Yellowstone Winter Family Vacation

Your family's winter vacation begins in Bozeman, Montana, with a scenic drive along the Old Yellowstone Trail Road. Keep your eyes on the frosted valleys, this is the kind of morning when wildlife likes to show off.

We’ll stretch our legs in Gardiner (the gateway to Yellowstone’s North Entrance), enjoy an early lunch, then head into the park for your first winter “wow”: steaming terraces and hot springs surrounded by snow. The contrast is incredible! White trees, pale rock, and clouds of warm geothermal mist drifting through the cold air.

Tonight, settle into the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and get ready for an unforgettable week.
Accommodation: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone National Park
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today starts early, and families quickly learn why: sunrise in Lamar Valley is prime time for wildlife watching. Known as the “Serengeti of the West,” this wide-open valley is where winter can deliver truly jaw-dropping sightings. There’ll be bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and sometimes wolves. 

After lunch on the go, you’ll stop near Tower Fall for a snowshoe adventure. It’s a fun way to explore the quiet side of Yellowstone, with plenty of time for photo stops, snowball breaks, and those “I can’t believe this is real” views. 

Back at Mammoth, enjoy a warm dinner and a cozy night in. 
Accommodation: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

One of the best parts of Yellowstone in the winter tours is how you get around. Today, you’ll climb aboard a private snowcoach which is specially designed for Yellowstone’s snowy roads, and venture deep into the park’s winter landscapes. 

Along the way, watch for frozen waterfalls, bison moving like shaggy tanks through drifts, and coyotes trotting across open flats. You’ll see iconic Yellowstone scenery dressed in winter white, including places like the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area, Hayden Valley, and Lake Yellowstone. 

Tonight, arrive at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, your home for the next two nights.
Accommodation: Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, choose your winter adventure: cross-country skis or snowshoes. Either way, you’ll experience Yellowstone’s peaceful side. Enjoy the hush of snow underfoot, frosted pines, and wide-open views that feel like your family has the park to yourselves. 

After lunch, you’ll walk the boardwalks through the Upper Geyser Basin to Old Faithful. In winter, the geysers feel even more dramatic, and the warm ground often draws wildlife close by. Then comes the moment everyone’s waiting for: Old Faithful erupting into the cold air. 

Spend the afternoon your way... hot chocolate by the fire, exploring the lodge area, or swapping wildlife stories with new friends before dinner.
Accommodation: Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you’ll ride the snowcoach again, traveling through a Yellowstone that feels wonderfully remote. With no summer traffic and a landscape that stretches out in quiet whites and blues, the journey itself is part of the adventure. 

After lunch in Gardiner, you’ll head to the historic Chico Hot Springs Resort in Paradise Valley. This is a family favorite: warm mineral water, mountain air, and the perfect way to relax after a big week of exploring. Celebrate your final night together with a great dinner and that satisfied “we really did it” feeling.
Accommodation: Chico Hot Springs Resort, Pray
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner