Rocky Mountain National Park to Yellowstone Road Trip

Updated June 5, 2025 02:13PM

See some of the West’s most incredible national parks on this road trip from Rocky Mountain National Park to Yellowstone. From microscopic, heat-loving bacteria that turns Yellowstone’s hot springs into colorful pools and tiny pikas that are warning signs of climate change to mighty elk, bison and wolves, this road trip is full of incredible wildlife that showcase just how diverse the states of Colorado and Wyoming are.

Start in Denver before heading north to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Centennial State has the largest elk population in the world. If you visit the Moraine Park area early in the morning or in the evening, you’re likely to spot some of these majestic creatures. Continue west towards the Utah border, checking out wild mustangs in Craig before swinging north to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, which make up a large portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. It’s one of the biggest nearly-intact temperate ecosystems in the world and is home to abundant wildlife from ungulates like elk, moose, bison and pronghorn to predators like wolves, grizzly bears and mountain lions.

After exploring both parks, point your wheels back south where you can spend time soaking in the hot springs of Saratoga, a welcome respite since Yellowstone’s hot pools are too scalding to enter. Check out the university town of Laramie, with a great craft beer scene, and ride a train through a bison herd in the classic Western town of Cheyenne. The state’s capital is also home to the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, where riders on bulls and saddle broncs compete. Back across the border in Colorado, watch longhorn cattle march through downtown Greeley, get to know the state’s prairies at the serene Jackson Lake State Park near Fort Morgan—a great spot for birding—and near Keenesburg, find the curious sight of lions, tigers and bears roaming the Great Plains. These rescues are part of the oldest wildlife sanctuary in the country.

Road Trip Map

Start: Denver

A Denver Local’s Perfect Day in the Mile High
As more and more people discover how great Colorado is, my childhood friends and I joke that we’re unicorns, having been born and raised in the Denver area. There’s nowhere I can make recommendations on with quite as much authority as Denver.

Rocky Mountain National Park

2-Day Eco-Friendly Rocky Mountain National Park Itinerary
We’ve put together ideas for a two-day vacation to help you become a more sustainable traveler.

GuideAlong Audio Driving Tour
Download the Rocky Mountain National Park tour app that’s like having a tour guide in your car. GuideAlong automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go.

Why Your Next National Park Trip Should Be in an RV
Level up your national park adventures with an RV or camper van rental from Outdoorsy.

Get on the Water at Grand Lake
At Rocky Mountain’s west entrance lies Grand Lake, Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake in the state. Paddle or motorboat on the water, check out the local arts scene and be perfectly poised for a day in the park.

Grand County Adventures
Leaning up against Rocky Mountain National Park’s west side, Grand County, home to Winter Park Mountain Resort and Grand Lake, offers unparalleled outdoor opportunities. See our list of thrilling, nature and water adventures.

Elevate Your Rocky Mountain Experience with a Stay at Trailborn
These two Estes Park hotels bring thoughtful design to your national park adventure.

Dinosaur National Monument

Ultimate Guide to Dinosaur National Monument
Raft one of the West’s last wild rivers, see 149-million-year-old dinosaur fossils and sleep under the stars at this uncrowded national monument.

Jurassic Journey in Moffat County
Tucked in the northwestern corner of Colorado with views that rival those of the Grand Canyon, is the unexpected Dinosaur National Monument surrounded by Craig’s small-town charm.

Wild Mustangs Roam Free Once Again at The Wild Horse Refuge
Plan a visit to see America’s wild horses at this incredible northern Colorado refuge near Craig.

Flaming Gorge’s Desert Oasis
Want to escape the crowds of travelers seeking out national park experiences? Head to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to cool down in a stunning setting.

Make Memories Last with Xplorer Maps
Commemorate your favorite national park vacation with beautiful hand-illustrated maps of locations like Yellowstone, Glacier and Rocky Mountain.

Grand Teton National Park

It took more than 30 years for Grand Teton National Park to transform from an idea to one of the country’s most stunning parks. When Congress created the park in 1929, it only included the Teton Range and six glacial lakes. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., played a key role in acquiring an additional 35,000 acres for the park under the name “Snake River Land Co.” Amid controversy the “new” Grand Teton National Park was established September 14, 1950, by President Harry Truman.

With Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake at 6,320 feet and the summit of the Grand Teton at 13,770 feet, the park’s elevation ranges create one of the nation’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Experience this majestic park by hiking, boating, wildlife-watching, rock climbing and fishing. The park’s southern end stretches a few miles short of Jackson, Wyoming, a vibrant mountain town full of high-end boutiques, great restaurants and hotels for a range of budgets.

Yellowstone National Park

Just a few miles along the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Parkway is Yellowstone National Park’s south entrance.

If it weren’t for an artist and a photographer, Yellowstone National Park might never have become the world’s first national park in 1872. For years rugged explorers returned from the Yellowstone region with stories of a strange landscape dotted with steaming pools. In 1871 artist Thomas Moran and photographer William Henry Jackson joined a 40-day geological survey in the area. Their paintings and photos helped inspire Congress and President Grant to create the park.

Yellowstone is a large park; it’s hard to even skim its attractions in one day. We recommend two days to a week.

Southern Wyoming Outposts

Laramie’s Top 6
Located on the edge of the Snowy Mountain Range, Laramie has a ton of outdoor and cultural attractions for travelers from great microbrews to uncrowded alpine hikes. Here are the top things to do.

Cowboy Adventures in Cheyenne, Wyoming
In Cheyenne, Wyoming, two worlds collide. Experience the Old West on a train ride through a bison farm and at a famous rodeo. But the new West holds its own with exploding music and culinary scenes.

Colorado Grasslands

Local Flair in Greeley, Colorado
From craft brews to disc golf and a rattlesnake-wearing woman, this city on Colorado’s high plains is full of character.

On the Plains in Morgan County
Take a break from the road to stretch your legs at these 3 spots in Morgan County. Discover tasty food, intriguing history and a picturesque lakeside escape in this oasis on the plains.

Pat Craig’s Wild Idea of an Animal Sanctuary near Denver
Thirty-seven years ago, Pat Craig had an audacious idea to rescue exotic animals living in inhumane conditions in the United States. Today, you can visit more than 750 rescued tigers, wolves, bears and lions at The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado.