Rafting the Grand Canyon is a bucket-list trip for many people and a spectacular way to fully experience the beauty, solitude and unique environment of this natural wonder. Along your rafting trip, you’ll have opportunities to stop and do hikes to Ancestral Puebloan sites, see waterfalls, swim in turquoise waters and spot wildlife like bighorn sheep. The Colorado River extends for 279 miles through Grand Canyon and attracts approximately 22,000 visitors per year, mostly on commercial raft trips.

How Long Does It Take to Raft the Entire Grand Canyon?

Depending on how fast the river is running, how many stops you make to camp alongside this 279-mile stretch of river and if you have motorized rafts or oar boats, rafting the entire Grand Canyon can take anywhere from 7-18 days. The fastest way to raft the Grand Canyon is with motorized boats that can cover the distance in about 7 days, depending on how many stops you make. For those in oar boats, plan on between 15-21 days.

To raft the entire Grand Canyon, you’ll put in your boats at Lee’s Ferry, which is located 42 miles south of the Glenn Canyon Dam in Page, Ariz. Until Navajo Bridge was built in 1929, people had to cross the Colorado River by ferry at Lee’s Ferry. While a new wider bridge was built in 1995, you can still walk across the Historic Navajo Bridge.

From there, you’ll spend the next 60 miles in Marble Canyon, a beautiful place that stretches to where Little Colorado River meets the Colorado River. With gorgeous towering cliffs, this canyon is home to so many wonders. There are Ancestral Puebloan storage granaries in Nankoweap Canyon. Even 12,000-year-old remains of the extinct Harrington mountain goat have been found here, as well as ancient figurines that are more than 4,000 years old. This canyon is actually part of Grand Canyon National Park.

Your first whitewater rapids will be Soap Creek and Badger rapids. Soap Creek is at mile 11. After you leave Marble Canyon, you’ll reach Hance Rapid, the first Class 8 that you will encounter. Located at mile 76.5, it’s one of the biggest rapids on the Colorado, with the largest single drop (30 feet). At mile 87.5, you’ll raft past Phantom Ranch, an iconic set of historic cabins and dormitories with a canteen that you can only reach by boat, by foot or by mule. Pull over to walk to the Phantom Ranch canteen to mail a postcard from the heart of the Grand Canyon.

Some of the biggest rapids of the trip follow, including Crystal at mile 98 (with its large holes in the center of the river), Sapphire, Turquoise and Ruby rapids. However, you’ll navigate the infamous Lava Falls rapid at 179 miles, and it’s really big and some would say, scary. It’s a 9-10 on a scale of difficulty with 1 being easiest and 10 most difficult. It’s a really technical rapid with steep drops and large waves like the Big Kahuna (yes, it is named) that can flip a boat.

At mile 225, you’ll be at the starting point for shorter “Diamond Down” rafting trips through the Hualapai tribe’s section of Grand Canyon. You’ll probably see Haulapi River Runners’ signature blue motorized boats fording the rapids.

You’ll finish your trip at Pearce Ferry 279 miles from Lee’s Ferry. Years ago, Pearce Ferry used to be located in Lake Mead’s Pearce Bay. But drought has shrunk water levels in the lake. Today, Pearce Ferry is along the fast-flowing Colorado River.

Do I Need a Permit to Raft the Grand Canyon?

A permit is included in all guided commercial trips, so if you signed up to go on a guided trip, you don’t need to worry about the getting a permit.

For private groups, rafting the Grand Canyon is only allowed obtained through the National Park Service or, on the lower section, via the Hualapai tribe since 109.4 miles of the lower section is on their land where the Hualapai Nation meets the Colorado River. Private groups may apply for a permit through the park’s annual lottery system. For more information go toĚý

To get a permit from the National Park Service, you need to create a user account if you don’t already have one . Then, you’ll log in to fill out a lottery application. Keep in mind you will need to list both the trip leader and the Potential Alternate Trip Leader (PATL), both of whom need an account in the system for your lottery application to be processed. In 2022, there was a $25 fee for the application. In 2022, the lottery opened on March 1 and closed March 3 at 12 p.m. MST. You can log into your account to find out if you got the dates you selected, but you will also be notified by email. There are additional river permit costs that you will pay if you get selected in the lottery.

An important thing to know is you can’t just apply for this lottery without at least one person on the trip for the entire time having significant experience running either a previous Grand Canyon river trip as a boat operator in command or participated as a boat operator in command on a river of similar difficulty.Ěý The selection of boat-operators is the responsibility of the trip leader.

If you plan to pull over on the stretch of the river where the Hualapai Reservation meets the Colorado, you will need a permit. Anyone found on the Hualapai Reservation where it meets the Colorado River who doesn’t have a valid camping permit may face serious penalties, including impoundment of all river and camping gear, arrest and prosecution in Hualapai Tribal Court. To buy a Hualapai Nation river camping permit, call the Hualapai Nation Game and Fish Department at 928-769-2227 or 928-769-1122 or by email at hualapai.rafting@hualapai-nsn.gov

This 279-mile stretch is wild, with no developments of any kind except for the off-the-grid store and lodge at mid-way through the trip. River trips involve primitive backcountry camping on river beaches and being blissfully removed from the bustle (and all electronics) of urban living.

How Hard is Rafting the Grand Canyon?

Rafting the Grand Canyon is difficult and requires serious river experience for those leading the rafting trip. The Colorado River through Grand Canyon encompasses 160 sets of rapids that are so unique and generally difficult to run that they have their own rating system. While other rivers follow a whitewater rating system of I-V, Grand Canyon rapids are rated on a scale of 1-10. Some of these rapids are extremely difficult to run unless you are a very experienced river runner who has run similar-sized rapids in the past successfully. Unless you are traveling with people who are experts at running highly technical whitewater, plan to hire a commercial outfitter with seasoned guides.

When is the Best Time to Raft the Grand Canyon?

Most commercial trips run between May and October, with the peak demand months being June, July, and August. This makes sense because summer is the time most people want to be on a river. However, it is the hottest time to be in the Grand Canyon with temperatures that soar to more than 100 degrees. You’ll want to be aware of heat-related illnesses if you go in the summer.

Go in fall or spring to avoid the crowds and . Private trips often go in winter when more permits are available.

How Much Does a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip Cost?

All authorized by Grand Canyon National Park to run trips are required to meet certain safety and environmental regulations.

Since the National Park Service only allows a fixed number of river visitors through Grand Canyon each year, spots on commercial trips are limited and typically fill at least one or two years in advance. Trip lengths and cost range from $399 for one-day rafting adventure with the Hualapai River Runners to $6,700 and up for a 18-21-day trip running the entire Grand Canyon. Modes of travel vary from motorized rafts to oar-powered boats to wooden dories. You’ll be camping alongside the river as there are no hotels, with the exception of Phantom Ranch, along the way.

in the Grand Canyon is run by the Hualapai River Runner Guides. It’s a great way to raft the Grand Canyon without having to commit to a multi-day trip. The first 12 of the 40 miles are filled with fun rapids, and you’ll pass interesting landmarks like where several of John Wesley Powell’s men abandoned the river trip down the Colorado River, never to be seen alive again. The remaining miles you’ll motor though flat water.

Hualapai River Runners guided rafting groups depart from Peach Springs, Ariz., on Historic Route 66 from the Hualapai Lodge by bus, driving for a an hour down to the river’s put-in spot. You can either raft to a take-out spot where a bus will greet you and return you to Peach Springs. Or you can raft to a helicopter landing spot after lunch where you will take a helicopter up to the top of the Grand Canyon, at . While up there, you’ll have a chance to walk the SkyWalk, a glass horseshoe-shaped bridge over the Grand Canyon, as well as see cultural dances and interpretative exhibit panels on Hualapai life past and present.Ěý From Grand Canyon West, you’ll return to Peach Springs via bus.

Along your rafting trip down the Colorado River with Hualapai River Runners, your guides will give informative narrations on Hualapai cultural history. Their motorized rafts are designed specifically for traversing the Colorado River.

Booking Your Trip

Deciding to take a river trip through the Grand Canyon is easy. Most people with a sense of adventure and a love for the outdoors, dream of such an experience: We imagine clinging to a raft as it bucks and surges its way through wave after wave of frothing brown water; we envision sleeping on a beach surrounded by the canyon’s sheer walls with a narrow strip of stars twinkling overhead; or we picture ourselves clamoring over rocks and up around waterfalls through a twisting side canyon. It sounds idyllic. The tricky part is making that dream a reality.

Sixteen companies offer guided trips through Grand Canyon National Park. On average, these companies have been in service for 34 years, so you can’t really rule out one for its lack of experience. Furthermore, all licensed outfitters are held to the highest safety and environmental standards set by the National Park Service, so you can rest assured that every company will provide you with a safe, environmentally responsible trip.

So how do you decide? You can narrow down your choices by considering what you personally want out of the your experience. You may be interested in the cruising luxury of a motorized-raft trip: the size of these big boats soften the power of the rapids and motors allow you to move faster down the river. Or you may want to get wet and paddle your own craft on a kayak-supported expedition. You can spend as few as three days on the river or as many as 19. Your trip may focus on natural or human history; or you might want to explore the canyon with your camera under the tutelage of a professional photographer. Some companies use wooden dories to navigate the river, others have a flotilla of paddle rafts, oar rigs and inflatable kayaks.

To filter through all your options, the best place to start is at the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association website:Ěý. This site provides a summary of all the licensed commercial outfitters in the canyon with links to their individual websites, so it’s the perfect place to see what kind of trips appeal to your specific goals and needs. Trips fill up quickly so you should try to sign up as early as possible to secure your dates. Sometimes this means more than a year in advance. If you are looking for something sooner, you may be able to fill a spot at the last minute however, so it’s worth contacting the outfitters to see if there have been any cancellations.

Here are some criteria to look for: Type of river craft (motorized rafts, oar-powered rafts, paddle rafts, or kayaks), the length of trip, activity focus (hiking intensive?), theme (natural history trips, photography, music, geology, etc.), time of year (weather, water levels, temperatures) and special considerations (trips for seniors, physically challenged, families, etc.).

Tips and Tricks for Rafting the Grand Canyon

There are some definite tricks to staying comfortable and happy on rafting trips through the Grand Canyon. Protect your skin. Lotions and sunscreens are essential, but only go so far in preventing the ravages of sun, heat, water and sand. For your feet, what you really need to do is wear dry shoes and socks when hiking. Don’t look to your guides for inspiration. Their feet are toughened by months on the river, so just because they choose to walk to Thunder Falls in their flip flops doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for you to do so. Keep your feet as dry as you can. When you get into camp, take off your river shoes and allow your feet to air out. If you have a pair of neoprene socks, you can wear those under your sandals when you are hiking or in the raft. You may not win any fashion contests, but the neoprene will keep your sandpaper-like sandal straps away from your delicate skin.

As for the rest of your body, keep slathering on the sunscreen. Better yet, wear a long-sleeved loose-fitting cotton shirt. White or other light colors are best, even if they end up rather brown at the end of the trip. You can douse your shirt in water to keep cool and the full cover works better than sunscreen in preventing burns. Wide-brimmed hats are also essential. Make sure your hat, and your sunglasses, are attached to you with a strap, otherwise, you are likely to lose them in the first rapid you encounter.

What to Wear During a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip

You don’t need much on a Grand Canyon trip if you go during the warm or hot season: a couple of t-shirts and one or two pairs of nylon shorts, one pair of long pants, one fleece sweater or jacket, one or maybe two bathing suits, rain gear, toiletries, a book, sunhat, a small towel, and a few miscellaneous items. Think about bringing clothing that dries quickly, is loose and comfortable, and doesn’t show dirt, because regardless of how often you jump in the river for a bath, your clothes are going to be permanently brown by the end. Pants are a good idea for the evenings. If it gets windy, you’ll be happy to have something to protect your legs from the sting of blowing sand and to offset the chill of cool evening temperatures.

Temperatures can be cold especially when a storm rolls through. If the weather is good, you need little more than a fleece jacket to throw on in the evening, but if it is rainy, you’ll probably want some kind of insulating layers to put on under your raincoat. Bring a down parka for cool nights and mornings. Talk to your outfitter and find out what temperatures are expected during your trip. It’s hard to fake a warm layer out of multiple bikini tops, so be prepared for the worst-case scenario by bringing a few warm and waterproof items.

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Incredible outdoor adventures, seven national parks, and ancient ruins combine to make this your Utah national park road trip of a lifetime. Hit every Utah national park—Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, and Canyonlands—plus Nevada’s Great Basin and Grand Canyon, on this 1,453-mile trip that starts in Salt Lake City.

Begin in Salt Lake City, where you may be surprised by the vibrant craft brewing scene and how easy it is to get around this city framed by the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch Mountains. Head south to Moab, home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. From there, stop at Monument Valley, one of the West’s most iconic landscapes. Continue to the Hopi Reservation for a tour of Old Oraibi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America.

Then point your wheels toward Grand Canyon National Park to explore the less visited North Rim or the more popular South Rim. Afterward, head north to the historic town of Kanab, Utah, home to hundreds of film shoots and great restaurants. Zion National Park’s East Entrance is a short 20-minute drive away. Then make your way north to Cedar City to visit the uncrowded Cedar Breaks National Monument. Explore Panguitch and Bryce Canyon National Park before heading to Escalante, Utah, for a deep dive into spectacular slot canyons. What follows are some of the best things to see.

Tip: Utah, California, and the Navajo Nation observe daylight saving time, while Arizona does not.

Ěý(14.3MB)

Map

Before You Go

Download the Gypsy Guide App
Enjoy the freedom of driving your own car while traveling with an entertaining guide that doesn’t take up space. The Gypsy Guide app includes driving tours for Arches, Canyonlands, Zion, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Learn more at .

Route

1. Start: Salt Lake City
2. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
3. Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, and Hopi Nation
4. Grand Canyon National Park: North Rim or South Rim
5. Kanab, Utah
6. Zion National Park
7. Cedar Breaks National Monument
8. Bryce Canyon National Park
9. Capitol Reef National Park
10. Great Basin National Park
11. End: Salt Lake City

Take the Under Canvas Glamping Version of This Trip
Want to take a similar road trip but go glamping at every stop?

Start: Salt Lake City

The New Salt Lake
that involves unique coffeehouses, artisan cocktails, and a short hike that gives you fantastic views of the city.

Arches and Canyonlands National Parks

We’ll start off this Utah national parks road trip with two parks in the southeastern part of the state. , , and are neighbors. Situated next to the cool waters of the Colorado River is the nearest town of Moab, which offers a wide choice of hotels and campgrounds.

Moab’s Top 7 Things to Do with Family
With so many activities available in Moab, choose among our with family, including a taking boat tour with Canyonlands by night and day, seeing life-sized dinosaurs at Moab Giants, and five more.

Push Your Limits
Check out these in Arches and Canyonlands.

Raft the Desert West’s Best River Stretches with OARS
Read for families, thrill seekers, and those just looking for relaxation amid some of the country’s best scenery in Utah and Colorado.

Go Retro in Moab at the Expedition Lodge
The will immediately take you back to a time before the kids could block out rounds of “99 Bottles” with earbuds and Spotify—when the journey was the destination, not the Instagram-worthy view.

Home Comforts at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Moab
Kitchenettes, an indoor pool, and a convenient downtown location make .

Top 4 Campgrounds in Moab
offer extraordinary amenities, including pools, dog parks, cabins, and more, near two of Utah’s national parks, Arches and Canyonlands.

Monument Valley, Navajo Nation, and Hopi Nation

An iconic stretch of land, is part of the Navajo Nation and home to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. This drive has been called the most scenic in America by many, and it’s no wonder why.

Explore the Navajo Interactive Museum
Discover the and its people in Tuba City and Monument Valley. The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum will give you a glimpse of Navajo history and modern life.

Take an Experience Hopi Day Tour
People have been living in Old Oraibi for nearly 1,000 years. , as well as other significant Hopi sites, and stay at the conveniently located Moenkopi Legacy Inn.

Grand Canyon National Park

North Rim vs. South Rim

From Tuba City, Arizona, choose to visit the . What’s the difference? A 277-mile-long (446 kilometer) canyon separates the national park. The South Rim is far more popular than the quiet North Rim. It’s more developed, with multiple hotels, restaurants, and campgrounds. It’s just 60 miles from Tuba City to the Desert View East Entrance near Cameron, Arizona. The North Rim gets far fewer visitors each year, is home to just one hotel, and is closed from November to May every year because of snow. The North Rim is 150 miles from Tuba City but brings you closer to your next stop on this road trip.

Grand Canyon North Rim

Offering fantastic views with less congestion, the offers those who are willing to drive five hours and 212 miles from the South Rim a chance to see the canyon without the crowds. There are places like Point Imperial where you can watch the distant rising sun gradually spread a blanket of warm red and gold light across the giant walls of rock and the singular spire of Mount Hayden. You might even hear the evocative song of a canyon wren rising and falling in crescendo, just eight or ten clear notes. It is perhaps the most memorable bird song of the West.

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is an experience wholly separate from the South Rim. It offers a more remote, rugged, and individual opportunity to see what John Wesley Powell described as “ledges and cliffs where the soaring eagle is lost to view before it reaches a summit.”

:ĚýOne is only a half-mile on a paved trail from the lodge.

Grand Canyon South Rim

Stop at Grand Canyon Visitor Center

Bring the Gypsy Guide App
Enjoy the freedom of driving your own car while traveling with an entertaining guide that doesn’t take up space. Learn more atĚý.

48 Hours in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Get ready for adventure.Ěý at the South Rim, from biking in solitude to exploring some of the rim’s most historic treasures.

Fly Above the Grand Canyon with Maverick Helicopters
Take a helicopter tour of some of the Grand Canyon South Rim’s most popular sights. View Marble Canyon and Point Imperial as you fly through the canyon and climb above the North Rim. Learn more at .

A Grander Stay at Yavapai Lodge
The Yavapai Lodge’s restaurant, tavern, and nearby market and shuttle stop make navigating the rim easy.

Into the Deep
Ěýabout hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and discovering there’s more than meets the eye.

Kanab is Utah’s Best-Kept Secret

Kanab’s Fab 4 Things to Do
Avoid the crowds, enjoy fantastic food, and along the way to the Southwest’s most popular national parks, including , , and the .

White Pocket vs. The Wave
Most travelers have heard of the Wave but are unaware of surrounding canyons, such as White Pocket, that are just as jaw-dropping.

Zion National Park

Head to the most popular Utah park on this road trip: . As visitors drive through the park, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the size and vertical orientation of the canyon walls that are all around you.

Top 7 Things to Do in Zion National Park
This gorgeous national park offers breathtaking views, lodging, and great educational stops.

Adrenaline-Fueled Zion şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍřs
Looking to physically challenge yourself and find world-class adventure in Utah’s most popular park? in Zion.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Not only is this national park site considerably less crowded than its nearby sister national parks, but it’s also filled with an incredible array of vibrant wildflowers.

Elevate Your Experience in Cedar City and Brian Head
While southwest Utah is known for its amazing red-rock landscapes, there’s a pocket of mountains topped by aspen trees, wildflowers, and pine trees.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Compared to Utah’s other national parks, Bryce Canyon feels like a totally different world. For one, its mesmerizing hoodoos, ranging from white to pink to red, feel like you might just be on Mars. For another, the canyon’s rim sits between 8,000 and 9,000 feet in elevation, making it cooler and allowing pine and spruce forests to flourish. And lastly? It sees a fraction of the crowds.

Maximize your experience at by driving to Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration, and Bryce Viewpoints. All offer spectacular overlooks of the park’s red hoodoos shooting up against evergreen forests in the background.

3 New Ways to Experience Bryce Canyon Country
See the stars, squeeze through a slot canyon, or visit in the winter near .

The Closest Hotel to Bryce Canyon Is Ruby’s Inn
is at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park. Stay at two hotels, an RV park, tipis, cabins, or the campground. Go on a Bryce Canyon adventure via .

Capitol Reef National Park

A diversity of landscape like no other in Utah, and the surrounding area has red-rock formations, arches, plateaus, meadows, forests, lush green valleys, and astounding deserts.

Remote Beauty in Utah’s Capitol Reef Country
Take in Utah’s stunning color palette in and around Capitol Reef National Park—but the national park is .

Great Basin National Park

Just over the Utah border, visit Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, where you can explore the inside of the earth and the top of a 13,000-foot peak on the same day.

Silver State Stopover at Great Basin National Park
In the , you’ll find Nevada’s only national park and surprising history.

End: Salt Lake City

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Encompassing 2.2 million acres—larger than the size of Rhode Island—Yellowstone National Park is enormous, which is why it’s a good idea to figure out what you want to see and know which entrance is closest to those sights. There are five ways into Yellowstone: the North Entrance, Northeast Entrance, East Entrance, South Entrance, and West Entrance. Here are the details on each to help you plan your adventure to the country’s oldest national park.

1. North Entrance, open year-round, brings you to Mammoth Hot Springs.
2. Northeast Entrance puts you at the doorstep of the park’s wildlife.
3. East Entrance brings you to Yellowstone Lake.
4. South Entrance allows you to tackle two national parks in one day.
5. West Entrance brings you to geyser paradise.

1. North Entrance Brings You to Mammoth Hot Springs

Want to experience some of the West’s most spectacular scenery in a town that can feel like a cross between Northern Exposure and Animal Planet, given its wild neighbors living up the street in Yellowstone?

Head to Gardiner, Montana, just five miles from Yellowstone’s steaming terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs, one of the park’s many natural wonders. Located at the only year-round entrance to the world’s first national park, pretty much everything in Gardiner is colorful, from the scenery and people to the names of the dishes on menus, adding a poetic slant to your visit.

If you’re coming from the Pacific Northwest or even Missoula, Montana, the North Entrance, along U.S. 89, may be the one for you. Situated in the lively small western town of , the North Entrance is open year-round and is the only way to reach the park’s northeastern border in winter.

Be Wowed by Mammoth Hot Springs

From the North Entrance, you are well-situated to see the park’s incredible wildlife, as well as the famed and the and located nearby. You also pass the Boiling River turnoff on the stretch of road from Gardiner to Mammoth. In the , one of two sanctioned swimming areas in the park, you can swim in an area where warm hot springs water enters the Yellowstone River.

Explore Lamar Valley

From Mammoth, you can head east on the northernmost road in the park to reach the expansive , referred to as the Serengeti of the United States because of the extraordinary diversity of mammals living there. Lamar Valley is where the first wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995–1997. It is also home to grizzly bears, black bears, bison, and elk, among many others. Bring your binoculars.

2. Northeast Entrance Puts You at the Doorstep of the Park’s Wildlife

Closest to , and its sister village, Silver Gate, the Northeast Entrance gives you the best access to Yellowstone’s legendary , where grizzlies, black bears, bison, and wolves roam. The tiny outpost of Cooke City, with a year-round population of 100, has a downtown that spans only a few blocks but offers good dining and lodging options.

Closed in winter, the Northeast Entrance is a good choice if you’re coming from the northeast side of Montana, like Billings or Red Lodge. From Billings, you can take I-90 west to U.S. 212 west; from Red Lodge, take U.S. 212 west. Driving U.S. 212 west is arguably the most dramatic route to enter the park.

Be Amazed By Beartooth Pass

With its sweeping alpine vistas, , along U.S. 212, is the closest you might get to feeling as if you’re on top of the world. Every corner of the road presents a more incredible view than the previous. Head south over Beartooth Pass before dropping into Cooke City and Silver Gate, the closest towns to the Northeast Entrance.

Fuel Up in Cooke City

Cooke City is a tiny town but offers a number of services, including lodging, restaurants, and gas. From there, your drive to the Northeast Entrance is a matter of minutes. Once you go through the entrance gate, the Lamar Valley unfolds before your eyes and is home to . Plan to spend some time along the roadside turnouts to view the animals from a . The Lamar Valley will give you an overwhelming sense of what the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem looked like before white pioneers settled there more than 150 years ago.

3. East Entrance Brings You to Yellowstone Lake

The East Entrance brings you directly to , the largest high-elevation mountain lake, at 7,733 feet. It stretches 20 miles long and 14 miles across, and its . From there, the West Thumb Geyser Basin and lie to the southeast, and the lies to the north.

To get to the park’s East Entrance, you will pass through , founded by Buffalo Bill Cody. Although Cody is 53 miles from the East Entrance, it is the closest town to the entrance.

Have an Authentic Western Experience

Cody is an Old West town that celebrates its rich history through and incredible museums that make up the . With its historic downtown and numerous family-friendly activities, including the Cody trolley tour, where you can learn more about Cody’s history, the town is well worth a stop for a day or two. Admission to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is good for two days, so take your time exploring.

Buy a cowboy hat downtown at the third-generation-owned Wayne’s Boots or up the hill at Boot Barn, and head to two of Cody’s family-friendly venues that offer during the evenings. The Cody Cattle Company has a casual atmosphere where kids can run around the establishment’s wooden picnic tables. Dan Miller’s Cowboy Music Revue is a more upscale show that has moved next to the Irma Hotel in downtown Cody. The show starts at 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, throughout summer.

Stop at Buffalo Bill Dam

From Cody to the East Entrance, you’ll take the Yellowstone Highway, also known as U.S. 16-20-14, past the enormous , six miles from town. Completed in 1910, it was the tallest dam in the world at the time. Today, it supplies water to 93,000 acres of farmland in the Bighorn Basin, bringing to life alfalfa, sugar beets, oats, barley, and beans. The dam’s visitor center is open daily May 1 through September 30. From there, you will continue through the valley, eventually reaching Sylvan Pass, which is RV-friendly and tops off at 8,350 feet.

4. South Entrance Allows You to Tackle Two National Parks in One Day

If you are looking to tackle two national parks in one day, the South Entrance is for you. From , you can stop at the awe-inspiring along your 57-mile drive north on the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Highway up to Yellowstone. Plus, if you’re staying in Jackson, the South Entrance is the easiest access to Yellowstone.

Jackson itself is an incredible mountain town that attracts skiers to its steep slopes in winter and throngs of tourists in summer. Blending the Old West with upscale boutiques, Jackson is the ritziest of all Wyoming towns, but it offers a full range of hotels and eateries catering to every type of traveler.

After entering through the South Entrance, you’ll drive along a stretch of the park’s road that has no turnoffs for more than 20 miles. Once you hit the West Thumb Geyser Basin, you can stretch your legs and explore some of the park’s amazing geothermal features. From there, head west to view Old Faithful, or continue north along the shores of Yellowstone Lake and up as far as the Lamar Valley, which stretches to the Montana border and is known for its abundance of large mammals, including wolves, bison, and bears.

5. West Entrance Brings You to Geyser Paradise

If geysers top your Yellowstone hit list, you may want to enter the park via U.S. 20 and the West Entrance, which puts you in the heart of the park’s geyser country.

This entrance is the park’s busiest, so it’s no wonder that West Yellowstone, Montana, is a bustling gateway with dining, shopping, and attractions for travelers. Located just across the Wyoming border in Montana, West Yellowstone is convenient for those coming from Idaho or western Montana, especially Missoula. Visitors will find Wild West flavor, plenty of lodging, and a mix of cultural and outdoor activities.

Welcome to Geyserville

When you enter the park through the West Entrance, you’ll drive 14 miles until you reach Madison, a jumping-off point for to the north and south. Head south and you’ll see the Lower Geyser Basin, the largest geyser basin in Yellowstone, which includes Fountain Paint Pot, the Firehole Lake Drive area, and the Great Fountain Geyser. You’ll want to stop at the Midway Geyser Basin, slightly south, which is home to the dazzling and its resident bacteria that creates rainbow-like rings in spring.

Farther south is the Upper Geyser Basin, home to , Biscuit Basin, and others. At least 150 geysers exist in one square mile here.

Up north you’ll find , the park’s oldest and hottest thermal area, with two walkable zones. It’s home to the Steamboat Geyser, the world’s tallest geyser at 300-plus feet. If you drive farther to the park’s northern border with Montana, you can explore the boardwalks of Mammoth Hot Springs, a two-tier travertine wonder.

West Yellowstone Attractions

There’s a lot to do when you’re ready to take a break from sightseeing in the park. Minutes from the West Entrance is , home the ,Ěýas well as lodging and dining.

Catch a show at the Playmill Theatre, or study up for your park trip at the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, which shows IMAX movies about Yellowstone and beyond. It’s also home to a number of well-equipped RV parks, making it a and launch tours of the park via your car.

Getting a park map is key to understanding where Yellowstone’s scenic attractions are located and their proximity to the park’s entrances. You’ll get a free map when you go through an entrance station, but if you want to plan in advance, purchase a Trails Illustrated map of Yellowstone from .

Pssst: Want to receive a printed insider’s guide to Yellowstone, with tips on where to stay and what to do? Order our free stunning filled with an inspiring itinerary, gorgeous photographs, and everything you need to plan your dream vacation.

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