Yellowstone & Grand Teton: 5-Day Wildlife Itinerary
5 Days · 5 Nights · Jackson Hole → Grand Teton → Yellowstone
Trip Overview
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.
For Yellowstone (2 nights):
Outside the park: Gardiner, MT, near the North Entrance
Inside the park: Roosevelt Lodge — closest option to Lamar Valley
🗺️ 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.
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.
Arrive, Explore & Sunset Tetons
Jackson Hole & Grand Teton
- Morning: Arrive, pick up rental car, drive to Jackson (~15-20 min from the airport)
- Late Morning: Downtown Jackson — lunch, shops, Town Square, photos under the antler arches
- Afternoon: Scenic drive to Teton Village, then ride the Aerial Tram (gondola) to the summit for panoramic views
- Evening: Dinner in Teton Village
- Sunset: Drive the Mormon Row, Schwabacher Landing, and Oxbow Bend loop (watch for moose, elk, bison)
Grand Teton National Park
Wildlife + Jenny Lake + Scenic Loop + Sunset Drive
- Early Morning: Optional wildlife safari — self-drive or guided (we’ve rounded up our favorite guided tours on the Top Experiences page)
- Late Morning: Lunch in Jackson or Moose
- Midday: Jenny Lake hike to Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point (2-4 miles round trip)
- Afternoon: Scenic Loop North — Signal Mountain Summit, Jackson Lake Lodge area
- Evening: Dinner in Jackson, Moose, or Teton Village
- Sunset: Wildlife drive — Oxbow Bend, Willow Flats, Teton Park Road
Grand Teton → Yellowstone
South Entrance to Lamar Valley
- Early Morning: Moose-Wilson Road — best early chance at moose
- Morning: Breakfast in Jackson or Moose
- Morning: Oxbow Bend & Jackson Lake Overlook
- Late Morning: Enter Yellowstone via South Entrance
- Late Morning: Lewis Falls (optional photo stop)
- Midday: Hayden Valley — prime wildlife viewing
- Afternoon: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point, Lower Falls)
- Afternoon: Tower Area (optional short hikes)
- Late Afternoon: Lamar Valley — best chance for wolves, bears, bison
- Evening: Dinner near your lodging, rest up for sunrise
Lamar Valley & the North Loop
The ultimate wildlife day in Yellowstone
- Sunrise: Lamar Valley — Slough Creek & Soda Butte (best light + wolf activity of the trip)
- Morning: Breakfast near your lodging
- Midday: Roosevelt Area
- Afternoon: Norris Geyser Basin
- Late Afternoon: Drive back via the west side, stopping at Mammoth Hot Springs
- Evening: Dinner in Gardiner
- Sunset: Return to Lamar Valley for golden-hour wolf and bear watching
Return to Jackson
Scenic drives · mountain views · final night
- Sunrise: Optional final visit to Lamar Valley
- Morning: Breakfast near your lodging, begin scenic drive south
- Late Morning: Scenic Yellowstone drive — 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!)
- Afternoon: Grand Teton scenic stops — Jackson Lake Overlook, Jenny Lake, Oxbow Bend, Signal Mountain
- Late Afternoon: Check in, unpack, relax
- Evening: Drive Elk Refuge Road to Miller Butte — a great chance to spot bighorn sheep
- Evening: Final night in downtown Jackson — Town Square, shopping, celebration dinner
- Next morning: Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Jackson before heading to the airport (~15 minutes away) for your flight home
🦬 Wildlife Hotspot Guide
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
🎒 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 →