NATIONAL PARK SERIES · GUIDE NO. 002
Yellowstone & Grand Teton: 5-Day Wildlife Itinerary
Both Loops · Lamar Valley · The Best Wildlife Spots in Two Parks
5 DAYS
BOTH LOOPS
WILDLIFE FOCUSED
This itinerary prioritizes wildlife — moose, bison, elk, wolves, and bears — while still covering the iconic scenic stops in both parks. Expect early mornings and golden-hour drives; that’s when the animals are out. This route also covers
both the North and South Loops of Yellowstone’s figure-8 road — the North Loop on the way in through Lamar Valley and Mammoth, and the West side of the North Loop connecting into the South Loop on the drive back out to Jackson.
Only have a long weekend? See my 3-day Jackson Hole & Grand Teton itinerary — no Yellowstone required.
WHERE TO STAY
Jackson Hole or Teton Village (first 2 nights & last night). For Yellowstone (2 nights) — outside the park: Gardiner, MT, near the North Entrance. Inside the park: Roosevelt Lodge, closest option to Lamar Valley.
BEST FOR
First-time visitors, families, wildlife lovers, photographers
🎫
Want a guided experience instead?
We’ve rounded up guided wildlife safaris, rafting, and more on our Top Experiences page — good if you’d rather have a local expert than self-drive every stop.
🗺️ Trip Route Map
Tap any pin to see details for that stop, and toggle each day on or off using the layers menu in the top-left corner of the map.
🎧
Try Shaka Guide for the drive
We used the Shaka Guide app for parts of this trip — it’s a GPS-triggered audio tour that narrates stories and points out stops automatically as you drive, and it works offline in areas with no signal (which is most of the park). Great for keeping everyone in the car engaged between wildlife stops.
JACKSON & GRAND TETON · DAY 1 OF 5
Arrive, Explore & Sunset Tetons
Jackson Hole & Grand Teton
1
MORNING
Arrive & Drive to Jackson
Arrive, pick up rental car, drive to Jackson (~15–20 min from the airport).
2
LATE MORNING
Downtown Jackson
Lunch, shops, Town Square, photos under the antler arches.
3
AFTERNOON
Teton Village & the Aerial Tram
Scenic drive to Teton Village, then ride the Aerial Tram (gondola) to the summit for panoramic views.
4
EVENING
Dinner in Teton Village
5
Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing & Oxbow Bend Loop
BEST PHOTO SPOT
SUNSET
Watch for moose, elk, and bison on this drive.
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK · DAY 2 OF 5
Grand Teton National Park
Wildlife + Jenny Lake + Scenic Loop + Sunset Drive
1
Optional Wildlife Safari
WORTH THE SPLURGE
EARLY MORNING
2
LATE MORNING
Lunch in Jackson or Moose
3
Jenny Lake: Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point
ASHLEY’S FAVORITE
MIDDAY
2–4 miles round trip.
4
AFTERNOON
Scenic Loop North
Signal Mountain Summit, Jackson Lake Lodge area.
5
EVENING
Dinner in Jackson, Moose, or Teton Village
6
SUNSET
Wildlife Drive
Oxbow Bend, Willow Flats, Teton Park Road.
GRAND TETON → YELLOWSTONE · DAY 3 OF 5
Grand Teton → Yellowstone
South Entrance to Lamar Valley
1
EARLY MORNING
Moose-Wilson Road
Best early chance at moose.
2
MORNING
Breakfast in Jackson or Moose
3
MORNING
Oxbow Bend & Jackson Lake Overlook
4
LATE MORNING
Enter Yellowstone via South Entrance
Lewis Falls is an optional photo stop just past the entrance.
5
Hayden Valley
BEST WILDLIFE CHANCE
MIDDAY
Prime wildlife viewing.
6
AFTERNOON
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Artist Point, Lower Falls. Continue on to the Tower area for optional short hikes.
7
LATE AFTERNOON
Best chance for wolves, bears, and bison.
8
EVENING
Dinner Near Your Lodging
Rest up for sunrise — tomorrow’s the big wildlife day.
LAMAR VALLEY & NORTH LOOP · DAY 4 OF 5
Lamar Valley & the North Loop
The ultimate wildlife day in Yellowstone
1
Lamar Valley: Slough Creek & Soda Butte
BEST WILDLIFE CHANCE
SUNRISE
Best light and wolf activity of the trip.
2
MORNING
Breakfast Near Your Lodging
4
AFTERNOON
Norris Geyser Basin
5
LATE AFTERNOON
Mammoth Hot Springs
Drive back via the west side, stopping here on the way. Dinner in Gardiner afterward.
6
Return to Lamar Valley
ASHLEY’S FAVORITE
SUNSET
Golden-hour wolf and bear watching — the best light of the day, and the animals know it too.
RETURN TO JACKSON · DAY 5 OF 5
Return to Jackson
Scenic drives · mountain views · final night
1
SUNRISE
Optional Final Visit to Lamar Valley
2
MORNING
Breakfast Near Your Lodging
Begin the scenic drive south.
3
Scenic Yellowstone Drive
BEST PHOTO SPOT
LATE MORNING
Midway Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic Spring), Hayden Valley, West Thumb, Yellowstone Lake — this stretch connects the West side of the North Loop into the South Loop, meaning you’ll officially complete both loops on this trip.
4
AFTERNOON
Grand Teton Scenic Stops
Jackson Lake Overlook, Jenny Lake, Oxbow Bend, Signal Mountain.
5
LATE AFTERNOON
Check In, Unpack, Relax
6
Elk Refuge Road to Miller Butte
BEST WILDLIFE CHANCE
EVENING
A great chance to spot bighorn sheep.
7
EVENING
Final Night in Downtown Jackson
Town Square, shopping, celebration dinner.
8
NEXT MORNING
Fly Home
Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Jackson before heading to the airport (~15 minutes away).
🦬 Wildlife Hotspot Guide
Where to look for each species on this route, and when.
🫎 Moose
Moose-Wilson Road, Oxbow Bend — best at dawn & dusk
🐺 Wolves
Lamar Valley, Slough Creek — best early morning & evening
🐻 Bears
Lamar Valley, Hayden Valley — keep distance, use caution
🦬 Bison
Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley — often in large herds
🐑 Bighorn Sheep
Rocky slopes near Lamar Valley & Yellowstone’s north range
🦌 Pronghorn
Open sagebrush flats near Lamar Valley & the Yellowstone/Teton corridor
🦆 Harlequin Duck
Fast-moving rivers and streams throughout the parks
🦅 Osprey
Nesting near rivers and lakes throughout both parks
🐐 Mountain Goats
Rocky, high-elevation terrain in Grand Teton
Always view wildlife from a distance: 100 yards from bears & wolves, 25 yards from other animals.
Trip Tips
- Cell service is limited in both parks — download offline maps before you go
- Rent bear spray at the airport or a local outfitter — don’t try to buy and ship one
- Wildlife is most active at sunrise and sunset — plan around it, not around convenience
- Stay in your vehicle when viewing wildlife from the road
- Layers are essential — mornings are cold even in June
- Yellowstone in-park lodging opens 13 months out (5th of each month); Grand Teton Lodge Company opens 12 months out — two different windows if you’re booking both
🎒 What to Pack
Binoculars and a spotting scope for wildlife, trekking poles for Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain, and a daypack for full days on the road between stops — see our full packing list for exactly what we bring on every trip.
See the Full National Park Gear Guide →
Yellowstone & Grand Teton FAQ
The questions we get asked most about planning this trip.
Is 5 days enough for both Yellowstone loops and Grand Teton?
Yes — this exact structure covers it. Two nights in Jackson/Teton Village, two nights near Yellowstone’s North Entrance, then a return day that connects the West side of the North Loop into the South Loop. You won’t hit every geyser basin, but you’ll cover both loops and the best wildlife valleys in both parks without feeling rushed.
Should I stay inside Yellowstone or in Gardiner?
Both work well for this itinerary since the whole trip is built around Lamar Valley access. Gardiner, outside the North Entrance, has more restaurant options. Roosevelt Lodge, inside the park, saves you drive time for sunrise and sunset wildlife watching. See our Where to Stay Inside Yellowstone guide for specifics.
When’s the best time to see wolves in Lamar Valley?
Early morning through about 9 AM, and again near sunset — wolves are most active at these times, and Lamar Valley is one of the best places in North America to spot them from a road. Bring a spotting scope; even experienced wolf-watchers use one, since most sightings are a mile or more out.
Do I need a guided wildlife tour for this trip?
Not required — this itinerary is built to work self-driving, with wildlife stops timed for dawn and dusk. That said, a guided tour on Day 2 in Grand Teton can be worth it on a first trip, since guides know where animals were spotted that morning. See our Top Experiences page for the exact tours we recommend.
How far ahead should I book lodging for this trip?
Book early either way, but note the two parks use different windows: Yellowstone in-park lodging opens 13 months out (on the 5th of each month), while Grand Teton Lodge Company opens 12 months out. If you’re staying outside the parks in Jackson or Gardiner, 6–9 months ahead is usually enough for summer.
Is this itinerary too much driving for kids?
It’s a fair amount of driving, but broken up with wildlife stops every hour or so rather than long uninterrupted stretches — most families do fine. For a shorter, lighter version, our 3-day Jackson Hole & Grand Teton itinerary skips Yellowstone entirely and cuts total drive time significantly.
What’s the difference between the North and South Loop?
The North Loop covers Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Tower, and Norris — the wildlife-heavy half, where this itinerary spends most of its time. The South Loop covers Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Yellowstone Lake — the geothermal/scenic half, which this trip only touches on the Day 5 return drive via Midway Geyser Basin and West Thumb.
