A Guide To The Perfect Weekend in Wyoming

Wyoming rewards visitors with dramatic mountain ranges, thermal landscapes, abundant wildlife, and a deep Western history. This weekend road trip loop begins in Jackson, moves north into Grand Teton National Park, crosses into Yellowstone National Park, and ends in Cody. Each day follows a natural flow of places, so travel time stays reasonable, and the experience feels like a continuous journey rather than a series of long drives.

Day 1 — Friday evening: Arrive in Jackson, unwind, and prepare for the Tetons

Jackson serves as a practical and scenic weekend launch point. The town has terrific dining, unique galleries, and a compact center that makes arriving simple.

What to see and do the first evening

1. Stroll the Town Square (formally known as George Washington Memorial Park) and view the elk-antler arches at the four corners, where shops and galleries are clustered, and local visitor information can help with last-minute reservations.
2. Visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art for a late afternoon or early evening viewing of works by more than 550 artists and over 5,000 catalogued items of animal art.
3. Close the evening by attending a live music set at The Silver Dollar Showroom, one of Jackson’s downtown music venues, or a cowboy-themed dining experience at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.

Where to sleep Friday night? Choose a centrally located option, such as The Wort Hotel, for easy access to the square, or a property with lakeside access, such as Jackson Lake Lodge, for a quieter night near water.

Day 2 — Saturday: Grand Teton National Park in the morning, then north into Yellowstone

Start early to capture morning light along the Teton Range, then drive toward Yellowstone’s geyser basins.

Morning hikes in Grand Teton

1. Join a guided float or scenic drive along the Snake River for early wildlife viewing and Teton’s reflections on the calm morning water.
2. Hike a short trail at the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve to learn about the park’s conservation history and glacial geology.
3. Take the Jenny Lake loop for a lengthy (3-5 hours), but scenic, view of Cascade Canyon, the Cathedral Group, and Jenny Lake.

After a lakeside lunch, continue north through the John D. Rockefeller Memorial Parkway into Yellowstone National Park.

1. Check out Old Faithful and walk the boardwalks of the Upper Geyser Basin to view the famous eruptions and the surrounding hot springs.
2. Walk the boardwalks through the adjacent thermal features in the Upper Geyser Basin to view sinter terraces, colored pools, and steam vents.
3. If time allows, stay in the Old Faithful area, where historic lodges and inns offer access to evening boardwalk walks; the Old Faithful Inn remains an iconic option for an overnight.

Day 3 — Sunday: Sunrise wildlife viewing, geothermal terraces, then down to Cody for history and rodeo night

Sunday focuses on wildlife-rich valleys, the chalky terraces near Mammoth, and cultural attractions in Cody.

Morning wildlife and terraces inside Yellowstone

1. Drive early to Lamar Valley for dawn wildlife viewing. The valley offers the best local odds for seeing large mammals like bison and spotting wolves in the early hours.
2. Visit Mammoth Hot Springs to walk around the travertine terraces from mineral deposits.

After exiting Yellowstone, enter Cody to experience classic western culture and local museum collections.

1. Spend the afternoon at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, where five museums under one roof showcase incredible stories of Yellowstone and the American West.
2. Walk into downtown Cody and view the historic Irma Hotel, which Buffalo Bill Cody himself opened.
3. If you travel in the summer, don’t miss the Cody Nite Rodeo. This nightly professional rodeo only runs during the summer but delivers a jaw-dropping evening of wild rodeo events and family-oriented spectacle.

Where to sleep Sunday night? Return to the Irma Hotel in downtown Cody for an evening close to museums and nightlife, or choose ranch-style lodging outside town, like the Rimrock Dude Ranch, for quieter surroundings.

Optional extension: Devils Tower and eastern Wyoming

If your schedule allows an extra day, drive east to Devils Tower National Monument. This vertical igneous tower has short trails and interpretive exhibits tied to the region’s indigenous cultures. Devils Tower is a place of geological, historic, and cultural significance and a unique spot for hiking and climbing.

A weekend loop from Jackson into Grand Teton and Yellowstone and then across to Cody delivers a sampler of Wyoming’s natural wonders and rich western heritage. Early mornings allow for exploration of wildlife-rich valleys, midday strolls along boardwalks, and evening discoveries of modern culture in small towns, creating a weekend that’s full but not rushed.