Best picnic spots in Yellowstone
 

We're looking for the most scenic picnicking in Yellowstone/Tetons.

Do you require a drive in area with a table?

The most scenic picnic table I've found in Yellowstone is at the top of Mt Washburn. Only 3 miles from the parking lot!

Signal Mountain has a nice view of the Tetons. I don't know if there is a picnic table at the top, but you can take a blanket or sit on the tailgate.

I once had trouble parking at the most scenic spot on Signal Mountain because a wedding was in progress! What a spot.

Places like the two mentioned above are exactly why I asked my question above.

Another place is Lone Star Geyser, right by the Firehole River, or under the pines near the geyser.

Having a table would be more convenient, but definitely not required. My family probably doesn't want to hike 3 miles (darn it!), so we'll try the ones closer to the road. I appreciate your tips.

If a table isn't essential, then I'd suggest not planning your itinerary around a certain picnic spot. There are so many beautiful spots in both parks, you could just drive until you get hungry and then find a place to eat.

You might find a place where you can eat while watching bison or elk, or a place with a view of mountains, lake, or waterfall. You might prefer a cool, shady place on a hot day; or a warm, sunny place on a cool day. You will almost certainly find a place to remember, even if (especially if?) it's not planned.

There are some very nice drive in spots with a picnic table and parking places.
Some are quite scenic, especially along the Firehole River and the Yellowstone River, and the lake itself.

If you will visit this web site: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/ar...ners/index.htm

You can look at maps of the park in detail. The road maps show every picnic area in the park that has tables.
There are quite a few of them on the lake, and two along the Yellowstone River.
I like the one near the Firehole River just north of the Fountain Flats road, which puts it between the Black Sand Basin and Madison Junction on the west side of the highway.

But to be honest about it, I have eaten my lunch or supper many times on a bench waiting for a geyser like Castle or Grand or Great Fountain to erupt.

If you are not in Yellowstone to see the big geysers, I think it is time to ask why are you there?

My favorite areas are the Canyon & the Lake. The geysers are interesting, but the overall atmosphere of the park is what gets me. I live in Texas now, and it's HOT 80% of the time!

There is one picnic table at the summit of Signal Mountain in the Grand Tetons NP; we had lunch there two weeks ago and the wildflowers were spectacular. Another good picnic spot at GTNP is the picnic area adjacent to the Catholic Chapel - great view of Jackson Lake and the Tetons.

The grocery store at Colter Bay has a much better selection of food than the stores within Yellowstone NP. They have a deli so freshly sliced meats and cheese are available; the vegetable selection is better also; food is a bit cheaper. The store at Moose is good also and much better than the Yellowstone Stores. Albertsons in Jackson or Rexburg, Idaho offer the most varied selection. The grocery stores in West Yellowstone also offer decent selections.

Our favorite picnic spots in Yellowstone include the one and only picnic table within the Old Faithful geyser basin; it is just past Riverside Geyser and just before Morning Glory Pool. We also like Buffalo Ford near the Mud Volcano Area. The Whisky Flats picnic area is a good place to picnic while you are waiting for Great Fountain Geyser to overflow.

The picnic areas are listed on the map that you are provided at the entrance.

Warning! the John D. Rockefeller Parkway between GTNP and the South Entrance of Yellowstone is being re-constructed. There are up to 30 minute delays on weekdays; we experienced no delay at 7:30 on a Saturday morning; however, the four mile stretch has the paving removed and you can drive only about 25 MPH safely and legally.

While in Yellowstone, be sure to make the effort to see an eruption of Grand Geyser at the Old Faithful area. It was erupting about every 6.5 to 9.0 hours earlier in July and is well worth the wait. Volunteers from GOSA monitor Grand and can advise you of the nearness of the eruption.

Have a great time!

Thanks for all the great info. It sounds like there are even more road difficulties than usual this summer! The mud slide at Sylvan pass sounded pretty horrific.

I'm with the above posters. I'd have the makings of lunch with me and pull over at a scenic spot when I'm hungry. I can't imagine planning that far ahead in Yellowstone in summer. I've been there the last weekend the park accomodations are open (October) and feel like I could have planned ahead a bit more and predicted where I'd be at lunch...but then it snowed so we ate inside.
I also have a healthy respect for grizzlies. I'm not big for hiking 3 miles off road for a scenic spot to eat...just in case I become lunch. I'm a scaredy cat that way.
I don't know how you can go wrong ANYWHERE in the park. Let serendipity lead you.