The area of Yellowstone Park around Yellowstone Lake is best accessed from the East Entrance or the South Entrance. If you are staying in the Grand Teton NP, it is an easy drive to the South Entrance of Yellowstone. Another option is to stay in the town of Cody WY. It is about a 45-minute drive from Cody to the East Entrance and it is a beautiful drive.

After entering the park, you will drive over Sylvan Pass. It is a narrow winding road, but we towed our fifth wheel trailer over it with no problems. Sylvan Lake is a nice spot to stop and take pictures or enjoy a picnic.

When you arrive at Fishing Bridge, stop and explore the visitor center and museum. This is one of my favorite stops. There is a lot of information on the different types of wildlife that you can see in the park.

Just past Fishing bridge you can turn left at the junction and drive along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. There are boat rentals and tours available if you are interested.

If you turn right at the junction you will drive through the Hayden Valley along the Yellowstone River. If you didn’t stop at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone when you drove the northern loop, you can stop on this trip. The drive along the river is very peaceful. We were fortunate to see two very large pelicans swimming in the river here.

It is very easy to do both of these drives in one day. This is a less crowded area of the park, so it makes for a relaxing day.