How to do Yellowstone in a day
 

We're visiting Jackson Hole at the end of August and would like to go to Yellowstone for a day. How long of a drive is it from Jackson to Yellowstone? What areas in Yellowstone should we focus on during our short visit? Thanks for any advice!

I actually just did that trip, although in reverse (we ended in Jackson Hole). You go through the Tetons from Jackson to Yellowstone (under 1/2 hour if you're just driving and looking at sights, longer if you stop a lot). We stopped a couple of times to take pictures of the mountain range. Then through Yellowstone for the rest of the day is pretty easy if you're not planning to hike. We drove around to all of the hot spots (Mammoth, Canyon, Fountain pots, Old Faithful, etc). We stopped occasionally for pictures or to tour the site (the hot springs at Mammoth, the paint paints before old faithful). The longest stop we made was at old faithful (about an hour and a half) because it only goes off every 90 minutes or so and we had just missed one. We took this opportunity to eat lunch (lots of development/people there). Once you get the map at the entrance, you'll see that you could probably view all of the sites since there is a loop to drive and by the time you've finished at the Jackson Hole end. If you skip anything, I'd skip the Mammoth hot Springs, they're pretty much dried up..and they're sulfur!

I'd start very early and drive a big loop: to Old Faithful, up to Mammoth, then see the canyon, and finally the lake. I don't know where the paintpots are, but don't miss them. Make sure you pick out a couple of extra oddball things to do, and attend one or two ranger talks/walks.<BR><BR>Check out the nps.gov site for more details: http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/orientation/index.htm

If my memory serves me correctly the drive from Jackson to the Tetons alone is almost 1/2 hour and then the go further north to Yellowstone is at least another hour. I can't remember exactly but Melissa's estimate of under 1/2 hour from Jackson to Yellowstone is not accurate. Maybe someone more familiar with this area can help with driving times.

<BR><BR>Frankly, I'm not sure why you'd want to do it in a day. (I know that's not what you asked, but I get puzzled easily.)<BR><BR>Personally, if you're based in Jackson (which I'm assuming) and you have limited time, i'd focus on the Grand Teton National Park. It's about a 30 minute drive north of Jackson, but there are tons of hiking trails, lakes, wildlife to be seen, etc.<BR><BR>Yellowstone is a big, big, big place.

Why in one day? Beacause they are staying in JACKSON HOLE. Seriously, since you don't need reservations for anything, you can decide once you drive through if ou want to come back another day to explore more. But, like I said, if they just want to look around and not hike and raft and camp (which is all the Tetons are really good for) it can easily be done in a day. And maybe I do have exact the timing wrong but we were literally just there and I do remember being in Jackson Hole really really quickly after leaving the Tetons. Then to drive through the Tetons, pausing every now and then for photos did not take long at all. it can be done, trust me!

We stayed at Flagg Ranch, just outside the south entrance of Yellowstone, last summer. When I asked in the lodge how long it took to drive to Jackson, I was told one-and-one-half to two hours. The distance isn't so great, but these are two-lane roads, not interstates, and the traffic can be fairly heavy. The lady in the lodge also said, ". . . unless a herd of elk is crossing the road, and then it can take longer."<BR><BR>It took an hour for us to drive from Flagg Ranch up to Old Faithful. The traffic was very slow because someone had sighted same animals (I can't remember which) off the side of the road, and everyone wanted to see. Another day it took us two hours to drive from Flagg up to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone because a herd of buffalo was crossing the road, a few at a time, at their leisure.<BR><BR>So, this one-day tour IS possible, but don't give Sarah an unrealistic idea of how easily or quickly it can be done.<BR><BR>Sarah, it will be a 4 or 5 hour roundtrip from Jackson to Old Faithful. Allow another 4 or 5 hours making the lower circle tour. You'll get a map when you enter the park and you'll see the roads in Yellowstone run roughly in a figure eight. Stick to the lower circle of the figure eight and you'll see the best places, I believe. Be sure to get out and walk a little (and take pictures) at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. BTW, when you make this drive up to Yellowstone, you'll be driving through Jackson Hole (the valley). The place you are apparently visiting is called Jackson. This was all explained on the handout from the park. Have fun!

Diane is right, it's slow driving. I think that's because everyone is so awestruck by the scenery that their eyes are glued to the Tetons and they just meander along.<BR><BR>Yellowstone has had some construction on its roads lately, and sometimes a section of a road will close down for a while during the day. Try to check this out (on nps.gov - Yellowstone site) before you go.

Sarah, many people think unless you spend 8 nights contemplating Old Faithful "then you haven't seen Yellowstone."<BR><BR>Yes, you can see Yellowstone in a day. It will wet your appetite to comeback and spend those 8 days. <BR><BR>I would start early, very early, I mean on the road as the sun is coming up early. I would go clockwise around the figure "8" of Yellowstone (skip the cross road in the middle of the 8).<BR><BR>Spend lots of time at Old Faithful Geyser Basin and surroundings. As you head North stop at the various basins - especially the mudpits. Take a picnic lunch with you and you'll probably arrive at the Sheep Eaters Cliffs at lunch time.<BR><BR>Take the drive around the top of Mammoth Hot Springs and then go to the bottom to walk the trails.<BR><BR>Head East and South to Canyon, with a quick stop to see the Petrified Tree. You should have time to see both sides of the Canyon.<BR><BR>Continuing South be sure to stop at the next hotsprings (can't remember the name - but one makes a tremendous roar).<BR><BR>Continue on to Lake Yellowstone and as its getting dark walk through this final basin before heading back to Jackson.<BR><BR>You will be completely worn out, but you will have seen a marvelous amount - and you will be eager to return!<BR><BR>Just remember to have fun - if you have never been you will never regret spending your day this way.

The drive times are as variable as the locals said--one time we would go through an area at the speed limit (low in the parks) and another time we would sit for 15-30 minutes while bison crossed or people chased a bear (you have to see it to believe it). An early start would help with traffic and crowds, but you'll miss the best wildlife viewing times at dawn and dusk unless you stay very late.<BR><BR>If you just have a day for highlights, I would suggest you drive up the highway from Jackson (not the road through GT park), then do the lower half of the figure 8. Go west to Old Faithful and the surrounding geyser basin, taking the boardwalk, seeing the hotel. Then drive north to see the paint/mud pots in another section. Back in the car and north, then east to the Grand Canyon. My favorite view is Artist's Point, but park the car and stretch your legs along the trail along the canyon. If you want to stay late, head up to the Lamar Valley for dusk wolf waiting. If you do, you'll have to drive back over the pass and all the way back to Jackson in the dark, slowly to avoid wildlife. Otherwise, after Canyon head south along the lake and back to Jackson.

THe rjoads in Yellowstone form a figure 8.<BR><BR>I would do the lower loop of the figure 8. That loop is about 100 miles. Will take you 2-3 hours plus stops. It will allow you to see the old faithful area, the falls, and the lake. I found the upper part of the figure 8 to be not nearly as interesting.