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.

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

🗺️ 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.

DAY 1

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)

DAY 2

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

DAY 3

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

DAY 4

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

DAY 5

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

🫎 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

Bison cow and calf grazing in Yellowstone

🐑 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

🎒 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 →