. going to print this out and put this on my boyfriends desk as a *hint hint* haha . You could also do Grand Canyon / Zion. 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. Save. Take the right turn, stop at String Lake and Jenny Lake Overlook for beautiful lake views. The cheapest way to get from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park costs only $97, and the quickest way takes just 7 hours. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. Schnees Boots, Shoes, and Outdoors is one of my favorite. Day 4 Revisit any favorite spots in the Tetons before driving to West Thumb and Old Faithful. That pricey but exquisite steak is calling my name. Walk around Upper Geyser Basin in the late afternoon. 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. Lets assume you will arrive into Salt Lake City or SLC airport the night before we begin this itinerary on Day 1. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. The rest of the park is accessible so you will be able to see all of the most popular hot springs and geysers. If time allows, take the hike to the overlook to view from above. At the end of the 7 days, we will assume you have a late flight booked on the 7th day or an early flight on the 8th day. Downtown Bozeman is full of great shops packed full of quality inventory. Fun on the Water in Yellowstone National Park West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. The arch is located at the North entrance of Yellowstone. It was one of the easiest road trips I had ever taken due to all the unique towns along the way. The town of West Yellowstone sits right at the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. I spent an extended time here transfixed in wonder. It is a gateway to both Wyoming and incredibly popular, Use incognito or private browser to see if the price changes, Use several devices such as your laptop and smartphone to see if you get different prices, Book in advance, especially if planning this road trip in summer, Sign up for free to one of the hotel search platforms like Booking or Hotels to save with membership rewards, Start by booking your hotels around Yellowstone before working forwards or backwards around those hotels, Try to arrive at Yellowstone during the week to avoid the busier and more expensive weekends, Booking in advance often means you have more flexibility over vehicle type, Smaller cars might actually be better for parking in tight spots around the parks, Photograph one of the 4 antler arches in Jackson, Drive up Signal Mountain for amazing views, See the Teton Range through Chapel Window, Spot wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. For all accommodation outside of the parks, we recommend using Booking.com and then comparing against Hotels.com to find the best deals available. A little further north on the loop road take the right turn onto Firehole Lake Drive, stopping to look at the various pools and geysers. It is a quiet, relaxing wild west town with saloon-style bars and a great vibe. 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. You wont have issues with potholes or extreme heat, but you might have to deal with extreme cold if you visit in April or October. Flash Sale Grand National Parks with Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Glacier National Park. The 320-mile road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park takes 4 hours and 30 minutes to drive. Hotels Between Grand Teton And Yellowstone, Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip Variations. Will land at Salt Lake City. Head over to Lower Falls. Take the right turn off loop road at Tower Junction to enter Lamar Valley. Yellowstone National Park is located in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, with small portions of the park crossing over into neighboring Idaho and Montana. 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. Discover the citys vibrant restaurant scene and explore its stunning outdoors. You will love the Portland area. I am bookmarking this for a future trip! Soak in hot springs and float down a river in this charming town in Idaho. As a side note, this is one of the most popular sunset locations in Yellowstone. Day 3 - Morning in Grand Teton, then drive to Old Faithful via West Thumb, exploring all of Upper Geyser Basin once arriving at Old Faithful. Want more Wyoming content? 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. Missoula is home to the University of Montana and has an active downtown with numerous restaurants and access to outdoor activities. Watch for signs to Apgar Visitor Center. Grand Teton National Park: 4-Hour Wildlife TourEnjoy this excursion in the morning or evening to increase the likelihood of spotting moose, bison, grizzly and black bears, wolves, elk, eagles, and more. It is one of only 2 places you are permitted to swim in Yellowstone. 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. Plenty of motor oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, etc. Heres how we might plan a 9 day itinerary: Day 1 Spend the day in Salt Lake City. But the options are endless. You can then grab dinner either back in SLC downtown or at the airport. Its time to put it all together and create an unforgettable 7 day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary! Great guide! While in Gardiner, watch for elk roaming around EVERYWHERE at dawn and dusk. Most people planning a Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip have very limited timeframes, which means it is usually a straight-shot for Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Stay Right Next to the Water at Bear Lake 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. Solitude Float Trips Was This Guide Helpful? Straddling the Utah-Idaho border, this recreational paradise is known for its turquoise waters and a delicious treat. Helena is another great college town and the capital of Montana. A little further south you will reach Mud Volcano and Mud Geyser. This is a great place to grab a snack and take in the relaxing view of McDonald Lake. Next, follow the Yellowstone Loop Road until you reach Old Faithful. Salt Lake City is the closest big city to Yellowstone and Grand Teton with a major international airport. Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park 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! Head back to US-191, turn right and not long after take a left on Schwabachers Landing road. Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable including VP Dan Quayles potato incident. We are planning on doing this in September. Take a boat ride across the lake to hike to Hidden Falls. You might only be planning to drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, but thousands each year use SLC as a hub to drive through Wyoming and Utah. Many visitors to Yellowstone choose to stay for 2, 3 or 4 nights exclusively in West Yellowstone which does work well enough but it also means a lot of driving. I chose to get the hardest driving day out of the way with plans to reach Kalispell, a small town not far from Glacier National Park, soon after dark. Stay in Gardiner. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-leader-1-0');Also accessible at Logan Pass is Highline Trail, an 11.6-mile one-way hike. 49er Inn and Suites. Changing between three styles of footwear (hiking shoes, running shoes, and flip flops) kept my feet happy. (The Idaho Falls Riverwalk and Butte, Montana are other great options for a stretch break.). . There are so many different ways you could plan your itinerary for visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Salt Lake City. 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. 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. Allowing for 8 days gives you more flexibility and a bit of breathing room to slow things down. Spend the day out on the water on Bear Lake. Sleep either Old Faithful or West Yellowstone. SLC international airport conveniently serves both domestic and international travelers, 2. 15 Days From $5,399pp. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights in Yellowstone National Park at a relaxed but efficient pace. Both were great and worked perfectly for our itinerary. 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. Bozeman is a fantastic town. 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. As a solo traveler and hiker, The Utah National Parks, also known as the Utah Mighty 5, are chock full of peculiar rock formations, massive balanced rocks, and surprisingly colorful rock, Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks are three of Americas most valued treasures. Driving through Yellowstone and Grand Teton is easily one of the best USA road trips, but first you have to get to northwest Wyoming. There are several direct long haul flights into Salt Lake City from major cities around the world. Nearby Teton Village nestled at the base of Jacksons ski lifts is the main alternative to staying in Downtown Jackson. The drive time from Salt Lake City to Glacier National Park is 10 hours. Your road trip ends in Glacier National Park, one of the USA's most beautiful national parks. Consider lodging at the East side of the park:Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge inside the park.St. Instead of driving all the way from Jackson through Grand Teton to reach Yellowstone south entrance, you could instead leave from a hotel near Moran (the area north of Grand Teton) and drive straight to south entrance. Covering nearly 9,000 square kilometers, Yellowstone is best known for its 10,000 geysers and hot springs. It is valid for one year for admission to any national park or federal recreation site, including Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. It looks delicious! Just watch for the crowd taking pictures. Not Ready to Leave the American Northwest? Eat breakfast at Mammoth or Gardiner, followed by lunch in West Yellowstone on the way out of the park. Glacier National Park features over 20 glaciers and 200 lakes as standing reminders of the last ice age. And a 2-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City International Airport. Salt Lake City is the natural stopping off point between visiting Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone to the north, and the 5 Utah national parks to the south for those on longer US road trips. Maybe you would prefer to drive straight to the northern areas of Yellowstone and work down through the park, before exploring Grand Teton on the way back to SLC? Wed go as far as saying if you only have 4 days for your trip, take one from Yellowstone and give it to Grand Teton. LOVE them! We enjoyed witnessing bison being herded by a Yellowstone Park Ambulance. Take a self-guided walking tour of buildings and establishments preserved to reflect their historic past. When searching for flights to Salt Lake City or any other nearby airport, we personally use and recommend Skyscanner and Google Flights as the two best flight search engines. Posted on Last updated: February 19, 2023. Continue to the end of North Rim Drive and walk out to Artist Point, which is our personal favorite viewpoint into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. In winter or early spring, you will instead turn right onto Gros Venture Road at an earlier roundabout. In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. Follow the loop road until you reach Gibbon Falls for a quick waterfall stop. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. I have 7 days off! Built in 1914, McDonald Lake Lodge is worth a quick visit. Below are tour offerings for the fearless as well as reluctant, fearful or solo traveler. Note: If you plan to rent a car,compare pricesand book in advance to ensure availability. They are lightweight for everyday use as well which is helpful when I want to travel with only a few pairs of shoes. US-191 turns left and your next stop is Oxbow Bend for more stunning mountain reflections. The downtown area is clean, neat, and architecturally pleasing, telling a story of pride and preservation. You will not go hungry. I chose the Comfort Inn Yellowstone North. Spend an hour walking around Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser, Fishing Cone and various other colorful hot springs located in West Thumb. Note: For those interested in increasing their chances to spot moose, bison, grizzly and black bears, wolves, elk, and eagles, consider taking a Grand Teton 4-Hour Wildlife Tour. Yellowstone is an awe-inspiring and extraordinary landscape, but it requires careful planning to do it the right way without losing time driving back on yourself or missing out on top attractions. Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tourin the national park. Continue to both Grand View and Inspiration Point and if you arrive at the right time, you will be at Inspiration Point for sunset directly behind Lower Falls. 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. The top cities between Salt Lake City and Glacier National Park are Missoula and Ogden. Best car for this trip: SUV. An affordable hotel near the town square restaurants and shops.Cowboy Village ResortI stayed here in 2016, during my first visit to Jackson.