Visiting Yellowstone National Park is like visiting Disney World for the first time. You know it’s full of fantastic things to see and do, but you’ll only skim the surface without a good plan. I’ll be the first to admit that I have taken my family to both locations and made this mistake over and over again. While it does keep me going back, limited time and money forces me to question this strategy.
Our family is heading back to Yellowstone this summer, and we will be people on a mission! I don’t often enjoy hurried plans when I’m on vacation. “Hurry up to have fun” is an oxymoron in my book.
I have poured over maps and features to develop a family-approved, fun guaranteed way to maximize park love, retain family love, and make the memories that we deserve. Read on for a balanced, enjoyable itenerary to explore Yellowstone National Park with kids.
Your Yellowstone National Park Itinerary starts at home!
It is important to set the scene, to ensure that your family have a sense of what they will be exploring. You will want to review what makes Yellowstone so special. Offer some “teasers.” Create curiosity. Then, once everyone is excited about the world-class adventure you are about to share, commence the journey…
Stay #1: 2 Nights at Old Faithful Inn
For first time visitors, this is the heart of the park. Between the Inn, the geyser, the visitor center, and the other geothermal features, you should take some time to enjoy it. Plus, you’re never too far from ice cream at the Inn! Stay at Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Lodge Cabins, or Snow Lodge. Check out THIS post for a breakdown and comparison of inside-the-park accommodations.
In the “Old Faithful” leg of your trip, you will enjoy swimming, learning, geysers, hiking, history, and architecture. By the time you factor in a few meals in some to wind down and take in the views, your first Yellowstone stop may already rank as some of the most memorable days in your life!
Here are your top activities for a fun family visit in the Old Faithful region of Yellowstone National Park:
- Firehole Canyon & Swimming Hole
- Fountain Paint Pot & Mud Pots
- Grand Prismatic Springs
- Black Sand Basin
- Old Faithful Geyser
- Old Faithful Visitor Center & Educational Complex
- Grant Village Visitor Center
- Upper Geyser Basin
- Fairy Falls Trail (1.2 miles to 4.8 miles round trip depending on preference)
When you’re ready for a break or some good, old-fashioned, commercial entertainment, head to the park’s west entrance, and enter West Yellowstone, Montana!
Stay #2: 2 Nights in West Yellowstone
That’s right. I’m taking you OUT of the park. After a couple of days of dense learning and geyser viewing, it’s time to pick the proverbial “low hanging fruit.” Families can select a campground or hotel based on amenities they prefer. You’ll spend two nights there. The full West Yellowstone day will include a visit to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, a zipline tour (if age permits) at the Yellowstone Aereal Adventure Park, and evening entertainment at the Playmill Theater (assuming it is in season.)
Here are your top activities for a fun family visit in the West Yellowstone region near Yellowstone National Park:
- Grizzly Wolf & Discovery Center
- Yellowstone Aereal Adventure
- Playmill Theater
- West Yellowstone Visitor Center
- Geyser Basin
- Natural Bridge Trail (3.1mi)
- Museum of National Park Ranger (in Norris on the day you transition to Mammoth)
After your “breather,” you will re-enter the park and head north stopping at the Museum along the way up to Mammoth Hot Springs.
Stay #3: 1 Night in Mammoth Hot Springs
This northern region of the park is often a little less hectic than the southern region. Don’t be fooled, however. It is full of geothermal features that will blow your minds. Also, it is closest to the park’s northern entrance which transports you to Paradise Valley, the setting of the famous “Dutton Ranch!”
You will tour the historic Yellowstone fort, eat great pizza in Gardiner, take your family photo in front of Roosevelt Arch, and test your legs with a bit more hiking. Remember to book your accommodations in the north end of the park: we want to minimize drive time and maximize adventure time!
Here are your top activities for a fun family visit in the Mammoth Hot Springs region of Yellowstone National Park:
- Yellowstone Fort
- Pizza in Gardiner, MT
- Roosevelt Arch (on your way back from pizza at the north entrance)
- Wraith Falls Trail Loop (1mi)
- Beaver Ponds Loop Trail (5mi – moderate hike)
When you’ve had enough pizza and geothermal activies, you’ll take the northern loop and head east, then south to Canyon Village. Be sure to stop in the Valley and see if you can spot some wildlife. Binoculars are a MUST on this leg of your trip!
Stay #4: 2 Nights in Canyon Village
This is the booming hub of the east side of Yellowstone National Park. You will stay near the Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone, hike, learn, and search for wildlife. You absolutely must NOT miss time in Lamar and Hayden Valleys. They are, arguably, the best animal viewing locations in the park. Bring snacks, binoculars, scopes (if you have them,) and camp chairs. Set up for an hour. Bribe the kids with candy, or take Uno or another simple game so they can hang around while you all enjoy the wildest wildlife that the lower 48 has to offer!
Here are your top activities for a fun family visit in the Canyon Village region of Yellowstone National Park:
- Grand Canyon of The Yellowstone vi South Rim Trail Hike (3.5mi rount trip)
- Visitor Education Center
- Mud Volcanoes
- Morning/Evening wildlife viewing at Lamar Valley
- Morning/Evening wildlife viewing at Hayden Valley
- Fishing Bridge Museum & Visitor Center
- Lake Yellowstone via Storm Point Trail (2.4mi loop hike along lake – MUST have bear spray)
When you are thoroughly worn out and the kids are craving town-life, take the park’s east exit, and head to the famous Cody, Wyoming.
Stay #5: 2 Nights in Cody, WY
The old western town of Cody, Wyoming will quickly transport you back to the Old West. You can immerse yourself in “Cowboy Culture” via the rodeo and the Old Town Trail. You can find great restaurants, yummy ice cream, and what happens to be my favorite museum in the country: The Buffalo Bill Center of The West.
Here are your top activities for a fun family visit in the Cody region near Yellowstone National Park:
- Buffalo Bill Center of The West – Even the least enthusiastic museum visitors will enjoy this for half a day or more. If you love museums or are a bit nerdy, you should plan a full day or several visits during your time in Cody.
- Old Trail Town
- Rodeo
- Ice cream!
Bonus Activity
If you have the energy and are committed to seeing the park’s most famous apex predators, consider booking a wildlife tour. We love the full-day chartered safaris; however, if your kids are young and you want a shorter adventure, this four-hour, guided tour will be a great way to spend an evening in Yellowstone.
More Yellowstone Trip-Planning Tools:
- Best Airports to access Yellowstone
- Best Dude Ranches near Yellowstone
- Story of the Wolves
- Story of the Bison
- Comprehensive list of Yellowstone exhibits
- In-park accommodations for Yellowstone and how to get reservations
- How to spot wolves and bears in Yellowstone
- Family-friendly campgrounds near Yellowstone
Final Thoughts
Now that your entire family has a collection of epic memories set in the most surreal park in our nation, you can head home. And in a few months, when your energy has returned, you will be dreaming of your next adventure in Yellowstone National Park. Ask me how I know.
