Best car for this trip: SUV. Note: For those who prefer a guided tour, the Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, Wyoming is a great option. Head south on US-20 W as far as Idaho Falls and join I-15 S all the way to Salt Lake City airport. For all accommodation outside of the parks, we recommend using Booking.com and then comparing against Hotels.com to find the best deals available. Multicolored layers get their hues from heat-loving bacteria. . This is a coveted area for lodging and RV parking as well. Farther north, youll discover Yellowstone National Park. 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. And their proximity to one another makes combining a visit to. I planned a week-long itinerary to explore these magnificent wonders. Day 3 Drive to Yellowstone and explore West Thumb, Old Faithful, Morning Glory Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. Photo Credit: Bigstock. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Planning a trip but have to drive from las vegas. Having to backtrack from east to west along Going-to-the-Sun Road due to road construction was a blessing in disguise. However, we know many visitors prefer to book one hotel and stay there for the duration. US-191 turns left and your next stop is Oxbow Bend for more stunning mountain reflections. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You will want to stick around looking out for bears and wolves but you do have to get back to SLC today. About Old Faithful, Yellowstone's Famous Geyser. From Glacier National Park, drive 4 hours to Helena. 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. Take short hikes to geyser basins and waterfalls. 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. When exploring I often take short 1-3 mile hikes. Follow Teton park road as far as Chapel of the Transfiguration. Enjoy your time off! Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. See the West Glacier Village website for details and hours. We try to incorporate each place with what we think is the right amount of time, but you may have entirely different goals. Soak in hot springs and float down a river in this charming town in Idaho. Thank you, Kim. Spend day 3 touring Glacier National Park. Alternatively, stop in at the National Elk Refuge on the way back into Jackson Hole. Dont miss the Tabernacle right behind Salt Lake Temple. GyPSy Guide Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tour App At the highpoint of the trail, along Paint Pot Hill, is an active mudpot. Our top SLC food and drinks recommendations include White Horse, Siegfrieds Delicatessen and Caffe Molise. O show areo tem lugar no Aeroporto Internacional Billings Logan, que espaoso o suficiente para caber todos os avies e visitantes. Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch Alternatively, you could spend a night at Jackson Lake Lodge or another hotel near Moran. Flights from Kalispell to West Yellowstone via Salt Lake City Ave. Take the drive from Grand Teton to the Yellowstone area on the evening of day 1 or the morning of day 2. Spend day 2 exploring Yellowstone National Park. Western-style cabins with kitchenettes.The Wort HotelAn upscale experience near town square restaurants and shops.Teton VillageWhat a happy ski resort area. Honestly Im dying to go back out west for a trip like this! 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. Explore on your own or take a tour on horseback or e-bike. 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. For those traveling with children or wanting more time to explore and hike, consider a 10 Day road trip itinerary. Also, check out my road trip packing list. Grizzly bears are seen occasionally as well. The road to Gardiner is closed. Jackson is a sweet ski resort town and the perfect base camp for exploring Grand Teton National Park. There are no rail routes or train services to Yellowstone National Park and the closest Amtrak station is in Salt Lake City. Schedule plenty of time to enjoy Jenny Lake. Then head back to town to explore pioneer life or see a live show. Day 2 Drive to Jackson and spend the late afternoon around Mormon Row. This is one of the most famous elevated views in the entire park and shouldnt be missed. Utah and Arizona are fantastic places to visit in November / December. 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. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Will land at Salt Lake City. Follow Firehole River as far as Morning Glory Pool, which is one of our favorite hot springs 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. Take the boardwalk to Yellowstone Lake, the backdrop to unique geysers and pools as well as peculiar fishing cones. If you have time to do nothing but drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, you will not be disappointed. Both were great and worked perfectly for our itinerary. 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. Not Ready to Leave the American Northwest? Great guide! If you are not driving your own car from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, you will need to hire a car when you land at SLC International Airport. And in a great atmosphere.Blackfoot TaproomA microbrewery and taproom featuring craft beers and live music. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your email address will not be published. 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. The Clark Fork River runs through the town and offers some of the best opportunities for white water raftering in the region. Take things easy in town or head out for a hike. The terraces can be accessed by lower and upper boardwalks and are very different from most other thermals in the area. How Far Is Yellowstone From Salt Lake City International Airport? What a glorious trip! Jackson has a wide range of hotel options spanning the budget range so you shouldnt have too many issues finding a good fit. During my time in the parks, I got a lot of use out of my Ahnu hiking shoes. Hi Jim, yes you'll need to cancel your Gardiner reservations but you will still be able to complete your full Yellowstone itinerary within the park. In summer Yellowstone is like a theme park, so you have to be organized and book hotels way in advance. You might be able to find a cheaper rate with Hotels compared to going direct so it is worth checking. 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. Whether you are driving your own car or a hire car make sure you are carrying all of the following items: The roads around Grand Teton and Yellowstone are flat and easy to drive. Spending a few minutes considering what you need to pack for your SLC to Yellowstone road trip can save you time, money and energy later in your vacation. Its almost like you planned it! Follow the loop road until you reach Gibbon Falls for a quick waterfall stop. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? 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. Argentina (6) Australia (9) Austria (32) Bhutan (10) Bulgaria (10) . Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. 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. 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. Due to road construction in 2020, we were unable to visit the Many Glacier area. There are a handful of hotel options in between Grand Teton and Yellowstone which could work perfectly if you would prefer to spend more time in Yellowstone. Going-to-the-Sun Road is an engineering marvel of switchbacks passing through and to numerous trailheads, glacial pull-outs, and overlooks. Thank you! Watch sunset over Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Take the backroad, Moose-Wilson Road, at dawn and dusk. Would love to spend some time in Glacier National Park next time! A surprise for many visitors is there is no Grand Teton entrance station when you head south from Yellowstone into Grand Teton. While there are several routes from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, these are the two I would recommend: Scenic Route: Salt Lake City to Garden City to Afton to Jackson (via Highway 89). Barker Ewing by Jackson Hole Whitewater Was This Guide Helpful? The drive time from Salt Lake City to Glacier National Park is 10 hours. You can then grab dinner either back in SLC downtown or at the airport. See my Oregon Travel Guide for all things Portland and Oregon State. 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. Guided tours are a great option when exploring a new area or traveling solo. What Is There To See Between Salt Lake City And Yellowstone? Figuring out the best places to stay in several places on consecutive nights can become challenging. 4. Follow US-191 N from Jackson and turn right onto Antelope Flats Road. This historic warehouse building has been renovated with several warehouse-style rentals available on Airbnb. I used to go to Missoula and Jackson Hole a lot for work but only did things in those areas. Start Your Trip. You can choose between a lodge style hotel room or semi-detached cabin at Mammoth. Required fields are marked *. Glacier National Park is a remote wilderness area in Montana's Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. Stay in Gardiner. The bison and elk are incredible. 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. While both parks have easy access from within the United States, international visitors may find Yellowstone a little less complicated to reach. 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. Bear in mind this would mean you have to loop from Jackson through Teton and Yellowstone before returning to Jackson. That's because of its crazy-bright colors and enormous size. Notice the strong sulfur odor here. Straddling the Utah-Idaho border, this recreational paradise is known for its turquoise waters and a delicious treat. The trail leads to Hidden Lake, a beloved fishing destination. 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 was spellbound every few feet as I walked the boardwalk around the massive Black Pool. John Moultons barn on Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. 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. Gardiner, Montana is an Old West town near the Yellowstone north entrance, the only year-round entrance to the park. Book a trip with one of Yellowstone Anglers fishing guides. Journey north to Yellowstone, a national park that is situated on top of the world's largest supervolcano. Day 5 Slowly explore Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. I would recommend it, especially during low-traffic seasons. Here are seven reasons to visit. The arch is located at the North entrance of Yellowstone. Watch for a majestic bull elk resting in the grass keeping watch over his lady-herd. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake and cross into Idaho. This trail is a 5.3-mile out and back hike. We are planning on doing this in September. 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. Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'sunshineandvine_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',123,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-leader-4-0');This was my second visit to Yellowstone. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Tour Date & Pricing . 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. It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. You can really slow things down with a 9 day itinerary for this route. Take the right turn, stop at String Lake and Jenny Lake Overlook for beautiful lake views. This area is mesmerizing. Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options. What Is The Closest Entrance To Yellowstone From SLC? Eat breakfast at Mammoth or Gardiner, followed by lunch in West Yellowstone on the way out of the park. Lets look at a brief summary of each major stopping point along the road trip. We have spent a night at both a Mammoth Hot Springs cabin and a Canyon Village hotel room. Your final day on this epic Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip begins back in Lamar Valley. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. Take a Dip in Lava Hot Springs 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. This is such a great itinerary. 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. In this national parks road trip itinerary we'll take you from Salt Lake City up to a few of the most iconic national parks, but not without passing through a myriad of smaller, more quaint, less-traveled towns that Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho have to offer. If you want to swim, turn into one way Firehole Canyon Road and drive the full loop to Firehole River swimming area. Mornings and evenings will be cold but during the day it warms up nicely. With temperatures reaching new highs, figuring out how to stay cool is key to enjoying your summer. 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. Editors' Picks. Starting your road trip to Yellowstone from Salt Lake City means you can access both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park within 5 hours drive time. The top cities between Salt Lake City and Glacier National Park are Missoula and Ogden. Here are cant-miss stops from Idaho Falls to Ririe on the way to Yellowstone. 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. If time allows, take the hike to the overlook to view from above. Day 2 - Spend the whole day in Grand Teton, do Mormon Row or Schwabacher Landing for sunrise if possible. Drive over to Mammoth and explore the terraces. Allowing for 8 days gives you more flexibility and a bit of breathing room to slow things down. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. From Glacier National Park, 300 miles north, the most direct route (on U.S. Highway 93, Interstate 90 . 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. 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. Three Park Entrances and a Surprise Fun on the Snake River and Grand Teton Lakes 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. Day 6 Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. Possibly visit Craters of the Moon on the way. Head over to Lower Falls. 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. With so much to see, make sure you read on to plan an ideal itinerary. Drive back to Jackson. West Glacier Village is located at the entrance to the park and is a fantastic area for shopping, eating, drinking, mini-golf, and more. Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake in Utah Photo: Getty Images. However, we suspect everyone else has the same idea so you may not find availability. 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). What do you need to know about the drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? 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. Popular sites include, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Caribou-Targhee and Bridger-Teton National Forests as well as Antelope Island and Willard Bay State Parks.