Yellowstone National Park is huge, the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined. You cannot "do" this park in one day. The minimum recommended days is two but you will only see the big attractions. Most recommend 3-4 days but you could easily stay for a week. We had four days planned for our trip and it was a good amount, anything less and the adults would have been disappointed because there is so much to see. Anything more, and our kids would have revolted.
If you do this itinerary, you will be in the car for 3-4 hours a day and hiking for 3-4 hours a day which leaves you time for meals and a break at night (which you will need). Most summers when you visit the park there will be construction and there were two parts of the park that were inaccessible to us but I don't think we would have had the time or energy to do all the areas.
Our itinerary is assuming that you are entering from the East Entrance.
Day 1-Entering the park at 9:00 AM.
Enter from the East Entrance and go to Yellowstone Lake.
We parked at Yellowstone Lake, ate a meal and enjoyed the amazing view. We were 15 minutes into the park when we were lucky enough to see a mama bear and her cub! If you see 20 cars pulled over, pull over because the odds are good that there is amazing wildlife to be spotted.
From Yellowstone Lake we went to the Natural Bridge, near Bridge Bay which is a one mile walk across and one mile back. This is a great, short hike and fun for bikes.
Next, we hiked Elephant Back Loop. This hike was the most difficult hike that we attempted. It was 3.6 miles from the trail head which was one mile in and one mile out and there is an 800 foot change in elevation. If your family is up for a hike, this one is amazing. We saw one other group and the view is breathtaking. At the top of the trail you see Yellowstone Lake. It is spectacular.
After the hike and lunch, we went to West Thumb Geyser Basin. There are wooden walkways for you to enjoy this attraction and like everything in Yellowstone, it is stunning. This is a crowded area. You see many, many geysers-some next to the lake, some over look the lake and some are under the lake. This is an easy walk, is 2/3 mile and on a wooden walkway or on a path. There are so many amazing geologic features here and the pools are gorgeous!
After West Thumb Geyser Basin, we stopped at Kepler Cascades which is 3 miles south of Old Faithful. Yellowstone is filled with waterfalls and at times you feel like you are looking at a painting-not a real landscape.
**We stayed in West Yellowstone so we entered the park from the West Entrance on all other days
 |  |  |
Yellowstone Lake and one of its geysers. | The West Thumb Geyser Basin | The view from the top of the world at Yellowstone |
Day 2-Entering the park at 8:00 AM
The best times to see Old Faithful is early morning and early evening. During peak summer months, you will watch it blow with thousands of other people. We got there right after it had blown and were lucky to find a bench to sit on but then we had to wait about an hour. (You can't win everything!) This is a good point to have a snack, relax, bring a book.
If you want to watch Old Faithful blow but without all the crowds, there is a hike to see it from above, called Observation Point Trail. We did not do this hike but it was recommended to us by several other families.
Next up is the Artist Paint Pot Trail in Gibbon Meadows. There are mud pots, small geysers and steam vents. This walk is good for all skill levels.
Another site synonymous with Yellowstone is the Grand Prismatic Spring. The boardwalk to see the Grand Prismatic Spring is located at the Midway Geyser Basin and it is stroller and wheelchair accessible. Go to the Grand Prismatic Spring early or late in the day; otherwise plan on waiting to park for 20-30 minutes.
The one hike that we didn't do that we wish we had was the Grand Prismatic Spring Hike. It is actually hard to see the Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk. It is kind of like looking at a pancake. If you want that view that you see in photo books, you need to hike up to view it. The hike is called Fairy Falls Trail Overlook and that is where you get the awesome view. This is on our bucket list for our next trip out there.
(In case you haven't realized yet, Yellowstone is A LOT of walking and A LOT of driving.)
During the afternoon, we spent our time in the Hayden Valley and onto Sulphur Cauldron and Mud Volcanoes. This was one of everyone's favorite areas. It is a beginner- moderate hike but so many amazing, acidic phenomena. The cauldron's have names like Dragon's Mouth Spring and Black Dragon's Caldron. We spent at least two hours exploring here. The Mud Volcano Area has a boardwalk so very accessible. You'll know you are there when you get out of the car and smell that strong sulphur smell!
 |  |  |
The view of Hayden Valley during a hike. | The "Pancake View" of Grand Prismatic Spring | A gurgling mud pot, one of many amazing sites. |
Day 3-Entering the park at 8:00 AM
This day is waterfall day! You can easily spend your day hiking down and up steps (very steep steps) to see the spectacular falls in Yellowstone. Most of these hikes are moderate-to-strenuous. Our five year old did all of them but it was not easy. I suggest reading about the different trails and points and talking to those coming up before heading down any of the paths to see waterfalls.
- Inspiration Point
- Lookout Point
- Upper Falls View
- Uncle Tom's Trail
We also spent time at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, which is another area where you think you are looking at a painting! Twice on this day, we stopped at lodges, took breaks and had ice cream. We were tired!
 |  |  |
Some of the views don't even look real! | We enjoyed ice cream while watching the buffalo | The hikes are worth the view! |
Day 4-
Our final day we went to Mammoth Springs and then we left Yellowstone via Lamar Valley which is a gorgeous way to end your trip. It is the wildest part of the park. At any point, I would recommend you pull over and check out the wildlife and the view. We took a short hike off the beaten path and found gorgeous wildflowers growing on sides of mountains. If I could have stayed longer, it would have been here. It took us the greater part of the morning to drive through Lamar Valley and with our many stops we didn't leave until after noon.
 |  |  |
Mammoth Springs | Taking a side road resulted in us seeing a field of wild flowers. | I would have spent more time in Lamar Valley-so beautiful! |
Want to read more about Yellowstone? Click for our other articles!
| Visiting Yellowstone: Our Guide to Going With Your Family | 10 Tips for a Successful Trip to Yellowstone | Driving to Yellowstone: Good Stops Along the Way |
 |  |  |
