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Yellowstone Park questions - Grand Prismatic parking / travel to Jackson
Posted on 6/23/26 at 3:44 pm
Posted on 6/23/26 at 3:44 pm
How's the parking at West Thumb Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic) and what time should we arrive on Friday July 3rd to get a spot?
And how long do you think a straight drive (very few stops/pullovers except traffic) will take from here to Jackson Wyoming?
I'm sure it will be slammed and lots of traffic since it's one of the busiest travel days in the park. Thank you!
And how long do you think a straight drive (very few stops/pullovers except traffic) will take from here to Jackson Wyoming?
I'm sure it will be slammed and lots of traffic since it's one of the busiest travel days in the park. Thank you!
This post was edited on 6/23/26 at 3:55 pm
3
Posted on 6/23/26 at 4:03 pm to Palmetto08
quote:
parking at West Thumb Geyser Basin (Grand Prismatic)
Ridiculous
quote:
time should we arrive on Friday July 3rd to get a spot?
Before 8am or be prepared to wait. People come and go all day long.
quote:
And how long do you think a straight drive (very few stops/pullovers except traffic) will take from here to Jackson Wyoming?
Before 10am it will take 2ish hours. After 10am it could take 4ish hours.
None of these times apply if someone spots a bear near the road.
Posted on 6/23/26 at 4:20 pm to Palmetto08
quote:
what time should we arrive on Friday July 3rd to get a spot?
Yesterday
Posted on 6/23/26 at 4:46 pm to CapitalTiger
I've always found the Fairy Falls Trailhead harder to park than the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot. Fairy Falls is the trail that gives you the overlook view. That's a really bad week to visit though, so good luck.
West Thumb Geyser Basin is nowhere near Grand Prisimatic. West Thumb is by the lake. Grand is in the Midway Geyser Basin. Parking at West Thumb usually isn't terrible to get a spot.
West Thumb Geyser Basin is nowhere near Grand Prisimatic. West Thumb is by the lake. Grand is in the Midway Geyser Basin. Parking at West Thumb usually isn't terrible to get a spot.
This post was edited on 6/23/26 at 8:12 pm
Posted on 6/24/26 at 11:33 am to Dam Guide
Get to fairy falls early and parking should not be too bad, wait until 8am and you will have problems
Posted on 6/24/26 at 12:59 pm to Palmetto08
Its been a long time but I seem to remember people parking along the road there? I maybe wrong though.
What's your plan OP? Grand Prismatic is like a 2 hour at most thing outside of doing another hike.
The drive from there to Jackson is generally not bad because there's not a lot of wildlife in there. Most of the buffalo and what not is on the north side of the park that's where traffic gets bad. Although there can be buffalo in Grand Prismatic too.
You also should strong consider parking anywhere within say 1 mil and just walking. People are lazy.
What's your plan OP? Grand Prismatic is like a 2 hour at most thing outside of doing another hike.
The drive from there to Jackson is generally not bad because there's not a lot of wildlife in there. Most of the buffalo and what not is on the north side of the park that's where traffic gets bad. Although there can be buffalo in Grand Prismatic too.
You also should strong consider parking anywhere within say 1 mil and just walking. People are lazy.
Posted on 6/24/26 at 9:18 pm to Dam Guide
quote:
West Thumb Geyser Basin is nowhere near Grand Prisimatic. West Thumb is by the lake. Grand is in the Midway Geyser Basin. Parking at West Thumb usually isn't terrible to get a spot.
Thanks for the clarification!
Posted on 6/24/26 at 9:19 pm to baldona
quote:
What's your plan OP? Grand Prismatic is like a 2 hour at most thing outside of doing another hike.
Family just wants to see the Grand Prismatic. We've seen other parts of the park and it's going to be slammed so ok with just seeing that then heading to Jackson early to spend the day there.
Thanks for the info!
Posted on 6/25/26 at 8:48 am to Palmetto08
The view from the overlook on the Fairy Falls trail is the best way to see Grand Prismatic in my opinion.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:02 am to idontyield
quote:
The view from the overlook on the Fairy Falls trail is the best way to see Grand Prismatic in my opinion.
I think they are both must stops, the Midway Geyser Basin outside of Grand is very very cool. Seeing the colors in the steam coming from Pris as you approach it is very cool too. Unless you are there on a real steamy day where its hard to see them. This was last time I was there, it was an absolutely perfect day. They were very cautious about Fairy Falls trail though and wouldn't let you go past the overlook, several grizzlies were spotted along the trail and they had a few park rangers on site.
No filter, the colors are really just that awesome.
This post was edited on 6/25/26 at 10:08 am
Posted on 6/25/26 at 11:46 am to Dam Guide
if you keep on going past fairy falls you’ll see something every bit as cool as grand prismatic and you’ll probably have it all to yourself
Imperial geyser
the trail thru the burn area isn’t that great but the payoff is well worth it. Get out of the crowds
Imperial geyser
the trail thru the burn area isn’t that great but the payoff is well worth it. Get out of the crowds
This post was edited on 6/25/26 at 11:47 am
Posted on 6/25/26 at 12:52 pm to cgrand
quote:
the trail thru the burn area isn’t that great but the payoff is well worth it. Get out of the crowds
Yeah I was quite upset they had it closed last trip, but understandable with how they described someone got charged but made it safely out the day before.
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