After landing at Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA), collect your rental car and allow about 20–30 minutes for baggage, paperwork, and loading. Drive north on US-20 through Ashton, then continue toward West Yellowstone via US-191; the trip is roughly 110 miles and usually takes 2–2½ hours without stops. Fill up in Idaho Falls or Ashton, since fuel and services become less frequent near the park. At West Yellowstone, park at your lodging, unload, and avoid driving into the park again today—the town is compact and easy to explore on foot.
Stop first at the West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center for about 30 minutes. Ask about current Yellowstone National Park road conditions, construction, wildlife activity, and next-day entrance timing; late-summer traffic can be heavy, especially near Old Faithful. The center’s seasonal hours can change, so check locally upon arrival. From there, walk or drive a few blocks to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, an excellent introduction to the region’s wildlife with rescued grizzlies, wolves, and educational exhibits. Plan about 1½ hours; admission is commonly around $15–25 per adult, and the center generally stays open into the early evening during summer.
If you arrive early enough, drive west on US-191 to the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, about 25 minutes from West Yellowstone. Allow roughly 45 minutes to view the exhibits and the dramatic Madison Range scenery while learning about the 1959 earthquake and landslide that reshaped the valley. Check the seasonal closing time before setting out—this is best treated as an optional final stop if your flight or rental-car pickup runs late. Return to town for dinner at Wild West Pizzeria & Saloon, where vegetarian pizzas, salads, and casual Western atmosphere make an easy first-night meal; expect approximately $15–25 per person. Ask about vegetarian toppings and avoid arriving at peak dinner time if possible, as tables can fill quickly in August.
Start around 6:30 AM from West Yellowstone and enter through the West Yellowstone Entrance before the heaviest traffic builds. Follow the Madison River corridor east toward central Yellowstone, keeping speeds modest for elk, bison, and the occasional roadside bear; pull only into signed turnouts, since wildlife jams can stop traffic without warning. The entrance fee is typically about $35 per private vehicle for a seven-day Yellowstone pass, unless your rental already has an applicable pass. Bring breakfast, water, and warm layers—services are limited along this stretch, and August mornings can still feel chilly.
Continue to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook at the Midway Geyser Basin area. The short uphill trail from the Fairy Falls parking area gives the best broad view of the spring’s vivid blue center and orange-and-yellow rim; allow about an hour, and expect the parking lot to fill quickly. Then drive a short distance to the Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk for the closer loop around Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, allowing roughly 90 minutes. Stay strictly on the boardwalk: the crust is fragile, and thermal water is dangerously hot. If the overlook is foggy from steam, the colors often improve later in the morning rather than disappearing entirely.
Drive south to Old Faithful and allow about 45–60 minutes, depending on wildlife traffic and parking. Check the posted prediction board at the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center—eruptions are generally forecast within a window of roughly 10 minutes before or after the estimate—then use the waiting time to explore the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks, where a few miles of mostly level walking connect numerous geysers and hot springs. Set aside 2½–3 hours here, with water and sun protection; food-court options are convenient but vegetarian choices can be limited, so a packed lunch is useful. Before leaving, spend about 45 minutes inside the Old Faithful Inn, whose enormous stone fireplace and timberwork are worth seeing even if you do not dine there. Return to West Yellowstone in the late afternoon, allowing roughly 1½ hours without stops and extra time for bison jams, then finish at Running Bear Pancake House for vegetarian-friendly pancakes, eggs, or dinner plates—expect about $15–25 per person and check its current evening hours before setting out.
Leave West Yellowstone around 7:00 AM with breakfast and water packed; after entering Yellowstone National Park, allow roughly 2–2½ hours of driving to Norris Geyser Basin, including the scenic but winding approach. Start with the Porcelain Basin Trail—about ¾ mile and usually 45–60 minutes—then add the longer Back Basin Trail if boardwalk conditions and energy allow. Norris is one of the park’s most active geothermal areas, with sharp sulfur smells, steaming pools, and constantly changing colors. There is no shuttle service, so keep the rental car fueled and check the NPS road-status map before leaving; the park entrance fee is generally covered by the America the Beautiful pass or otherwise charged per vehicle.
Continue north toward Mammoth Hot Springs, stopping first at Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner for about 30 minutes. The arch is just outside the park’s North Entrance, with nearby pullouts and easy photo access; avoid blocking the small roadside parking areas. From there, drive a few minutes into Mammoth Hot Springs and spend about two hours on the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces boardwalks, then take the one-way Upper Terrace Drive if it is open. Wear shoes with good grip and bring a hat—the exposed terraces can feel surprisingly hot in summer. For lunch, the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Dining Room is the most convenient sit-down option, typically open seasonally around midday; allow $15–35 per person and ask about vegetarian entrées, soups, salads, or pasta. Dining hours and menus can change, so a packed backup lunch is wise.
After lunch, begin the long scenic drive east toward the Lamar Valley western overlooks, allowing about two hours for the corridor itself and extra time for wildlife traffic. Use only signed pullouts, never approach animals, and expect sudden stops when bison or pronghorn appear; binoculars are far more useful than trying to get close. Late afternoon can be excellent for wildlife, though bears and wolves are never guaranteed. Continue south via the Grand Loop Road toward Lake Lodge Cabins, allowing roughly two hours or more depending on stops and road conditions. Check in, settle into the rustic cabin, and keep the evening quiet around Yellowstone Lake—there are limited services here, so confirm dinner availability at the lodge or carry simple vegetarian food, snacks, and water.
Leave Lake Lodge around 4:30–5:00 AM with a full tank, water, and breakfast packed the night before; the drive to Lamar Valley takes roughly two hours via Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road and the northeast corridor. Arrive before sunrise, when the valley is coolest and wildlife is most active. Pull into established turnouts only, stay well back from bison, bears, and wolves, and bring binoculars and warm layers—the August morning can feel surprisingly cold. Spend about three hours following the valley road at a patient pace rather than stopping at every turnout.
Continue west toward Tower Fall, allowing roughly 45 minutes for the viewpoint and a short leg stretch. The area is scenic even when the waterfall is busy, but parking is limited, so avoid lingering beyond your planned stop. From there, drive south to Canyon Village for lunch. The dining area is the simplest reliable option for vegetarian travelers; expect about $15–25 per person, with choices such as vegetable sides, salads, soup, or a bean- or cheese-based entrée. Bring backup snacks, since Yellowstone’s food outlets can have reduced selections or long waits in the middle of the day.
After lunch, explore the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone—North Rim, allowing about two hours for Inspiration Point and Grand View. These overlooks are reached by car between short walks, and the canyon’s yellow, pink, and rust-colored walls look especially vivid in afternoon light. Keep the schedule flexible for parking delays and wildlife crossings. Later, continue through Hayden Valley for about 1½ hours; the broad grasslands are a good contrast to the canyon and often offer bison, elk, coyotes, and waterfowl. Use the many established pullouts rather than stopping on the roadway.
Finish at Grant Village, arriving in the evening after the long northern loop; the actual direct drive from Lake Village is short, but today’s route makes this a full-day circuit. Check in promptly, confirm the next morning’s departure plan, and have a relaxed vegetarian dinner at the Grant Village Dining Room, generally around $20–35 per person. Hours and menus vary seasonally, so check the lodge’s current schedule and carry a simple packed meal in case the dining room closes early. Keep headlights on low beam near campgrounds and lodging roads, where deer and elk are common after dark.
Leave Grant Village around 6:00 AM via the Yellowstone South Entrance, US-191, and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. The drive to the first Grand Teton stop takes roughly 2½–3 hours without stops, but wildlife, roadwork, and morning traffic can easily add time. Keep the fuel tank comfortably above half-full; services are sparse along this stretch. You’ll enter Grand Teton National Park, where the standard private-vehicle entrance fee is generally around $35 unless you already have an annual or interagency pass.
Your first stop is Oxbow Bend Turnout, about 30 minutes from the park boundary. This is one of the best quick wildlife and landscape stops in the valley, with Mount Moran often reflected in the Snake River on calm mornings. Give yourself about 30 minutes, but stay longer if elk, moose, or bald eagles are active. Continue south to Jackson Lake Lodge in Moran for a relaxed coffee or vegetarian breakfast, allowing about 45 minutes. The lodge’s large picture windows are the reason to stop—on a clear day, the Teton range fills the view. Café and dining hours can vary in August, so check the lodge’s current schedule before relying on it for a full meal; keep fruit, yogurt, or other breakfast items in the car as a backup.
From Jackson Lake Lodge, drive south on Teton Park Road toward the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and Jenny Lake Overlook. This section is especially pleasant in the morning, when the light is softer and parking is easier. Plan about an hour for the drive and viewpoint stops, including time to walk to the overlook and take in the lake and mountain panorama. The road and parking areas can become busy by late morning; never leave food visible in the vehicle, and use only signed pullouts.
Finish with the roughly two-hour Taggart Lake Trail from the Taggart Lake Trailhead. The route is a manageable but active outing, with forest, mountain views, and a lakeshore payoff; wear sturdy shoes and carry water, even on a warm August day. Start the hike no later than about 11:30 AM so you have a comfortable margin before the airport. Afterward, drive approximately 30–40 minutes to Jackson Hole Airport in Moose, return the rental car, and aim to arrive around 4:00 PM for your 6:00 PM flight. Allow extra time for the rental-car shuttle and airport security, and plan to eat before arriving or carry a packed Indian-vegetarian meal, since airport choices can be limited.