Best Things to Do In Yellowstone with Kids

How Many Days do You Need at Yellowstone National Park with Kids?

We all know kids have a shorter attention span. Yellowstone is huge and involves a lot of driving.  Keeping kids in a car for too long is never fun!  

Is Yellowstone a Good Family Trip?

Absolutely! I recommend 2 days at Yellowstone if you have little kids.  You will have to choose certain areas of the park that you think your kids will like the most.  

2 Day Yellowstone Itinerary 

If you have older kids you can accomplish more sites in less time but you may want to go on longer hikes that take more time! A 2 day Yellowstone itinerary is a great place to start. 

Honestly, you could spend a week in Yellowstone and still not see everything.

Important Yellowstone Tips for Families

A Yellowstone family vacation is great! There are a few really important Yellowstone tips when planning your Yellowstone itinerary for families.

Book Early

We booked our trip in February and our trip was planned for August.  Hotels and campsites were already filling up that far in advance. 

We like cabin camping and booked a KOA cabin near the west entrance of Yellowstone.

Plan Enough Time

Plan enough days to explore this amazing park.  There are so many things to do in Yellowstone with kids. We did not have enough time to explore the entire park on our first trip but, we loved what we did see!

We thought of our kids and really wanted them to enjoy the experience in regard to time spent in the park.

Be Flexible

Sometimes the park is busy. It is a very popular summer destination. Traveling from one side to the other side of the park can be congested at times. Also, your drive can be interrupted by wildlife crossing a street.

When traveling to Yellowstone with Children flexibility is key! 

2 Day Yellowstone Itinerary (Yellowstone with Kids)

Let’s create a 2 day Yellowstone itinerary!  What are the best things to do in Yellowstone with kids?

Best Things to Do in Yellowstone with Kids

• Visitor Center/ Old Faithful
• 3 stops – Upper, Midway, and Lower Geyser 
• Artist Paint Pots – 1-mile hike but so cool
• Lamar Valley – Finding Wildlife

There are more areas that are amazing to visit in Yellowstone with kids. I find you have to pick and choose some of the best spots for your Yellowstone family itinerary and go until they get tired and can’t go anymore!

Yellowstone National Park for Kids Programs

There are some great programs to check out at the Yellowstone Visitor Center before you start exploring the area.  These programs are some of the best family things to do at Yellowstone National park. 

Junior Ranger Program

The first thing we do when my family arrives at a national park is to head straight for park rangers to inquire about the Junior Ranger program. 

Junior Ranger Programs

This is our favorite thing to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids. Yellowstone has many options to choose from.  Please note that some of these programs do cost money.

The Junior Ranger program is designed for kids ages 4 and up. You will purchase your book and begin the activities inside. Once your little one has completed the age-appropriate activity, he or she will be awarded a really cool badge.

Collect Badges

Some families may go out of their way to collect these badges from as many national parks as they can, as each has a different badge. It is one of the best things to do at Yellowstone with Children.  They will love it! 

If you keep your eyes open while at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll probably see a kid with a backpack covered with badges from parks around the country.

Scientific Program

The scientific program is designed for children 5 and up.   The cost is $5.  It is so worth it!  Once you purchase your book you are given a measurement tool that will tell you how hot the water around Old Faithful is. 

It is absolutely awesome!  Your child points the device and it measures the temperature. When you complete your book you will receive a badge or a key chain.

Hands down this is the best thing to do at Yellowstone National Park with kids! 

Our Experience at Yellowstone with Kids

We purchased the scientific program for my then 8-year-old who loves science.  Our entire family had so much fun measuring all of the different boiling pots.

It was well worth it, as it entertained everyone but also gave us a real understanding of how dangerous walking around Yellowstone can be.  Some of the temperatures were very hot and could easily scold a child if they fell in.

Purchase your Own Thermometer 

One of the best tips for families is to plan ahead. During the pandemic, the scientific program was not available.  We decided to purchase a thermometer on Amazon, that would measure the water temperature.  It is inexpensive and makes your Yellowstone with kids’ adventure so much better!

The Yellowstone Visitor Center is the best Yellowstone National Park with kids’ locations to use this tool!

Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park with Kids 

1. Visitor Center

One of the best things to do in Yellowstone with kids is to visit the Yellowstone Visitor Center. This is where you will find Old Faithful.

Which Part of Yellowstone is Best for Kids?

The visitor center is a great place to start your “Yellowstone with kids” adventure!  

Where is the Yellowstone Visitor Center?

At many national parks, the visitor center is the first place you see on your way in. Not Yellowstone. You have to drive deep into the park before you arrive at the Old Faithful Visitor Center. 

Enjoy the Yellowstone Visitor Center

Take time to enjoy the Yellowstone visitor center itself. There are hands-on exhibits and activities to entertain your children.   It is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone with kids and should be at the top of your Yellowstone itinerary. 

You could probably spend half a day in the Yellowstone visitor center and the adjacent area, which includes Old Faithful and walking trails. It is one of the best places to visit in Yellowstone.

I am glad we made stopping at the Yellowstone visitor’s center a priority because the activities there are amazing!  

2. Old Faithful

Old Faithful is what we were most excited about when coming to Yellowstone with kids.  It is pretty amazing watching this geyser explode out of the ground like clockwork every 35 to 120 minutes!  It was so impressive!

Best Thing to Do at Yellowstone National Park with Kids

Old Faithful will probably be the highlight for most kids and will be remembered as one of the best places to visit at Yellowstone National Park!  They will probably remember how impressive and awesome it is to see the water shooting up so high.

You will want to gather around the designated location to view the geyser early so that you will have a great seat.  The anticipation is really exciting for the kids as well.  

Beehive Geyser

The Beehive Geyser is located near the Yellowstone Visitor Center.  We got lucky and it erupted right after Old Faithful.  Beehive only erupts 2 times a day.  It is a double bonus if you get to see both when visiting the Yellowstone Visitor Center! 

3. Search for Wildlife 

One of the best parts of Yellowstone is seeing wildlife! It is not surprising to see bison crossing the street.  We were on the hunt to find bears, wolves, elk, moose, badgers, and otters.

The excitement the kids had when we spotted an animal was priceless.  I love hearing my kids get excited and laugh when they saw something! This was another one of our favorite things to do at Yellowstone National Park with kids! 

Yellowstone Tips for Families

Bring bear spray  My cousin was walking along one of the wooden plank trails and a bear walked right out in front of her! This might be one of the best sites in Yellowstone but also very scary!

The best place to go in Yellowstone National Park to find wildlife is the Lamar Valley in the early morning or evening hours. 

Family-Friendly Hikes in Yellowstone with Kids

Let’s explore some family-friendly hikes in Yellowstone!  Like I said early when hiking with kids keep a good eye on them and they will be fine! Some of the best things to see at Yellowstone will be found while hiking, so it is worth going on a few! 

4. Observation Point – Near Old Faithful

Duration: 42 minutes

Miles: 1.1 miles

Intensity: Easy

This is a great, short hike.  As you go up to the point you will get a different view of Old Faithful and the thermal features and geysers that surround the area.

This path has a wooden, bridge-like walkway above all the hot pots.  It will be important to hold little children’s hands. And honestly, if I had a child under 4 I would invest in a backpack carrier, just for extra safety.

This is a great family-friendly hike in Yellowstone! 

5. Upper and Midway Geyser – Mystic Falls Trail

Duration: 2-4 hour

Miles: 3.4 Loop

Intensity: easy

Just north of the visitor center, or if you enter on the West Yellowstone entrance, you will see the Upper Geyser Basin and Midway Geyser Basin.

These are the first two stops we made. Our first stop was the Mystic Falls trailhead. There is a parking lot where you can get out and take a short hike. I will say parking is really hard in the busy season!

If you are looking for a cool thing to do in Yellowstone with kids this hike will not disappoint. 

6. Fairy Falls Trail

Duration:   3-5 hours

Miles: 1.6

Intensity: Easy

Our second family-friendly hike in Yellowstone was the Fairy Falls trailhead.  I will say that I have a very anxious child and he was very scared.  I don’t blame him, the ground is so thin in spots that if you were to step on it you would fall right through. 

There are certain pathways that keep you safe, but as a child, this could seem very intimidating.  We did not walk too far on this path because of his fear. But like I said as long as you are careful at Yellowstone with kids you will be fine! 

7. West Thumb Geyser Basin Hike

Duration: 21 minutes

Miles: .6

Intensity: Easy

This is one of the best family-friendly hikes in Yellowstone with kids. It was very beautiful.  It is funny, but our kids did struggle a little bit with the length of the hike. It wasn’t long, but the kids were worn out from all the prior actions of the day.

Yellowstone with Children

This is one of the best places to visit at Yellowstone National Park with kids. The water is so blue. This was one of our favorite things to do in Yellowstone National Park with kids. 

One way we help our kids with hikes is by playing games along the trails.  We have to be pretty creative and for the most part, it pays off!  Sometimes we will make believe we are in search of treasure in a faraway kingdom, with trolls and other beasts lurking around the corner.

8. Artist Paint Pots

Duration: 23 minutes

Miles: 1 

Intensity: Easy

Artist Paint Pot trail is about a 1-mile hike.  Do this hike while your kids are fresh! When you arrive there are wooden planks that you can walk along.  Bubbles of liquid pop and explode which is awesome to watch!   This hike is worth it and one of the best places to visit in Yellowstone National Park! 

Hiking is one of the best things to do in Yellowstone with kids.  These family-friendly Yellowstone hikes are perfect to add to your one or two-day Yellowstone itinerary.

9. Picnic at Yellowstone National Park with Kids

Having a picnic is one of the top things to do in Yellowstone National Park. Kids love the idea of having a picnic!  Finding a great spot to enjoy a nice picnic wasn’t too hard! 

We headed to West Thumb Geyser Basin trailhead.  There are picnic tables available.  Hanging out and enjoying the beauty of the area was fabulous.  You can also find a spot near the visitor center. 

2 Day Yellowstone Itinerary

There are some fun things to do in Yellowstone National Park with Kids! You can probably create a one-day Yellowstone itinerary or spread things out and create a 2 day Yellowstone itinerary.  

There are definitely more things to do in Yellowstone with kids than what I have listed but this is a great start to a fun family vacation to Yellowstone! 

Plan a Family Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is unlike anything you have probably seen before.  It really is a beautiful and thrilling location.  It has a lot to offer! Taking your kids to Yellowstone is a great idea!

I highly recommend going and seeing for yourself the extraordinary landscapes and geological wonders. We went in the summer but it is also Yellowstone in winter is amazing as well.

There are so many things to do at things in Yellowstone National Park with kids! 

Family Fun Near Yellowstone

Also, remember that the Grand Tetons National Park is nearby, so be sure to add that to your itinerary!

If you have time Bear World in Rexburg, Idaho is very fun for kids. You can also take a road trip from Yellowstone to Idaho Falls and find some amazing family-friendly activities.

We love National Parks and Yellowstone in my opinion is one of the best West Coast National Parks! 

I know you will love your family vacation to Yellowstone! Have fun!

Facebook Community

If you have any questions join my Facebook Travel  Community.  You can ask any questions you have about upcoming trips and everyone is happy to help you plan your trip.  I also try to give exclusive travel deals that companies send me.  It is a great group to join!