One Day In Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone is a really special park, of course, one of the reasons being that it was America’s first National Park! Although it’s one of the most visited National Parks it also feels wilder and more untamed than most other parks I’ve been to. After all, it is a supervolcano where bison have roamed continuously since prehistoric times. If this is your first trip to Yellowstone, you may not realize how enormous the park is at roughly 2.2 million (yes, MILLION) acres. It may seem impossible to get to the highlights in one day, but if are pressed for time, don’t worry, I’ve got you! 

For More On Yellowstone National Park: 

Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist 

The One Place You Can’t Miss In Yellowstone National Park

First-Timers Guide To Yellowstone National Park

Is Yellowstone National Park Dog Friendly?

Know Before You Go: Yellowstone National Park Edition 

• You will need a park pass for visiting Yellowstone. It’s $35 for a week. Or you can purchase America The Beautiful Pass for $80 and have unlimited access to all National Parks. You can buy your America The Beautiful Pass here.
• For the 2021 Season – There are planned road closures in the park on the Grand Loop Road between Tower Falls and Chittenden Road. It will be closed until May of 2022, and it was closed during my visit last year as well. 
• You are probably severely underestimating the size of Yellowstone. It takes hours and hours of driving to get around the park. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all beautiful but it’s way bigger than you think. 
  • It’s 2.2 million acres, just to put that into perspective. 
  • Find a map here.
• Yellowstone is actually in 3 different states. Most of the park lies within Wyoming, but there are small parts in both Montana and Idaho. 
• I didn’t know this until my trip last fall, but bison eyes do not glow in the dark as deer and elk do. So, if you are visiting a bison heavy area (Lamar or Hayden Valley) make sure to leave before it gets completely dark. You will never see them. 
• Pets are prohibited in most areas at Yellowstone National Park. They are permitted in Mammoth Village and Old Faithful (just not on the boardwalk).
• I recommend downloading the Yellowstone National Park app if you are trying to see this all in one day. It’s the best way to try to time out Old Faithful’s timing. 

Keep In Mind: Yellowstone National Park Edition 

• If you are traveling to Yellowstone, I highly recommend staying for at least a week, but 2 weeks is better. There is so much to see that trying to pack it all into a few days isn’t possible. 

• With the park being 2.2 million acres if you are trying to see the highlight reel in one day then you are going to have a very full day with a lot of driving. 

• Pack snacks and a lunch because there are very few food options within park boundaries, but there are tons of awesome places to stop off and have beautiful lunch views. 

• I was coming from Montana each day and entered the park through the North Entrance, if you are entering through a different entrance you may need to adjust your plans a bit. 

• I visited the park in late September, and sunrise and sunset times may vary depending on when you visit. 

Yellowstone National Park In One Day

1. Grab Breakfast On The Go And Head To Lamar Valley For Sunrise – 

I can’t stress enough how Lamar Valley is an absolute must for any trip to Yellowstone (I’m writing an entire post on it soon). I highly recommend sunrise or sunset in Lamar and they are equally beautiful. Between one sunrise and one sunset trip to the valley, I saw thousands of bison, 2 packs of wolves, a grizzly, a moose, and coyotes. It was amazing and the absolute highlight of my entire trip. 

Check Out: The One Place You Can’t Miss At Yellowstone National Park

2. After Lamar Valley swing through Mammoth Hot Springs – 

Travel Time: 54 mins 

Check out Mammoth Hot Springs and then head to Mammoth Village where you can walk pups, check out the elk who hang around the village (especially during rut) and grab a quick bite if you skipped breakfast. Stop at the Mammoth Grill and grab some bison brats. 

Tip – Mammoth Village is very dog friendly but remember to keep your dogs on leashes because elk randomly roam through the village. 

Tip – Going from North to West Yellowstone the landscape is very alpine. Make sure to pay attention to all of the different scenery you will see in Yellowstone in a single day of travel. 

3. Stop At The Roaring Mountain – 

Travel Time: 40ish mins

Just north of Norris on the Norris–Mammoth section of the Grand Loop Road, you will find the Roaring Mountain. It is a large, acidic thermal area that contains many fumaroles. During the 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles were greater than today. So, the mountain used to roar but now it basically hisses. It’s very cool to see either way. 

4. Check Out Gibbon Falls – 

A waterfall with no hike required? Perfect, for a day of trying to see as much as you possibly can. Gibbons Falls is an impressive 84-foot (26-m) waterfall that tumbles over remnants of the Yellowstone Caldera rim. The rock wall on the opposite side of the road from the waterfall is the inner rim of the caldera. There is a large parking area, and a very long viewing walkway to take in this stunning waterfall. Making it a no-brainer for your highlight reel. 

5. Make Time For At Least One Thermal Feature  – 

There are so many thermal features t choose from in the park. However, some are insanely packed while others you get all to yourself. If you prefer the later, I highly recommend stopping at Beryl Spring. 

Beryl Spring – 

This spring is found right at a pullout along the Gibbon River, making it very accessible. It is a large superheated pool and boils up to a height of 4 feet. It is also one of the hottest springs in Yellowstone, averaging 196 °F (91 °C). 

Artist Paintpots – 

This is another small but beautiful thermal area just south of Norris Junction. A one-mile loop trail takes you to colorful hot springs, two large mudpots, and through a section of forest burned in 1988. It’s a quick walk to see a lot of beauty and you need to stretch your legs anyway! 

Check Out: The First-Timers Guide To Yellowstone National Park

6. Make a detour to West Yellowstone – 

If you are coming from North Yellowstone, like I was, then you definitely want to check out West Yellowstone. 

If you skipped other meals today stop at 

The Buffalo Bar

• 335 US-20, West Yellowstone, MT 59758

They have a really nice patio, try the bison tacos the huckleberry lemonade, and thank me later! 

And because we want all things Huckleberry while visiting Yellowstone National Park grab dessert at

Espresso And Ice Cream House

• 21 N Canyon St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758

For some yummy huckleberry ice cream! 

West Yellowstone is a really cute area that has a ton of restaurants and charming shops. It’s definitely worth a visit if you have the time. 

7. Next Stop – Grand Prismatic Spring 

Drive Time: 15 mins 

Of course, you’ve got to visit Grand Prismatic Spring for your highlight reel day.

Here are some fun facts about Grand Prismatic: 

• It’s the most photographed thermal feature at Yellowstone. 

• Extremely hot water travels about 121 ft from the earth to reach the surface of this spring. 

• This spring is bigger than a football field. 

• The colored layers get their beautiful hues from bacteria (thermophile) that live in the cooler waters around Spring. 

Tip – Keep your distance from any and all thermal features in Yellowstone. They are responsible for more deaths than anything else inside the park. 

8. Head To Old Faithful – 

Yep, it’s time to see the highlight of everyone’s Yellowstone National Park trip, Old Faithful. You see, the thing about Old Faithful is that she isn’t really that faithful. Haha There is no time schedule as her eruptions are naturally occurring. They generally happen every 30-45 mins but that is not a guarantee by any means. But it’s worth the wait to see Old Faithful at least once during your visit. 

Tip – This area is dog friendly! They are not allowed on the viewing platform, but they are allowed behind it. Trust me, you can still see the eruption from back there. 

Check Out: Yellowstone National Park Bucketlist

9. Take In The Views At Yellowstone Lake – 

You’ve started your return trip, heading back toward Mammoth Hot Springs. But on the way make sure to stop at Yellowstone Lake to take in those beautiful views. This is actually the largest high elevation lake in North America. And it’s insanely beautiful! This lake is also the home to the highest population of cutthroat trouts in North America. Not only that but, the earliest archeological evidence in the park was found on the shore of this beautiful lake.  It’s a must visit in my opinion.

10. Last Stop – Grand Canyon Of Yellowstone – 

Depending on the time of year you may not be able to do both the upper falls and lower falls. While I suggest that you do both, if you can only choose one, I would choose South Rim Drive. Purely because Artists Point gives you the most iconic view of the falls. 

However, if you find yourself on the North Rim Drive, check out Inspiration Point, it’s beautiful! 

Options: 

11. Mammoth Hot Springs (If You Didn’t Stop Earlier) – 

Drive Time: About 2 hours 

If you didn’t stop at Mammoth Hot Springs because it was so packed earlier in the day, swing by on your way out of the park. It tends to be less crowded in the evenings. Don’t skip Mammoth Hot Springs it’s a must-see feature of Yellowstone National Park in part because they’re so different from other thermal areas inside the park. This feature has been described as a cave turned inside out, and I completely agree. 

There will probably be elk in Mammoth Village at this time as well. If you are visiting during rut make sure to keep an ear out for those hauntingly beautiful bugles. 

12. If You Leave Through The North Entrance and Starving After A Long Day In The Park – 

Yellowstone Pizza Company 

• 210 E Park St, Gardiner, MT 59030

Try the Soda Butte Elk Pizza, so good, or the Hayden Valley Bison Pizza, yum! 

If you are anything like me, by the end of the day you will leave the park happy and exhausted. Yellowstone is such an extraordinary place that I recommend visiting for at least a week, if not longer. It’s hard to take in all that Yellowstone has to offer in any less time. However, if you only have a day to spare this is the perfect way to see the Yellowstone Highlight Reel in just one day! Have you tried to squeeze as much as you could into a day at Yellowstone?

Let me know what you think! 

Like This Post? Pin It For Later!