Yellowstone in a Day (with Elderly Mother)
On Sunday my Mother (75) and I will be driving from Jackson Hole, WY through Yellowstone and then on to Cody, WY. I've been through Yellowstone on a sort of hurried weekend a while ago - she has never been.
Mom is not up for backpacking or hiking - but she's not immobile by any means.
We're coming in from the South Entrance and my plan is (roughly):
- Drive to Grant Village and then on to Old Faithful
- Drive up to Mammoth hot springs
- Down to Tower Falls, and along the lake (Fishing Bridge area)
- Then eventually out the East Entrance
Maybe do a picnic somewhere along the way.
I find the amount of info for Yellowstone pretty overwhelming - anyone have suggestions for Senior-friendly things to see? When I was there years ago I really liked the random road encounters with elk, bison, etc. and I think my mom would really like that, though I know that's impossible to put on an itinerary.
Thanks!
Best Answer
Trying to take the entire park in with just one day will be a lot of driving (300+ miles) and not a lot of time for sightseeing. I would concentrate on the lower loop and work in some variety.
Stop at Old Faithful and Midway Geyser Basins to stroll around a bit. Both are fairly level with a variety of different thermal features, geysers, hot spring pools. If timing is in your favor, there are a number of geysers that you may witness erupting.
As you work your way towards Madison, there are often elk or bison in the meadows along the road (and likewise when you work your way down the east side as well).
At Norris cut across to Grand Canyon area and take in a couple of the vistas overlooking the canyon and also overlooking the Upper & Lower Waterfalls.
Like I mentioned above you will likely see lots of bison as you head down through Hayden Valley. Perhaps taking a break at Mud Volcano to check out the unique thermal mud pools there.
At Lake be sure to drive up to Lake Butte Overlook, a few miles past Fishing Bridge as you head for Cody. Gotta keep a sharp lookout as the turn is not well signposted.
Pictures about "Yellowstone in a Day (with Elderly Mother)"
What should I do if I have one day in Yellowstone?
Best Things to do with One Day in Yellowstone:Can you go through Yellowstone in one day?
Yes, you absolutely can visit Yellowstone in one day! While I recommend three days minimum if time allows, I know many people only have the time to drive through here for a day on their road trip (make sure you have all the road trip essentials before you leave).What time of day is Yellowstone least crowded?
The best way to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone is to get out early. With most visitors having breakfast in their hotel, the roads are pretty quiet from dawn until 9:30 am. Wildlife is far more active at dawn than at midday as wildlife tend to take advantage of the cool temperatures.How long does it take to drive all the way through Yellowstone National Park?
This loop connects visitors to every classic gem, from Mammoth Hot Springs near the North Entrance to Fountain Pots and Old Faithful near the West and South Entrances. Simply driving the entire distance, whether going clockwise or counter, could take four to seven hours.Happy Mother’s Day from Evelyn Dutton 💕 Yellowstone | Paramount Network
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