I spent so much time enjoying Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks that there was no time to make the drive from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park. You can really slow things down with a 9 day itinerary for this route. Next time, I want to visit Jackson Hole. Take the boardwalk to Yellowstone Lake, the backdrop to unique geysers and pools as well as peculiar fishing cones. My favorites are those near public transportation to Salt Lake City International Airport and close to downtown. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. Utah and Arizona are fantastic places to visit in November / December. You can read our guides to visiting Yellowstone in April and visiting Yellowstone in October if planning your trip for early spring or late falls. Id fly in and didnt get to see much in between. Gazing upon astonishing natural wonders like gushing geysers and vibrantly colored hot springs isnt something you do every day. Farther north, youll discover Yellowstone National Park. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? Clean and Green in Pocatello Alternatively, if you are a hiker you should definitely spend the morning hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and eventually Cascade Canyon. Yellowstone In October: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting, Where To Stay In Yosemite: Best Places, Hotels + Lodging. They are lightweight for everyday use as well which is helpful when I want to travel with only a few pairs of shoes. But if you are in a hurry and dont have time for the scenic route, you can take I-15 and US-20 to the resort village of West Yellowstone, which also serves as the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Day 2 Spend the morning in Grand Teton before driving to West Thumb and eventually Old Faithful. USA Glacier Grand Canyon Yellowstone Yosemite Zion. Mountain goats are common sightings. For all accommodation outside of the parks, we recommend using Booking.com and then comparing against Hotels.com to find the best deals available. There will be four major areas of interest on your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip: Depending on your time frame and travel preferences, you might want to see all four places or you might only have eyes for Grand Teton and Yellowstone. At the highpoint of the trail, along Paint Pot Hill, is an active mudpot. Add them to walking, waterfalls and wildlife in Yellowstone and you have the perfect focal point on your Salt Lake City to Wyoming road trip. Stunning waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife and the most popular hiking trail in Yellowstone will make this a memorable day. However, we suspect everyone else has the same idea so you may not find availability. Head back to the car and drive to Grand Prismatic Spring parking lot to explore Midway Geyser Basin. Your final day on this epic Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip begins back in Lamar Valley. Lets take a quick look at some of the most asked questions about planning a Wyoming road trip from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. If not, you will have to drive another 31 miles back to your West Yellowstone hotel. Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. It is the perfect base for exploring Grand Teton and enjoying the culinary scene after a long day in the park. We try to incorporate each place with what we think is the right amount of time, but you may have entirely different goals. Grand Teton Lodge Company. Just watch for the crowd taking pictures. You have several options to reach Yellowstone and Grand Teton, such as Bozeman which is close and convenient, South Dakotas Black Hills which are stunning and often combined with the Wyoming parks or Denver Colorado which is another major city within driving distance. From the park, head southwest to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, Sun Valley, Boise and Twin Falls before reaching City of Rocks National Reserve on your return route to Salt Lake City. Covering nearly 9,000 square kilometers, Yellowstone is best known for its 10,000 geysers and hot springs. But they might be worth a stop if you have enough time, which is why we have included several SLC to Yellowstone road trip itinerary ideas later in the guide. Missoula, Montana Missoula is home to the University of Montana and has an active downtown with numerous restaurants and access to outdoor activities. Missoula is home to the University of Montana and has an active downtown with numerous restaurants and access to outdoor activities. May 3, 2021 Tori Peglar Hit desert highlights on this road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, returning through Craters of the Moon National Monument and southern Idaho. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring downtown Jackson, drop into a saloon-style bar for a beer and grab an awesome pizza at Hand Fire Pizzainside a converted theater. Guided offerings include floating the Yellowstone River, wade fishing in Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, hiking and fishing in Yellowstone National Park, and more.). However, there are more places you can visit on the drive between Utah and Wyoming: In truth, none are comparable with the beauty and uniqueness of the two national parks, so we definitely do not recommend prioritizing these places over the Tetons or Yellowstone. From Salt Lake City, the park's west entrance (West Yellowstone) is the shortest distance, about 325 miles. Head over to Lower Falls. This elegant hotel offers Victorian-style architecture and dcor.For Airbnb lovers, try one of the Warehouse Condominium lofts on the west side of downtown Salt Lake City, an up-and-coming area for great food and nightlife. I would love to do this road trip one day. And a 2-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City International Airport. The September drive offered stunning colors of wheat fields and purple mountains. If you cant get a room in Old Faithful or they are too expensive, book a night at a hotel in West Yellowstone such as Kelly Inn or Explorer Cabins. Enjoy your time off! The America the Beautiful National Park Pass can be purchased at any of the parks. The Top Hat LoungeA long-standing establishment in Missoula offering great music and a cool vibe.Montgomery DistilleryOffering excellent craft cocktails and tasty gin and vodka. From historic homesteads to breathtaking river valleys, here are our top stops for a fantastic scenic drive plus road-trip advice from Nokian Tyres. Whether you like motorized recreation or exploring via your own two feet, theres an adventure for everyone on the Tetons western and if you ask a local better side. Hi Joan, it isn't as bad as it sounds, you can still easily see the best of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone in this time frame. This is such a great itinerary. It is important to stay up to date with live conditions such as roads, weather, hiking trails and lodging when you visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Splitting the fourth day between Grand Teton and Yellowstone is completely open to your interpretation. . Wake up for another early start and arguably the most unmissable sunrise in Yellowstone. On the north side of Yellowstone, you'll find wildlife galore along the banks of scenic rivers. Yellowstone and Glacier are not RV friendly and cannot even take some RV's on the GTTSR in Glacier. You can then grab dinner either back in SLC downtown or at the airport. We will experience some stunning scenery with a chance to explore a couple of very scenic byways on our way north. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. You can then hire a car in Jackson so you only drive around Grand Teton and Yellowstone before taking the bus back to Salt Lake City from Jackson. See my Oregon Travel Guide for all things Portland and Oregon State. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_14',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',120,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1-0_1');.narrow-sky-1-multi-120{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}FindGooseIslandViewpointat a pullout along Going-to-the-Sun Road. Right out of Firehole drive park up at Fountain Paint Pot Trail, this is Lower Geyser Basin. We have visited Yellowstone in both April and October when crowds were at a minimum, but even then it was busy enough both times. Save. Lets look at a brief summary of each major stopping point along the road trip. Just 15 minutes from Grand Teton National Park and two hours from Yellowstone, Jackson is a great stop if youre looking for anold West town with a touch of class and a lot of fun. A short walk through forest ends with bubbling mud pots and colorful hot springs. We spent 2 nights in Jackson, which is undoubtably one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming. Dont forget deicer and a scraper for your windshield if you do plan your trip for when snow and ice is possible. Day 8 Spend the day revisiting any of your favorite spots in Yellowstone. Head to Idaho Falls for a dose of culture and explore off-the-beaten path towns like Ririe and St. Anthony. Day 4 Revisit any favorite spots in the Tetons before driving to West Thumb and Old Faithful. The train ride from Chicago to Salt Lake City is about 35 hours and about 16 from Sacramento. Start Your Trip. Antler Inn About this Itinerary Where Are Those Morgans LLC is a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Lodging inside Yellowstone can be booked through the official Yellowstone National Park Lodges site but we strongly recommend you try to beat the prices with Hotels.com before booking anything. We think Salt Lake City is one of the best places to visit in the US and we have plans to spend more time in the city next time we head out west. Hi Ashley, yep you'll definitely be too late for Yellowstone and Grand Teton end of November, we would recommend heading south from Salt Lake City instead. Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, WyomingSpend a day touring Yellowstones Lower Loop, departing and returning from Jackson, Wyoming. A boardwalk loops through other incredible hot springs as well as a wonder-inducing pool and dormant geyser, the Excelsior Geyser Crater. From Glacier National Park, 300 miles north, the most direct route (on U.S. Highway 93, Interstate 90 . You can do a little bit of everything in Grand Teton, from hiking to wildlife spotting and from sunrise photography to swimming in lakes. Any suggestions? Day 9 Set off early for SLC, but stop in Idaho Falls and Craters of the Moon on your way back. Glacier National Park is a remote wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. Also be sure to check out City Creek Center, a popular covered shopping and dining complex with high end shops and fountains. The area offers hotels as well as gondolas, and a cable car with views of the Tetons. Mornings and evenings will be cold but during the day it warms up nicely. Thank you, Kim. Covering over 2 million acres, Yellowstone is one of the largest national parks in the United States. It was comfortable and affordable. Hi Matt, thanks for getting in touch and we're happy to hear you are following our itinerary. Whether you decide to go to Park City, the Great Salt Lake, hiking or to a museum, we highly recommend you spend at least an hour walking around Temple Square in the center of town. An affordable hotel near the town square restaurants and shops.Cowboy Village ResortI stayed here in 2016, during my first visit to Jackson. Oh, I love the way you drop hints!!! We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The City Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Would love to spend some time in Glacier National Park next time! What about a trip week of thanksgiving? But I had NO trouble justifying paying for THE BEST steak I could find while in Bozeman.:-). What a glorious trip! The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Walk the loop trail before continuing up the loop road. While in Gardiner, watch for elk roaming around EVERYWHERE at dawn and dusk. If you are tight on time you can do it in 5 or 6 days but it will be a rush. Cross into Wyoming and experience the bustling town of Jackson, the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Seeing the sights in reverse felt as if we were driving a completely different route. Sponsored. I chose to drive up and down this road several times in the early morning to watch for wildlife. It was one of the easiest road trips I had ever taken due to all the unique towns along the way. Bear in mind this would mean you have to loop from Jackson through Teton and Yellowstone before returning to Jackson. Missoula and Jackson Hole are adorable and offer so much! Argentina (6) Australia (9) Austria (32) Bhutan (10) Bulgaria (10) . I do like the, Oregon is packed full of natural wonders and historic sites. The lodge grounds are cozy and inviting. This area is mesmerizing. From Glacier National Park, drive 4 hours to Helena. Enter the chapel to take the iconic mountains through the church window photograph. Please forgive the delay in responding! Journey north to Yellowstone, a national park that is situated on top of the world's largest supervolcano. This historic warehouse building has been renovated with several warehouse-style rentals available on Airbnb. Was This Guide Helpful? You will find dozens of photographers snapping away as sunlight kisses the snow capped Teton range at first light. Adapt the itinerary below to suit your exact travel plans and please feel free to leave us a comment at the end if you need help planning for your specific vacation plans, such as hiking or photography focused. (Check the park website as most dining options are closed during the offseason. Want more Wyoming content? However, if you really dont want to drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, you can take the Salt Lake Express bus from SLC to Jackson. Photo Credit: Bigstock. However, if you stayed in West Yellowstone, you will need to drive back to Old Faithful to begin Day 5. Where To Stay On Your Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 5. There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. Stopping in Missoula, Montana to explore the town broke up the drive, making it a most enjoyable day. The bison and elk are incredible. If you have a late flight or a next morning flight from SLC airport, spend this final day revisiting any of your favorite spots in Yellowstone. Spend day 3 touring Glacier National Park. It's around 350 miles off, but the essential thing to know is that a few Canadian, European, and Mexican cities have nonstop flights operating into SLC. During my time in the parks, I got a lot of use out of my Ahnu hiking shoes. While both parks have easy access from within the United States, international visitors may find Yellowstone a little less complicated to reach. We are flying into SLC and staying for a night, then to Jackson Hole for 2 nights. Answer 1 of 7: Planning trip in July for Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. O show areo tem lugar no Aeroporto Internacional Billings Logan, que espaoso o suficiente para caber todos os avies e visitantes. Some people may only want to day trip into each national park but spend more time in Salt Lake City. Stay in Canyon. On the way back, stop at Upper Falls View and Uncle Toms Trail if it is open. ), From West Thumb drive 1.25 hours to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This attractive route has the most picturesque views and spends less time on freeways or interstate roads. You will not go hungry. It is valid for one year for admission to any national park or federal recreation site, including Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. Drive south 5 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs. 6-Day Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton NP, Chocolate Factory and Barstow Outlet Tour (Free Airport Pick-Up) Tour code : GOL-SLC-131A Save 7% (0) Departure City : Salt Lake City Utah Available Days : Thu (2023-06-02 To 2023-09-13) Discover an eclectic ecosystem in Salt Lake City that involves unique coffee houses, artisan cocktails and a short hike that gives you fantastic views of the city. Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge Before heading home via Salt Lake City, we make a quick stop over at the weird landscape that is known as Craters of the Moon. I am bookmarking this for a future trip! Haha! Check for availability at a hotel such as Yellowstone Gateway Inn or Yellowstone Riverside Cottages if you want to stay in Gardiner. Yellowstone National Park WY-Wyoming, Lake Yellowstone Vintage Postcard. But there is culture here too. Plan to park along the roadside and walk a distance. Day 2 Drive to Park City in the morning, before heading to Jackson later in the afternoon. Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options. In April, May, September and October the mornings and evenings will be cold so you need heavy layers, gloves, wooly hats and a winter coat in addition to your basic hiking or exploring gear. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy Best car for this trip: SUV. After you are done at Bear Lake, take Merkley Lake road to US-30 W and get back on US-89 N. Follow US-89 as far as Afton, which is the largest town in Star Valley. This night of the itinerary works just fine if Mammoth has no availability or the prices are too high for your budget because you can stay in the town of Gardiner, which is just 5 miles north of Mammoth. We reached the park around 7:45 am and enjoyed watching the sun begin illuminating streams, mountainsides, and glaciers. best things to do in Yellowstone National Park, How to plan the perfect road trip in 10 easy steps, Complete list of road trip packing essentials, 30 best things to do in Yellowstone National Park, 10 key things to know about visiting Yellowstone in October, Best places to stay in Yellowstone National Park, Mormon Row sunrise and sunset photography guide, Schwabacher Landing sunrise photography guide, Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone 10 days road trip itinerary, 10 key things to know about visiting Yellowstone in April, Zion to Bryce Canyon 3 days road trip itinerary, Best things to do in Capitol Reef in one day, 1. Manage Settings In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Our Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Experience. I need to flip the itinerary to travel from N-S due to our flight timings. I have 7 days off! If you have time and energy before sunset, hike up to Old Faithful viewing area to see the eruption from an elevated position. More. The drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park's south entrance covers around 330 miles and takes about five and a half hours. The rest of the park is accessible so you will be able to see all of the most popular hot springs and geysers. If you want to swim, turn into one way Firehole Canyon Road and drive the full loop to Firehole River swimming area. Only have 5 nights 6 days. Read our guide on the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park which covers the top attractions, hikes and geyser basins. In summer Yellowstone is like a theme park, so you have to be organized and book hotels way in advance. Bozeman is a fantastic town. Let us know if you need any more help and enjoy your trip! This route is 394 miles and 8 hours, one way. Start your journey in the historic and spiritual heart of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. I recommend:The Little America HotelAn affordable 4-star hotel great for families and with a touch of elegance.The Grand America HotelTHE top-rated hotel in Salt Lake City. This is where your accommodation challenges begin and why it really pays to be organized before you visit Yellowstone. In Park City theres a trail for everyone, from mountain biking to al fresco dining to live music,and theres no better time to hit them than summer. Jackson is a sweet ski resort town and the perfect base camp for exploring Grand Teton National Park. If you're interested in wildlife we would recommend getting away from the crowds, maybe try to east side of the park around Hayden Valley and the road to east entrance (Cody). Hi, thanks for an easy to understand road trip itinerary. There are great detours to natural forests on this path, including Mt. We hope the long list of hotel options is helpful and not overwhelming! We can vouch for Kelly Inn and Explorer Cabins, both of which were excellent stays. Take the drive from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park on the evening of day 2 or morning of day 3. Yellowstones west entrance is 323 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, it is the closest entrance by distance and time from the airport and should take a little over 5 hours to reach. Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park This 1-mile hike takes you through a cedar forest and leads to Avalanche Lake Trail. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Trip Details. Nearby you'll find a variety of eateries and bars, and you can shop at City Creek Center, which boasts more than 100 stores and restaurants. Make the most of your time by visitingsome of our favorite spots in the parkincluding wildlife watching, dining at historic lodges and see geysers erupt. The closest entrance into Yellowstone from Salt Lake City is west entrance, which is 320 miles drive and should take around 5 hours. Drive 17 miles south to visit Fountain Paint Pots or 2.5 miles further to Grand Prismatic Spring. In our example itineraries we have you driving into Yellowstone via the prettier route and then back to SLC via the quicker freeways. But heres why SLC is a great place to begin your road trip to Yellowstone: Lets take a closer look at each of these points. We met plenty of people who used SLC airport to start and end their road trip to Yellowstone but had no time for Downtown Salt Lake City, which is a lovely place to explore for a day.