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Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park? Been there, done that. Look no further as you plan your trip and read below a very efficient way to make the most of your time. I have curated the perfect must-do 48 hour intinerary for Yellowstone National Park! Starting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and entering the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park, keep on reading if you plan to start from the south entrance.

Day 1:

You’re going to want to start your morning as early as possible! Leaving from Jackson, Wyoming, make sure to bring a cooler full of water, drinks, your favorite road trip snacks, and whatever else.

Leave Early

Have the car packed, and plan to leave Jackson, Wyoming at 6:00 am. You will want to drive towards Grand Teton National Park and head north on U.S. Highway 89. Enjoy the beauty of the Tetons while you make your way up north and closer to Yellowstone National Park.

First Stop: Coltor Bay Village

After driving through the Tetons, make a stop at Colter Bay Village for a bathroom break and to grab any other necessities you might need (ice, more snacks, and OF COURSE you must grab a coffee or latte from the cafe)

More driving, more driving. hop back in the car and drive about 30 minutes more until you find yourself at the entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Second Stop: Yellowstone National Park Welcome Entrance

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park, the World’s First National Park.

On March 1, 1872, Yellowstone became the first national park for all to enjoy the unique hydrothermal and geologic features. Within Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres, visitors have unparalleled opportunities to observe wildlife in an intact ecosystem, explore geothermal areas that contain about half the world’s active geysers, and view geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

This calls for a picture opportunity infront of the Yellowstone National Park entrance sign, of course.

Third Stop: Moose Falls

A waterfall that is usually just driven right past, Moose Falls is only 7 minutes from the entrance of Yellowstone. It is a great feeler for what to expect the rest of your journey. A beautiful waterfall, I would recommend stopping at Moose Falls and seeing the beauty of God’s creation.

Fourth Stop: Lewis Falls & Lewis Lake

After enjoying the serenity of Moose Falls, keep traveling north on the South Entrance Road until you reach Lewis Falls & Lewis Lake. Take a break, step out and explore this beautiful campground and lake.

Fifth Stop: Old Faithful

A must-stop in your trip to Yellowstone, Old Faithful was named in 1870 during the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park to be named. It is a highly predictable geothermal feature and has erupted every 44 minutes to two hours since 2000.

Make sure to allocate enough time in your day to be able to stop and wait for a while at Old Faithful for it to erupt.

Sixth Stop: Grand Prismatic Spring

Located in Midway Geyser Basin, this is Yellowstone’s largest hot spring. Parking can be limited, so if you are unable to find a spot and don’t want to wait, explore all of the basins and hotsprings surrounding the Midway Geyser Basin instead!

Seventh Stop: Firehole Falls

A waterfall located on the Firehole River, the view is breathtaking. Make sure to take the scenic route on your drive and get great views of the Firehole River stretching and winding through the valleys of Yellowstone.

Eighth Stop: Eighth Stop: Artists Paintpot

Three miles south of Norris Geyser Basin, the equally large but generally less active Gibbon Geyser Basin contains several dispersed collections of thermal features of which the most popular is Artists Paint Pots, a group of over 50 springs, geysers, vents and especially mud pots. These exhibit varying shades of blue, grey and brown, and have a range of different textures, with the behavior changing during the year depending on the amount of subterranean water.

Ninth Stop: Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic of Yellowstone’s thermal areas. Boardwalks wind through the Norris Geyser Basin for safely viewing hydrothermal features.

Tenth Stop: Roaring Mountain

Roaring Mountain is a large, acidic thermal area (solfatara) that contains many steam vents (fumaroles). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the number, size, and power of the fumaroles was much greater than today.

Eleventh Stop: Sheepeater Cliff

This is a really cool stop! Sheepeater Cliff is made up of columnar basalt deposited by lava flows roughly 500,000 years ago. The Gardner River flows through the valley, exposing the flow and forming the cliff. The basalt of Sheepeater Cliff are known as columnar basalt due to the hexagonal fracture lines that formed in the basalt when it cooled.

Check it out!

Twelveth Stop: Mammoth Hot Springs

Mammoth Hot Springs is an extremely cool stop on your journey. You can walk on boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal features, or take a drive around the vibrant travertine terraces. In the winter, ski or snowshoe among the whiffs of sulfur along the Upper Terraces.

Thirteenth Stop: Roosevelt Arch

An arch with a lot of history, click here to read ten fascinating facts about the Roosevelt Arch. This is a cool stop, right in side the town of Gardiner, Montana.

Stop: Gardiner, Montana

Home, sweet home for the night! Gardiner, Montana is a very small town right next to the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park. It is a beautiful, green town in the summer. And of course, white in the winters.

Fifteenth Stop: Accommodation

You are welcome to stay anywhere, but we stayed at the cutest cottages in Gardiner. Click here to view the Hillcrest Cottages, which is where we stayed. It was a perfect place for one night and a great view of the town of Gardiner and overlooks valleys and valleys of roaring green hills.

Sixteenth Stop: Groceries

Get groceries! After a long day in the car, you need a restock. There is only one grocery store in the town of Gardiner, so it should not be too hard to find. Stock up on some drinks, snacks, and anything else you may want.

Seventeenth Stop: Dinner

Gardiner, MT has multiple dinner spots! Feel free to pick whatever you want. If you don’t plan to make a meal at your accomodation or cook something over a fire, click here to view a list of restaurants in the area.

Day 2:

Good morning from Gardiner, Montana! After a refreshing night of sleep, you will want to head out early to get started on your journey back to Jackson, Wyoming.

Leave Early

First Stop: Coffee

I recommend Bear Brew. It is opened early, and the coffee and breakfast choices are delicious. Homemade pastries and other items put the perfect touch on their menu.

Second Stop: Undine Falls

After getting your coffee fix and saying goodbye to the Roosevelt Arch, your next stop on your journey down the southeast side of Yellowstone is Undine Falls. A beautiful waterfall, it is a great view to start your early journey.

Third Stop: Wraith Falls

Not far behind Undine Falls, your third stop of the morning is Wraith Falls. What a beautiful view. The waterfalls are all different and unique, so make sure to check them out while you can. Wraith Falls is a cascading 100ft waterfall.

Fourth Stop: Petrified Tree

An easy and quick stop, you might as well check it out! The petrification process in Yellowstone is unique because it has preserved the organic matter and actual cells of the wood within the minerals.

Sixth Stop: Mount Washburn & Dunraven Pass

Mount Washburn is one of three fire lookout stations in Yellowstone. It is continuously staffed from mid-June until the fire season ends. It is a beautiful mountain and the scenic route is definitely something you should look into doing. With an elevation of 10,219 feet, this is a great view. Dunraven pass is the twisty mountain pass that you will drive through while exploring the views.

Seventh Stop: Canyon Village

Definitely a main stopping point on your journey through Yellowstone, Canyon Village is home to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Explore views from Upper Falls, Lower Falls, and most known, Artist Point.

This is a great stop for a bathroom break and a good place to stop for souveniers, food, and drinks.

Personally, Artist Point is my all time favorite part of Yellowstone National Park. It is significantly admireable and a view you will always dream of seeing again.

Eighth Stop: Sulfer Caldron & Mud Volcano

These two are very close to each other. Sulphur Caldron is one of the most acidic hot springs in Yellowstone. Sulphur Caldron’s turbulent waters have a pH of approximately 1-2, which is similar to car battery acid or stomach fluids. Its name comes from the large amounts of free sulfur in its waters.

Early explorers to Yellowstone described the Mud Volcano features as a “most repulsive and terrifying site.” It is likely a violent eruption blew out the cone’s side, leaving the crater you see today. The water constantly undercuts the back wall and is rich in iron sulfides.

Mudpots surround this stop, and will really let you feel and experience the sulferic smell of rotten eggs. Some microorganisms use hydrogen sulfide, which rises from deep within the earth, as an energy source. They help convert the gas to sulfuric acid, which breaks down rock to wet clay mud and creates the area’s smell. The pungent odor of rotten eggs is caused by the hydrogen sulfide gas.

Ninth Stop: Lake Village

Along the northwest corner of Yellowstone Lake, three park villages (Bridge Bay, Lake Village, and Fishing Bridge) offer a variety of services and activities. You can spend the night at a campground, lodge, or beautiful Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

This is a good swimming and fishing spot. The scenic route wraps around and puts you up close to Yellowstone Lake. It is a beautiful drive!

Tenth Stop: West Thumb Geyser Basin

This is your last stop of the great Yellowstone National Park, so make it worth your while! The West Thumb area was the first Yellowstone feature to be written about in a publication. Daniel T. Potts, a trapper in the Yellowstone region in the 1820s, wrote a letter to his brother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, regarding his experiences in this area. With an Abyss Pool. Fishing Cone, it is a sight you will never see anywhere else.

Map:

After a long two days of traveling through Yellowstone National Park, you can now sit back and relax, go through all of your photos, and admire the beauty of America’s first National Park! It is definitely a must-see and must-do activity. I hope my 48-hour itinerary was helpful. Comment below your favorite moments of Yellowstone, and have fun!