📋 Yellowstone Itinerary
Status: Updated with booked flights. Flights confirmed — see yellowstone-flights for details.
Day 1 — Fri Jun 26: Arrive SLC + Summit Park
- Fly OAK → SLC on Southwest 4198 — depart 9:30 AM, arrive 12:15 PM ✅
- Molly’s parents pick you up at SLC (30 min to Summit Park)
- Afternoon/evening with family in Summit Park
- Rest, repack after travel — 2 full buffer days before heading north
Day 2 — Sat Jun 27: Summit Park Buffer Day
- Relaxed day with Molly’s parents
- Pick up their car for the road trip
- Final grocery/supply run (this is your last real grocery stop before Silver Gate)
- Early bedtime — big drive tomorrow
Day 3 — Sun Jun 28: Summit Park → Jackson → Grand Teton
- Late morning departure from Summit Park
- Scenic drive US-189 N through Kemmerer to Jackson (~4 hrs)
- Lunch in Jackson (Oscar can see the antler arches in the town square)
- Afternoon: Colter Bay — easy lakeside walk with Oscar, visitor center
- Overnight: Jackson area or Colter Bay Village (inside Grand Teton)
Day 4 — Mon Jun 29: Grand Teton → Yellowstone → Silver Gate
- Morning: drive through Grand Teton (Jenny Lake overlook, Snake River pullouts)
- Enter Yellowstone at the South Entrance
- Drive through Hayden Valley (bison, maybe bears)
- Stop at Mud Volcano — bubbling pots Oscar will love
- Stop at Artist Point — Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone views
- Arrive at Silver Gate Lodges (check-in 3pm)
- Evening: short drive into Lamar Valley for sunset wildlife
- Dinner at the cabin / cook at the lodge
Day 5 — Tue Jun 30: Lamar Valley + Silver Gate Area
- Early morning: Lamar Valley wildlife drive (wolves/bears most active early)
- Breakfast at the cabin
- Late morning: **Trout Lake** hike (easy, 1 mi RT)
- Afternoon: Soda Butte Creek — Molly fishes, Oscar plays in the creek
- Late afternoon: drive up the Beartooth Highway alpine section for views + snow patches
- Evening: last night at Silver Gate, start packing
Day 6 — Wed Jul 1: Silver Gate → Old Faithful (Moving Day)
- Morning: final Lamar Valley loop
- Drive south through the park (~2–2.5 hrs)
- Stop at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone — Artist Point, Brink of the Lower Falls
- Stop at Hayden Valley for wildlife
- Arrive at Old Faithful Inn (check-in)
- Afternoon: walk the Old Faithful Geyser Loop — catch an eruption
- Evening: dinner at the Inn, sunset from the balcony
Day 7 — Thu Jul 2: Old Faithful + Grand Prismatic
- Morning: **Geyser Hill Loop** walk
- Midday: drive to Grand Prismatic Spring — do the Fairy Falls Overlook walk with Oscar
- Lunch at Old Faithful Inn deli
- Afternoon: Firehole River fishing (Molly) while David + Oscar do the Morning Glory Pool walk (paved, easy)
- Evening: Oscar’s Junior Ranger badge ceremony at the visitor center
- Late evening: last Old Faithful eruption after dark (less crowded, magical)
Day 8 — Fri Jul 3: Free Day / Flex Day at Old Faithful
Note: You still have Old Faithful Inn through Sat Jul 4. Use this day however you like.
Option A — Relaxed: Sleep in, revisit favorite spots, do the Morning Glory Pool walk (paved, easy with Oscar), hang at the Inn balcony. Molly can fish Firehole River.
Option B — Firehole Lake Drive: Short scenic drive south — Firehole Lake Drive has Great Fountain Geyser (erupts ~every 12h), White Dome Geyser, and hot spring overlooks. Easy pullouts, no hiking.
Option C — West Thumb / Lewis Lake: Drive 30 min south to West Thumb Geyser Basin — lakeside geysers on Yellowstone Lake. Then continue to Lewis Lake for a picnic (quiet, uncrowded).
Option D — Midway Geyser Basin: If you skipped it yesterday, do Grand Prismatic today. Park at the Fairy Falls Trailhead lot and take the short overlook trail for the iconic areal view.
Whatever you pick: save energy for the long drive and July 4th BBQ tomorrow.
Day 9 — Sat Jul 4: Depart Yellowstone → Summit Park
- Morning: West Thumb Geyser Basin walk (on the way out, 30 min south)
- Drive to Summit Park via West Yellowstone → Idaho Falls (~5.5 hrs)
- Evening: July 4th BBQ with Molly’s parents 🎆
Day 10 — Sun Jul 5: Summit Park + Recovery
- Relaxed day — sleep in, recover from the trip
- BBQ leftovers
- Repack bags, prep for Monday departure
Day 11 — Mon Jul 6: Fly Home
- Morning in Summit Park with Molly’s parents
- Head to SLC by ~11:30 AM
- Fly SLC → OAK on Southwest 2951 — depart 1:00 PM, arrive 1:50 PM ✅
- Home in Alameda by early afternoon
Packing for Oscar (3yo)
- Bear bell — every kid wants one, helps prevent surprising wildlife
- Binoculars (child-sized if you can find them)
- Animal checklist — printable from NPS or make your own
- Rain jacket + pants — afternoon thunderstorms are daily in June/July
- Layers — mornings at 40°F, afternoons at 75°F
- Sunscreen + hat — strong sun at 7,000–8,000 ft
- Snacks. So many snacks.
- Comfortable carrier if he still rides
Notes & Tips
- Cell service — virtually none in the park. Silver Gate and Old Faithful Inn have Wi-Fi (spotty at Silver Gate, decent at Old Faithful). Download offline maps before you go.
- Gas — fill up when you can. Stations at Canyon Village, Tower-Roosevelt, Old Faithful, and Cooke City.
- Groceries — stock up in Summit Park or Idaho Falls before entering. Silver Gate has a tiny store with basics at high prices.
- Altitude — 5,000–8,000 ft. Oscar may tire more easily. Keep days flexible.
- Bear spray — borrow from Molly’s parents or rent/buy at park entrances. Carry on any hike.
- Beartooth Highway — opens ~Memorial Day but can stay snowy into late June. Check conditions before relying on it.