Best Yellowstone National Park Tours from Los Angeles

How to Visit Yellowstone from LA

There are a few main ways you can make the trip from LA to Yellowstone. Which works best depends on how much time you have, how much comfort you want, and how much scenery vs. speed you care about.

Driving (road trip style): If you drive the most direct route, you’ll cover about 1,050-1,080 miles (≈ 1,690-1,730 km) and it takes ~15-16 hours without stops. This gives you full control over stops, pace, and detours. Useful if you want to catch Zion, Salt Lake City, or Bryce Canyon on the way.

Fly + shuttle/car: For shorter trips, many tours or independent travelers fly part of the way (e.g. from LA to Salt Lake City, Boise, or Jackson Hole) and then continue by road. This saves a big chunk of time. Flights + drive options can cut travel time significantly versus driving the full thing.

Bus / guided tour: If you don’t want to deal with logistics, there are bus tours or multi-park guided trips that depart from or near Los Angeles. These often bundle transport, lodging, some meals, and park entrance fees. That means less planning, but also less flexibility.

How Many Days Do You Need for Yellowstone Tours from LA

Your ideal trip length depends on how deep you want to go (Upper loop, Lower loop, surrounding parks like Grand Teton etc.), plus how much you want to unwind vs keeping a fast pace.

2-3 days: Enough for a fly-drive or short guided tour that hits the highlights: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, a bit of the Upper Loop. You’ll be rushing, and probably missing many hidden gems. Better if you fly in or overnight en route.

4-5 days: Much better sweet spot. You can afford to enter via a quieter entrance, spend one full day in each major loop (upper & lower), and even add in Grand Teton or Jackson if you’re willing. Also gives you time for “off hours” viewing (early morning, late afternoon) when wildlife / light is better.

6-8+ days: For the full experience: multiple national parks, scenic side trips, and slow travel. You could combine Yellowstone with Grand Teton, Bryce, Zion, or even Northern Rockies wild areas. If your tour (or road trip) stretches this long, it becomes part of the journey, not just the destination.

Best LA to Yellowstone Tours: 5/7 Days Itineraries

Here are a few sample itineraries (road trip or guided tour) showing what you might do in 5-7 days. You can adjust depending on what kind of pace you like.

5-Day Option - Highlights & Loops

Day 1: Depart LA early, drive or fly + drive into Idaho/Utah. Overnight in Salt Lake City or near Idaho Falls.
Day 2: Head into West Yellowstone (or nearest gateway), start on the Lower Loop: Old Faithful, geyser basins, Grand Prismatic.
Day 3: Upper Loop: Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley for wildlife (depending on season).
Day 4: Optional: Grand Teton & Jackson Lake/Jackson Hole if you can stretch. Else, more exploring in Yellowstone or relax.
Day 5: Travel back - either drive or fly out. If driving, you might stop intermediate: Pocatello, Boise, or in Utah. If with a tour company, this is built-in.

7-Day Option - Park + Parks + Scenic Side Trips

Day 1: LA to Las Vegas or Salt Lake City (depending on route), maybe see some desert scenery.
Day 2: Drive toward Idaho/into Wyoming, overnight in Jackson or Idaho Falls.
Day 3: Enter Yellowstone via West Entrance; explore a mix of Upper & Lower Loop.
Day 4: Full day in Yellowstone ( Upper or Lower loop depending on what you saw already). Wildlife watching in early morning.
Day 5: Grand Teton (if included), Jackson Hole, scenic drive.
Day 6: On the return leg: perhaps stop at Bryce Canyon, Zion, or scenic spots in Utah or Nevada.
Day 7: Back to LA or fly out from a regional airport.

Pro Tips for Your Yellowstone Tour from LA

Planning tip: flexibility is your friend. Weather, road closures (especially in winter/spring), wildlife activity - these can throw you off schedule. Here are some tips to make the trip smoother, more fun, and less stressful.

Best time to go: Summer (June to September) gives you full access - loops open, visitor services operating. Late spring and early fall offer fewer crowds and lower rates, but snow or ranger restrictions may close some roads. Winter access is limited and requires special vehicles or guided snowcoach/snowmobile tours.

Where to stay: Inside Yellowstone if possible (West Yellowstone, Gardiner, Canyon Village etc.) for early-morning wildlife and easier access. Don’t underestimate lodging availability - book months ahead if traveling in peak season. Outside the park (Jackson Hole, Idaho Falls, etc.) is more flexible but adds driving.

Pace & rest days: If you drive, build in rest stops. Cities like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Idaho Falls make logical overnight stops. If you’re on a tour, check how much time is spent “on the bus.” Too much transit means less joy.

What to pack & prep: Layered clothing (weather changes quickly), good hiking boots, insect repellent, bear safety (know what to do), and a reliable map or GPS. Also, park passes and reservations where needed (e.g. lodging, some entrances). Check current status of roads, services, and entrance fees.

Budget tips: Tours that depart early or mid-week are often cheaper. Group or shared accommodation reduces per-person cost. If you fly partway, compare airport + shuttle costs vs full drive. Fuel, food, lodging add up - set a buffer.