Attractions Nearby West Yellowstone, Day Trips and Excursions

(West Yellowstone, Montana - MT, USA)

Wyoming)" />Whilst it would easily be possible spending an entire vacation doing nothing else other than exploring the seemingly endless attractions located within the Yellowstone National Park, the town of West Yellowstone does lend itself to being a good base for day trips and short excursions.

The attractions within Island Park are extremely close to West Yellowstone and little more than a 30-minute drive away, being sited around 28 miles / 45 km to the southwest and highly recommended. Very much an upscale destination with much to offer, Jackson Hole has become a leading excursion destination, being found roughly 126 miles / 203 km to the south and known for its National Elk Refuge, exceptional winter sports attractions and skiing resorts. To the southeast of the town and directly south of the Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton National Park is worthy of a day trip.

Grand Teton National Park

Address: Wyoming
Being a mere 96 miles / 154 km southeast of West Yellowstone, the limitless attractions of the Grand Teton National Park are not to be missed. The park itself lies just beneath the Yellowstone National Park and north of Jackson. Visitors can expect to find no less than 12 glacier-carved summits within the Grand Teton National Park, with the Grand Teton Mountain dominating the area and standing around 4,200 meters / 13,770 feet tall. With some 200 miles / 322 km of hiking trails, superb rock climbing, fishing, adventure sports and many charming buildings, NPS camping grounds, and both winter snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing, it is easy to see why such a large number of people take time out to explore the Grand Teton National Park as fully as possible. Look out for the Signal Mountain Summit Road, the Jenny Lake Scenic Loop Road, and also the Teton Crest Trail.

Gardiner

Gardiner is a small town located some 54 miles / 87 km to the northeast of West Yellowstone and home to a population of around 1,000 residents. Whilst the attractions of Gardiner are fairly minimal, there are a number of appealing shops are art galleries. However, it is the Roosevelt Arch that is the main draw card of Gardiner and this imposing stone archway marks the northern entrance into the Yellowstone National Park. In 1903, US President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of his namesake arch, to the delight of huge crowds.

Idaho Falls

Address: Idaho
Often of interest to day trippers, the city of Idaho Falls is easy to reach and lies approximately 108 miles / 174 km to the southwest of Idaho Falls. Currently just over 50,000 people call Idaho Falls their home, and many tourists are now choosing to visit the city for short breaks. There are a number of very family-orientated attractions, namely its zoological gardens, the Tautphaus Park Zoo on Carnival Way, which contains animals from all over the world, including all of the classics, such as antelope, lemurs, monkeys, penguins, tigers and zebras, along with friendly goats, lamas, sheep and chicken's within the Petting Zoo area for children. Also popular is the Museum of Idaho on the North Eastern Avenue, and the scenic Idaho Falls River Walk through the Greenbelt, alongside the Snake River.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Island Park

Address: Idaho
Island Park is extremely close to West Yellowstone and little more than a 30-minute drive away, being sited around 28 miles / 45 km to the southwest. The Island Park area is actually made up of an enormous 'caldera' (volcanic features rather like a cauldron), and extends northwards towards Henry's Lake Flat. There are a number of mountain peaks around Island Park, the tallest of which is the Sawtell Peak, which towers over 3,000 meters / 9,840 feet in height. One of the biggest calderas in existence, the Island Park Caldero stretches for around 20 miles / 32 km in width and is brimming with wildlife, tranquility and breathtaking views.

Jackson Hole

Address: Wyoming
Visitors come to Jackson Hole for all kinds of attractions, many of which are seasonal, such as summer hiking, and world-class downhill skiing in the winter months, based around the famed Jackson Hole Winter Resort. Of particular interest within Jackson Hole is the National Elk Refuge, the historical buildings surrounding the Town Square, and also the acclaimed National Museum of Wildlife Art.