Do you prefer visuals to text when absorbing information? 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. Why Start A Yellowstone Road Trip From Salt Lake City? All things considered we think SLC is the best airport to use for Yellowstone because it is the most convenient for long haul travel and offers low budget airlines for domestic US travel. The most popular trail at Logan Pass leads to Hidden Lake and is accessed via the Hanging Gardens Trailhead. Sleep in Moran. Possibly visit Craters of the Moon on the way. Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge Caribbean-blue body of water) and up the Snake River Canyon to Jackson and Grand Teton National Park before arriving at Yellowstone. Youll lose the crowds and find affordable lodging options. Thanks in advance! you will have limited camping options in the parks so book now for 2015. Both were great and worked perfectly for our itinerary. For a more relaxing experience you should plan for 8 or even 9 days. If you are looking for ghosts, Savannah, Georgia is the place. When exploring I often take short 1-3 mile hikes. Right out of Firehole drive park up at Fountain Paint Pot Trail, this is Lower Geyser Basin. Dont miss the Tabernacle right behind Salt Lake Temple. We saw a moose and an otter playing on ice here. As part of our first 3 month US road trip, we actually drove from Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone before driving through Grand Teton to Salt Lake City and onto the Utah parks. The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. You can choose between a lodge style hotel room or semi-detached cabin at Mammoth. You might be able to find a cheaper rate with Hotels compared to going direct so it is worth checking. Explore these four stops where youll see Stripes and Shoni, a place devoted to cleaning up,ancient curious creaturesand a hub of ethnic flavors. The only road currently closed that will impact a typical Yellowstone visit is the road between Tower-Roosevelt and Cooke City, that means you won't be able to go out into Lamar Valley which is one of the best places for spotting wildlife in the park. Hi Roopa, right now we don't have a pdf version but we are currently working on creating pdf guidebook itineraries for all our popular road trip guides. Answer 1 of 7: Planning trip in July for Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Next, head north until you reach a short trail leading to the impressive Tower Fall. Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone to Glacier National Park. Chicago, IL Salt Lake City, UT Yellowstone National Park San Francisco, CA Yosemite National Park, CA Seattle, WA Glacier National Park, MT Chicago, IL. Grand Teton National Park is shaped a bit like your left-hand thumb and is dotted with three main entrances. 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. Here are the best hotels in West Yellowstone MT: Want to read more about where to stay in Yellowstone? Take the ferry across Jenny Lake to cut out a long walk around the lake to Cascade Canyon trailhead. The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel offers a spa, a gift shop selling Shoshone-Bannock crafts and a place to watch your favorite sports team. Mormon Row is incredibly beautiful at sunrise. Along the trail are milky blue pools and rusty red geothermal crusts. Next up is Artists Paintpots Trail, which we highly recommend. Roosevelt Arch was built in 1903 and was dedicated by President Teddy Roosevelt who laid the archs cornerstone. John Moultons barn on Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options. 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. Day 7 Explore Mammoth Hot Springs. What if you have more or less time than 7 days? Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip Along the 1,398 mile road trip, find ancient history and the best Americana. I need to flip the itinerary to travel from N-S due to our flight timings. Get a Potato Selfie at the Idaho Potato Museum I booked a trip following your itinerary from July 26 - August 2nd. If you have time to do nothing but drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, you will not be disappointed. 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. Idaho National Parks Northwest Road Trip Utah Wyoming Prepared By: Tobey Schmidt The only downside if you stay at Old Faithful is being limited to eating in the restaurants or food courts on site. Drive south 5 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs. Hi! Note: For those who prefer a guided tour, the Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, Wyoming is a great option. Take the right onto N Beach Road to enter Idahos North Beach State Park with $7 vehicle entry fee and dont forget your swimsuit. We think 7 days offers the best balance between speed, cost and overall experience. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. . From historic homesteads to breathtaking river valleys, here are our top stops for a fantastic scenic drive plus road-trip advice from Nokian Tyres. Continue North and drive through Alpine Junction, which marks the beginning of a scenic stretch of highway following the Snake River. And a 2-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City International Airport. 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. Like Missoula, Bozeman is spotless and its streets are lined with perfectly preserved historic buildings. Day 6 Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. The top cities between Salt Lake City and Glacier National Park are Missoula and Ogden. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-leader-3','ezslot_5',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-leader-3-0');West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the most overlooked areas of the park. While in Gardiner, watch for elk roaming around EVERYWHERE at dawn and dusk. Check Grand Teton sunrise times the night before and plan to arrive at Mormon Row at the start of civil twilight with camera in hand. Next time, I want to visit Jackson Hole. See my Utah National Parks Road Trip Itinerary.Coming soon: Top Things to Do in Salt Lake City and Park City. See my Seattle Travel Guide and Washington State Travel Guide for all things Seattle and Washington State. The mountain city is safe, clean, walkable and has a wonderful vibe. Look for the worlds largest Elkhorn Arch as you enter town, it is hard to miss with over 3,000 intertwined elk antlers! Dont skip this 1-mile trail loop. Figuring out the best places to stay in several places on consecutive nights can become challenging. Dont forget deicer and a scraper for your windshield if you do plan your trip for when snow and ice is possible. Eat breakfast at Mammoth or Gardiner, followed by lunch in West Yellowstone on the way out of the park. I have 7 days off! There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. Day 8 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite spots before driving back to SLC. Plan to park along the roadside and walk a distance. Heres how we might plan a 6 day itinerary: Day 2 Spend the full day hiking and taking photos in Grand Teton, before staying at a hotel near Moran. We think 7 days is the perfect amount of time you need to see the best of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Salt Lake City. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Have a Shoshone-Bannock Native Experience Yes, it is such a beautiful part of the country! Notice the strong sulfur odor here. What about a trip week of thanksgiving? 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. The pullout is easily recognizable. This is the perfect spot for extraordinary views of Lower Falls. West Yellowstone is the closest place to Old Faithful that you can stay outside the park. Use the morning to revisit any of the areas in Grand Teton you liked the most, such as Jenny Lake or Oxbow Bend. US-191 turns left and your next stop is Oxbow Bend for more stunning mountain reflections. Stop at Lookout Point for amazing views into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls crashing into the Yellowstone River. Simply use my 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary and allow an extra day in each of the parks. Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major international airport to Yellowstone National Park. Straddling the Utah-Idaho border, this recreational paradise is known for its turquoise waters and a delicious treat. Watch for my upcoming Salt Lake City Travel Guide. 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. 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. Farther north, youll discover Yellowstone National Park. Logan Pass offers incredible views of glaciers and access to favored trails. This makes Grand Teton and Yellowstone accessible to millions of potential tourists. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Found along Going-to-the-Sun Road, just north of McDonald Lake is the Trail of Cedars. You may be keen on saving on flights, and arriving at an airport which is a bit further away could be the right choice for you. About this Itinerary Clean and Green in Pocatello Spend the day out on the water on Bear Lake. Due to road construction in 2020, we were unable to visit the Many Glacier area. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'sunshineandvine_com-netboard-1','ezslot_18',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-netboard-1-0');Drive 4 miles south to Artist Paint Pot Trail. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. 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. I loved the authentic Montana dcor. I also cant believe a bear just sauntered out by you! Mammoth has a grand dining hall serving food all day and Gardiner has a varied selection of places to eat, although far fewer than in West Yellowstone. If you have time and energy before sunset, hike up to Old Faithful viewing area to see the eruption from an elevated position. 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. But if you have an afternoon flight we recommend you drive south past Norris Geyser Basin before leaving the park via West Yellowstone. Stunning waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife and the most popular hiking trail in Yellowstone will make this a memorable day. (The Idaho Falls Riverwalk and Butte, Montana are other great options for a stretch break.). Enter the chapel to take the iconic mountains through the church window photograph. The speed, the sun, the wind, the fantasy of never looking back, and the sheer diversity of . 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. Please forgive the delay in responding! Schnees Boots, Shoes, and Outdoors is one of my favorite. Travel from Rapid City South Dakota to Salt Lake City Utah and enjoy amazing stops along the way. Hi Matt, thanks for getting in touch and we're happy to hear you are following our itinerary. The long stretches of road are beautiful and often filled with bison. 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. It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. Soak in hot springs and float down a river in this charming town in Idaho. Day 4 Revisit any favorite spots in the Tetons before driving to West Thumb and Old Faithful. The next closest is Yellowstone south entrance, which is 340 miles and would take around 6 hours and 10 minutes to drive. 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. 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. Grand Teton Lodge Company. USA Glacier Grand Canyon Yellowstone Yosemite Zion. Argentina (6) Australia (9) Austria (32) Bhutan (10) Bulgaria (10) .