north america · 5 days · 9 stops

Yellowstone & Grand Teton

Jackson Hole and the Tetons first, then the Yellowstone loop: Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the wildlife of Lamar Valley.

Days
5
Stops
9
Driving
260 km
Behind the wheel
4h 49m

Driving figures are measured road distances between the stops listed for each day, not straight lines. The transfer from wherever you sleep to the first stop of the day is not included.

Daylight on this route, by season

The single number that decides whether a self-drive day works. Almost every guide tells you to "check the daylight hours"; here they are for this route, on the solstices and equinoxes.

Day Driving 21 Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar
Jackson Hole → Signal Mountain 0h 24m 15h 27m 12h 13m 8h 55m 12h 12m
Jackson Lake → Grand Prismatic Spring 1h 49m 15h 33m 12h 14m 8h 49m 12h 12m
Old Faithful → the Lower Falls 1h 5m 15h 35m 12h 14m 8h 48m 12h 12m
Mammoth Hot Springs → Lamar Valley 1h 31m 15h 36m 12h 14m 8h 47m 12h 12m
West Thumb Geyser Basin 0h 15h 33m 12h 14m 8h 50m 12h 12m

Measured at the midpoint of each day's stops. "Midnight sun" means the sun does not set; "polar night" means it does not rise.

Day by day

Day 1: Jackson Hole → Signal Mountain

2 stops · 34 km · 0h 24m driving · 2h at stops

In winter: About 0h 24m of driving inside 8h 55m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Jackson Hole

    The four antler arches on the town square

    Allow about 1h

  2. 2

    Signal Mountain Summit

    Panoramic Teton range view

    Allow about 1h

Legs and times
  • Jackson Hole → Signal Mountain Summit: 34 km, 0h 24m

Day 2: Jackson Lake → Grand Prismatic Spring

2 stops · 120 km · 1h 49m driving · 2h 15m at stops

In winter: About 1h 49m of driving inside 8h 49m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Jackson Lake Dam

    Lake and mountain overlook

    Allow about 0h 45m

  2. 2

    Grand Prismatic Spring

    Boardwalk over the hot spring

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Jackson Lake Dam → Grand Prismatic Spring: 119 km, 1h 49m

Day 3: Old Faithful → the Lower Falls

2 stops · 70 km · 1h 5m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 1h 5m of driving inside 8h 48m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Old Faithful

    Predictable eruptions, visitor centre alongside

    Allow about 2h

  2. 2

    Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — Lower Falls

    Artist Point, for the falls

    Allow about 1h 30m

Legs and times
  • Old Faithful → Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — Lower Falls: 70 km, 1h 5m

Day 4: Mammoth Hot Springs → Lamar Valley

2 stops · 37 km · 1h 31m driving · 3h 30m at stops

In winter: About 1h 31m of driving inside 8h 47m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    Mammoth Hot Springs

    Travertine terraces

    Allow about 1h 30m

  2. 2

    Lamar Valley

    Bison and wolves — best at dawn

    Allow about 2h

Legs and times
  • Mammoth Hot Springs → Lamar Valley: 36 km, 1h 31m

Day 5: West Thumb Geyser Basin

1 stops · 0 km · 0h driving · 1h at stops

In winter: About 0h of driving inside 8h 50m of daylight — comfortable.

  1. 1

    West Thumb Geyser Basin

    Geysers on the lake shore

    Allow about 1h

When to drive it

21 Jun

15h 32m

of daylight

21 Sep

12h 14m

of daylight

21 Dec

8h 51m

of daylight

21 Mar

12h 12m

of daylight

Longest days are around 21 June, shortest around 21 December. On this route the swing is large enough that the same day's driving can be comfortable in June and entirely after dark in December — which is why the table above is per day.

Plan this route with the daylight in view

Tseril builds the multi-day route on a map, warns you about the legs you would drive at night, and shows the snow and weather at every stop. Free to use.

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