The Ultimate Yellowstone Bucket List: Top 17 Things to See & Do

Planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park and wondering what attractions should be on your must-see Yellowstone bucket list?

Yellowstone is a massive park with so much to see and do. At over 3500 square miles with 5 entrances, 900 miles of hiking trails, 11 geyser basins, and its own Grand Canyon, planning a bucket list here can be super overwhelming!

My husband and I spent 5 full days thoroughly exploring Yellowstone National Park in July of 2023. We stayed in three different areas of the park and saw everything on the map!

Based on our experience, I’ve compiled the 17 best things to do and see in Yellowstone National Park for your bucket list. 

These things range from super popular attractions (like Old Faithful) to lesser-known areas that are still breathtaking. They can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours to visit!

This is a great list if you’re a first-time visitor and want to see the best attractions.

Yellowstone National Park Overview

Yellowstone is a huge park. It is larger than both states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined! 

Yellowstone is also home to one of the most geologically diverse areas in the world. The Yellowstone Caldera is one of the largest active volcanic systems in the world and is home to some really unique features. Bubbling mud pots, massive hot springs, abundant wildlife, towering waterfalls, and pungent fumaroles are just a few.

Yellowstone is also the world’s first National Park, earning its status in 1872. It’s also one of the most visited National Parks, at just over 4 million visitors per year.

You can expect large crowds during the summer due to the short tourist season and popularity (but don’t worry, I have tips on how to beat the crowds throughout this post!).

There are 5 entrances into Yellowstone National Park and each entrance has a “gateway town” outside the entrance along with an in-park “village” with lodging, food, and gas stations (for more information on each of the Yellowstone entrances, gateway towns, and the best places to stay, check out this post).

Despite its popularity, Yellowstone National Park does not have any in-park shuttles or require reservations. You drive your own vehicle around at your own pace.

The roads in Yellowstone form a figure 8 that connect all the main attractions in the park. Grand Loop Road is the main road on the outside, and Norris-Canyon Road divides the Grand Loop Road into a figure 8. The figure 8 is often referred to as the “North Loop” and the “South Loop.”

Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park

The best time to visit Yellowstone National Park is in the summer. Most of the park roads are closed from October to May, so it’s really tough to see the best attractions if you travel during this time (check hours for each region on the NPS website here).

Yes, the summer will have large crowds, but the weather will be amazing and the direct sunlight will really make the colors in the hot springs pop!

A happy medium between crowds and good weather is to visit in September after Labor Day.

The Yellowstone bucket things items in this post assume you are visiting when the park is fully open during the summer.

Related: 12 Essential Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Summer

How Many Days Do You Need at Yellowstone National Park?

You will want 3-5 days for your visit to Yellowstone National Park. You can breeze by the main attractions in 2 or less days, but spending more time allows you to thoroughly visit all the major areas and explore at a more leisurely pace.

Lots of tourists don’t understand how huge Yellowstone is, so you’ll likely be spending more time driving to and from attractions than you initially expect. 

Reserving 4-5 days for your first visit will allow you to see the main highlights and do a few hikes in lesser-visited regions (you’ll need at least 4 days to see everything on this Yellowstone bucket list!).

I wrote a whole blog post on the ultimate itinerary for spending 1-5 days in Yellowstone here, how to drive through Yellowstone in one day here, and the ultimate 9-day itinerary for visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park here.

How to Get to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming (and stretches into small parts of Montana and Idaho).

You will need to rent a car to get around, as there are no shuttles that travel to the park outside of private tour groups.

If you plan to fly because you live thousands of miles away and don’t have enough vacation time to justify a 3+ day drive to get to Yellowstone (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything!), the closest airports are Bozeman, Billings, and Jackson Hole. 

These are all pretty small airports and flights can be expensive, so Salt Lake City can be a good option for cheaper flights. It will take you about 5 hours to drive to Yellowstone though, so one of the smaller airports might be best depending on flight and gas prices!

We had a good experience flying and out of Bozeman during our trip.

Where to Stay at Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has 9 lodges spread throughout 6 different areas inside the park. While I normally don’t recommend staying inside National Parks because it is more expensive and there are less included amenities, Yellowstone is an exception. 

Because of how large it is, you can easily spend an hour or more driving between the nearest town outside the park and the best attractions. It is 100% worth it to spend the extra money for the location convenience to stay inside the park. 

The only exception to this rule is staying in Gardiner instead of the Mammoth Hotel since it is so close to the north entrance. Everywhere else, plan to stay inside the park!

Here are the 6 in-park lodging locations in Yellowstone:

• Mammoth Village
• Tower-Roosevelt
• Canyon Village
• Lake Village
• Grant Village
• Old Faithful

I also highly recommend staying in at least two different areas of the park. I know it’s annoying to have to pack and repack to move locations, but minimizing your driving time through the park is worth it. Old Faithful and Canyon Village are the most centrally located areas.

These in-park lodges book up really fast, so I recommend booking 6-12 months in advance. I know that sounds crazy, but a good Yellowstone trip takes some major in-advance planning!

All of the lodges are managed by Xanterra. More information and online booking can be found on their website here.

The Ultimate Yellowstone Bucket List

I’ve listed out the top 17 things to do and see in Yellowstone below, in no particular order. I’ve listed the location, closest park lodge, time needed to visit and more to help you plan your trip.

1. Old Faithful

Watching Old Faithful erupt is the classic Yellowstone bucket list item. Old Faithful erupts every 35 – 120 minutes and an eruption lasts between 1.5 and 5 minutes.

The predicted eruption times are posted around the Old Faithful area. You can also find them on the NPS website here.

The most popular way to experience Old Faithful is to watch an eruption at the viewing area (I recommend getting here 30 minutes before the next predicted eruption if you want a seat), but you can also hike up to Observation Point for a birds’ eye view or watch from a distance from the Old Faithful Inn viewing deck.

This area is the most popular area of Yellowstone National Park, and the amenities reflect that. There is a giant parking lot and multiple lodges and restaurants. 

Pro tip: don’t leave the Old Faithful area right after Old Faithful erupts. Most people head to their cars right after an eruption, and the traffic can be crazy!

Related: Visiting the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone (How to Beat the Crowds, Tips, & More!)

2. Grand Prismatic Spring

Aside from Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring is probably one of the first things you picture when you think of Yellowstone National Park.

The colors and size of Grand Prismatic Spring are truly iconic. The spring measures over 300 feet in diameter and over 121 feet deep! 

There are 2 ways to experience Grand Prismatic Spring: by walking the boardwalks in Midway Geyser Basin and hiking the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail. I highly recommend doing both!

Parking is extremely limited at the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk trail. Don’t even try to get a parking spot here midday- it is just complete chaos. Park a quarter mile down the road and walk. Your life will be a lot easier this way!

The Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail is located at the Fairy Falls Trailhead. There is a large parking lot here, but it still fills up midday and you’ll likely need to park along the road.

The best time to visit this area is midday or early evening. If you go too early (before 11 am), the springs are covered with steam and you can’t see the colors. 

Midday is truly best because the direct sunlight illuminates the colors, but the crowds are enormous. It is still worth going at midday and braving the crowds to see the colors, though.

3. Mammoth Hot Springs

The Mammoth Hot Springs do live up to their name- they are huge! Admire these ever-changing terraces filled with water and bacteria creating the perfect copper colors draping over layers of travertine. 

Please note that these are not hot springs to swim in like in other parts of the country! The water in the Yellowstone hot springs is boiling hot and highly acidic- do not touch the water or stray off the boardwalk trails.

The boardwalks here are split into the upper and lower terraces. You can hike between them or drive to each area separately. The entire trail is just over 2 miles with minimal elevation gain.

We started at the lower terraces and hiked up to the upper terraces. I’d recommend getting an early start here, as parking at the lower terraces fills up quick!

Related: Yellowstone National Park North Entrance Attractions: A Complete Guide

4. Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a 20-mile long canyon carved by the Yellowstone River. This area is unique because it is also home to geothermal activity (you’ll often see puffs of steam coming out of the canyon walls!).

Rhyolite, calcite, and iron compounds make up the bright colors you’ll see at various viewpoints along the north and south rims.

2 of the 3 major waterfalls on the Yellowstone River are also located here, the Upper and Lower Falls (the third waterfall is Tower Fall, located 18 miles north off of Grand Loop Road- more on that below!). 

The Lower Falls are the tallest of the 3, standing at over 300 feet high! The jaw-dropping views combined with gorgeous waterfalls make visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone a must on any Yellowstone bucket list.

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is broken up into 3 major areas: the North Rim, the South Rim, and the Brink of the Upper Falls (technically on the North Rim but it has its own separate road and parking lot, so I’m listing it as a separate area).

The most efficient way to explore the viewpoints here is to drive to each one (there is parking at each viewpoint location). 

My favorite viewpoints were Lookout Point, Inspiration Point, and the brink of the Lower Falls Trail on the North Rim and the Upper Falls View and Artist Point overlooks on the South Rim. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

5. Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is a widely expansive valley that is home to a ton of wildlife in Yellowstone. You’ll see visitors and photographers camped out here for hours looking for bison, elk, coyotes, bears, and more!

We personally just drove through Lamar Valley on our way into Yellowstone and we still saw hundreds of bison grazing in the valley. It was absolutely magical!

This should go without saying, but DO NOT APPROACH WILDLIFE. It’s best to view them from the safety of your vehicle and take photos from a distance. 

Animals are most active early in the morning or late at night, so plan a wildlife spotting adventure then to increase your chances of seeing wildlife!

6. Upper Geyser Basin

Even though the Upper Geyser Basin is most famous for Old Faithful, there is so much more to see here. 

The Upper Geyser Basin is the world’s most densely-concentrated area of hot springs, fumaroles, and geysers. There are over 150 hydrothermal wonders here!

There is a pretty extensive boardwalk trail system here that spans almost 5 miles in total. Exploring the entire area will take you 3-5 hours and is well worth it.

Even though this area is the most crowded area of Yellowstone, the long boardwalk trails do a good job of mitigating the crowds once you leave the Old Faithful viewing area.

Related: All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked

7. Hike Mt. Washburn

If you’re up for a fantastic but strenuous hike, put the  Mt. Washburn Trail on your Yellowstone bucket list! 

This hike is 6.8 miles with almost 1400 feet of elevation gain (and you’ll be hiking at elevation so keep that in mind!), but rewards you with panoramic views over the entire park. The peak is the second highest point in Yellowstone and has a fire tower lookout and restrooms at the top.

There are two ways to hike to Mt. Washburn- via Dunraven Pass or Chittenden Road. The Dunraven Pass route is more wooded and a bit longer, and the Chittenden Road route has you hiking up a service road but is a slightly shorter trail.

Make sure you buy or rent bear spray for this hike!

8. Norris Geyser Basin

Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest, oldest, and most dynamic geyser basin in Yellowstone. The variation in colors and features here blew me away!

It’s also home to Steamboat Geyser, the tallest active geyser in the world. Eruptions are now pretty regular, but unpredictable. Eruption heights can reach more than 300 feet high (Old Faithful is 90 – 184 feet for reference)!

This area has 2 boardwalk loops: the Porcelain Basin and the Back Basin. It will take you about 2 hours to walk both boardwalk loops for a total of 3 miles, and it’s definitely worth seeing both areas!

Norris has a pretty big parking lot, but going midday will still result in tons of cars lining the road. We went around 5 pm after a light rain and there was plenty of parking. The whole experience was very peaceful without the crowds, and we even saw a rainbow on the way out!

9. West Thumb Geyser Basin

West Thumb Geyser Basin is unique because it is located right on the Yellowstone Lake. A stop here is short and sweet (the boardwalk trail is less than a mile), plus it is less crowded than some of the other geyser basins in Yellowstone.

There are some colorful hot springs on this boardwalk trail along with a great view of the lake. You’ll also see the “Fishing Cone Geyser,” a cone-shaped geyer located on the shore of Yellowstone Lake.

This geyser basin makes a great stop on the way to or from Grand Teton National Park as you enter or exit Yellowstone from the south entrance.

10. Hayden Valley

Hayden Valley is another great wildlife-spotting area in Yellowstone National Park. It is more centrally located in the park, so it gets more crowded here than Lamar Valley.

Hayden Valley is smaller than Lamar Valley, but your chances of seeing wildlife are about the same at either location.

11. Artists Paint Pots

The Artists Paint Pots is such a hidden gem in my opinion. It’s collection of small, colorful mud pots and hot springs with a short hike to an incredible overlook over the entire geyser basin. 

The bubbling sounds, sulfur smell, and dazzling red and blue colors of this area are forever burned into my brain. None of the other mud pots we saw in Yellowstone were as brightly colored and unique as the ones at Artists Paint Pots.

The hike here is short and sweet, so it’s easy to add on to a visit to Norris Geyser Basin since they are so close in location. There is a little bit of elevation gain, but it is so worth it for that view over the basin!

We went midday and were able to get a parking space (the lot was pretty full, but there weren’t miles of cars parked along the road like at other geyser basins in Yellowstone).

12. Lower Geyser Basin

Lower Geyser Basin is the largest Geyser Basin in Yellowstone and covers roughly 11 square miles (Upper Geyser Basin is 1 square mile for reference). 

There are 2 ways to visit the Lower Geyser Basin: walking the 0.8-mile Fountain Paint Pots boardwalk trail and driving Firehole Lake Drive. This area is a great place to see mudpots!

The Great Fountain Geyser is also located on Firehole Lake Drive and is the only predictable geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin area with 100-foot eruptions every 10-14 hours.

Related: All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked

13. Tower Fall & Calcite Springs Overlooks

The Tower Fall and Calcite Springs Overlooks are two viewpoints in the northeast part of Yellowstone that are short and sweet to visit.

Tower Fall is a waterfall that stands 132 feet along the Yellowstone River. 

The Calcite Springs Overlook is situated on the narrowest part of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The colors and landscape here are mesmerizing, but make sure you look closely for the venting hydrothermal springs along the walls of the canyon!

These areas are significantly less popular than other places in the park, so visiting here is a good way to ditch the crowds.

14. Old Faithful Inn

The Old Faithful Inn is the world’s largest log cabin structure. It was built in 1904 and has over 300 rooms!

You can do a walking tour of the Old Faithful Inn and it is completely free! Tours depart from the main lobby at 9:30, 11, 2, and 3:30 between May and October. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Even if you can’t squeeze in a tour, it is definitely worth it to pop inside the Inn and marvel at the impressive architecture!

Related: Visiting the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone (How to Beat the Crowds, Tips, & More!)

15. Black Sand and Biscuit Basins

Black Sand and Biscuit Basins are 2 small geyser basins located near the Upper Geyser Basin. Both have short boardwalk trails to some of the prettiest hot springs in the park!

Biscuit Basin was named for the unusual “biscuit” deposits that used to surround the Sapphire Pool, but they have since been blown away.

Black Sand Basin is named for black volcanic sand that surrounds the area. The highlights here are the Emerald Pool, Rainbow Pool, and the frequently-erupting Cliff Geyser.

16. Mud Volcano

The Mud Volcano area has some of the most acidic hydrothermal features in the entire park. 

One of the best features here is the Mud Volcano- a 30 feet by 30 feet volcano-like cone that used to erupt over 50 feet into the air back in the 1800s! It later blew itself apart and left the crater full of bubbling mud that you see today.

The other unique feature is the Dragon’s Mouth Spring. Water and steam boils out of a cave-like opening and makes sounds eerily similar to a dragon breathing. The sounds and smells here are quite incredible.

There is a short, 0.8-mile boardwalk trail that takes you through this area’s best features. This area is significantly less crowded than other places in Yellowstone as well!

17. Roosevelt Arch

Just north of the Yellowstone National Park north entrance gate is the Teddy Roosevelt Arch. This is an iconic sight to see for any Yellowstone bucket list!

The arch was actually built in 1903, even though the plaque has a quote from the 1872 legislation establishing Yellowstone as the world’s first National Park. The Roosevelt Arch was the first major entrance to Yellowstone.

You can drive through it, or walk through it on either side of the main arch.

The arch is an iconic part of Yellowstone’s history, and makes for a great photo op!

Bonus: Drive the Beartooth Highway

The Beartooth Highway is a spectacularly thrilling 68-mile scenic drive located on the stretch of highway between Red Lodge and Cooke City, Montana. 

It’s not technically in Yellowstone National Park, but it is amazing and close enough to the park that I’ve included it as part of my Yellowstone bucket list.

If you fly into Bozeman or Billings, Montana, you can drive the Beartooth Highway on your way into Yellowstone National Park. Continuing on the road past Cooke City will put you at the Northeast Entrance to the park through Lamar Valley.

Driving the 68-mile stretch will take you about 2 hours without stops, but if you’re coming from Bozeman or Billings, expect to spend 5-7 hours in the car. The scenery is stunning- full of alpine lakes, mountain switchbacks, wildlife, and snow-capped mountains and plateaus. Seriously, this is one of the most gorgeous drives I’ve ever done!

It’s a great way to begin or end your Yellowstone trip!

Related: Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Guide (With Tips & Photos!)

More Info on Yellowstone National Park

Which of these things are you most excited for on your Yellowstone bucket list? Did this post help you plan your trip? Let me know in the comments below!

-Megan

Check out my other posts on Yellowstone National Park to help you plan your trip!

• The Ultimate 1-5 Day Yellowstone Itinerary
• The Ultimate 9-Day Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary (+ Maps, Photos, & More!)
• Yellowstone in One Day: 7 Best Yellowstone Road Trip Itineraries
• The Complete Guide to All 5 Yellowstone Entrances
• Visiting the Old Faithful Area of Yellowstone (How to Beat the Crowds, Tips, & More!)
• The Ultimate Guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Yellowstone National Park North Entrance: A Complete Guide
• All 11 Geyser Basins in Yellowstone Ranked
• 12 Essential Tips for Visiting Yellowstone in the Summer
• Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive Guide (With Tips & Photos!)