I need to flip the itinerary to travel from N-S due to our flight timings. A woman viewing Morning Glory Pool from the boardwalk, Discover an eclectic ecosystem in Salt Lake City, from mountain biking to al fresco dining to live music, Then head back to town to explore pioneer life or see a live show, known for its turquoise waters and a delicious treat, Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable, Youll lose the crowds and find affordable lodging options, Here are some of our favorite things to do, Enjoy adventures in Jackson and nearby Grand Teton National Park, old West town with a touch of class and a lot of fun, Via Ferrata assisted climbing course, riding the gondola, tackling the ropes course or biking and hiking downhill, a ton of activities for all ages, plus bike and SUP rentals, Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tour, Here are the top seven ways to avoid the parks crowds and see the best of the area, Yellowstone Essentials: 12 Basic Things You Need to Know, 6 Best Hiking Trails in Grand Teton National Park, Soak in Montanas Beauty at Under Canvas North Yellowstone Paradise Valley. If possible, we would suggest you try to book your third night at any of the Old Faithful Lodges. Head back to Mormon Row for sunset, which is equally as spectacular as the sun set behind Teton mountains. We have spent a night at both a Mammoth Hot Springs cabin and a Canyon Village hotel room. Downtown Bozeman is full of great shops packed full of quality inventory. Thank you. Best car for this trip: SUV. Visit the Old Faithful Area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, and more! Head to Snow King Mountain Resort for Family Fun Old Faithful may be more famous, but the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is the most photographed thermal feature in Yellowstone. My regular rotation of footwear and socks include Ahnu hiking shoes with Darn Tough ankle socks for hiking, Asics running shoes with Smart Wool running socks for walking and paved trails, and Sanuk Yoga Mat flip flops for everything in between. After multiple long term US road trips we have learned a thing or two about how to best prepare for a successful adventure. Day 3 See Midway and Lower Geyser Basins, explore Norris Geyser Basin and drive over to Canyon so you can check in to a hotel. Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier 2015 Taking this 11.6-mile trail for even a short distance will take you to spectacular views. This is a coveted area for lodging and RV parking as well. The trail leads to Hidden Lake, a beloved fishing destination. See my Seattle Travel Guide and Washington State Travel Guide for all things Seattle and Washington State. I am a penny pincher when it comes to eating out. We can vouch for Kelly Inn and Explorer Cabins, both of which were excellent stays. We will cover where to stay on the Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip in much greater depth later in the guide. Jenny Lake to West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone is around 60 miles and will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. . Sunrise is when animals are most active in Yellowstone, so dont miss this final opportunity. In addition, we have noted which hotels we have personally stayed at and impressed us. But the options are endless. Especially at dawn or dusk, keep an eye out for herds of elk and other wildlife enjoying rivers and ponds. But there is culture here too. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Grand Teton from amazing hiking trails to scenic boat rides and the best huckleberry milkshake ever. Drive south 5 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs. 49er Inn and Suites. June, July and August are warm enough for light layers but you will need sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats. 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. Get an early start in SLC, set your Google Maps for Idaho State Park North Beach and hit I-15 N. Turn onto US-89 N and enjoy the winding scenic drive through Logan Canyon to the town of Garden City on Bear Lake. The Clark Fork River runs through the town and offers some of the best opportunities for white water raftering in the region. 9 Uncrowded Gems in Southern Idaho I chose to explore the parks in order from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Teton. It is best to begin driving through the park as early as possible to avoid traffic and crowds. I was stunned by a little bear who emerged from the tall grass and sauntered across the road to scale a tree. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. Here are the top rated hotels in each place you will stay: Depending on your flight times into and out from SLC airport, you may need to book a night at a hotel airport either side of your road trip. It is a quiet, relaxing wild west town with saloon-style bars and a great vibe. Dont skip this 1-mile trail loop. In winter or early spring, you will instead turn right onto Gros Venture Road at an earlier roundabout. Logan Pass is the highest point along Going-to-the-Sun Road and a site where the Continental Divide passes through. (Check the park website as most dining options are closed during the offseason. To Enjoy a Yellowstone National Park Tour Call 1-800-CARAVAN (227-2826) We stayed in a cabin during our first visit to Yellowstone in October and it was great. This tour hits highpoints including the Old Faithful area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, as well as short hikes to geyser basins and waterfalls. Head to Idaho Falls for a dose of culture and explore off-the-beaten path towns like Ririe and St. Anthony. Jackson is a sweet ski resort town and the perfect base camp for exploring Grand Teton National Park. Do this road trip in an RV to stay close to nature. Salt Lake To Yellowstone Loop [8-Day Itinerary] | Visit Utah More. With four Jackson locations and over 400 rooms and cabins, the Town Square Inns have more options to meet your style and budget than any other area hotelier. Start your journey in the historic and spiritual heart of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. I planned a week-long itinerary to explore these magnificent wonders. Get a Potato Selfie at the Idaho Potato Museum Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. Craters of the Moon National Monument Park in the large lot and walk to the back of the lodge. We're Mark and Kristen Morgan, former career scientists turned travel, hiking and photography experts after an 18 month honeymoon around the world forever changed our lives. With just 3 days you will be rushing to tick off attractions and we think 5 days is only necessary for visitors who wish to move slowly through the park. Some may want to enjoy more of the Tetons but others will want to get right into Yellowstone. Sponsored. Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips Bear in mind this would mean you have to loop from Jackson through Teton and Yellowstone before returning to Jackson. Take a boat ride across the lake to hike to Hidden Falls. In our example itineraries we have you driving into Yellowstone via the prettier route and then back to SLC via the quicker freeways. This area is mesmerizing. What a glorious trip! Park alongside the Yellowstone River and look carefully for bears, wolves, coyotes, bison, elk, eagles and dozens more species. This is a great place to grab a snack and take in the relaxing view of McDonald Lake. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Scroll around, zoom in and out, look for clustering of colored icons representing each day on the road trip and see the corresponding day in the left column. Solitude Float Trips In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. Reaching the park by 6 am is even better. The top cities between Salt Lake City and Glacier National Park are Missoula and Ogden. 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. If you are traveling east to Salt Lake City, arrival time is around 3 a.m. without delays, and scheduled arrival of . For a fun (disturbing) time, visit the Shine Beer Sanctuary restroom area and choose the first door on the right.Teds Montana GrillA local favorite.Western CafeAnother local favorite. Check the weather before you go. 2 Days in Grand Teton National Park Drive 17 miles south to visit Fountain Paint Pots or 2.5 miles further to Grand Prismatic Spring. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Accommodations here are fairly reasonable and book up quickly.Lake McDonald Lodge inside the parkThis is a great option though books up quickly and is expensive. I spent an extended time here transfixed in wonder. Bison on Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake. Rome2rio makes travelling from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park easy. The arch is located at the North entrance of Yellowstone. If you choose to fly into Salt Lake City, you'll save money versus the regional airports in Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. You might want to consider leaving the park via west entrance to eat a late lunch in West Yellowstone before re-entering the park to visit Norris Geyser Basin. From Salt Lake City to St. Mary on the east side of Glacier National Park is about 700 miles but a long stretch of that can be done on I-15 so it will go fast. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. If you are staying at one of the three Old Faithful lodges you can check in now, before heading straight out to catch the next timely Old Faithful geyser eruption. The City Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Jenny LakeStroll through this busy lake-park area for stunning views of the Tetons and access to trails. This is one of the most-detailed itineraries Ive ever seen, but its truly helpful for those of us hoping to plan a trip to the area! While the airflow at highway speeds seemed to be cooling the car, the temperature would start climbing towards red as soon as we slowed down. Next, drive north and park at Fairy Falls Trail lot to hike 0.8 miles so you can enjoy Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Opened in 1904, using local lodgepole pine and gnarled wood embellishments, many original fixtures and furnishingsare still in use. Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, with small portions of the park crossing over into neighboring Idaho and Montana. Here are the top seven ways to avoid the parks crowds and see the best of the area. . This is an amazing hike with serious wildlife spotting potential and we cant recommend it highly enough. Glacier to Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park: 7-Day Road Trip, Day One: Drive from Salt Lake City to Kalispell, Montana, Many Glacier (Optional for those extending time in the park), Backtrack from East to West along Going-to-the-Sun Road, Where to Stay if extending time in Glacier National Park, Things to remember before visiting Glacier National Park, Where to Stay near the North entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Artist Paint Pot Trail and Paint Pot Hill, Day Seven: Explore Salt Lake City and/or Travel Day, Optional 4 Day Road Trip: Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park, Optional 10 Day Road Trip: Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park, Things to Consider When Planning Your Itinerary, America the Beautiful National Park Pass $80. Canyon Village has a canteen style food court serving various cuisines and a huge seating hall centered around an open fireplace. It looks delicious! Stay west of the Tetons to discover all the gems in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. From Glacier National Park, 300 miles north, the most direct route (on U.S. Highway 93, Interstate 90 . Your email address will not be published. At the highpoint of the trail, along Paint Pot Hill, is an active mudpot. West Yellowstone will put you on just one side of the 2 million acres + that is Yellowstone. It will be about a 40 minute drive just to get to the nearest points of interest in Yellowstone. Grand Prismatic Spring has bright colors of orange, yellow, and green with deep blue waters. But it is also a great option for those who want easy access to Mammoth Hot Springs or Lamar Valley, the best place in Yellowstone for wildlife spotting. Here you'll experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine . Guide to Planning a Trip to Yellowstone - AARP I chose to drive up and down this road several times in the early morning to watch for wildlife. West Glacier Village is located at the entrance to the park and is a fantastic area for shopping, eating, drinking, mini-golf, and more. Stay in a cabin, hotel room or your RV on the shores of sparkling Bear Lake with Sun Outdoors Garden City. Once you visit Jackson, you will not want to leave. In addition, dont forget bug spray if you visit Yellowstone in summer. They are lightweight for everyday use as well which is helpful when I want to travel with only a few pairs of shoes. 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. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip - Yellowstone National Park Dramatic Scenes in Logan and Cache Valley I am a first time visitor to Yelliwstone. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I would love to do this road trip one day. Do you prefer visuals to text when absorbing information? 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. Trip Details. 7 Sights at West Yellowstone For a more relaxing experience you should plan for 8 or even 9 days. Posted on Last updated: February 19, 2023. For Yellowstone, we have reservations at the Lake Lodge (July 29), Canyon Lodge (July 30) and Mammoth Lodge (July 31) before heading back to Salt Lake City (August 1). Doubletree by Hilton in Helena, or drive 2 hours to stay in Bozeman or Livingston. Covering over 2 million acres, Yellowstone is one of the largest national parks in the United States. 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. Drive over to Mammoth and explore the terraces. Alternatively, stop in at the National Elk Refuge on the way back into Jackson Hole. Day 1 - Fly London to Salt Lake City - overnight at airport Day 2 - pick up hire car - Salt Lake City to Jackson for 2 nights via I-89 - overnight at Inn on the Creek Day 3 - explore Jackson Day 4 - Jackson to Ketchum, Idaho. Id fly in and didnt get to see much in between. Need help! Idaho National Parks Northwest Road Trip Utah Wyoming Prepared By: Tobey Schmidt Salt Lake City to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park is a popular bucket list road trip route filled with natural beauty and unique landscapes. Spend the night in Jackson at Wyoming Inn of Jackson Holeor Inn on the Creek. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Stay in Gardiner. Once you are done in the valley, drive to Mammoth Hot Springs and check out the unique terraces. But the star of the show is crystal clear mountain reflections in the Snake River. Jump-start this fantastic road trip in Salt Lake City where the mountains shoot dramatically from the valley floor. 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. 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. Gas: Not available inside the park.Picnic areas: Apgar, Sprague Creek, Avalanche Creek, and Rising Sun.Camping areas: Located throughout the park, including along the road at Apgar, Sprague Creek, Avalanche Creek, Rising Sun, and St. Mary.Visitor centers: Apgar Visitor Center, Logan Pass Visitor Center, and St. Mary Visitor Center. Was This Guide Helpful? I wear only quality shoes with good arch support to avoid plantar fasciitis flare-ups and my Ahnu hiking shoes are perfect. Grand Teton National Park is a nature and landscape photographers ideal arena and it one of our personal favorite places to visit in the US. Unfortunately, Our Mammoth Lodge reservation has been cancelled and it appears the Northern Loop is going to be closed the remainder of the Summer. Is there a pdf version for a quick reference? Jackson is Wyomings incredibly popular and wealthy ski resort town located just 12 miles from Grand Teton National Park loop road. Feel Like Youre On Another Planet as you explore volcanic formations, including lava tube caves, on the trails and scenic drives at this uncrowded national park site. July 8, 2022 Tori Peglar Hot springs, high peaks and Montana's wide open spaces dominate this tour from Seattle to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks and back. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our popular 2 days in Grand Teton itinerary which organizes the best things to do into two easy days. As a side note, this is one of the most popular sunset locations in Yellowstone. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Seeing the sights in reverse felt as if we were driving a completely different route. In summer Yellowstone is like a theme park, so you have to be organized and book hotels way in advance. Remember, the extra night also means you need the budget for a hotel room, eating out and another day with a hire car. However, if you stayed in West Yellowstone, you will need to drive back to Old Faithful to begin Day 5. Salt Lake City Salt Lake continues to be the gateway for travelers venturing northward to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. The area offers hotels as well as gondolas, and a cable car with views of the Tetons. Spend day 2 exploring Yellowstone National Park. See the West Glacier Village website for details and hours. You shared so many great recommendations. Day 7 Hike Mt Washburn, head into Lamar Valley and see Mammoth Hot Springs. I loved the park just as much this time as I had the first. 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. What other options can you recommend to replace the Mammoth Lodge? And a 2-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City International Airport. Tour Date & Pricing . O show areo tem lugar no Aeroporto Internacional Billings Logan, que espaoso o suficiente para caber todos os avies e visitantes. Road Trip from Seattle to Moab - LazyTrips The most scenic journey from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is via Logan Canyon, Bear Lake, the town of Afton, Alpine Junction and Snake River Canyon. This historic warehouse building has been renovated with several warehouse-style rentals available on Airbnb. Located in the North Section of Upper Geyser Basin / Old Faithful area, follow the easy 2.8-mile round-trip trail passing by several geysers along the way. Travel Tip: If you have flexibility over your travel dates, we recommend planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary around booking night 5 in a Canyon Village hotel or lodge. Watch for wildlife drawn to the river.Schwabacher LandingA great place to capture photos of mountains reflecting on the water.Mormon RowTour historic barns and homesteads and watch for deer, bison, and moose. Great guide! Western-style cabins with kitchenettes.The Wort HotelAn upscale experience near town square restaurants and shops.Teton VillageWhat a happy ski resort area. Check for availability at a hotel such as Yellowstone Gateway Inn or Yellowstone Riverside Cottages if you want to stay in Gardiner. Stay in Canyon. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy It is the perfect base for exploring Grand Teton and enjoying the culinary scene after a long day in the park. The heavily trafficked 2.9-mile loop offers close-up views of Hot springs and fumaroles with temperatures as high as 200F. Notice the front door and impressive lock, lobby mission-style furniture, candelabra-style light fixtures, and massive wrought iron and brass lobby clock, and dining room hickory chairs and chandeliers. You could also do Grand Canyon / Zion. If spending a single day in Glacier National Park, driving the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Roadis the way to go. Once past Helena, MT turning onto highway 287 will be a more scenic route and a little shorter than continuing on !-15. At 2.2 million acres, with 5 entrances and over 4 million tourists each year, Yellowstone is one of the biggest and most popular USA national parks. Walk around Norris Geyser Basin and Artists Paintpots. Travel insurancecovers unexpected events such as re-booking flights due to airline cancellations, replacement of belongings when luggage is lost, replacement of stolen items, or emergency travel home due to accident or illness. I have 7 days off! Below are tour offerings for the fearless as well as reluctant, fearful or solo traveler. Please plan on flying into Salt Lake City one day before your scheduled tour 8 Days to Yellowstone, Glacier, and Grand Teton National Parks Day One: Depart SLC, head north towards West Yellowstone. Day 8 Spend the day revisiting any of your favorite spots in Yellowstone. Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge going to print this out and put this on my boyfriends desk as a *hint hint* haha . Sitting quietly along the road with windows down listening for rustling in the tall grass, I heard a snort. Spend an hour walking around Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser, Fishing Cone and various other colorful hot springs located in West Thumb. Venture to America's First National Park. With the recent developments, I could use some help creating an alternate plan for the Yellowstone portion. The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. Want more Wyoming content? Stay in West Yellowstone. Why Start A Yellowstone Road Trip From Salt Lake City? Day 6 Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. Here are seven reasons to visit. Stay Right Next to the Water at Bear Lake That is what makes creating an example road trip itinerary so challenging. Its almost like you planned it! Next time, I want to visit Jackson Hole. LOVE them! 3 Roadside Stops in Grand Teton National Park 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. A surprise for many visitors is there is no Grand Teton entrance station when you head south from Yellowstone into Grand Teton. The park is enormous and it is most efficient to spend each night at a different hotel. If you cant find availability or prices are too high at cabins and lodges inside the park, you should consider staying at a hotel in either Gardiner or West Yellowstone. Seattle to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks Road Trip Soak up the outdoors as you travel through Washington, Idaho and Montana on this northern-states road trip. Day 2 Drive to Park City in the morning, before heading to Jackson later in the afternoon. It is practically the ONLY way to go. Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tourin the national park. Plus, flights into SLC are likely to be cheaper because of higher airline competition.