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. Alternatively, you could continue onto the Utah parks straight after completing your Wyoming loop. I loved the adventure going from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Teton. I would love to hear about your experiences in Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park! Manage Settings 49er Inn and Suites. Enter the chapel to take the iconic mountains through the church window photograph. Sitting quietly along the road with windows down listening for rustling in the tall grass, I heard a snort. Rent an RV with Outdoorsy Popular sites include, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache, Caribou-Targhee and Bridger-Teton National Forests as well as Antelope Island and Willard Bay State Parks. 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. Mormon Row is incredibly beautiful at sunrise. Spend day 2 exploring Yellowstone National Park. You will stop in Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho, before heading to Salt Lake City, Utah. Maybe even the entire day.Signal Mountain Summit RoadDrive to the peak of Signal Mountain Road to find two overlooks offering panoramic views of the Tetons and Jackson Lake.Oxbow Bend and Snake River OverlookA beautiful drive with views of the Snake River. You shared so many great recommendations. In addition, we have noted which hotels we have personally stayed at and impressed us. The cheapest way to get from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park costs only $97, and the quickest way takes just 7 hours. Three Park Entrances and a Surprise Have a Shoshone-Bannock Native Experience I am a first time visitor to Yelliwstone. 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. From there head east for adventures in beautiful Park City. Drive over to Mammoth and explore the terraces. If you have time to do nothing but drive Going-to-the-Sun Road, you will not be disappointed. We are assuming you need to drive back from Yellowstone to Las Vegas on the sixth day? But there is culture here too. A boardwalk loops through other incredible hot springs as well as a wonder-inducing pool and dormant geyser, the Excelsior Geyser Crater. That is what makes creating an example road trip itinerary so challenging. Answer 1 of 7: Planning trip in July for Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. My favorites are those near public transportation to Salt Lake City International Airport and close to downtown. Wake up for another early start and arguably the most unmissable sunrise in Yellowstone. The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. Alternatively, stop in at the National Elk Refuge on the way back into Jackson Hole. I would love to see the bison and elk. Witness spectacular views atop Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana, then board classic red vintage touring cars for an exciting drive along Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun Road. 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. Please forgive the delay in responding! Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park Visit the Old Faithful Area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, and more! Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. When we entered Glacier National Park, it was a misty and moody day. About Old Faithful, Yellowstone's Famous Geyser. Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options. From Salt Lake City, the park's west entrance (West Yellowstone) is the shortest distance, about 325 miles. The road to Gardiner is closed. Plenty of motor oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, etc. West Yellowstone will put you on just one side of the 2 million acres + that is Yellowstone. Heres how we might plan an 8 day itinerary: Day 1 Spend the day in Salt Lake City. Caribbean-blue body of water) and up the Snake River Canyon to Jackson and Grand Teton National Park before arriving at Yellowstone. After stretching your legs and enjoying a great meal in Missoula, drive 2.5 hours to stay the night inside or near the parks West entrance. Now you know the best things to do and places to stay in Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Stopping in Missoula, Montana to explore the town broke up the drive, making it a most enjoyable day. Drive back to Jackson. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Mormon Temple at Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT. If you get a good sunrise the waterfall, canyon and sky will light up with stunning browns, blues, greens, pinks and purples. No other geyser is more dependable, erupting at least every two hours. 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. Yellowstone is a different beast altogether when it comes to booking your accommodation. Glacier to Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park: 7-Day Road Trip, Day One: Drive from Salt Lake City to Kalispell, Montana, Many Glacier (Optional for those extending time in the park), Backtrack from East to West along Going-to-the-Sun Road, Where to Stay if extending time in Glacier National Park, Things to remember before visiting Glacier National Park, Where to Stay near the North entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Artist Paint Pot Trail and Paint Pot Hill, Day Seven: Explore Salt Lake City and/or Travel Day, Optional 4 Day Road Trip: Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park, Optional 10 Day Road Trip: Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park, Things to Consider When Planning Your Itinerary, America the Beautiful National Park Pass $80. Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. . It is important to stay up to date with live conditions such as roads, weather, hiking trails and lodging when you visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Day 7 Explore Mammoth Hot Springs. Gardiner has several restaurants and shops as well as lodging options. I am bookmarking this for a future trip! Scroll around, zoom in and out, look for clustering of colored icons representing each day on the road trip and see the corresponding day in the left column. Explore Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake The downtown area is clean, neat, and architecturally pleasing, telling a story of pride and preservation. In truth, booking your hotels will be the hardest part of planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. Similar to fireworks and rotten eggs. Mary Village or Travelers Rest Lodge in East Glacier. Drive 20 miles to West Thumb Geyser Basin. Consider lodging at the East side of the park:Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge inside the park.St. If you are looking for ghosts, Savannah, Georgia is the place. Pin It For Your Road Trip! Day 4 - See Midway and Lower Geyser Basins (inc Grand Prismatic Spring), Artist Paintpots, Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley. Just 15 minutes from Grand Teton National Park and two hours from Yellowstone, Jackson is a great stop if youre looking for anold West town with a touch of class and a lot of fun. Alternatively, if you brought a packed lunch, head straight to Norris Geyser Basin to enjoy some of the most interesting geysers in the park. Explore these four stops where youll see Stripes and Shoni, a place devoted to cleaning up,ancient curious creaturesand a hub of ethnic flavors. Just watch for the crowd taking pictures. Multicolored layers get their hues from heat-loving bacteria. We spent 2 nights in Jackson, which is undoubtably one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming. The overheating problem had gotten progressively worse. If you are staying at one of the three Old Faithful lodges you can check in now, before heading straight out to catch the next timely Old Faithful geyser eruption. Head over to Lower Falls. The September drive offered stunning colors of wheat fields and purple mountains. Honestly Im dying to go back out west for a trip like this! The Abyss Pool is equally mesmerizing. I chose the Comfort Inn Yellowstone North. We will experience some stunning scenery with a chance to explore a couple of very scenic byways on our way north. 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. Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Tetons. 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. We typically use Booking to book our hotels but park lodging inside Yellowstone is not available with Booking. going to print this out and put this on my boyfriends desk as a *hint hint* haha . Once I start travelling, I will be pre-checking all of your advice for the places I am going. Plan to park along the roadside and walk a distance. The pullout is easily recognizable. Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. Walk around Upper Geyser Basin in the late afternoon. This extra time gives you so much freedom and flexibility to add in time wherever you prefer. Eruptionschedules can be found at theOld FaithfulVisitor Education Center, park lodges, the NPSYellowstoneGeysers app, and onTwitter. 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. A mudpot, or mud pool, has limited water resulting in a pool of bubbling mud. Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge Distance From Salt Lake City to Yellowstone: approximately 320 miles. Here is how we would do it: Day 1 - Drive from Las Vegas to Jackson, it will be a long day but you can set off early and still have time to see Jackson in the evening. The long stretches of road are beautiful and often filled with bison. 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. 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. I wear only quality shoes with good arch support to avoid plantar fasciitis flare-ups and my Ahnu hiking shoes are perfect. Day 8 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite spots before driving back to SLC. 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. What Is The Best Route From Salt Lake City To Yellowstone? What an incredible road trip guide! 2 Days in Yellowstone That's because of its crazy-bright colors and enormous size. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. How many days do you need to visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park from Salt Lake City? Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major international airport to Yellowstone National Park. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. This place is alway hoppin. Pricey, but exquisite. Doubletree by Hilton in Helena, or drive 2 hours to stay in Bozeman or Livingston. Spend around two hours walking through Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the highest concentration of geysers in Yellowstone. Denver International Airport will be the best alternative for many, but the drive distance and drive time are around 40% longer to reach Grand Teton or Yellowstone. Sedona is one of our favorite places in the southwest and the end of November means comfortable temperatures for hiking. We have created this guide based on our extensive knowledge and experience in the region to help you plan the best possible trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Note: For those who prefer a guided tour, the Full-Day Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour from Jackson, Wyoming is a great option. The Top Hat LoungeA long-standing establishment in Missoula offering great music and a cool vibe.Montgomery DistilleryOffering excellent craft cocktails and tasty gin and vodka. And in a great atmosphere.Blackfoot TaproomA microbrewery and taproom featuring craft beers and live music. I'd like to break the drive up.. Around 5-6 hours would like to. There are plenty of interesting and smelly geysers here but it is only a quick stop. Day 4 Walk around Artists Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, before driving over to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley. Note: For those interested in increasing their chances to spot moose, bison, grizzly and black bears, wolves, elk, and eagles, consider taking a Grand Teton 4-Hour Wildlife Tour. Take the drive from Yellowstone to Glacier National Park on the evening of day 2 or morning of day 3. It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tourin the national park. 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. Day 4 Enjoy a sunrise over Lower Falls from Artists Point and explore Hayden Valley. What if you have more or less time than 7 days? There are incredible ocean rock formations and powerful water churns, volcanic cratered lakes and mountain. Your final day on this epic Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip begins back in Lamar Valley. I must put Steamboat Springs on my bucketlist! I will need to cancel my Gardiner reservations. They are our go to car hire platforms and we always choose whichever has the better vehicle at the right price point. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. For a more relaxing experience you should plan for 8 or even 9 days. I did this exact same road trip back in September and it was absolutely amazing! I would recommend it, especially during low-traffic seasons. 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. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. Drive the winding road to Signal Mountain summit for amazing views, descend and continue until you reach Jenny Lake 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. 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. Continue to the end of North Rim Drive and walk out to Artist Point, which is our personal favorite viewpoint into Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Day 2 Drive to Jackson and spend the late afternoon around Mormon Row. Stretch your legs on local trails in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Cache Valley, including a 2-mile one-way trek to see a triple arch rock formation and the Wind Caves. 6-Day Salt Lake City to Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton NP, Chocolate Factory and Barstow Outlet Tour (Free Airport Pick-Up) Tour code : GOL-SLC-131A Save 7% (0) Departure City : Salt Lake City Utah Available Days : Thu (2023-06-02 To 2023-09-13) Day 1: Start by renting a car at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake and cross into Idaho. Sleep in Moran. Whether you like motorized recreation or exploring via your own two feet, theres an adventure for everyone on the Tetons western and if you ask a local better side. Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake in Utah Photo: Getty Images. Was This Guide Helpful? Animal activity in Lamar Valley is greatest early in the morning and in the early evening. Simply use my 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary and allow an extra day in each of the parks. You can then grab dinner either back in SLC downtown or at the airport.