The Ultimate 7-Day Wyoming Road Trip Itinerary
The Tetons and Yellowstone have always been two of the national parks I've dreamed of visiting, and after finally making the trip, I can confidently say they were 100% worth the wait.
We spent 7 days road-tripping from Phoenix to Grand Teton and Yellowstone, camping along the way, hiking some of the parks' most beautiful trails, chasing sunrises, and trying to see as much as possible without completely overpacking our itinerary.
This guide breaks down exactly how we spent each day—including where we stayed, what we loved, what we'd change, and the stops we skipped because of weather or time—so you can use our experience to plan your own Grand Teton and Yellowstone road trip.
Road Trip Overview
Duration: 7 days
Start/End: Phoenix, AZ
Route: Phoenix → Grand Teton → Yellowstone → Phoenix
Dates: July 17–24, 2026
Best time: June – September
Ideal for: Camping, camper vans, first-time Wyoming road trips
IN DEPTH ITINERARY
Where We Stayed - Campgrounds
Grand Teton National Park:
Colter Bay Campground - 3 nights
I highly recommend booking this one WAY in advance! We had to move campsites every night, which wasn't the end of the world, but definitely wasn't ideal when we had full days planned.
The campground itself was awesome and had pretty much everything we needed:
🚿 Warm showers — $5 per use
🧺 Laundry — about $5 per use
🏕️ Right next to the lake — the views were beautiful!
🛒 Grocery & souvenir store — super convenient for extra food or camping supplies
Tip: Bring your own towels and laundry detergent if you want to avoid the extra charges!
Overall, we loved staying here and couldn't recommend it enough. The location, amenities, and access to the lake made it a perfect home base for exploring the Tetons.
Other Grand Teton Campgrounds to Consider:
We didn't stay at these, but they were also well-rated options:
Jenny Lake Campground
Jackson Lake Campground — near Colter Bay
Signal Mountain Campground
Yellowstone National Park:
Madison Campground - 2 nights
Madison was a great campground and another one you'll want to book in advance. The biggest downside for us was that it doesn't have showers, which after a long hiking day was a little brutal.
Other Yellowstone Campgrounds to Consider:
Grant Village Campground – lakeside, reserve early
Canyon Campground — a great option if you want better access to the eastern side of the park
Perk: Has showers
Sunrise & Sunset Spots:
Willow Flats Overlook - This was a spot we happened to drive past and were surprised we hadn't seen mentioned in any of the posts or lists we came across while planning our trip. I would highly recommend at least stopping for a few min during a sunrise!
Oxbow Bend
Mormon Row
Schwabacher Landing
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Day 1 – Saturday: Phoenix → Grand Teton
Our road trip began in Phoenix, Arizona, with my boyfriend and me hitting the road Friday afternoon after work.
The drive to our first destination—Grand Teton National Park—took approximately 14 hours straight through. After our long drive from Phoenix, we finally made it to Grand Teton National Park around 1 PM Saturday!
AFTERNOON:
Once we arrived, we settled in, unpacked, made some lunch, and headed to the lake to relax for the rest of the afternoon.
EVENING:
We cooked dinner, relaxed around camp, and went to bed early. Tomorrow was our first full day exploring the Tetons!
DAY 2 – Sunday: Grand Teton
Campground: Colter Bay Campground - 3 nights
Hike: Jenny Lake → Hidden Falls → Inspiration Point → Cascade Canyon
Day 2 started VERY early, but trust me, it was worth it. We packed a sunrise, a big hike, and some relaxing lake time into one pretty incredible day.
EARLY MORNING: Sunrise
We woke up around 4:30 AM and headed to Schwabacher Landing for sunrise. It's about a 40-minute drive from Colter Bay, so it's definitely an early start!
Get there early because the parking lot fills up quickly, and you could end up with a longer walk to the viewpoint.
Tip: Oxbow Bend is only about 15 minutes from camp if you'd rather have a little extra sleep! We saved this sunrise for Day 3!
After sunrise, head back to camp for breakfast and get ready for the rest of the day.
MORNING: Jenny Lake Hike & Cascade Canyon
Try to get to Jenny Lake by 8AM before the parking lot starts filling up.
Distance: 9–10 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
⏱️Plan: 4–6 hours
Best for: Big views & wildlife
Take the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake ($20/person round trip, about 10–15 minutes) or hike around the lake instead for some extra views – 5 miles round trip. We took the ferry and it was worth it!
From there, follow the trail:
Hidden Falls → Inspiration Point → Cascade Canyon
All three stops are along the same trail, which makes this hike a fun way to see several different spots in one go!
We packed a lunch and stopped along the creek running through Cascade Canyon to eat and enjoy the scenery. And yes, we even did a polar plunge! It was FREEZING, but honestly, after hiking all morning, it was the perfect (and very refreshing) way to cool off.
And the best part? We saw a moose in Cascade Canyon! 🫎
AFTERNOON: Lake Time
After lunch and a long hiking adventure, slow things down and take the afternoon to spend at the lake.
Some options nearby:
String Lake
Leigh Lake
Colter Bay
Jackson Lake shoreline
Pick a spot, relax, and enjoy the views! We ended up staying nearby and spending the afternoon at Colter Bay, which is right on Jackson Lake!
EVENING:
Head back to campsite for dinner, a campfire, and some well-earned rest.
DAY 3 – Monday: Grand Teton
Campground: Colter Bay Campground - 3 nights
Hike: Phelps Lake Overlook Trail
After a big hiking day yesterday, we kept Day 3 a little more relaxed — but still managed to fit in some adventure!
EARLY MORNING: Sunrise
Pick a sunrise spot you haven't visited yet from the list above. We went to Oxbow Bend, which was close to our campground, so we didn't have to wake up quite as early!
After sunrise, head back for breakfast, then make your way south toward Phelps Lake.
LATE MORNING: Phelps Lake Adventure
Drive south toward the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and park near the trailhead.
Gonna sound like a broken record, BUT get here early! There are only about 50 parking spots, and we ended up waiting 2 hours for a spot. Yes 2 hours... It was definitely worth the wait, though! We're so glad we listened to the ranger that told us it'd be worth it!
⏱️ Plan: 2–3 hours, depending on how long you stay and enjoy the lake.
The hike is around 5 miles round trip to the jumping-rock area. Go towards the right side of the lake for this spot!
AFTERNOON:
After Phelps Lake, make your way back to camp to have a late lunch and hang out at the lake for the rest of the afternoon again!
Optional:
Scenic drives: Teton Park Road → Signal Mountain
EVENING:
Watch one more sunset in one of the recommended spots above. Then head back to camp, relax, and get ready for Yellowstone tomorrow!
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
After three days exploring Grand Teton, it was time to head north into Yellowstone!
Grand Teton connects directly to Yellowstone through the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, making it easy to visit both parks on the same journey.
DAY 4 – Tuesday: Grand Teton → Yellowstone
Campground: Madison Campground - 2 nights
Pro: Great location after full day hiking & seeing Geysers in Yellowstone
Con: No showers
Drive: Jackson Lake → South Entrance → West Thumb → Yellowstone
Just keep in mind: Yellowstone is HUGE, so this was definitely one of our busiest days! Be prepared to stop a lot and driving to different areas! It does go by quickly though!
Grand Teton → Yellowstone
MORNING:
We headed north from Jackson Lake through the South Entrance and into Yellowstone. Our first stop was West Thumb Geyser Basin, which ended up being the perfect introduction to Yellowstone's geothermal landscape.
Drive: About 1.5–2 hours to the South Entrance
Stop #1: West Thumb Geyser Basin
⏱️Plan: 45–60 minutes
Walk the entire boardwalk and check out the thermal pools along the shoreline of Yellowstone Lake.
From here, continue toward the Old Faithful area and Upper Geyser Basin.
Stop #2 & 3: Old Faithful Area & Upper Geyser Basin
Drive: 30 minutes
⏱️Plan: 1–2 hours
These are in walking distance of each other! Start with Old Faithful and check the eruption schedule when you arrive. While you're waiting, you can walk part of the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk.
Walk over to the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalk and look for:
Castle Geyser
Grand Geyser
Riverside Geyser
Morning Glory Pool
There is SO much to see here, so give yourself plenty of time to wander!
Stop #4: Biscuit Basin (Optional - May be temporarily closed)
Biscuit Basin has experienced closures and geothermal changes in recent years. It was closed when we visited on July 21, 2026, so we weren't able to explore it.
Stop #5: Grand Prismatic Spring
There are two parts to seeing Grand Prismatic, and I recommend doing both if you have the time!
Part 1: Grand Prismatic Overlook
Drive to the Fairy Falls trailhead.
⏱️Plan: 45–60 minutes
Walk to: Grand Prismatic Overlook / Fairy Falls Overlook
1.2 miles round trip
This gives you an incredible view of Grand Prismatic from above!
Part 2: Midway Geyser Basin
Drive a few minutes toward Grand Prismatic Spring and walk the Midway boardwalk.
⏱️Plan: 30–45 minutes
This is where you'll get the close-up experience — colorful pools, lots of steam, and a completely different perspective of Grand Prismatic.
EVENING: Madison Campground
After a seriously jam-packed day, make your way to Madison Campground, set up camp, and cook some dinner.
Day 5 – Wednesday: Yellowstone → Norris & Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Campground: Madison Campground: Booked for 2 nights
Unfortunately, we had a very rainy and stormy day, so we ended up skipping Norris, Porcelain Basin, Back Basin and Artists' Paintpots and heading back to Madison earlier than planned. But we still did the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone which was still beautiful in the rain and a short walk! I'll still include the original itinerary so you can decide what you'd like to add to your own trip!
With the stormy weather and staying at Madison, it would've been about 4 hours of driving round trip for us to Hayden Valley this day as well. We decided it wasn't worth the drive if we might not see much wildlife in the rain.
Original Plan
MORNING: Norris Geyser Basin
Madison → Norris: About 35–40 minutes
⏱️ Plan: 1.5–2 hours
Start your morning at Norris Geyser Basin and walk through both areas:
Porcelain Basin — It's more open and filled with colorful thermal features.
Back Basin — worth exploring if you have time. It's more wooded and is home to Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest active geyser.
Optional Stop: Artists' Paintpots
Drive: ~10 minutes
Time: 30–45 minutes
Actual Plan
AFTERNOON: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
This is where I'd spend the bulk of your afternoon.
South Rim:
Artist Point
This was one of our favorite canyon views and is definitely worth the stop.
⏱️ Plan: 20–30 minutes
Brink of the Lower Falls
A short but steep walk with some incredible views. It's worth it if you're comfortable with the stairs!
⏱️ Plan: 30–45 minutes
North Rim:
Continue over to the North Rim in the late afternoon.
Lookout Point — easy walk with an amazing canyon view.
Upper Falls View — quick stop with another great perspective.
Grand View — optional if you have time.
After these hikes & viewpoints we took warm showers at Canyon Campground after our rainy adventure and headed back to Madison Campground for the night!
EVENING:
Make dinner back at camp, and enjoy a cozy night around the campfire. And hopefully, a little less rain tomorrow!
Campground Tip: We ended up booking 2 nights at Madison Campground, which was amazing because we finally got to stay at the same site! BUT looking back, I would've preferred doing one night at Madison and one night at Canyon Campground. Canyon would've given us better access to the eastern and northern sides of Yellowstone, including Hayden Valley, Lamar Valley, and Mammoth Hot Springs, while making a much more natural loop through the park.
Our recommendation: If you want to explore the eastern or northern parts of Yellowstone, consider staying at Canyon for at least one night. It could save you a LOT of driving!
Stops We Missed (But Recommend)
Mammoth Hot Springs - Terraced mineral formations near the park’s north entrance
Lamar Valley - One of the best areas for wildlife watching, especially around dawn and dusk.
Hayden Valley - Another good area for wildlife watching!
Porcelain Basin
Back Basin
Artists' Paintpots
Day 6 – Thursday: Yellowstone → Tetons or Home?
Heading back down from Yellowstone we debated staying one more night in the Tetons at Colter Bay Campground.
When we stopped at the General Store to stock up on ice and snacks, we checked to see if any campsites had opened up. We would've happily stayed another night if something became available, but nothing opened up during our window, so we decided it was time to start the long drive home!
Optional Road Trip Extension:
If you have a few extra days, you could extend your road trip on the way back and add Bryce Canyon or Zion National Park to your itinerary. We didn't have enough time to make either stop on this trip, but both would make great additions to a longer Southwest road trip.
Day 7 – Friday: Home
We officially made it home around 3 AM on Friday morning!
The drive home was definitely a bit brutal. Somewhere in Southern Utah, we hit a deer. Thankfully, the deer ran off and our car didn't have too much damage, but our A/C stopped working. And by the time we made it back to Phoenix, it was still around 105°F.... yes... at 3AM.
Not exactly the peaceful ending we had pictured, but thankfully, everyone was okay and we made it home safely.
As they say, all good things must come to an end... right?
Biggest Tips For This Trip:
A few things we learned along the way that will make your trip MUCH easier:
🏕️ Book your campsites early. Especially in Grand Teton and Yellowstone during the summer. Booking early can help you avoid moving campsites every night and gives you more flexibility with your itinerary.
🦬 Never approach wildlife. If animals are near the road, pull completely out of traffic and give them plenty of space. Stay aware of other drivers and remember that these are wild animals!
🚗 Be patient with Yellowstone. Drives can take much longer than they look on a map because of winding roads, wildlife traffic jams, full parking lots, and all the stops you'll want to make. Start early, pack snacks, and try to group your stops by area instead of crisscrossing the park all day.
🏕️ Choose your campground based on your itinerary. Yellowstone is HUGE, so staying closer to the areas you plan to explore can save you a LOT of driving. Looking back, we would've stayed at Canyon for one of our nights to make exploring the eastern and northern parts of the park easier.
🐻 Always carry bear spray when hiking in Yellowstone and other bear country, and make sure you know how to use it. Keep it somewhere easily accessible—not buried in your backpack.
📅 Plan ahead, but leave some flexibility. Weather, wildlife, parking, and road conditions can change your plans quickly. Don't be afraid to skip something and enjoy where you are instead of rushing to check everything off your list!
Final Thoughts on Our Wyoming Road Trip
This trip had been on my bucket list for a long time, and seeing Grand Teton and Yellowstone in person was even better than I imagined. Between the mountain views, wildlife, geysers, lakes, and long scenic drives, there was something new around every corner.
Would I change a few things? Absolutely. But that's also part of what made the trip so memorable. Not everything went according to plan, and we still had an incredible time.
And if you're anything like me and have had the Tetons and Yellowstone on your bucket list forever, take this as your sign to start planning. You won't see everything in one trip, but that's a pretty good excuse to come back!
Comments