How many days for both parks?
A common recommendation is about five to seven days for both parks together, with three to four days in Yellowstone and two to three in Grand Teton. With less time you can still see highlights, but you will spend much of it driving. Yellowstone’s roads are slow, the park is large, and wildlife sightings can cause long delays, so build in buffer time.
If you have a long weekend, it is usually better to choose one park rather than rush through both.
Choosing a route direction
The two parks are linked by a road (the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway) running north from Grand Teton toward Yellowstone’s south entrance. You can travel either direction:
- Start in Grand Teton, end in Yellowstone: Good if you want a gentler start and prefer to finish with geysers.
- Start in Yellowstone, end in Grand Teton: Good if you are flying out of Jackson, since you finish near the airport.
- One-way trip: Fly into one gateway and out of another, if the cost of a one-way rental is acceptable.
Check seasonal road openings before you commit, as some park roads close in winter and for part of spring and fall.
A 5-day plan
- Day 1: Arrive in Jackson or Grand Teton. Short walk at Jenny Lake or a sunset stop at Oxbow Bend.
- Day 2: A longer Teton hike, such as Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, or Cascade Canyon if you are fit. See Grand Teton hiking trails.
- Day 3: Drive north, stopping at Colter Bay or Jackson Lake, then enter Yellowstone and visit the West Thumb or Old Faithful area.
- Day 4: Geyser basins and the Old Faithful area, plus a short boardwalk walk.
- Day 5: Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone or Hayden Valley for wildlife, then head out.
A 7-day plan
Add a second Teton day for a boat ride, float trip or the Moose-Wilson area, and give Yellowstone three full days: one for the Old Faithful region, one for Canyon and Hayden Valley, and one for the northern part of the park, including Mammoth Hot Springs or Lamar Valley. Distances inside Yellowstone are large, so avoid trying to cover every region in a single day. For other things to do in a national park besides driving between stops, see national park activities beyond the scenic overlook.
Three days in Grand Teton only
- Day 1: Scenic drive on Teton Park Road, with stops at Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing and Oxbow Bend at sunrise or sunset.
- Day 2: Jenny Lake, a boat shuttle, Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, then optionally continue into Cascade Canyon.
- Day 3: Taggart Lake or Phelps Lake, then a Snake River float or a quiet lakeside walk at Colter Bay.
For more on timing and logistics, our Grand Teton trip planning guide goes deeper.
Which park is better?
It depends on your interests. Grand Teton is typically recommended for dramatic mountain scenery and hiking, while Yellowstone is known for geothermal features and wildlife in large open valleys. Many visitors say they would not want to skip either one if they can fit both.
Can you combine Glacier and Yellowstone?
It is possible, but they are in different states and far apart, so a trip covering both usually means a long drive of a day or more each way, or a flight. Treat it as a two-week trip or split it into separate visits rather than squeezing both into a short vacation.
Practical tips
- Reserve lodging early, especially inside the parks in summer.
- Fuel up before long drives, and expect limited cell service.
- Keep your distance from wildlife and carry bear spray on hikes. For what to wear and carry, see our mountain vacation packing list.
- Entrance fees are separate for each park unless you hold an annual pass. Confirm current rules on the NPS website.
- Allow extra time for traffic jams caused by animals on the road.