An easy favorite in the National Park system. I took three full days (10+ hours/day) to get through only a top layer of the ~2.2 million acres. The US-89 entrance to the park (north, from Montana) was closed due to flood damage to the roadway so I used the West Yellowstone entrance. Your itinerary may vary based on accessibility.
Day 1: Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring were the main attractions, with several stops along the way. These are the iconic attractions visitors see in the park. They are the most accessible, easiest to get to, and offer lots of drama.
Pro Tip: I stayed the night in the park at a lodge in West Thumb / Grant Village area. Accommodation fills up quick so plan ahead or be flexible with staying outside the park (which means more driving).
Day 2: Lake Village and Canyon Village areas. As the names imply, you’ll see Yellowstone Lake and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
I would have preferred to stay outside the park in Montana, but again, the North Entrance was closed due to flood damage. I stayed in West Yellowstone for the night.
Day 3: Mammoth Hot Spring to Tower Roosevelt loop. This area offers other-worldly views of bubbling mudpots, sulphur springs, and highly acidic hot springs.
Pro Tip: Stay out of the water, unless in designated swim areas at authorized times. Not only does this protect the park ecosystem, its important for the safety of park visitors. One hot spring was closed off a few days before my visit because a tourist wanted to get in the water. The hot water, combined with high levels of acid resulted in death. All they found of the person was the rubber on their shoes…no joke!
