Yellowstone National Park is one of America’s greatest natural landmarks. Spreading into three states, the park is home to several attractions, from hydrothermal features to mountain hikes to sparkling lakes.
Below, we’ve planned a flexible Yellowstone National Park 7-Day itinerary to help you see the best of the park in just a week.
Guide to the Perfect Yellowstone National Park 7-Day Itinerary
Note: 2022 has brought unprecedented flooding to Yellowstone National Park, and as a result, some roads and attractions are closed until further notice. This itinerary works on the basis that all attractions will eventually open again. Please check with the official website as to whether each road and destination is open to the public.
Accommodation
For a period of seven days, you can either stay in the same accommodation for your whole trip to Yellowstone or move hotels to minimize your driving time between landmarks.
If you plan on staying in the same location for your whole trip, we recommend staying centrally near the Canyon Village area of the park. This gives you the closest proximity to all the destinations in the park overall. In particular, we recommend staying at the Canyon Lodge & Cabins.
We have planned the itinerary so that you’ll be visiting attractions close to one another on the same days, making it easier to plan your accommodation in relation to your schedule.
The first two days feature destinations on the western side of the park. Days three, four, and five feature mostly central and southern locations. And days six and seven will take you to the north and northeast.
If you would like to switch up accommodation, you can stay either inside the park or in the gateway communities around the perimeters of Yellowstone that are in closer proximity to each attraction.
Day 1
Morning: Old Faithful and Upper Geyser Basin
Located in Upper Geyser Basin on the western side of the park, Old Faithful is one of the most famous sights in Yellowstone. We’ve listed this as your first stop so that your trip is guaranteed to get off to a breathtaking start!
An impressive active geyser, Old Faithful erupts every 79 minutes, on average. While you might be waiting slightly longer, or for slightly less time, it’s easy to plan your visit to coincide with the next eruption. You can find out about the upcoming eruption times at the Visitor Center.
Once you arrive in the area, secure your place on the boardwalk to watch the eruption. This usually fills up fast, especially in the summer months, but you should be able to beat the crowds by arriving early in the morning.