When you make a 28-hour car ride out west, you must see as much as possible. That is why we took one day to explore Yellowstone National Park!
Yellowstone National Park is a world-renowned natural wonder located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also stretches into Montana and Idaho. Situated atop a volcanic hotspot, it is renowned for its geothermal features, including the iconic Old Faithful geyser.
The park spans over 2.2 million acres and encompasses diverse ecosystems, from lush forests to expansive meadows and dramatic canyons. It is home to a remarkable array of wildlife, such as grizzly bears, wolves, and herds of bison and elk.
Yellowstone National Park is a treasure trove of natural wonders, allowing visitors to witness geothermal phenomena, explore the pristine wilderness, and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of one of the world’s oldest national parks.
Driving In
We entered through the west side of the park through West Yellowstone. Before entering the park, we stopped to get sandwiches at Ernie’s Bakery. The sandwiches and crepes were delicious, and I recommend a stop before getting into the park.
From there, we drove into Yellowstone on HWY 191. The entrance fee is $30 for a 7-day pass to Yellowstone.
The west entrance is one of the most popular entrances because it is closer to the main attractions like Old Faithful, so be prepared to wait in traffic for some of your visits, especially in the summer months. The drive is spectacular in itself. We saw buffalo and gorgeous landscapes throughout our drive.
We hit traffic on our way in, and it was pretty congested until HWY 191 met HWY 89. Fortunately, this drive is beautiful, so the view out the window made up for the traffic. A group behind us had a sunroof and was having a ball poking out the top and taking pictures, so maybe that’s a pro tip? Get a car with a sunroof.
Old Faithful
Since we only had one day, we focused on hitting some big attractions, so we drove straight to Old Faithful. The drive to Old Faithful is about 1 hour from the west entrance. Another pro tip: if you only visit for a day, be prepared to drive a lot to see as much as possible.
Once we arrived at the Old Faithful Visitors Center, we quickly found a parking spot and started looking around the area. Old Faithful is one of the most popular spots in the park, so it was bustling but not too busy that we couldn’t find our own space.
The walk to Old Faithful was easy from the parking lot and accessible. Most of the trails in Yellowstone are boardwalks to protect the thermal landscape, making hiking a lot easier.
We first went to the visitors center and explored the shops and, most importantly, got a time for when Old Faithful would blow. They have a time set out for each expected rupture, roughly +/- 10 minutes from the specified time.
We then found our seats to watch her blow! This area gets filled up when it is time to rupture, so be sure to find yourself a seat a little early.
Then, after you find your seat, sit back and enjoy the show! I was blown away by how long the rupture lasted. I don’t know if it was my lack of research, but I thought it was a short burst, but it lasted over 3 minutes for us. A typical eruption can last from 1.5 to 5 minutes long!
It was incredible!!
After the eruption, we stayed in the area and hiked around Old Faithful on boardwalks. They have a few different hiking loops right by the visitors center, like the Old Faithful Loop (.7 miles round trip), Geyser Hill Loop (1.3 miles round trip), along with many others, so it’s not a bad idea to make this home base for a few hours.
We ventured along the Geyser Hill loop, and getting up close to the hot springs was unbelievable. Feeling the steam from the pools and smelling the sulfur fills the soul. Once again, we saw more buffalo! It is hard to believe this place exists, making you wonder what else is below your feet.
West Thumb
After watching Old Faithful in all its glory, we headed southeast to West Thumb.
West Thumb is about 30 minutes from Old Faithful and is a geological marvel situated along the western shore of Yellowstone Lake. It is a small but stunning geyser basin.
West Thumb is known for its unique thermal features and is characterized by colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pots, and impressive geysers set against the expansive lake’s backdrop.
The parking for this area is relatively small, but you can typically find a spot, even on a busy Memorial Day Weekend.
This area has a 1-mile loop trail that takes you along the lake’s bank and gets up close with colorful geysers. This short, easy hike is a must-stop!
Grant Visitors Center
After stopping at West Thumb, we went to the Grant Visitors Center. This visitors center was lovely, with fewer crowds than the Old Faithful Visitors Center.
The Center had a fire burning and has a free exhibit hall where you can walk through all about fire and its role in the ecosystem.
One of the best parts about this visitor center is that it butts up to Yellowstone Lake and has impressive views. We enjoyed a stroll on the lakeside skipping rocks and taking pictures. We even saw a little otter beaver around!
Leaving Yellowstone
After the Grant Visitors Center, we headed back to our Airbnb. Instead of retracing our steps, we continued south on HWY 191, enjoying the park’s beauty.
During our drive through Yellowstone, we saw so much wildlife. We saw buffalo, elk, and countless birds. Yellowstone is truly a magical place!
You need more than one day to explore all of Yellowstone. I am glad we could squeeze it into our trip, and I can’t wait to go back and see more!
