/Spotting Scope – we invested in good binoculars and a spotting scope for our trip. Wildlife is often in the distance and binoculars or a scope allow you to see them safely. Keep an eye among the tree lines. Our go to binoculars are Nikon Monarch M7.

4. Jetboil – There are plenty of restaurants in Yellowstone and places to purchase snacks and groceries. Because we like to be on the go, we also take our Jetboil with us so that we can prepare a hot meal or drink. It’s easy to pull over at a lookout or picnic area and quickly make what you need with a Jetboil.

5. Hiking guide or park guide- Yellowstone is huge and there are so many great hikes to be found. Our go-to hiking guides for all national parks are “Falcon Guides.” They provide a variety of hikes at varying levels and provide specifics to help navigate. Plus they are small to fit in your pack.