GRAND LOOP ROAD TRIP PLANNER
Sequence the park's 142-mile figure-eight road for a 1-day or 3-day visit — which half to prioritize and how to time it. Free, no sign-up.
What do you want to see?
Listed in loop order from Madison Junction (the West Entrance's junction) around to Norris.
This route covers about 108 miles round trip from Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin to Canyon Village & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and back — roughly 3h 36m of driving at realistic park speeds.
Your stops, in loop order
- 2Old Faithful & Upper Geyser BasinOld Faithful boardwalks, Grand Prismatic Spring (Midway Geyser Basin)
- 5Canyon Village & Grand Canyon of the YellowstoneGrand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point)
Estimates only. Assumes ~30 mph average (well below posted limits, to account for wildlife jams and congestion) and a 11h day budget. Always check nps.gov/yell for current road status before your trip — sections of the loop can close for construction or weather.
The Grand Loop Road, stop by stop
| Stop | Name | Miles from previous | Main features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madison Junction | — | — |
| 2 | Old Faithful & Upper Geyser Basin | 16 mi | Old Faithful boardwalks, Grand Prismatic Spring (Midway Geyser Basin) |
| 3 | West Thumb | 17 mi | West Thumb Geyser Basin |
| 4 | Fishing Bridge & Yellowstone Lake | 21 mi | Yellowstone Lake / Fishing Bridge |
| 5 | Canyon Village & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone | 16 mi | Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (Artist Point) |
| 6 | Tower-Roosevelt & Lamar Valley | 19 mi | Lamar Valley wildlife watching |
| 7 | Mammoth Hot Springs | 18 mi | Mammoth Hot Springs |
| 8 | Norris Geyser Basin | 21 mi | Norris Geyser Basin |
The loop is a figure-eight: the Norris–Canyon road (Stop 8 back to Stop 5) is shared by both the Upper Loop (Mammoth–Norris–Canyon–Tower) and the Lower Loop (Norris–Madison–Old Faithful–West Thumb–Fishing Bridge–Canyon). Full loop is roughly 142 miles total.
Grand Loop Road FAQ
Can you drive the entire Grand Loop Road in one day?
Technically yes, but it's a very long day — the full 142-mile figure-eight takes 8+ hours of driving alone at realistic park speeds, before any stops. Most visitors do better picking one half of the loop per day (roughly the Lower Loop one day, the Upper Loop another) rather than rushing the whole thing.
Which half of the Grand Loop should I drive first?
If you're entering from West Yellowstone, start with the Lower Loop — Madison, Old Faithful, West Thumb, Fishing Bridge, and Canyon are all on it, and it's the most geyser-and-thermal-feature-dense stretch. If you're entering from Gardiner, the Upper Loop (Mammoth, Tower-Roosevelt, Lamar Valley) is the natural first day.
How long does it take to drive around Yellowstone's Grand Loop Road?
Budget realistic park speeds of around 30 mph, well under the posted limit, because of wildlife jams, narrow roads, and heavy traffic — not highway driving. The full loop is roughly 8-9 hours of driving alone; add real time at each stop and most people need 2-3 days to do it comfortably.
Is there a shuttle system in Yellowstone like other national parks?
No — Yellowstone has no park shuttle. The Grand Loop Road and every spur road are self-driven, whether by private vehicle, RV, or guided tour. That makes realistic time-budgeting for the loop's length more important than at parks with shuttle systems.