One Week Summer Itinerary to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Start your trip by checking in to the Anvil Hotel in Jackson for a stylish stay on a mid-range budget, or the luxurious and exclusive Amangani if you're wanting to go all out. Summertime in Jackson is stunning, but late September/early October is a great time for less crowds and lower prices. It's shoulder season between the busier summer and ski seasons. Plus, there's SO much wildlife activity in the fall as the animals prepare for winter. Spend your first day exploring the charming cowboy town of Jackson Hole. It's super walkable with so many great art shops and boutiques, and of course you have to get a photo with the iconic antler arches on the square. There's a great Italian restaurant at the Anvil Hotel if you're staying there, Glorietta Trattoria. And your stay would NOT be complete without a drink at the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. There are literal saddles for seats at the bar, so you can "saddle up" to the bar for a drink.

Get up early to grab breakfast at Persephone Bakery as soon as it opens before heading into Grand Teton National Park. If you only had one day in this park, you'd want to hit Oxbow Bend for the most tranquil, pure river reflection of the mountains you can possibly imagine. Make sure to stop at Mormon Row for your classic Tetons photo with the barns and Jenny Lake. Jenny Lake is not only picturesque, but home to the Jenny Lake Rangers, some of the most elite search and rescue operators in the entire country. The story of a lightning strike rescue by the Jenny Lake Rangers on the podcast National Park After Dark will stick with you long after you listen and is great for the drive. Reward yourself for all your exploring with a bougie dinner at Snake River Grill. If you need to shorten this itinerary, skip the extra days in Jackson and go straight to Day 5 in Yellowstone from here.

Day 3 is your big hiking day. Stop at Cowboy Coffee to fuel up on your way out of Jackson and hike the Taggart Lake Loop for something easy or Cascade Canyon Trail for something tougher. If you're an experienced hiker and up for exploring a lesser maintained trail, the misty blue waters of Delta Lake are stunning. This IS grizzly territory, so hike with bear spray. Hit Coelette back in Jackson for trendy cabin vibes at dinner.

Recover from your big hikes by taking it easier on Day 4, staying close to town in Jackson. Start with a visit to the National Elk Refuge for some incredible wildlife spotting, followed by lunch at Bin 22, a cute wine bar with great bites. In the afternoon, take a ride up Bridger Gondola and get a sunset drink and dinner at Piste Mountain Bistro.

Next up is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is like the Disney World of national parks. Since it was the first one, it's pretty iconic and internationally known, so expect crowds, but it's also pretty accessible — most of the sites are right off a parking lot so you don't have to be ultra-active to enjoy it. You're entering through the south entrance, so it is a bit of a drive from Jackson, but it's scenic. If you only have 1 day, drive counter-clockwise around the park's loop. Start most obviously with Old Faithful. Time your stop with an eruption of the famous geyser, but also be sure to explore the Upper Geyser Basin for some more unique geothermal features. We got to see a more rare eruption of the Beehive geyser, and at that moment there was a bison grazing nearby and a bald eagle flew overhead. It was literally the most American postcard scene I've ever seen. If you wanted to pack up from Jackson and spend a night inside the park, I would do it at the iconic Old Faithful Inn. As with most park lodges, the rooms are nothing exciting, but the building is one of the more historic and grand national park lodges. You could also opt for Under Canvas West Yellowstone for a glamping moment. Another must is Grand Prismatic Spring, but pro tip: you'll want to park at the Fairy Falls lot and hike the short trail up to Fairy Falls to get the overhead view and see all of the spring's incredible colors. And if you just have time for one more stop, make it Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. It is truly majestic taking it in from the viewpoint at Artist Point.

If you have a second day to spend in Yellowstone, look for bears and other wildlife in Hayden Valley and wolves in Lamar Valley. You could truly spend an entire day exploring these areas. Or head all the way to the north end of the park to see Mammoth Hot Springs.