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. Opened in 1904, using local lodgepole pine and gnarled wood embellishments, many original fixtures and furnishingsare still in use. Download the Yellowstone tour app thats like having a tour guide in your car. I have 7 days off! Nearby you'll find a variety of eateries and bars, and you can shop at City Creek Center, which boasts more than 100 stores and restaurants. West Glacier Village is located at the entrance to the park and is a fantastic area for shopping, eating, drinking, mini-golf, and more. This is easier but it will also mean a lot more driving. On the north side of Yellowstone, you'll find wildlife galore along the banks of scenic rivers. 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. The night of Day 5 is the one night we recommend you book into a hotel, lodge, cabin or even campground at Canyon Village. Missoula is the most popular city on the route it's 7 hours from Salt Lake City and 3 hours from Glacier National Park. 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. Your email address will not be published. West Yellowstone is the best place to stay outside Yellowstone boundaries because it is central to the park and has plenty of amenities. Thank you. Cross into Wyoming and experience the bustling town of Jackson, the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Sounds like a great trip you have planned with the Utah Mighty 5 right after - enjoy! 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. Seattle, Washington is a mere 1.5-hour direct flight from Glacier Park International Airport. Jenny LakeStroll through this busy lake-park area for stunning views of the Tetons and access to trails. If you have time and energy before sunset, hike up to Old Faithful viewing area to see the eruption from an elevated position. Spend the night in Salt Lake City at Grand Americaor Homewood Suites. you will have limited camping options in the parks so book now for 2015. Wed go as far as saying if you only have 4 days for your trip, take one from Yellowstone and give it to Grand Teton. Take the right turn, stop at String Lake and Jenny Lake Overlook for beautiful lake views. They are lightweight for everyday use as well which is helpful when I want to travel with only a few pairs of shoes. Alternatively, if you are a hiker you should definitely spend the morning hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and eventually Cascade Canyon. This route is 394 miles and 8 hours, one way. Road Trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone - Enterprise Rent-A-Car Airports Near Yellowstone: 8 Best and Closest Flight Options Show only these on map 1 Ogden Save On 1 list Ogden is a city north of Salt Lake City, in Utah. In Yellowstone National Park, enjoy a tour of this incredible land with a park guide. What other options can you recommend to replace the Mammoth Lodge? Your email address will not be published. Thank you! It sounds so beautiful! The one geyser you cant miss at Norris is called Steamboat Geyser, which is the worlds tallest active geyser. That pricey but exquisite steak is calling my name. Oh, I love the way you drop hints!!! Watch for a majestic bull elk resting in the grass keeping watch over his lady-herd. If not, have a great trip and good luck! 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. The best driving route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Lets assume you will arrive into Salt Lake City or SLC airport the night before we begin this itinerary on Day 1. A little further north on the loop road take the right turn onto Firehole Lake Drive, stopping to look at the various pools and geysers. Like Missoula, Bozeman is spotless and its streets are lined with perfectly preserved historic buildings. The most scenic journey from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is via Logan Canyon, Bear Lake, the town of Afton, Alpine Junction and Snake River Canyon. Right out of Firehole drive park up at Fountain Paint Pot Trail, this is Lower Geyser Basin. I will need to cancel my Gardiner reservations. Wow. Want to know more about Yellowstone? Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Enter the chapel to take the iconic mountains through the church window photograph. Sleep in Moran. Yellowstone and Glacier are not RV friendly and cannot even take some RV's on the GTTSR in Glacier. Watch for deer at dawn and dusk resting in alfalfa fields. National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah to Yellowstone & Grand Teton 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. Manage Settings 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. Seattle to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks Road Trip Soak up the outdoors as you travel through Washington, Idaho and Montana on this northern-states road trip. If you stayed near Moran, you might want to drive up Signal Mountain for sunrise or simply having a slower start at your rural lodging. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. Only have 5 nights 6 days. If so, you might benefit greatly from taking a look at this interactive Google Map we created to show show the potential stops you can make each day for 7 days on our Salt Lake City to Yellowstone example itinerary, which is featured right after the map. 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. Bozeman is a fantastic town. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'sunshineandvine_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[120,600],'sunshineandvine_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_7',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-medrectangle-4-0_1');.medrectangle-4-multi-115{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:600px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Pro Tip: Exploring three national parks in one week requires a lot of walking and hiking. You can go inside with free entrance and might even strike it lucky with a choir performance. Town Square Inns of Jackson Hole 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. Follow Your Trail in Park City At the highpoint of the trail, along Paint Pot Hill, is an active mudpot. Take the backroad, Moose-Wilson Road, at dawn and dusk. Gardiner works better if you are entering or leaving Yellowstone to the north, say to visit Glacier National Park before or afterward. 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. Both Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool are worthy of keeping the camera handy. They are our go to car hire platforms and we always choose whichever has the better vehicle at the right price point. It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. With so much to see, make sure you read on to plan an ideal itinerary. Gardiner, Montana is an Old West town near the Yellowstone north entrance, the only year-round entrance to the park. Wake up for another early start and arguably the most unmissable sunrise in Yellowstone. This would allow you to sleep right out in nature surrounded by the Tetons but you would have very few amenities nearby. Fastest Route: Salt Lake City to Pocatello to Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone (via I-15). Day 1: Start by renting a car at the Salt Lake City International Airport. 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 park is enormous and it is most efficient to spend each night at a different hotel. Walk around Lower Geyser Basin and then drive to a hotel in West Yellowstone. Tour Date & Pricing . 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. 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. And their proximity to one another makes combining a visit to all three the perfect national park road trip. The most attractive route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is to drive via Logan Canyon, Bear Lake, Afton, Jackson and Grand Teton before arriving at Yellowstone south entrance. What if you have more or less time than 7 days? Salt Lake City, UT. It is the perfect base for exploring Grand Teton and enjoying the culinary scene after a long day in the park. Chicago, IL Salt Lake City, UT Yellowstone National Park San Francisco, CA Yosemite National Park, CA Seattle, WA Glacier National Park, MT Chicago, IL. See a world-class art museum, hot springs, historic towns and high peaks under . The downtown area is clean, neat, and architecturally pleasing, telling a story of pride and preservation. The long stretches of road are beautiful and often filled with bison. 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. Discover the citys vibrant restaurant scene and explore its stunning outdoors. I booked a trip following your itinerary from July 26 - August 2nd. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_13',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Lexington at Jackson Hole Hotel & SuitesI stayed here during my most recent visit. I loved the adventure going from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Teton. I'd like to break the drive up.. Around 5-6 hours would like to. There are several restaurants and cafeterias throughout the park. Stay west of the Tetons to discover all the gems in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Look for the worlds largest Elkhorn Arch as you enter town, it is hard to miss with over 3,000 intertwined elk antlers! A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. Among the most popular are:Old Faithful Snow Lodge Obsidian Dining RoomOld Faithful Lodge CafeteriaMammoth Dining RoomGrant Village Dining RoomLake Yellowstone Hotel Dining RoomCanyon Eatery in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone area. A short walk through forest ends with bubbling mud pots and colorful hot springs. 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. I loved entering the park here. 4 Idaho Falls Secrets to a Fantastic Yellowstone Area Vacation In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. 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. Possibly visit Craters of the Moon on the way. I would love to see the bison and elk. I did this exact same road trip back in September and it was absolutely amazing! Take a self-guided walking tour of buildings and establishments preserved to reflect their historic past. sights between SLC and Glacier NP - Yellowstone National Park Forum Dont miss the Old Faithful Inn. Dont skip this 1-mile trail loop. This is such a great itinerary. Haha! Next time, I want to visit Jackson Hole. Revisit any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before heading back to SLC airport. I think you will too. Head back to US-191, turn right and not long after take a left on Schwabachers Landing road. Stay in West Yellowstone. Bison on Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake. Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier 2015 Is there a pdf version for a quick reference? The bison and elk are incredible. Two Things You Must Do at Bear Lake Well, we have personally driven this route ourselves, stopping to explore Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. 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. So many great tips here! Watch sunset over Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Yellowstone In October: 10 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting, Where To Stay In Yosemite: Best Places, Hotels + Lodging. Let us know if you need any more help and enjoy your trip! I love this area so much. Found along Going-to-the-Sun Road, just north of McDonald Lake is the Trail of Cedars. Epic Road Trip from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone I wished I had more time in both towns! Guided offerings include floating the Yellowstone River, wade fishing in Paradise Valley Spring Creeks, hiking and fishing in Yellowstone National Park, and more.). Need Help! traveling from salt lake city. - Glacier National Park Forum First choice here is a room at one of the Old Faithful lodges for convenience. Alternatively, if you brought a packed lunch, head straight to Norris Geyser Basin to enjoy some of the most interesting geysers in the park. The train ride from Chicago to Salt Lake City is about 35 hours and about 16 from Sacramento. 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. Note: For those who prefer a guided tour, the Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, Wyoming is a great option. Here are the best hotels in West Yellowstone MT: Want to read more about where to stay in Yellowstone? 3 Roadside Stops in Grand Teton National Park Day 4 Revisit any favorite spots in the Tetons before driving to West Thumb and Old Faithful. There are no rail routes or train services to Yellowstone National Park and the closest Amtrak station is in Salt Lake City. 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. GyPSy Guide automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go. . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Answer 1 of 7: Planning trip in July for Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip - Yellowstone National Park I prefer hiking shoes over hiking boots and certainly for easy and short hikes. I do like the, Oregon is packed full of natural wonders and historic sites. Would love to spend some time in Glacier National Park next time! Teton Village is a quieter and more upscale place to stay for visiting Grand Teton. Drive the winding road to Signal Mountain summit for amazing views, descend and continue until you reach Jenny Lake road. The town of West Yellowstone sits right at the West Gate to Yellowstone National Park. That is what makes creating an example road trip itinerary so challenging. Great guide! 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. Watch for wildlife drawn to the river.Schwabacher LandingA great place to capture photos of mountains reflecting on the water.Mormon RowTour historic barns and homesteads and watch for deer, bison, and moose. Get an early start in SLC, set your Google Maps for Idaho State Park North Beach and hit I-15 N. Turn onto US-89 N and enjoy the winding scenic drive through Logan Canyon to the town of Garden City on Bear Lake. Spread . 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. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. If you have time to do nothing but drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, you will not be disappointed. 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. More. Next, drive through the center of Yellowstone Loop road to Canyon. Salt Lake City Salt Lake continues to be the gateway for travelers venturing northward to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Day 7 Hike Mt Washburn, head into Lamar Valley and see Mammoth Hot Springs. Once you have explored Seattle and want to see more of the Pacific Northwest, take a 1-hour flight from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Portland International Airport. These two places have the better locations for accessing other parts of the park, and they have plenty of places to eat. Saddle Up in Jackson We think 7 days offers the best balance between speed, cost and overall experience. You will stop in Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho, before heading to Salt Lake City, Utah. I have had my Ahnus for 2-3 years now and they have many miles left in them. After multiple long term US road trips we have learned a thing or two about how to best prepare for a successful adventure. Take the left onto Teton Park road, cross Jackson Lake Dam and continue until you take a left turn up Signal Mountain Road. Feel Like Youre On Another Planet as you explore volcanic formations, including lava tube caves, on the trails and scenic drives at this uncrowded national park site. Action packed day, sleep in Canyon Village. The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Jump-start this fantastic road trip in Salt Lake City where the mountains shoot dramatically from the valley floor. This salty oasis is home to birds, bison and pronghorn. With the recent developments, I could use some help creating an alternate plan for the Yellowstone portion. Head to Snow King Mountain Resort for Family Fun Hood and Ponderosa State Park. Day 6 Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. Head back to the car and drive to Grand Prismatic Spring parking lot to explore Midway Geyser Basin. Visit the Old Faithful Area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, and more! Some people may only want to day trip into each national park but spend more time in Salt Lake City. Watch for signs to Apgar Visitor Center. 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. Next up is Artists Paintpots Trail, which we highly recommend. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Just watch for the crowd taking pictures. Remember, the extra night also means you need the budget for a hotel room, eating out and another day with a hire car. Our top SLC food and drinks recommendations include White Horse, Siegfrieds Delicatessen and Caffe Molise. Want more Wyoming content? Enjoy your time off! Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I could live here. Spend around two hours walking through Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the highest concentration of geysers in Yellowstone. You will love the Portland area. At 2.2 million acres, with 5 entrances and over 4 million tourists each year, Yellowstone is one of the biggest and most popular USA national parks. My regular rotation of footwear and socks include Ahnu hiking shoes with Darn Tough ankle socks for hiking, Asics running shoes with Smart Wool running socks for walking and paved trails, and Sanuk Yoga Mat flip flops for everything in between. Trust your senses.Trust your gut.If youve planned well and it feels right, do it!If it doesnt feel right, dont. We reached the park around 7:45 am and enjoyed watching the sun begin illuminating streams, mountainsides, and glaciers. Of all the natural wonders in Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs is among my favorites. When you are ready, drive north and enter Yellowstone via south entrance. 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. 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. We can vouch for Kelly Inn and Explorer Cabins, both of which were excellent stays. Salt Lake To Yellowstone Loop [8-Day Itinerary] | Visit Utah It's around 350 miles off, but the essential thing to know is that a few Canadian, European, and Mexican cities have nonstop flights operating into SLC. West Yellowstone is the closest place to Old Faithful that you can stay outside the park. Check the Glacier National Park website for information on Many Glacier as well as planned closures. Just be sure you know how to drive in mountains, curvy roads with wildlife, etc. This extra time gives you so much freedom and flexibility to add in time wherever you prefer. Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, WyomingSpend a day touring Yellowstones Lower Loop, departing and returning from Jackson, Wyoming. Rome2rio makes travelling from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park easy. But we have filtered through every lodging option at each stop you will make and have listed only the top rated hotels available. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? Your final day on this epic Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip begins back in Lamar Valley. 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. Its time to put it all together and create an unforgettable 7 day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary! Yellowstone National Park Tour - Facts | Caravan Tours 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. The lodge grounds are cozy and inviting. Salt Lake City - Vernal - Jackson - Yellowstone - Helena - Glacier Park - Missoula - Sun Valley - Pocatello - Salt Lake City. Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable including VP Dan Quayles potato incident. Check the weather before you go. We have spent a night at both a Mammoth Hot Springs cabin and a Canyon Village hotel room. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep, and wolverines. There are so many different ways you could plan your itinerary for visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone from Salt Lake City. Allowing for 8 days gives you more flexibility and a bit of breathing room to slow things down. You may be keen on saving on flights, and arriving at an airport which is a bit further away could be the right choice for you. Day 3 Spend a full day ticking off the top sights in Grand Teton. If you want to reduce trip time, fly out of Salt Lake City after your visit to Yellowstone National Park and ride Amtrak just one way. O show areo tem lugar no Aeroporto Internacional Billings Logan, que espaoso o suficiente para caber todos os avies e visitantes. Here are the top seven ways to avoid the parks crowds and see the best of the area.