salt lake city to west yellowstone road trip

If you are tight on time you can do it in 5 or 6 days but it will be a rush. 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. Check into a hotel and then spend the afternoon exploring Grand Teton. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Yellowstone National Park is Americas oldest national park and the 2nd largest park in the Lower 48. Only have 5 nights 6 days. Day 6 See Hayden Valley, hike Mt Washburn, walk to Tower Fall and drive into Lamar Valley. A short walk through forest ends with bubbling mud pots and colorful hot springs. This map is a great way to see the itinerary in action! Plus, the best things to do in Salt Lake City, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and everywhere in between! 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. 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. If not, you will have to drive another 31 miles back to your West Yellowstone hotel. Do this road trip in an RV to stay close to nature. 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. Take the right onto N Beach Road to enter Idahos North Beach State Park with $7 vehicle entry fee and dont forget your swimsuit. Is there a pdf version for a quick reference? Ask me to go on one, anywhere. Drive south from Canyon and this time turn left into South Rim Drive. Read more about the best time to visit Yellowstone here. Youll find plenty of saloons, outdoor outfitters, and delicious restaurants here. Here are seven reasons to visit. The town of West Yellowstone, located just outside the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, is a year-round, family-friendly destination. Feels like 33.51 Wind speed 8.6 mph Pressure 1025 hPa. 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. Walk the loop trail before continuing up the loop road. 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 Teton Range is distinct and recognizable with its sharp, arrowhead-like peaks. Its like having a tour guide, with the hassle of being on a group tour. We met plenty of people who used SLC airport to start and end their road trip to Yellowstone but had no time for Downtown Salt Lake City, which is a lovely place to explore for a day. Utah and Arizona are fantastic places to visit in November / December. SLC international airport conveniently serves both domestic and international travelers, 2. Save. 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. Just enter your email and I'll send it over! Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. Need help! In this guide, Im sharing the best road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, including: Are you looking for more ideas for your trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton? 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. If you were able to get a room in Old Faithful, you can begin Day 5 right as you leave your lodge in Upper Geyser Basin where Old Faithful is located. 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. "Road trips are the equivalent of human wings. The speed, the sun, the wind, the fantasy of never looking back, and the sheer diversity of . What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? Drive further south into Hayden Valley for the first of your major Yellowstone wildlife spotting experiences. Roundtrip, your driving time will be at about 10 hours. Salt Lake City is located 320 miles from Yellowstone National Park. 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. Before planning your trip to Salt Lake City road trip, there are a few things you should know. What do you need to know about the drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? With one day in Salt Lake City, you can see the highlights, like Temple Square and the Natural History Museum. Hi Matt, thanks for getting in touch and we're happy to hear you are following our itinerary. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Overnight in West Yellowstone or continue on to Pocatello, Idaho. As you head out of Salt Lake City, stop at Antelope Island State Park. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Our Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Experience. The shore of this brilliant blue lake is an excellent spot for a picnic lunch. This drive takes roughly 5 hours via I-15. Spend the night in Salt Lake City at Grand Americaor Homewood Suites. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. The America the Beautiful National Park Pass gets you into 400+ national park sites, including all 63 national parks, for 12 months! This is one of the most famous elevated views in the entire park and shouldnt be missed. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Drive Time The driving time from Salt Lake to Yellowstone National Park is about five hours depending on traffic conditions. Six Weekend Road Trips from Salt Lake City. For the purposes of this example itinerary and our personal preference, we will split the day exactly in half. If you're going on a road trip from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Ogden and top places to visit like Station Park and Lagoon Amusement Park, or the ever-popular Antelope Island. Traverse the western side of the Rockies for hidden gems, gorgeous views and fresh mountain air. This viewpoint overlooks Bear Lake, the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Utah. If you choose to spend a day in downtown SLC there are plenty of hotel options available. Yellowstone is due north of SLC along I15, and you'll pass through the towns of Ogden, UT and Idaho Falls, ID during the drive. Dont miss the incredible waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the unique terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs, and the wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. That is what makes creating an example road trip itinerary so challenging. It is worth sticking around here until later in the day because this is regarded as the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone. Consider driving from Salt Lake City to Jackson, Wyoming via Highway 89 instead for a more scenic route. First choice here is a room at one of the Old Faithful lodges for convenience. Which Entrance to Yellowstone National Park Should I Take? Park alongside the Yellowstone River and look carefully for bears, wolves, coyotes, bison, elk, eagles and dozens more species. 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. This town merges the mountain experience with a booming metropolitan area, with plenty of incredible dining options and breweries. The drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is beautiful. Animal activity in Lamar Valley is greatest early in the morning and in the early evening. Day 3 Drive to Yellowstone and explore West Thumb, Old Faithful, Morning Glory Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring. 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. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone via Wyoming, Grand Tetons: This route will take you via 80E to UT-30E to WY-89 North. wake up and drive to grand tetons. In addition, dont forget bug spray if you visit Yellowstone in summer. And on this road trip from Salt Lake City, Yellowstone is the crown jewel. 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. Spend around two hours walking through Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the highest concentration of geysers in Yellowstone. This is where your accommodation challenges begin and why it really pays to be organized before you visit Yellowstone. Its truly a sight to see! Splitting the fourth day between Grand Teton and Yellowstone is completely open to your interpretation. Canyon Village has a canteen style food court serving various cuisines and a huge seating hall centered around an open fireplace. But Yellowstone has so much more to offer! West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City. The South Entrance gives you excellent access to the southern part of the park before continuing along Yellowstones Grand Loop Road throughout your visit. With temperatures reaching new highs, figuring out how to stay cool is key to enjoying your summer. See the road trip map here or click the image below. 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. Highway 20 North to the Sugar City exit - 30 minutes. Fun on the Water in Yellowstone National Park 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. Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton are tucked away in the northwest corner of Wyoming, less than five hours from Salt Lake City, Utah. You can really slow things down with a 9 day itinerary for this route. The Center of it All in Salt Lake Check for availability at a hotel such as Yellowstone Gateway Inn or Yellowstone Riverside Cottages if you want to stay in Gardiner. West Yellowstone is the closest place to Old Faithful that you can stay outside the park. Follow the loop road until you reach Gibbon Falls for a quick waterfall stop. The 320-mile road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park takes 4 hours and 30 minutes to drive. The town of West Yellowstone sits right at the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. 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. The most direct route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is about 325 miles which takes you along I-15. The downtown is compact and walkable, perfect for a quick day exploring. You could head back to Jackson, stay in the same hotel as the night before so its one less check out and check in process, grab a nice dinner and spend another sunrise in southern Grand Teton the next morning before driving to Yellowstone later in the day. What Is There To See Between Salt Lake City And Yellowstone? On the Fly in Idaho Falls Take things easy in town or head out for a hike. Idaho National Parks Northwest Road Trip Utah Wyoming Prepared By: Tobey Schmidt It's a 5.5 to 6 hour drive depending on stops and how heavy your foot is on the gas pedal. Day 3 . The only downside if you stay at Old Faithful is being limited to eating in the restaurants or food courts on site. Many visitors only see the top attractions, like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring. 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. If Idaho makes you think potatoes, stop in Blackfoot to learn everything there is to know about this humble tuber. The Logan Canyon Scenic Byway connects Logan, a sizable town outside of Salt Lake City, and Garden City along the shores of Bear Lake. You also have a better range of hotel prices in West Yellowstone. Sign up below to get a free copy of my 28-page national park ebook to help you plan your upcoming national park trip! While many visitors choose to drive directly from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park, I argue that Grand Teton is a must-do stop on your road trip. 4. Traveling with a dog or cat? You will find dozens of photographers snapping away as sunlight kisses the snow capped Teton range at first light. All hotels are similarly priced but we can definitely recommend both Yellowstone Gateway Inn and Yellowstone Riverside Cottages from positive experiences. Explore on your own or take a tour on horseback or e-bike. Use. I use Skyscanner to find the best flight prices and compare routes. Salt Lake is where the tradition meets a progressive and energetic cultural scene. We hope the long list of hotel options is helpful and not overwhelming! We will cover where to stay on the Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip in much greater depth later in the guide. Will land at Salt Lake City. Insurance, license, registration, identification, roadside assistance and extra car keys. Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. Salt Lake City to Idaho Falls - 3.5 hours, no stops. Heres the top six reasons to visit. Add them to walking, waterfalls and wildlife in Yellowstone and you have the perfect focal point on your Salt Lake City to Wyoming road trip. The Traveling Child kayaking to Shoshone Falls with AWOL Adventure Sports. There are a couple of options for starting your Yellowstone road trip, depending on where you are coming from. Follow Firehole River as far as Morning Glory Pool, which is one of our favorite hot springs in the park. What if you have more or less time than 7 days? With two days in the park, youre able to see the highlights and explore the most iconic views of the Tetons. The best hot springs along the route include Crystal Hot Springs in Brigham City, Utah, and Lava Hot Springs in Idaho. 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. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake and cross into Idaho. The rest of the park is accessible so you will be able to see all of the most popular hot springs and geysers. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights in Yellowstone National Park at a relaxed but efficient pace. June, July and August are warm enough for light layers but you will need sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats. They are our go to car hire platforms and we always choose whichever has the better vehicle at the right price point. With the recent developments, I could use some help creating an alternate plan for the Yellowstone portion. Walk around Norris Geyser Basin and Artists Paintpots. If not adapt the itinerary below to fit your plans. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Places to see between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone Mesa Falls Scenic Byway The route from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone traverses northern Utah and eastern Idaho, only to eventually enter Montana, the state where our destination town is located. Day 2 Drive to Park City in the morning, before heading to Jackson later in the afternoon. Our top recommendation is to search for vehicle prices with Rental Cars and compare prices with Discover Cars. This post may contain affiliate links, where I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Grand Teton Lodge Company. 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. Lets assume you will arrive into Salt Lake City or SLC airport the night before we begin this itinerary on Day 1. Follow Your Trail in Park City Here are the best hotels in West Yellowstone MT: Want to read more about where to stay in Yellowstone? Excelsior Geyser will be billowing and hopefully you have a clear day to see vibrant colors inside Grand Prismatic Spring. Bison on Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake. Day 4 Walk around Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, before driving over to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. Town Square Inns of Jackson Hole Home Latest Posts National Parks Wyoming Yellowstone National Park. We spent 2 nights in Jackson, which is undoubtably one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming. Stay at one of the convenient airport hotels such as Tru by Hiltonor Spring Hill Suites. Salt Lake City is the closest big city to Yellowstone and Grand Teton with a major international airport. The night of Day 5 is the one night we recommend you book into a hotel, lodge, cabin or even campground at Canyon Village. 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. Some may want to enjoy more of the Tetons but others will want to get right into Yellowstone. This route is 321 miles and 4 hours 45 minutes, one way. Recommended stay: 2 days minimum. Then, on the return trip to Salt Lake City, take the fastest way back through Idaho Falls. I have 7 days off! With 6 days you wont have to compromise as much and you will still have enough time for both parks. This is one of our favorite hidden gem areas of Yellowstone. Day 9 Set off early for SLC, but stop in Idaho Falls and Craters of the Moon on your way back. Answer 1 of 6: Planning a roadtrip for February / March 2013. With mountain biking, hiking, climbing, OHV opportunities, climbing, and rafting, there's no shortage of things to do. Head back to US-191, turn right and not long after take a left on Schwabachers Landing road. Jenny Lake to West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone is around 60 miles and will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. 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. 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. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. If you have eight days, consider this breakdown for your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip: If you want to learn more about Yellowstone National Park, check out these posts!

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