Yellowstone Day Trip from Jackson: Complete Guide (2026)

Yellowstone National Park sits 57 miles north of Jackson via US-191/89/26, making it entirely doable as a day trip from Jackson Hole. The South Entrance opens after Memorial Day and is the most efficient gateway to Yellowstone’s greatest hits: Old Faithful, the Midway Geyser Basin, and Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon. This guide covers the best Yellowstone day trip from Jackson including exactly what to see, when to leave, and how to avoid the crowds.

Yellowstone Day Trip from Jackson: The Route

Leave Jackson no later than 7:00 a.m. to reach Old Faithful before the midday crowds. The South Entrance is 57 miles north via US-26/89/191. From the South Entrance, continue 22 miles north to the Old Faithful area — total drive time from Jackson is about 90 minutes.

Stop	Miles from Jackson	Drive Time	Notes
Grand Teton park entry (south)	12 miles	15 min	Entry fee $35/vehicle, valid 7 days at both parks
Oxbow Bend	37 miles	45 min	Optional sunrise wildlife stop
Yellowstone South Entrance	57 miles	1h 10min	May not open until late May
Lewis Lake / Shoshone Lake overlook	70 miles	1h 30min	Optional short stop
Old Faithful	82 miles	1h 45min	Eruptions every 90 min on average
Grand Prismatic Spring	88 miles	2h	Most photogenic stop, 0.5-mile boardwalk
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone	132 miles	2h 45min	Artist Point overlook, 30-min stop

The $35 vehicle entry fee purchased at Grand Teton National Park’s South Entrance is valid for 7 days and covers re-entry to Yellowstone — you pay once for both parks. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) is worth it if you visit other national parks in the same year.

Old Faithful: What to Expect

Old Faithful erupts every 60-110 minutes, shooting 3,700-8,400 gallons of boiling water to heights of 106-184 feet. Predicted eruption times are posted on boards at the visitor center and the Old Faithful Inn. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before a scheduled eruption to get a seat on the benches around the geyser.

While waiting for Old Faithful, explore the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk (2.3-mile loop). It passes Castle Geyser (erupts every 10-12 hours, most dramatic in the park), Grand Geyser (erupts every 7-15 hours, the tallest predictable geyser at 150-180 feet), and Morning Glory Pool, named for its flower-like shape and brilliant blue-green color.

Grand Prismatic Spring: Yellowstone’s Most Photographed Spot

Grand Prismatic Spring, 5 miles north of Old Faithful in the Midway Geyser Basin, is the largest hot spring in the United States at 370 feet wide and the third largest in the world. The rainbow of colors — deep blue center, turquoise, green, yellow, and orange at the edges — comes from heat-loving bacteria called thermophiles. The colors are most vivid at midday when sunlight hits at a high angle.

The 0.5-mile boardwalk through the Midway Geyser Basin passes Grand Prismatic and the nearby Excelsior Geyser Crater. For the classic overhead view that you see in photographs, take the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook Trail (1.2-mile round trip, moderate). The trailhead is at a small pullout 0.8 miles south of the main Midway Geyser Basin parking lot.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a V-shaped canyon 24 miles long, up to 1,200 feet deep, and painted in shades of yellow, orange, red, and white from hydrothermal alteration of the rhyolite bedrock. The two major waterfalls — Upper Falls (109 feet) and Lower Falls (308 feet) — can both be seen from the South Rim Drive.

Artist Point on the South Rim is the single best viewpoint in all of Yellowstone — a short walk from the parking area gives you the classic view of Lower Falls plunging into the yellow canyon. Allow 45 minutes for the South Rim Drive and Artist Point stop.

Hayden Valley: Wildlife Viewing

Hayden Valley, 6 miles south of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, is the best place in all of Yellowstone to see bison, grizzly bears, wolves, and trumpeter swans in a single stop. The valley floor was once the bed of Yellowstone Lake, which is why it has thick, impermeable soils that support grasslands rather than forest — perfect habitat for large herds.

Bison jams are common on the road through Hayden Valley. Bison have the right of way — park your car, turn off the engine, and wait. Do not get within 75 feet of bison (25 yards). Grizzly bears require a 100-yard minimum distance. Carry bear spray whenever leaving your vehicle.

Lamar Valley: The American Serengeti

If your priority is wolves, go to Lamar Valley instead of Hayden Valley. Lamar Valley in Yellowstone’s northeast corner, 85 miles from Jackson, is where the first gray wolves were reintroduced in 1995. The valley has had near-continuous wolf pack activity for 30 years and is the most reliable place in the lower 48 to see wolves in the wild — usually at dawn with a spotting scope.

The tradeoff: Lamar Valley adds 60 miles and 90 minutes to your day trip. You cannot do both Lamar Valley and Old Faithful comfortably in one day from Jackson. If wolves are your priority, plan an overnight in Yellowstone or base yourself at the Roosevelt Lodge near Tower Junction.

Yellowstone Day Trip Tips

• Leave Jackson by 7:00 a.m. — Old Faithful parking fills by 10:00 a.m. in peak summer
• Download the Yellowstone app — shows real-time geyser predictions and current wait times
• Pack lunch and snacks — park restaurants have long lines and limited seating in summer
• Bring layers — even in July, temperatures at 7,000+ feet can drop to 40 degrees F at dawn
• Use bear spray — carry it on any trail and know how to use it before hiking
• Fill your gas tank in Jackson — park gas stations are limited and expensive
• Check road conditions — some roads open as late as Memorial Day after heavy snow years

Yellowstone Day Trip vs. Overnight Stay

Factor	Day Trip	Overnight Stay
Cost	Park entry + gas only	+ $150-400 for lodging
Wildlife timing	Midday rush only	Dawn and dusk (best sightings)
Geyser crowds	Peak midday crowds	Early morning or evening peace
Lamar Valley wolves	Not possible same day	Easily added to itinerary
Total miles driven	250-300 miles	100 less driving each day
Exhaustion level	High (12-hour day)	Moderate (split across days)

For the best overall experience, consider splitting your Jackson Hole time into 2 nights in Teton Village and 1 night inside Yellowstone — even a single Yellowstone overnight transforms the trip. Read our 3-day Jackson Hole itinerary for how to incorporate both parks in a single trip.

Combine your Wyoming adventure with nearby national parks. Our Jackson Hole travel guide covers seasonal timing that applies to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the same trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Yellowstone from Jackson Hole?

The South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park is 57 miles from downtown Jackson. Old Faithful is 82 miles from Jackson (about 1 hour 45 minutes). The drive north through Grand Teton National Park along US-26/89/191 is one of the most scenic in the American West.

Can you visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton in one day?

Yes, but only the highlights. Leave Jackson by 7:00 a.m., stop briefly at Oxbow Bend or Willow Flats in Grand Teton, then drive directly to Old Faithful. Hit Grand Prismatic Spring, Artist Point, and Hayden Valley on the way back. You’ll have seen the iconic features of both parks in 12 hours.

When does Yellowstone South Entrance open?

The South Entrance typically opens around Memorial Day weekend (late May) after the winter closure. The exact date varies by snowpack. In heavy snow years it may open as late as mid-June. Check the Yellowstone National Park website for current road conditions before your trip.

Plan Your Visit: Official Resources

Check real-time Yellowstone geyser predictions and road closures at the NPS Yellowstone conditions page. Download the free Yellowstone National Park app for live geyser eruption predictions.