Yellowstone & Grand Teton Self-Launched Camping Adventure
6 days · Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, Wyoming
G Adventures charges £1,730
No-markup version: ~£1,015 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 6-day Yellowstone Camping Explorer: same loop out of Jackson Hole, same geysers, canyons and wildlife, but you drive yourself (or take a shuttle/rental), pitch your own tent at park campgrounds, cook your own camp meals and book activities direct. Note the US National Park Service's new non-resident entry surcharge (approx. USD 100–250 pp in 2026+) still applies to you either way — budget for it and pay at the gate.
Day-by-day
Jackson Hole arrival & West Thumb Geyser Basin
Jackson → Yellowstone National Park
Arrive in Jackson the night before (cheapest: hostel or motel bed in town); pick up your rental car or join a shared shuttle at 8am. Stock up on groceries at Albertsons in Jackson — this is your cheapest food window for the whole week. Drive north into Yellowstone (~2.5–3 hrs to West Thumb). Walk the West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk (free with park entry), continue to Old Faithful for the Upper Geyser Basin loop and the next eruption, then drive to your campground (Grant Village or Madison) and pitch your tent. America the Beautiful annual pass (USD 80) plus the new non-resident park surcharge are payable at the gate.
🚌Rental car from Jackson airport (~£45–60/day incl. insurance) or pre-booked shared shuttle; ~£25 fuel share
🛏Park campground tent pitch (Grant Village / Madison) — book on recreation.gov the moment the rolling 6-month window opens
- →West Thumb Geyser Basin boardwalk
- →Upper Geyser Basin & Old Faithful eruption
- →Camp set-up and campfire dinner
Mt. Washburn hike & Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Yellowstone National Park
Breakfast at camp, then drive to Dunraven Pass for the Mt. Washburn Trail (10 km return, ~450 m gain, truly panoramic). Pack a lunch and eat it at the fire lookout. In the afternoon head to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: walk the South Rim Trail, the Brink of the Upper Falls and Brink of the Lower Falls, and catch the classic Artist Point view. Back to camp for dinner.
🚌Own/rental car between trailheads (~£10 fuel per day)
🛏Park campground tent pitch
- →Mt. Washburn Trail (self-guided hike)
- →Brink of the Lower Falls descent
- →South Rim Trail & Artist Point
Lamar Valley wildlife safari & Mammoth Hot Springs
Yellowstone National Park (North Loop)
Up early — dawn is when Lamar Valley delivers. Drive the Northeast Entrance Road through Lamar Valley and pull into the roadside turnouts to scan for bison, elk, pronghorn, wolves and grizzlies with your own binoculars (a spotting scope hire in Gardiner is ~£15/day if you want more reach). Hike the easy Trout Lake Trail, then continue to Mammoth Hot Springs to walk the travertine terraces, and finish with the 3 km loop around Norris Geyser Basin. Dinner in West Yellowstone or back at camp.
🚌Own/rental car — long driving day, ~£15 fuel
🛏Park campground tent pitch (Madison or Norris area)
- →Dawn wildlife-watch in Lamar Valley
- →Trout Lake Trail hike
- →Mammoth Hot Springs terraces walk
- →Norris Geyser Basin loop
Grand Prismatic Overlook & into Grand Teton
Yellowstone → Grand Teton National Park
Get to the Grand Prismatic Overlook Trail early (parking fills by 9am) for the aerial view over the rainbow spring, then walk the boardwalk at water level. Drive south through the park, stopping at Lewis Falls and the West Thumb lakeshore, and roll into Grand Teton via the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway. Pull over at Jackson Lake Overlook, Oxbow Bend and Snake River Overlook for the classic Ansel Adams shot. Camp at Jenny Lake or Signal Mountain, cook dinner, and watch the sunset light up the Cathedral Group.
🚌Own/rental car (~£20 fuel)
🛏Grand Teton campground tent pitch (Jenny Lake / Signal Mountain)
- →Grand Prismatic Overlook & boardwalk
- →Oxbow Bend and Snake River Overlook photo stops
- →Camp dinner under the Tetons
Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon & Snake River float
Grand Teton National Park
Sunrise at Jenny Lake. Either take the hiker shuttle boat across the lake (~£14 return) to hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, or walk the 5 km shoreline trail for free. In the afternoon, book a Snake River float direct with one of the Jackson-based outfitters (Barker-Ewing, Dave Hansen, Mad River — ~£55–65 pp for the scenic 10-mile stretch; add ~£20 more for the whitewater section). The operator's own shuttle from Jackson isn't needed if you're driving. Back to camp for a final group-style cookout.
🚌Own/rental car + optional Jenny Lake shuttle boat (~£14)
🛏Grand Teton campground tent pitch
- →Jenny Lake hiker shuttle boat
- →Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point hike
- →Snake River scenic float trip (direct booking)
Break camp & return to Jackson
Grand Teton National Park → Jackson
Pack up camp, do a final early walk on the Jenny Lake or Taggart Lake trail if time allows, then drive the 30 minutes into Jackson. Drop the rental car, grab brunch on the Town Square and (if it's summer) watch the mock gunfight at 6pm or wander the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Aim for an afternoon or next-morning departure — flights before midday are tight if you're self-driving.
🚌Return rental car; ~£5 fuel
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Taggart Lake morning hike
- →Jackson Town Square & National Museum of Wildlife Art
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,015 | £1,730 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £715 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,015
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Yellowstone & Grand Teton Self-Launched Camping Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,015 per person for 6 days in Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, Wyoming. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,730 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,015 — a saving of roughly £715 (41%) per person.
How long is the Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, Wyoming trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, Wyoming.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, wildlife trip through Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, Wyoming, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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