We're spending a week in Sedona, then flying into Salt Lake City for some time in Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Day 4 - See Midway and Lower Geyser Basins (inc Grand Prismatic Spring), Artist Paintpots, Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley. This is the perfect spot for extraordinary views of Lower Falls. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. They are our go to car hire platforms and we always choose whichever has the better vehicle at the right price point. 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. Drive over to Mammoth and explore the terraces. 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. Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Heres how we might plan a 9 day itinerary: Day 1 Spend the day in Salt Lake City. Leave dry land behind to explore the rivers and lakes of Yellowstone. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. Spend an hour walking around Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser, Fishing Cone and various other colorful hot springs located in West Thumb. 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. 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 easiest option would simply be to cut out the day in Salt Lake City and pick up the full itinerary above on Day 2. Are you looking for your next epic national park road trip? The shore of this brilliant blue lake is an excellent spot for a picnic lunch. It is located in the north-western United States, in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. This is one of the most famous elevated views in the entire park and shouldnt be missed. 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. This is an amazing hike with serious wildlife spotting potential and we cant recommend it highly enough. Starting and ending in Salt Lake City is an excellent option if youre planning a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. When planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip, Grand Teton is the one place you simply have to include into your itinerary. Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable including VP Dan Quayles potato incident. Making this a great destination to stop on your road trip to Yellowstone. My goal is to help busy people like you plan epic national park adventures with super-detailed itineraries, gear guides, and planning tips. We are flying into SLC and staying for a night, then to Jackson Hole for 2 nights. Stop at Lookout Point for amazing views into the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls crashing into the Yellowstone River. Lewis Lake is one of the best stops for kayaking in the park and you will pass it as you approach the south entrance to Yellowstone. The smaller size of Teton allows you to really see and do everything in a day or two, depending on how long you spend taking photographs of the sheer beauty inside the park. Read our guide on the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park which covers the top attractions, hikes and geyser basins. This makes Grand Teton and Yellowstone accessible to millions of potential tourists. There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. flying into West Yellowstone or Jackson Hole Airport. Posted on Last updated: February 19, 2023. Watch sunset over Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Its a self-guided audio tour that shares stories, local tips & directions. Heres how we might plan a 5 day road trip: Day 1 Drive straight from SLC airport to Jackson. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. 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. The third day is when your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip bursts into life. Across the border in Idaho, Fort Hall offers a glimpse into the culture of the Shoshone-Bannock tribes. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Where should I stay between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton? If you are not interested in kayaking, continue until you reach West Thumb Geyser Basin. Outside the park your best bet is West Yellowstone, which has several hotel options and makes it easy to leave for SLC the next morning. This town is a home base for Grand Teton National Park. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Our Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Experience. Let us know if you need any more help and enjoy your trip! Grand Teton is incredibly picturesque and one of the best examples of staggering natural beauty in the United States. Our top SLC food and drinks recommendations include White Horse, Siegfrieds Delicatessen and Caffe Molise. Day 4 Walk around Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, before driving over to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. 3-Day Road Trip with Kids from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Well, we have personally driven this route ourselves, stopping to explore Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. I have 7 days off! Thanks in advance! Yellowstone National Park is a place of natural beauty and wonder. It is worth sticking around here until later in the day because this is regarded as the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone. Enjoy your time off! Its great for national park trips because it works on GPS, not cell phone signals. Insurance, license, registration, identification, roadside assistance and extra car keys. Day 1 - Minot, ND to Grand Junction, CO. Day 2 - Grand Junction, CO to Monument Valley/Grand Canyon area. With mountain biking, hiking, climbing, OHV opportunities, climbing, and rafting, there's no shortage of things to do. Jacksons ski town atmosphere is replaced by a quiet wild west town from spring to fall. Read more about all the locations with flights to Salt Lake here. 17 helpful votes. However, we know many visitors prefer to book one hotel and stay there for the duration. Yellowstone National Park is Americas oldest national park and the 2nd largest park in the Lower 48. The Logan Canyon Scenic Byway connects Logan, a sizable town outside of Salt Lake City, and Garden City along the shores of Bear Lake. This route is 321 miles and 4 hours 45 minutes, one way. Traffic from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. Spend the night in Salt Lake City at Grand Americaor Homewood Suites. The park is home to various wildlife, including grizzly bears, bison, elk, and wolves. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Whether you decide to go to Park City, the Great Salt Lake, hiking or to a museum, we highly recommend you spend at least an hour walking around Temple Square in the center of town. 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. We can vouch for Kelly Inn and Explorer Cabins, both of which were excellent stays. Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. Read More: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park, If you want to learn more about Yellowstone National Park, check out these posts! This side of the Tetons is home to uncrowded trails, hot springs soaks and more. However, we will also explain how to drive this road trip route in less and more time later in the guide. If you cant get a room in Old Faithful or they are too expensive, book a night at a hotel in West Yellowstone such as Kelly Inn or Explorer Cabins. 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. Thank you. We have visited Yellowstone on separate occasions and we have helped thousands of first time visitors plan trips to this region through our various Wyoming travel guides. Action packed day, sleep in Canyon Village. For a more relaxing experience you should plan for 8 or even 9 days. The only downside if you stay at Old Faithful is being limited to eating in the restaurants or food courts on site. Its time to put it all together and create an unforgettable 7 day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary! Day 5 Explore West Thumb, Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. If not adapt the itinerary below to fit your plans. Take the ferry across Jenny Lake to cut out a long walk around the lake to Cascade Canyon trailhead. Why trust us to help with planning your once in a lifetime trip to Grand Teton and Yellowstone? Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge 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. Traverse the western side of the Rockies for hidden gems, gorgeous views and fresh mountain air. Then see Tower Fall, Lamar Valley for wildlife, Mammoth Hot Springs and sleep either Mammoth or Gardiner. Dont Forget to Save This Post on Pinterest, 7 Day Grand Teton and Yellowstone Itinerary, Yellowstone Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days, When is the Best Time to Visit Yellowstone. 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. Jenny Lake to West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone is around 60 miles and will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. Hit wildflower-filled trails in Park City before discovering pioneer history as you make your way north to Logan. A longer but more scenic drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is about 400 miles along Highway 89 / Highway 26, taking in more of the highlights of Wyoming and Idaho. Heres how we might plan an 8 day itinerary: Day 1 Spend the day in Salt Lake City. One of my favorite ways to see the national parks is with GyPSy Guide. Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. There are a couple of options for starting your Yellowstone road trip, depending on where you are coming from. For the purposes of this example itinerary and our personal preference, we will split the day exactly in half. Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch Head over to Lower Falls. Barker Ewing rafting on the Snake River in Jackson Hole. Spend the night in Jackson at Wyoming Inn of Jackson Holeor Inn on the Creek. Hi, thanks for an easy to understand road trip itinerary. We have visited Yellowstone in both April and October when crowds were at a minimum, but even then it was busy enough both times. Yellowstone In October: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting, Where To Stay In Yosemite: Best Places, Hotels + Lodging. The City Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Stay in a cabin, hotel room or your RV on the shores of sparkling Bear Lake with Sun Outdoors Garden City. . Read more in our disclosure policy.*. Lets start planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip! Walk around Norris Geyser Basin and Artists Paintpots. Routes and Distance from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, Tips for Travel from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, Day 2: Scenic Drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole, Days 3 and 4: Visit Grand Teton National Park, Days 5, 6, and 7: Visit Yellowstone National Park, Day 8: Return from Yellowstone to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton Map, Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip Variations, Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Salt Lake City, Final Thoughts on Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Wyoming, Best Places to See Between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton National Park, Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park, Where to Stay in Grand Teton National Park, Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park, Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park, Best Things to Do Between Yellowstone National Park and Salt Lake City, Where to Stay Near the Salt Lake City International Airport. Gardiner works better if you are entering or leaving Yellowstone to the north, say to visit Glacier National Park before or afterward. Where To Stay On Your Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 5. Elk Country Inn After spending a day exploring Salt Lake City, youll head towards Grand Teton National Park, the first destination on your road trip! Day 5 - Either see Hayden Valley / Lower Yellowstone Falls in the morning, or hike to Mt Washburn. Pin It For Your Road Trip! 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. 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. 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. On the way back, stop at Upper Falls View and Uncle Toms Trail if it is open. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Hope that helps but feel free to get back to us with any specifics or more questions. If you're flying, you can fly into Salt Lake City and enjoy a 5-hour drive to Grand Teton National Park. 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. Check in at your Canyon hotel or lodge and head straight back to the car to drive south for just over a mile before turning left into North Rim Drive. 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. If you want to feel on top of the world,here are 5 views you must seeincluding Artist Point, Lamar Valley, and the Yellowstone River cutting thru lava spires. 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. 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. How far is West Yellowstone from Salt Lake City - Trippy Feels like 33.51 Wind speed 8.6 mph Pressure 1025 hPa. This post may contain affiliate links, where I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. 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. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. Day 5 Go back into Lamar Valley for sunrise and walk around Mammoth Hot Springs terraces. Read our popular 2 days in Grand Teton itinerary which organizes the best things to do into two easy days. Next, drive north and park at Fairy Falls Trail lot to hike 0.8 miles so you can enjoy Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Drive further south into Hayden Valley for the first of your major Yellowstone wildlife spotting experiences. You can then drive back to SLC via Grand Teton and the scenic route. A road trip to Yellowstone isn't just about the destination. Excelsior Geyser will be billowing and hopefully you have a clear day to see vibrant colors inside Grand Prismatic Spring. 6 Outdoorsy Weekend Road Trips from Salt Lake City, Utah - Territory Supply However, if you really dont want to drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, you can take the Salt Lake Express bus from SLC to Jackson. Just minutes from the South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park and the northern section of Grand Teton National Park, stay at the Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch. We hope the long list of hotel options is helpful and not overwhelming! Once you find your flight, Skyscanner redirects you to book with the airline directly, so you dont miss out on frequent flyer points!If you need a rental car, I recommend using Rentalcars.com to find the best deals. 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. Driving through Yellowstone and Grand Teton is easily one of the best USA road trips, but first you have to get to northwest Wyoming. Sleep in Moran. 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. Of course, you could skip the last part of Day 5 and instead of driving to Canyon, drive back from Norris to West Yellowstone. Looking for suggestions on any must-sees between West Yellowstone and Salt Lake City. 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? Road Trip from Yellowstone to Grand Canyon National Park Canyon Village has a canteen style food court serving various cuisines and a huge seating hall centered around an open fireplace. Figuring out the best places to stay in several places on consecutive nights can become challenging. Location, Location. The best cities to stay between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton are Logan, Afton, and Jackson. Next, follow the Yellowstone Loop Road until you reach Old Faithful. Head into Wyoming where youll find summer fun at Snow King Resort before exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Once you are done in the valley, drive to Mammoth Hot Springs and check out the unique terraces. Head back to US-191, turn right and not long after take a left on Schwabachers Landing road. A misty morning at Lower Falls in Yellowstone, from mountain biking to al fresco dining to live music, Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable, 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, Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip. First choice here is a room at one of the Old Faithful lodges for convenience. 1. Stay in Gardiner. Salt Lake To Yellowstone Loop [8-Day Itinerary] | Visit Utah Some may want to enjoy more of the Tetons but others will want to get right into Yellowstone. 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. SLC international airport conveniently serves both domestic and international travelers, 2. 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. Why Start A Yellowstone Road Trip From Salt Lake City? The Fishing Bridge area was used as a gathering place and the thermal waters of the park were used for ceremony and healing. Some tribes visited the geysers and conducted ceremonies while others collected obsidian. Sleep either Old Faithful or West Yellowstone. Cover Photo:12019 on pixabay.com . Pocatello Offers Affordability Spend the day out on the water on Bear Lake. 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. Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days In Yellowstone Things to Do: 22 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone Hikes: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone Getting There: 8 Best Airports Near Yellowstone When to Visit: The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone Where to Stay: Where to Stay in Yellowstone Airbnbs Nearby: 25 Best Airbnbs Near Yellowstone. Hike Mt Washburn and Tower Fall, before heading out into Lamar Valley around sunset. Are you visiting multiple national parks in the next year? Really unfortunate timing for you and thousands of others who are planning a visit to Yellowstone this Summer but it will still be a fantastic trip. Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Planning Resources. 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. Three national park sites filled with weird and wonderful rock formations and fossils, along with a massive and stunning waterfall will fill your drive back to Salt Lake City. Hi Matt, thanks for getting in touch and we're happy to hear you are following our itinerary. Explore on your own or take a tour on horseback or e-bike. In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. We will let you know as soon as this one is available and hopefully it is before your trip! How far is it from the Salt Lake City Airport to Yellowstone National Park? From the Salt Lake City Airport to West Yellowstone, ID, it is 321 miles (517 km) or approximately 4 hours, 45 minutes of driving. The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel offers a spa, a gift shop selling Shoshone-Bannock crafts and a place to watch your favorite sports team. Take the right turn off loop road at Tower Junction to enter Lamar Valley. The whole point of a road trip is the scenic drive along the way, right? Road conditions from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park 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. Grand Teton Lodge Company. 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. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights in Yellowstone National Park at a relaxed but efficient pace. However, if you stayed in West Yellowstone, you will need to drive back to Old Faithful to begin Day 5. 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. The closest airport is in West Yellowstone (WYS), serviced by both United and Delta Airlines. The Center of it All in Salt Lake Its the reason for your entire trip! Enjoy adventures in Jackson and nearby Grand Teton National Park. Read more in this disclosure policy. Sugar City to Jackson 1.5 hours. Also be sure to check out City Creek Center, a popular covered shopping and dining complex with high end shops and fountains. Day 5 Hike Mt Washburn and Tower Fall, before venturing out into Lamar Valley. 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. The most direct route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is about 325 miles which takes you along I-15. Considering how close they are to one another, it is amazing how much Grand Teton and Yellowstone differ, not just in scenery but also in the overall experience. 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. Get your national park pass ahead of time for only $80. You might be able to find a cheaper rate with Hotels compared to going direct so it is worth checking. "Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. Before planning your trip to Salt Lake City road trip, there are a few things you should know. Teton Village is a quieter and more upscale place to stay for visiting Grand Teton. This park belongs on your bucket list, from the jagged Teton peaks visible throughout the park to the wildlife spotting to the incredible hikes.