United out, Delta home with a Salt Lake connection. Times are local.
Your host laid out the full grocery map. The big move: stop in Bozeman on Wednesday before driving south. Once you're in Island Park, options thin out fast.
Chris's #1 pick. Hit either after landing at BZN, before driving south. Lowest prices on the route — you'll never need a major grocery run again.
A specific Chris callout. If you plan to grill or cook proper steaks at the cabin, swing through here on your way out of Bozeman.
Small store, has almost everything — fruits, meat, vegetables. The bail-out for the forgotten salt or the 9 PM beer run.
Big store, full selection — the only nearby spot for liquor. Prices slightly higher than anywhere else, but it has everything.
Useful if you're returning via the south or want a big-box run mid-trip. Full Walmart selection — fuel, supplies, anything forgotten at the cabin.
Two travel days bracket three full park days. Geysers Thursday, Canyon Friday, Mammoth & Lamar Saturday — the spine of the trip.
First-day mission: provisioning. The whole week's groceries get loaded in Bozeman because nothing south of here is cheaper. Then the haul south through Big Sky country — about 2 hours via West Yellowstone to Island Park. Settle into the cabin by dinner. Don't push for any park activity tonight — get there, unpack, eat well, sleep early.
Easiest day, geographically. Island Park is closer to the West Entrance than anywhere else on this trip — use that advantage. Check the predicted eruption window at the Old Faithful visitor center first, then walk the Upper Geyser Basin boardwalks. After lunch, drive 8 miles north to Midway Geyser Basin and hike up the Fairy Falls trail for the elevated Grand Prismatic overlook — that's the shot everyone wants.
Today's longer drive day — about 2 hours each way from Island Park. The reward: the 308-foot Lower Falls dropping into the yellow-walled canyon. Hit Artist Point first for the iconic view, walk the South Rim trail, then loop south through Hayden Valley for bison, elk, and (with luck) bears — the park's other great wildlife corridor outside Lamar.
The northern loop — the wildest stretch in the park. Mammoth Hot Springs terraces are unlike anything on Geyser Day: active travertine formations still growing, bone-white and steaming. Then head east to Lamar Valley — Yellowstone's Serengeti — where bison herds are massive in June and wolf packs are spotted more reliably here than anywhere in the lower 48. Bring binoculars. No rushing.
No sightseeing today — the math doesn't work. Pack the car the night before. Drop the rental keys, clear security, and you're done. Detailed timing below — read it twice.
The Airbnb sits roughly here, so distances are calculated from the Island Park / West Yellowstone corridor.
| Leg | Distance | Drive Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BZN Airport → Island Park | ~120 miles | ~ 2h 00m | Stop at Costco + Daniels in Bozeman |
| Island Park → West Entrance | ~25 miles | ~ 30m | Your daily park access point |
| West Y. → Old Faithful | ~30 miles | ~ 45m | Allow time for thermal stops |
| West Y. → Canyon Village | ~40 miles | ~ 1h 15m | Norris en route makes a good stop |
| Island Park → BZN Airport | ~120 miles | ~ 2h 00m | Sunday — leave by 8:30 AM |
Airbnb checkout is 11 AM. Your flight leaves BZN at 12:13 PM. That's not enough time to do both — you'll be leaving the property well before checkout.
Wildlife is most active at dawn & dusk. Crowds peak at all the famous spots between 10am–4pm. On Thu/Fri/Sat: be in the park by 7:30 AM.
Yellowstone alone is $35/vehicle for 7 days. The $80 America the Beautiful annual pass covers Yellowstone, Tetons & every national park — pays for itself this trip alone.
Daytime 60–75°F, nights drop to 30s. Layers, rain shell, sun hat. Snow still possible at higher elevations (Signal Mountain summit, parts of Tetons).
Service is patchy at best inside the park. Download offline Google Maps + the NPS app before leaving Bozeman. Set meet-up points before the group splits.
Both parks are grizzly habitat. Carry bear spray on every hike (buy or rent in West Yellowstone, $40–50). Make noise on trails, don't store food in tents.
Gas inside the park is limited and pricey. Top off in Island Park or West Yellowstone every morning before heading in. Always more than half-tank at sunset.