The Ultimate List of 32 Fun Things to Do in Yellowstone With Kids

1. Watch Old Faithful Erupt

Old Faithful is an iconic Yellowstone landmark and you really shouldn’t miss it if it’s your first visit to Yellowstone. Of course there are tons of other things to do in Yellowstone, but Old Faithful is pretty special.

If you’ve never heard of Old Faithful – it’s a geyser in the park that erupts very “faithfully” about every 90 minutes. It’s a big deal and very impressive. There are tons of fun things to do near Old Faithful as well!

It can be really really crowded. I would highly recommend going very early morning if you can to avoid people. Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin is the busiest area of Yellowstone for sure! And I’ve got you covered if you’re looking for more tips on avoiding crowds in Yellowstone.

2. Hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook

If you’ve seen photographs of Grand Prismatic Spring – with the beautiful oranges and yellow and blue colors, it definitely wasn’t taken from the Grand Prismatic Boardwalk.

While we also like walking the boardwalk trail, if you want a birds eye view of the famous spring, you’ll want to take the short hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook.

The trail is 1.2 miles roundtrip with about 100 feet of elevation and totally kid friendly. It’s one of our favorite hikes in the park.

We’ve also got you covered if you’re looking for more fun things to do in the Old Faithful area!

3. See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a must stop in Yellowstone. There are so many beautiful viewpoints that you can see the waterfall and the canyon. Depending on how far you want to hike or if you want to see it from just off the road, there are several options.

Here are some of the ways you can see the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone! There are more but these are some of the main ones.

South Rim Drive

• Artist Point – one of my favorite spots to view the falls!
• Upper Falls Viewpoint

North Rim Drive

• Brink of the Upper Falls – a short 0.3 mile paved trail where you can see the waterfall from the top
• Brink of the Lower Falls
• Lookout Point

Just be aware that this is one of the more crowded spots in Yellowstone so if you’re looking to avoid crowds then get there early in the morning. Otherwise, it’s still beautiful to experience either way.

TIP: if you find yourself circling the parking lot, people often make this a quick stop so just be patient and you’ll be able to snag a spot!

ANOTHER TIP: There is the South Rim Drive and the North Rim Drive, so choose which spots you are planning to hit ahead of time so you can drive the correct route.

4. Walk the Lower Terraces at Mammoth

The Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces is one of the fastest changing structures in the park and it’s absolutely worth seeing if you’re visiting the northern section of the park.

The lower terraces are perfect if you’re not up for a lot of hiking. It’s just a really short boardwalk trail that ends with views of some of the most impressive terraces. Also check out the Liberty Cap on the right at the start of the trail.

We’ve seen a lot of marmots on top of the terraces so I would recommend hanging out for a minute to see if you can catch a glimpse of them.

5. Drive Through the Roosevelt Arch

The Roosevelt Arch is an iconic Yellowstone landmark. It is a symbol of the National Park system and was created to face the train depot. It wasn’t originally going to be named after Theodore Roosevelt but he happened to be vacationing in Yellowstone while the arch was constructed.

It’s really fun to drive through, and it’s also a good spot to park and walk around for some great photo opportunities. There is also a National Park sign that is walking distance from here so you can get your photo with the park sign if that’s one of your traditions!

TIP: if you look slightly beyond the arch to the grassy park below, you may see some elk. The grass in the Mammoth Hot Springs area is a favorite grazing spot of the elk herds.

6. Spot Wildlife in Lamar Valley

Lamar Valley is EPIC and hands down the best place to see wildlife in the park. On our last trip we saw a wolf, coyote, black bear (plus a baby!), TONS of bison, antelope, elk, and more within a few hours. It’s a bit of a drive out of the way from the rest of the park, but a must do!!

And if you’re going this way, you can drive all the way to the Northeast entrance of the park near Cooke City, Montana – that part of the park is really beautiful too.

Wildlife is a huge part of the Yellowstone experience, but there are some things you should know about wildlife viewing in the park.

17. See Mount Haynes at the Overlook

Mount Haynes Overlook is a quick off the road stop that is near the west entrance of the park. This stop was SO BEAUTIFUL early in the morning. I took the short boardwalk trail and was treated to beautiful views of the mountain and a herd of elk in the river.

18. Walk Around the Upper Geyser Basin

Old Faithful is really the star of the upper geyser basin, but there is a lot of other beautiful spots to see! There are trails all over the upper geyser basin (and you can even see Old Faithful for some of them too!)

If you’re willing to walk further you can even make it all the way to the famous Morning Glory pool from near Old Faithful. Truthfully, I like to meander these trails just above Old Faithful and be surprised by what I can find along the boardwalk.

But if you have a specific destination in mind, check out the maps at the visitor center or talk to a ranger at the Old Faithful Visitor Center.

19. Shop For Souvenirs

We always love getting a few souvenirs whenever we visit a National Park and Yellowstone has a TON of options. Our favorite spots to get a magnet, a book, and sometimes a toy for the kids are always the visitor centers! They help support the park and often have the most quality stuff.

You can also pick up one of our favorite Yellowstone National Park books – there are some pretty incredible books written about the park!

Visitor Centers in Yellowstone National Park

• Albright Visitor Center (Mammoth Hot Springs)
• Canyon Visitor Education Center
• Fishing Bridge Visitor Center
• Grant Visitor Center
• Old Faithful Visitor Education Center

However, if you’re looking for a little more variety for your souvenirs you can explore some other options. West Yellowstone has a TON of options for souvenirs (although watch out for junk in the stores, there is a lot of it). We had good luck at Canyon Square!

You can also look for souvenirs in downtown Gardiner, Montana which is where the north entrance to the park is.

20. Hike to Wraith Falls

Wraith Falls is a great family friendly hike if you’re in the Mammoth Hot Springs area (or heading to the Lamar Valley).

The hike is only 0.8 miles with 75 feet of elevation gain. The waterfall is a really unique one and although you can only view from a distance, it’s really beautiful.

TIP: Make sure to carry bear spray when you’re out hiking! You can choose to rent this from West Yellowstone (or get your own at Costco to save money) and read more tips for visiting Yellowstone before your trip.

21. Stay at One of the National Park Lodges

Yellowstone has some of the best National Park Lodges around. The Historic Old Faithful Inn is the largest log structure in the world, the Lake Yellowstone Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in the park (and has beautiful views!), and the Lake Lodge is a beautiful and peaceful place to stay.

We also love the Mammoth Hotel for the rich history – but there are a total of 9 lodges in the park that are all worth checking out!

22. See the Mud Volcano

The Mud Volcano is a totally unexpected but cool spot. You can walk along the 0.6 mile boardwalk and see some of the most acidic features in the park, which are really unique bubbling pots!

This spot was especially interesting to our kids and felt a little less crowded than some of the main trails in the park.

23. Walk the Fountain Paint Pots Boardwalk

The Fountain Paint Pots were one of my favorite boardwalk trails I did on my last trip to Yellowstone! If you have a little extra time for this 0.7 mile boardwalk trail you will be able to see bubbling mud pots and Twig Geyser. Twig Geyser erupts frequently so there is a good chance you’ll see it.

24. Make a Quick Stop at Undine Falls

Undine Falls is a quick stop just off the road near Mammoth Hot Springs. You will take just a couple steps down to an overlook point where you can see a beautiful waterfall. We also saw some bison at the top of the falls across the river.

If you are into no hike views, this is a great little roadside stop.

26. Explore West Yellowstone

West Yellowstone is a Montana gateway town that is a fun spot to visit if you’re in the Old Faithful area. It’s definitely pretty touristy (and getting more so every time I visit), but there are still some fun things to do there.

Some of our favorite things to do in West Yellowstone are:

• Explore the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
• Eat & Drink at Yellowstone Beer Company (lots of room to roam for kids!)
• Walk Main Street and explore the shops
• Get Ice Cream or Candy at Yellowstone Candy Company
• See some cool rocks in Canyon Square

27. See the Petrified Tree

The Petrified Tree itself isn’t necessarily worth going out of the way for (although it is cool!), it’s a good way to break up the drive to Lamar Valley. It’s a very short walk up to the tree which is protected from people by a fence. It’s also a great spot to see wildlife.

It’s only about 0.5 mile off the main road, and the tree is estimated to be about 50 million years old!

28. Walk the Norris Geyser Basin Boardwalk

The Norris Geyer Basin is a bit less visited area of the park compared to the other Geyser Basins in the park, but it’s still a pretty incredible spot to see. And if you need a reason to visit, it’s the hottest and oldest geyser basin in the park!

If you’re up for a little walk around the area, there are a variety of trails ranging from 1 to 3 miles. And if you’re not up for the trails, you can spend your time at the Norris Geyser Basin Museum instead to learn about the history of the area.

29. Explore the Nearby Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park is an absolute gem and you won’t regret checking it out if you have an extra day or two on your itinerary. While you can spend a week in the Tetons, you can see a lot of the highlights with a 1-2 day itinerary.

If you have more questions about the Tetons – check out our Ultimate Guide to Visiting with Kids!

30. See Animals Up Close at the Bear and Wolf Discovery Center

As I mentioned above, there are some fun spots in West Yellowstone if you have time to add to your itinerary. I have fond memories of visiting the Bear and Wolf Discovery Center as a kid!

While I LOVE seeing animals in the wild, sometimes with kids it’s tougher to have the patience for the best wildlife encounters.

Some of the animals you can see here are otters, wolves, grizzly bears, and raptors. It’s a fantastic way to teach your kids about the wildlife of Yellowstone National Park!

31. Explore the Museum of the Rockies

While the Museum of the Rockies is not in Yellowstone National Park, there’s a good chance you will go through Bozeman, Montana on your way there. This museum is one of the best dinosaur museums and a total hit with the kids!

Here you can explore one of the largest collections of North American dinosaurs and come face to face with a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, triceratops, and so much more. It’s truly one of those places that is so fun for both kids and adults.

They do also have a Yellowstone exhibit which is fun and interactive for little kids.

32. Walk Through Lewis and Clark Caverns

Less than 2 hours from West Yellowstone and Gardiner (and less than an hour from Bozeman) is Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park – one of the best state parks in all of Montana.

This is one of the most unique state parks in the US and I loved visiting as a kid! On a tour you can explore the caves and stalagmites and stalactites and all kinds of other unique cave features.

They have a variety of tours that you can book ahead of time ranging from 1 mile (1.5 hours) to the more challenging 2 mile (2 hours) tour.

33. Drive the Beartooth Pass or the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway

Both the Beartooth Pass (to Red Lodge, Montana) and the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway (to Cody, Wyoming) are EPIC roads that I would highly recommend driving if you have time. It’s a bit out of the way, but so worth it if you’re up for a little extra driving.

You could really make a separate trip exploring this area near the park, but last time we visited Yellowstone we were headed this direction anyways so we took the 47 mile Chief Joseph Scenic Byway and were blown away.

There are several amazing views that you can use pullouts for. And make sure to stop when you hit the spot with the bridge. You can walk across here and be terrified as you look down into the massive canyon!

NOTE: we drove the Chief Joseph in the Spring, it was fairly narrow and winding so I wouldn’t really recommend driving it in the winter if you’re just doing it for fun.

The Beartooth Pass is a seasonal road, so if you are planning to drive that way, make sure it’s open and plowed for the season. I haven’t actually had the chance to drive this road yet, but we have lots of family who love the area.

34. Explore Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is probably my absolute favorite park and it’s 100% worth visiting with your kids. While I don’t usually recommend combining a Glacier and Yellowstone trip (if you only have a week), it’s worth extending to a 2 week trip if you can make it happen to explore both.

Enjoy West Glacier, East Glacier, Going to the Sun Road, and so much more. For more planning tips, check out our Ultimate Guide to Glacier National Park with Kids!

Quick List of Things to Do in Yellowstone With Kids

1. Watch Old Faithful Erupt
2. Hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook
3. See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
4. Drive Firehole Canyon Road and See Firehole Falls
5. Spot Wildlife in Lamar Valley
6. Enjoy Gibbon Falls
7. Walk the Mammoth Lower Terraces Boardwalk
8. Walk the Mammoth Upper Terraces Boardwalk
9. West Thumb Geyser Basin Boardwalk
10. See Mount Haynes
11. Drive Through the Roosevelt Arch
12. Soak in Yellowstone Hot Springs
13. Watch Sunset on Yellowstone Lake
14. Explore the Old Faithful Inn
15. Participate in the Junior Ranger Program
16. Walk Around the Upper Geyser Basin
17. Shop for Souvenirs
18. Hike to Wraith Falls
19. See the Fountain Paint Pots
20. Make a Quick Stop at Undine Falls
21. Eat Ice Cream
22. Get Your National Park Passport Stamped
23. Take a Boat Ride on Yellowstone Lake
24. Explore West Yellowstone
25. See the Petrified Tree
26. Walk the Norris Geyser Basin Boardwalk
27. Head to Grand Teton National Park
28. Visit the Bear and Wolf Discovery Center
29. Stay at one of the National Park Lodges
30. Drive to the Museum of the Rockies
31. Watch the Mud Volcano
32. Tour Lewis and Clark Caverns
33. Explore Glacier National Park

Map of Things to do in Yellowstone With Kids