Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
Yellowstone can be overwhelming to plan as it is one of the largest National Parks within the United States. We packed up our minivan and drove from Chicago here, but you can certainly fly to a nearby airport as well. We visited in August so temperatures were warm during the day and cool in the evenings. We packed a lot into our days, but you can plan slower days if you prefer. We spent a total of 10 days (including travel time).
Itinerary
Day One
Day Three
Day One
This was a full travel day, we drove from Chicago to Sioux Falls, South Dakota which took around 8.5 hours.
We grabbed dinner and checked out Falls park which was right by our hotel (a great place to stretch your legs after a long day sitting in a car).
Day Two
Day Three
Day One
6:30 a.m.: drove to Mount Rushmore which was about 5 hours away.
12:00 p.m.: We took the kids horseback riding on the Deadwood trail which was fun and pretty. We did a tour with The Stables at Palmer Gulch in Mount Rushmore – would definitely recommend!
2:30 p.m.: we visited Mount Rushmore. This was during Sturgis so we saw A LOT of motorcycles out!
3:30 p.m.: We treated the kids (and ourselves!) to a fun experience! I am not a camper by any means, but I am a glamper! We stayed at Under Canvas – which was amazing!
Under Canvas offers tents complete with beds, a sitting area AND indoor plumbing!
We reserved a suite with an adjacent ‘hive” to comfortably sleep all of us. It was such a fun experience and the beds were some of the most comfortable I have ever slept in! They have locations all over near National Parks so check them out!
Day Three
Day Three
Day Four
We drove to Yellowstone (this took about 9 hours).
5:00 p.m.: we arrived around dinner and checked into the Wonderland Café & Lodge which was a two bedroom unit with full kitchen.
It is located at the North end of the park entrance in Gardiner.
Day Four
Day Five
Day Four
8:00 a.m.: We headed to Mammoth Hot Springs which is only 15 minutes from Gardiner. This features a hill of hot springs created over thousands of years. Great place to check out with kids!
We then drove to Canyon Village and grab food at Canyon General Store. We saw a view of the Lower and Upper Falls right after here on South Rim Drive. We parked at Artist Point and took in the views. This is considered the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and its breathtaking!
We headed to Hayden Valley next where we saw a ton of bison, bears and elk. We drove to Lake Yellowstone after and grabbed lunch at Wylies.
4:30 p.m.: We decided to try Lamar Valley. Go first thing in morning or at dusk to see animals. We saw an incredible number of Buffalo here. I mean hundreds and hundreds. It was pretty impressive and worth the drive!
After a full day, we left the park and headed to our Explorer Cabins near the West entrance of the park. This is a cute group of small cabins that are perfect for families. They even did Smores at night e the campfire. It was a great place to stay and affordable!
Day Five
Day Five
Day Five
8:30 a.m.: We drove to Prismatic Spring (stopping in a fields of wildflowers first) which is the third largest hot spring in the United States. It was impressive and worth the visit!
11:00 a.m.: we headed to Old Faithful, but along the way, we saw some wildlife and trail hikes. On the way we stopped at Morning Glory hot spring, which was much less impressive than Prismatic Springs. Old Faithful goes off every 90 minutes or so. There is lunch to grab here and wait for the show.
We headed back to our cabin after for dinner and S’mores and an early bedtime!
Day Six
Day Five
Day Five
7:30 a.m.: We drove to the Grand Tetons. This took about two hours and was a very pretty drive. The Grand Tetons are unlike anything we have seen. The scenery looks fake, like you are in a movie. The mountain range appears to jet straight up from the flat ground. It is one of the prettiest places we have visited.
9:00 a.m.: We drove to Lakeshore Trail near Colter Bay Village. This was a two mile gorgeous hike and easy to do with our kids. We stopped at Oxford Bend for a photo and then grabbed a quick bite to eat.
1:00 p.m.: we headed to Jenny Lake for the afternoon. We took the Ferry across and then we hiked to Inspiration Point and Jenny Lake Hidden Falls. The trails were pretty busy so be prepared.
After Jenny Lake we headed to the Lodge at Jackson Hole. This is in downtown Jackson Hole and provided plenty of space for our family. We made reservations at Glorietta. This was our best meal during the trip, but a bit pricey and you need a reservation.
Day Seven
Day Seven
Day Seven
7:30 a.m. – We hit up Persephone Bakery – this is a MUST! The line will be long, but it is worth it. My kids grabbed breakfast sandwiches, but I am still dreaming about the Honey Lavendar Latte!
8:30 a.m. – We drove to Morman Row and grabbed some pictures.
9:30 a.m. – We headed to Taggert Lake Trailhead which was about 15 minutes away. My kids loved this lake – there are boulders in the middle they can climb across. The water here is COLD – definitely bring water shoes!
We ate lunch at Dornans Pizza which was affordable food with great views!
1:15 p.m. – we took the kids on a rafting tour on the Snake River. The kids LOVED this. It is such a fun and informative activity. You can select the type of tour and rapids you want to experience. We used Dave Hanson Rafting and highly recommend them.
After rafting we headed back to shower and change. Then we took the Gondola up to Piste and had drinks on the patio. This is in Teton Village but the views are great. We did not eat at the restaurant but rather grabbed food at the base of the gondola at Mangy Moose. Great family restaurant!
Day Eight
Day Seven
Day Seven
We left Yellowstone and drive to the Badlands which took about 8 hours. The Badlands are worth a stop as it feels like you are on Mars!
We stayed that evening at the Courtyard in Rapids City.
Day Nine
Day Seven
Day Nine
We hiked in the Badlands and then decided to leave a bit earlier and get a start home.
We drove to Chicago and got back the following day.
