Yellowstone and Grand Teton sit next to each other in northwest Wyoming, connected by a short parkway that makes it easy to visit both in one trip.
Yellowstone is built around its geothermal features, with more than 500 geysers and hot springs concentrated along the park’s Grand Loop Road. Grand Teton, just south, is smaller and more focused on mountain scenery, with the jagged Teton Range rising directly above Jackson Lake and several accessible trailheads.
Wildlife sightings are common in both parks, particularly bison, elk, and occasionally bears, especially in early morning and evening hours. Traffic can back up quickly around popular pullouts, so patience matters more here than driving speed.
Most people spend 5 to 7 days covering both parks, since Yellowstone alone has enough sights to fill several days on its own.
Route Details: Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip
West Yellowstone to Old Faithful (30 miles)
Entering from West Yellowstone, the road follows the Madison River before reaching the Upper Geyser Basin, home to Old Faithful, which erupts roughly every 90 minutes and remains fairly predictable compared to the park’s other geysers. The nearby Old Faithful Inn, built in 1904, is worth a walk-through even without a reservation to stay there.
Old Faithful to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (45 miles)
This stretch passes through the Midway Geyser Basin, home to the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States and known for its rainbow coloring caused by heat-loving bacteria. Farther along, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone offers views of the Yellowstone River dropping over two major waterfalls, with several overlooks accessible by short walks from the parking areas.
Grand Canyon to Hayden Valley (20 miles)
Hayden Valley is one of the most reliable spots in the park to see bison, often in large herds grazing near the road, and occasionally wolves in early morning hours. Traffic jams caused by wildlife sightings, sometimes called “bear jams” or “bison jams,” are common here and worth budgeting extra time for.
Hayden Valley to Lake Yellowstone (15 miles)
Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America, sits along this stretch, with the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel offering lake views from its front porch. The West Thumb Geyser Basin, right on the lake’s edge, has geothermal features steaming directly next to the water.
Yellowstone to Grand Teton (30 miles)
The John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway connects the two parks, passing through open sagebrush flats with the Teton Range visible ahead. Once inside Grand Teton, Jenny Lake sits directly below the peaks, with a boat shuttle available across the lake to shorten the hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point.
Grand Teton to Jackson (30 miles)
The final stretch follows the base of the Tetons south toward Jackson, passing Jackson Lake and several pullouts with unobstructed mountain views. Jackson itself has a walkable downtown built around a town square with elk antler arches, and serves as the trip’s final overnight stop before heading home or on to other destinations.
Use the trip planner to build a day-by-day road trip itinerary based on your available time and starting point.
