salt lake city to west yellowstone road trip

are my favorites, both close to all the most popular places to see in the park. But Yellowstone has so much more to offer! Stay in West Yellowstone. 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. If you want to swim, turn into one way Firehole Canyon Road and drive the full loop to Firehole River swimming area. Gazing upon astonishing natural wonders like gushing geysers and vibrantly colored hot springs isnt something you do every day. Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. All hotels are similarly priced but we can definitely recommend both Yellowstone Gateway Inn and Yellowstone Riverside Cottages from positive experiences. Known for: Gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel offers a spa, a gift shop selling Shoshone-Bannock crafts and a place to watch your favorite sports team. Our top recommendation is to search for vehicle prices with Rental Cars and compare prices with Discover Cars. I agree with Pam. Enter the chapel to take the iconic mountains through the church window photograph. With temperatures reaching new highs, figuring out how to stay cool is key to enjoying your summer. "Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. 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. Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. This small island within the Great Salt Lake provides incredible views of Utahs famous lake and the free-roaming herds of bison and antelope found here. Jackson Hole is a world-famous ski town and the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Is Salt Lake City near Yellowstone National Park? Town Square Inns of Jackson Hole Here are the most helpful travel planning resources you might need to drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. This is particularly pertinent if you drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the shoulder season month of April and October. Along the way to Yellowstone, we've included fun attractions, great places to eat and other national park sites that offer different experiences than Yellowstone. Is there a pdf version for a quick reference? While you may hear the terms used interchangeably, the region is Jackson Hole, and the city is simply named Jackson. Take a Dip in Lava Hot Springs Salt Lake City is located 320 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Popular sites include, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Caribou-Targhee and Bridger-Teton National Forests as well as Antelope Island and Willard Bay State Parks. 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. Here are our popular road trip resources for planning and packing: Packing for Grand Teton and Yellowstone is fairly straightforward year round. Salt Lake is where the tradition meets a progressive and energetic cultural scene. How Long Do I Need Driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? Keep a close eye on the NPS website for Yellowstone for any potentially important updates before your trip. The easiest option would simply be to cut out the day in Salt Lake City and pick up the full itinerary above on Day 2. The Logan Canyon Scenic Byway connects Logan, a sizable town outside of Salt Lake City, and Garden City along the shores of Bear Lake. 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. 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. Next up is Artists Paintpots Trail, which we highly recommend. As you approach the Tetons from the west, you might be surprised by the mirror-image view of the range youve seen photographed from the east. 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. This particular Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip is such a great loop to do if you're looking for an epic USA road trip that features a LOT of variety: think epic landscapes through plenty of National Parks, paired with city adventures and off-the-beaten path spots as well. We typically use Booking to book our hotels but park lodging inside Yellowstone is not available with Booking. Hi Matt, thanks for getting in touch and we're happy to hear you are following our itinerary. Have a Shoshone-Bannock Native Experience We have visited Yellowstone in both April and October when crowds were at a minimum, but even then it was busy enough both times. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. 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. 3 Roadside Stops in Grand Teton National Park *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. . The Salt Lake City Temple Square, Logan Canyon Scenic Byway, Bear Lake, Grand Teton National Park, John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway, Yellowstone National Park, and Mesa Falls were some of the exuberant highlights of this super scenic road trip. If you're planning a road trip to Salt Lake City, you can research locations to stop along the way. The town of West Yellowstone, located just outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is a year-round, family-friendly destination. Want to know more about Grand Teton? Grand Teton National Park is easily one of the most impressive and scenic national parks in the United States. Home Latest Posts National Parks Wyoming Yellowstone National Park. Visit a museum or go for a hike. Jackson, Wyo.s best-kept secret offers a ton of activities for all ages, plus bike and SUP rentals. Nearby Teton Village nestled at the base of Jacksons ski lifts is the main alternative to staying in Downtown Jackson. Salt Lake City to South Yellowstone (300+miles, 4.5-6 hours) Unless you arrive at West Yellowstone airport, you will end up renting a car and being on the road for at least an hour. 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. If you have more or less time for your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip, here are a couple of modifications: Read More: 7 Days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Day 5 Hike Mt Washburn and Tower Fall, before venturing out into Lamar Valley. Jacksons ski town atmosphere is replaced by a quiet wild west town from spring to fall. Craters of the Moon National Monument There are 6 places you can stay at park lodging inside Yellowstone: If you do choose just one place to stay inside Yellowstone, we recommend you pick a hotel either in Canyon Village or Old Faithful. Sleep either Old Faithful or West Yellowstone. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. Or you can fly into the much more expensive, yet scenic Jackson Hole airport. 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. The City Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. The. Salt Lake City offers a budget-friendly major airport, plus an incredible opportunity for a scenic road trip. Mornings and evenings will be cold but during the day it warms up nicely. You'll miss out on Mammoth and Lamar Valley, but that means you can focus more of your time on the southern loop areas like Hayden Valley, Lake, West Thumb, Norris and of course the Old Faithful / Grand Prismatic Spring geyser basin areas. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? Whose Land Am I On? Hit wildflower-filled trails in Park City before discovering pioneer history as you make your way north to Logan. You can then grab dinner either back in SLC downtown or at the airport. If not, have a great trip and good luck! This is one of our favorite hidden gem areas of Yellowstone. Read More: 25 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton, If you want to learn more about Grand Teton National Park, check out these posts! Where to Stay: 35 Best Places to Stay in Grand Teton Camping: 7 Best Campgrounds in Grand Teton Things to Do: 25 Best Things to Do in Grand Teton Hikes: 18 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park Add Yellowstone: 7 Days in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. 9 Uncrowded Gems in Southern Idaho Rent an RV with Outdoorsy 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. The South Entrance gives you excellent access to the southern part of the park before continuing along Yellowstones Grand Loop Road throughout your visit. Spend around two hours walking through Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the highest concentration of geysers in Yellowstone. GyPSy Guide automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go. 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. Any suggestions? Lets assume you will arrive into Salt Lake City or SLC airport the night before we begin this itinerary on Day 1. Nestled among majestic mountain peaks, and surrounded by natural scenic wonders, the town is rich in history and activities. Its almost like you planned it! 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. 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. It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. Salt Lake City is the closest big city to Yellowstone and Grand Teton with a major international airport. Instead, Id recommend flying into West Yellowstone or Jackson Hole Airport. We try to incorporate each place with what we think is the right amount of time, but you may have entirely different goals. In our example itineraries we have you driving into Yellowstone via the prettier route and then back to SLC via the quicker freeways. 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. Salt Lake City to Idaho Falls - 3.5 hours, no stops. What is the most scenic route from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole? Grand Teton is incredibly picturesque and one of the best examples of staggering natural beauty in the United States. Alternatively, you could spend a night at Jackson Lake Lodge or another hotel near Moran. Americans can fly into SLC from almost all airports in the US, whereas only certain origin airports will fly direct into airports closer to Yellowstone, such as Bozeman MT. But we have filtered through every lodging option at each stop you will make and have listed only the top rated hotels available. Inside you'll Don't wait any longer, scroll up and click " buy . Remember, the extra night also means you need the budget for a hotel room, eating out and another day with a hire car. 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. Six Weekend Road Trips from Salt Lake City. What do you suggest to finish out our yellowstone trip before we do the 5 parks in Utah. Ive put together this interactive map that allows you to scroll, zoom, and click through the destinations covered on this Salt Lake City to Grand Tetons to Yellowstone road trip. West Yellowstone is the closest place to Old Faithful that you can stay outside the park. This park belongs on your bucket list, from the jagged Teton peaks visible throughout the park to the wildlife spotting to the incredible hikes. Yellowstone National Park is Americas oldest national park and the 2nd largest park in the Lower 48. This massive national park requires at least three days to see the highlights and experience the parks immense wildlife, features, and views. Sunrise is when animals are most active in Yellowstone, so dont miss this final opportunity. Use the morning to revisit any of the areas in Grand Teton you liked the most, such as Jenny Lake or Oxbow Bend. Follow Your Trail in Park City 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. 2 years ago. See the road trip map here or click the image below. Read our popular 2 days in Grand Teton itinerary which organizes the best things to do into two easy days. Hotels Between Grand Teton And Yellowstone, Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Map, Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip 7 Days Itinerary, Day 2 Drive From Salt Lake City To Jackson, Day 3 Discover Stunning Grand Teton National Park, Day 4 Grand Teton Sunrise And South Yellowstone, Day 5 Geyser Basins And Yellowstone Falls, Day 6 Yellowstone Falls, Hayden Valley, Mt Washburn And Lamar Valley, Day 7 Mammoth, Lamar Valley And Drive From Yellowstone To Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip Variations, 5 Days Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 6 Days Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 8 Days Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 9 Days Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, What To Pack For Your Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip FAQs, 5. What Is There To See Between Salt Lake City And Yellowstone? 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. Day 2 Spend the morning in Grand Teton before driving to West Thumb and eventually Old Faithful. These two places have the better locations for accessing other parts of the park, and they have plenty of places to eat. But before reaching the Grand Tetons, there are so many incredible destinations to see. You may even get a colorful sunset as you gaze down at the world famous geyser and main attraction in Yellowstone. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Our Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Experience. 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. Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Gallatin National Forest. From anywhere in the city, youre surrounded by towering mountain views. The 830-mile road trip from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon will take 14 hours to drive. There are so many different ways you could plan your itinerary for visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Salt Lake City. The easiest way to get around Yellowstone is by car. Then you have to drive all the way thru Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone which can take at least another 3 hours IF you make no stops whatsoever and don't get caught up in an animal jam. Stay Right Next to the Water at Bear Lake Dont forget deicer and a scraper for your windshield if you do plan your trip for when snow and ice is possible. Dont miss the Tabernacle right behind Salt Lake Temple. For the purposes of this example itinerary and our personal preference, we will split the day exactly in half. Its a self-guided audio tour that shares stories, local tips & directions. Basecamp in Idaho Falls, two hours from Yellowstone and Grand Teton, with direct flights from across the country. One of my favorite ways to see the national parks is with GyPSy Guide. 1. Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tourin the national park. This will be one of the best days on your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip because many of Yellowstones top attractions are covered today. wake up and drive to grand tetons. 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. 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. 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. Day 5 Explore West Thumb, Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. Find pet-friendly stops. From here, youll cross Utah, Idaho and Wyoming on your way to Yellowstone, escaping the crowds to see a side of the West thats often overlooked. Answer 1 of 6: Planning a roadtrip for February / March 2013. Read more in our disclosure policy.*. Utah and Arizona are fantastic places to visit in November / December. You also have a better range of hotel prices in West Yellowstone. If you are lucky there will be wildlife drinking fresh water or playing in the river. You can continue south to Yellowstone Lake but in this 7 day itinerary you will head back towards Canyon and continue until you reach a parking lot at Dunraven Pass. How many days do you need to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park from Salt Lake City? 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. Only have 48 hours? Sleep in Moran. I will share more scenes from our visit to Salt Lake City, on May 7th (the Sunday Stills theme is Temples, Churches, and Spiritual Centers). GyPSy Guide Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tour App Its gorgeous in the fall as the leaves change. These towns provide hotel options along the route from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton National Park. Jackson is Wyomings incredibly popular and wealthy ski resort town located just 12 miles from Grand Teton National Park loop road. 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. 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. The whole point of a road trip is the scenic drive along the way, right? Unfortunately, Our Mammoth Lodge reservation has been cancelled and it appears the Northern Loop is going to be closed the remainder of the Summer. Jackson has a wide range of hotel options spanning the budget range so you shouldnt have too many issues finding a good fit. Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone road trip Let's say you're actually planning a road trip to West Yellowstone, and you want to stop along the way to rest. If possible, we would suggest you try to book your third night at any of the Old Faithful Lodges. Other major airports in the region include Jackson Hole (JAC), Bozeman (BZN), and Salt Lake (SLC). Go Local in Logan and Cache Valley Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch Sounds like a great trip you have planned with the Utah Mighty 5 right after - enjoy! The America the Beautiful National Park Pass gets you into 400+ national park sites, including all 63 national parks, for 12 months! What do you need to know about the drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. Day 9 Set off early for SLC, but stop in Idaho Falls and Craters of the Moon on your way back. Once you are done in the valley, drive to Mammoth Hot Springs and check out the unique terraces. A road trip to Yellowstone isn't just about the destination. Walk around Lower Geyser Basin and then drive to a hotel in West Yellowstone. From historic homesteads to breathtaking river valleys, here are our top stops for a fantastic scenic drive plus road-trip advice. This attractive route has the most picturesque views and spends less time on freeways or interstate roads. You might not be interested in spending a day in SLC, at which point you can spend an extra day in either Grand Teton or Yellowstone. would love to hear feedback. Download the Yellowstone tour app thats like having a tour guide in your car. I use Skyscanner to find the best flight prices and compare routes. Read our popular guide listing the best places to stay in Yellowstone both inside and outside the park to help you figure out the most challenging part of planning this road trip. The mountain city is safe, clean, walkable and has a wonderful vibe. This map is a great way to see the itinerary in action! With 6 days you wont have to compromise as much and you will still have enough time for both parks. Canyon Village has a canteen style food court serving various cuisines and a huge seating hall centered around an open fireplace. Stay in a cabin, hotel room or your RV on the shores of sparkling Bear Lake with Sun Outdoors Garden City. The drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is beautiful. Pull over at the scenic route overlooks to admire the valley views. Day 3 . Salt Lake is well known for having the greatest snow on Earth and the epicenter of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also known as Mormons. 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. It allows you to search across major retailers like Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, and more. 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). rodeo in cody. Consider driving from Salt Lake City to Jackson, Wyoming via Highway 89 instead for a more scenic route. Day 4 Walk around Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, before driving over to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Stay at one of the convenient airport hotels such as Tru by Hiltonor Spring Hill Suites. 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. Yellowstone to Glacier National Park Road Trip, 6 Best Hiking Trails in Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone Essentials: 12 Basic Things You Need to Know. The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. Spend the night in Jackson at Wyoming Inn of Jackson Holeor Inn on the Creek. 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 most scenic route from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is Highway 89 / Highway 191. Both were great and worked perfectly for our itinerary. Get your national park pass ahead of time for only $80. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip Along the 1,398 mile road trip, find ancient history and the best Americana. Roundtrip, your driving time will be at about 10 hours. That is what makes creating an example road trip itinerary so challenging. Well, lets take a summarized look at how you could adapt this itinerary to suit a shorter or longer trip: If you have 5 days for this road trip you are going to have to compromise and cut out some of the luxury stops, such as Salt Lake City and stopping on the way to Jackson. The next morning you can drive to Canyon and pick up the itinerary, but it would mean you miss sunset over Lower Falls and would add on a total of 62 miles of driving. I will need to cancel my Gardiner reservations. A short walk through forest ends with bubbling mud pots and colorful hot springs. This came at a time when the U.S. was at war with many tribes so it was a convenient story, but it couldnt have been further from the truth. What Is The Closest Entrance To Yellowstone From SLC? This is where your accommodation challenges begin and why it really pays to be organized before you visit Yellowstone. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Here are seven reasons to visit. Your final day on this epic Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip begins back in Lamar Valley. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park Drive Time It depends which route you take. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake and cross into Idaho. When you are ready, drive north and enter Yellowstone via south entrance. The scenic drive cuts through jagged limestone rock formations along the Logan River as you pass through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. If you drive from SLC to the West Entrance, the drive will take roughly 4.5 hours one way. Yellowstone has eight lodges inside the park, plus several campgrounds. Day 2: Scenic Drive from Salt Lake to Jackson Hole. Traveling with a dog or cat? While it is less scenic than the route from Jackson Hole to Salt Lake City, the faster, direct route saves time and allows you to see new places. Feels like 33.51 Wind speed 8.6 mph Pressure 1025 hPa. A little further south you will reach Mud Volcano and Mud Geyser. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! You will cross a bridge but go slowly because we saw a bald eagle right on the bridge at sunrise, so keep your eyes peeled. Day 6 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. But if you have an afternoon flight we recommend you drive south past Norris Geyser Basin before leaving the park via West Yellowstone. Why trust us to help with planning your once in a lifetime trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone? However, hotel prices here are much higher on average and there are fewer places to eat out. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather. Next, follow the Yellowstone Loop Road until you reach Old Faithful. While there are several routes from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, these are the two I would recommend: I recommend completing the trip as a loop for this road trip, starting with the scenic route, stopping at Grand Teton first, and then heading to Yellowstone. Traffic from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. Alternatively, if you are a hiker you should definitely spend the morning hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and eventually Cascade Canyon. This town is a home base for Grand Teton National Park. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Heres the top six reasons to visit. The mountain drive to Bear Lake and the Snake River scenic views are worth it! This is an amazing hike with serious wildlife spotting potential and we cant recommend it highly enough. West Yellowstone is the best place to stay outside Yellowstone boundaries because it is central to the park and has plenty of amenities. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. Walk the loop trail before continuing up the loop road. flying into West Yellowstone or Jackson Hole Airport. Follow Teton park road as far as Chapel of the Transfiguration. West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City. You will likely be visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone in late Spring, Summer or Fall, which means Jackson will be (mostly) free of snow and the enormous crowds of thrill seekers in the winter season. Then, on the return trip to Salt Lake City, take the fastest way back through Idaho Falls. 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.

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