You can also easily visit Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. If you want to do more hiking and relaxing, you could easily spend four to five days exploring Yellowstone National Park. USA TRAVEL INSPIRATION:For more great ideas on where to go in the United States, check out our article Best USA Road Trips, which has 18 sample itineraries for your next big adventure. It adds about two hours to your driving time to stop by the Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming. The ideal starting point for this itinerary is Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. Limited parking at the Preserve helps keep crowds to a minimum. Once you have a basic itinerary, check hotel prices and availability. You can also detour through Bear Lake and Antelope Island State Park for more beautiful views of the Snake River and mountain areas. Mid-Range: The AlpenhofLuxury: Teton Mountain LodgeCabins: Fireside ResortRV Park: Fireside Resort RV Park. This is another top spot to visit for spectacular views (and photos) of the Teton Range. This route will add about two hours of driving time. This route takes you from Logan to Bear Lake, then follows the Snake We also have important planning information and travel ideas in our Wyoming Travel Guide. The speed, the sun, the wind, the fantasy of never looking back, and the sheer The best areas to stay tonight are Gardiner, Montana and Mammoth Hot Springs. The Tetons are much quieter, and the weekend crowds are much smaller. Thank you for your great advice!!! Lamar Valley is great in the late afternoon, but you might not get back to Island Park until 10 pm, which could be rough. Lots of visitors, road construction, and animal traffic jams can cause hour delays in driving through the park. 4. This park is named for the Teton Range, a jagged, rocky mountain range that runs through the heart of the park. Staying in downtown Salt Lake City is a great idea if you have a day or two to explore the city before driving to Jackson or Yellowstone. If you havent seen enough wildlife, you can stop at Yellowstone Bear World. Here are some other fun things to do in Salt Lake , Read More: 15 Fun Things to Do in Salt Lake City, If you are visiting with kids, there are lots of great things to do there with your kids. You should also plan for driving times to take longer than expected, especially during the summer months. Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip Itinerary, Ultimate Yellowstone Itinerary: Best Way to Spend 1 to 5 Days in Yellowstone, One Day in Yellowstone: 6 Epic Road Trip Itineraries, The Perfect Yellowstone Day Trip from Grand Teton National Park. Stopping in Missoula, Montana to explore the town broke up the drive, making it a most enjoyable day. We visited during the summer months and had a great time riding bikes around town, shopping, and hiking in Grand Teton National Park. These fees vary a lot from month to month and year to year. Im mentioning it because this is the airport we use. This is an awesome road trip and so far, we have done it twice. Roosevelt Arch, the main entrance into Yellowstone when it first opened. Make sure Yellowstone Lake | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. To visit the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook, park in the Fairy Falls parking lot. We stayed just a few minutes from Teton Village at the Fireside Resort, and we were really happy with this location. Here are the links to both national park websites. Day 2: Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin & Lamar Valley, Day 3: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley with an Optional Detour on the Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway. What time is your flight out of SLC? If its a late afternoon or evening, I vote for another night in GTNP or in Jackson. If you did an early depar Visitors will now travel on Old Gardiner Road to enter through the North Entrance, which connects Gardiner, Montana to Mammoth. Other great restaurants include Caf Genevieve, Bin22, Liberty Burger, and Blue Lion. Elk, bear, coyotes, wolves, and pronghorn also make appearances. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, which I discuss later in this guide. Brink of the Upper Falls is a separate section of the Grand Canyon. From Island Park, your longest driving days will be to Lamar Valley (3 hours one way), Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (2 hours), and Hayden Valley (2.25 hours). Because of stunning views and the easy nature of this hike, this is an extremely popular hike in Grand Teton National Park. To get from one park to the other, it only takes an hour of driving. Itinerary SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH CACHE VALLEY STAR VALLEY GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK PINEDALE, WYOMING FLAMING GORGE VERNAL PARK CITY, UTAH We have reservations for Jackson Hole and then Yellowstone for one week this summer. This is where you will see Morning Glory Pool, Castle Geyser, Solitary Geyser, and Grotto Geyser. Old Faithful | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. The South Rim, however, is well worth the time. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. There is such yummy food there and my kids loved the wild west feel of the town. Now that you have flights and rental car prices, plan your itinerary using one of the suggestions below. However, you can turn around at any point. There are lots of great things to see between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone. While in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, properly dispose of waste, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife. Many people visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton on a 5 to 10-day trip. Fairy Falls | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. If the fee is too expensive, consider planning your trip as a round trip to avoid this extra fee. From here, it is a 1.6-mile out-and-back walk to the viewpoint. The Town Square features arches made of shed antlers and is surrounded by blocks of walk-able restaurants and shops. The park is known for its beautiful mountains, the Teton Range, most famous for its sharp peaks. Read More: 22 Best Choices for Where to Stay in Yellowstone National Park, 17 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone with Kids + Essential Tips for Visiting 10 Best Binoculars for Yellowstone National ParkThe Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park 17 Best RV Parks Close to Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park RV Length Restrictions. Before heading to Norris Geyser Basin, grab lunch at the Mammoth General Store or Mammoth Terrace Grill. After your hike, take a few minutes to visit the visitor center. We are here to show you that traveling as a family is not as hard as you might think. These flights most likely will route through Denver or Salt Lake City. These floods washed aways portions of the roads between Gardiner, Montana and the north entrance of Yellowstone and roads near the northeast entrance of the park, essentially closing huge sections of the park in the summer and fall of 2022. Mid-Range: Headwaters Lodge and CabinsMid-Range: Jackson Lake LodgeLuxury: Jenny Lake LodgeCabins: Colter Bay Village. For the best experience, plan on staying in at least two locations: one in Yellowstone and one in Grand Teton. You can stay inside the park at one of the lodges or campsites. We stayed a little outside town so we wouldnt have quite as long of a drive to get to the hikes in the national park but then we had a bit of a drive to get into town. Please do not stop in the middle of the road. In the Wyoming mountains, temperatures are cold at night and can reach freezing temperatures. However, if you live in Boise or youre coming from the Pacific Northwest, there are a lot of really cool things to see as you make your way towards Yellowstone. The best time to be here is at sunrise, when the sunlight illuminates the historic barns and the Teton Range. IMPORTANT:In 2022, Moose Wilson Road will be closed between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and the Granite Entrance Station. Yellowstone is the second largest US national park outside of Alaska. There are lots of fun things to do there and many of them are very family-friendly. There are three places to watch the eruption: The view from Observation Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Cascade Canyon | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Grand View: OK views of the canyon (skippable if you are short on time). Mammoth Hot Springs | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. You can also fly to the Jackson Hole Airport or Bozeman, Montana. A great way to spend this time and get one of the best views on this entire Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary, is to ride the Aerial Tram to Rendezvous Peak. How many nights do you have in the Tetons before the second to last night? To get here, drive Highway 191 north from Jackson, turn left on Teton Park Road, and then turn left on Moose Wilson Road. Mt. Other Popular Routes Idaho Falls to Salt Lake City As low as $39 Las Vegas to St. George As low as $30 Cedar City to St. George As low as $20 Here is a list in order as you drive north on Grand Loop Road: Artist Paintpots | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. In my opinion, its still worth the extra drive to visit Rendezvous Peak since the views are so great. If you want food and drink and shopping then no better place than Jackson imo. We have stayed in Woods Cross north of SLC airport and at Hilton Gar Budget: Comfort Inn and Suites Salt Lake AirportBudget: Holiday Inn ExpressMid-Range: Courtyard by Marriott Salt Lake Airport Mid-Range: Hilton Garden Inn. Washburn and Grand Loop Road | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. They can be visited in either order, depending on the route that you are traveling through the country. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request. You can also drive through the beautiful Utah mountains enjoying the small towns along the way like Park City and Bear Lake. 7. Here is an overview of the North Rim viewpoints as you will get to them on North Rim Road: South Rim Road is two-way so you can visit the viewpoints in any order you like: Yellowstone Lake and West Thumb Geyser Basin, Day 4: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring & Geyser Basins, Day 5: Drive to Grand Teton National Park, Day 6: Mormon Row, Jenny Lake & Cascade Canyon, Day 7: Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, Phelps Lake & Jackson, Optional Detour: Phelps Lake Overlook & Death Canyon. What companies run services between Salt Lake City, UT, USA and Jackson, WY, USA? This takes 45 to 60 minutes. There are lots of great starting and stopping points for a Yellowstone road trip, especially if you are open to flying in and out of different airports. 1. There are two barns to visit, and photograph, if you are interested. You can also take a short detour to visit Lava Hot Springs or Craters of the Moon National Monument in southern Idaho. Once you have flights narrowed down, research rental car costs from the airports you chose. If you like hiking, you can combine the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook trail with Fairy Falls. Understand the Yellowstone Seasons. On day 2 of this itinerary, you could drive first to Lamar Valley, aiming to get there by 10 am, and work your way back to Island Park. We usually grab a quick bite to eat at the Old Faithful General Store. Lava Hot Springs is a swimming pool fed by a natural hot springs. 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. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Here is the awesome view: OPTIONAL: Hike to Fairy Falls. We have stayed at a few in this area and always enjoy having a kitchen and multiple bedrooms. Grand Teton looks vastly different from Yellowstone. You would want more than seven days to complete the trip because there is so much to see. 31 Best Things to Do in Boise, IdahoEverything You Need to Know About Visiting the Bruneau Sand Dunes12 Top Things to Do in Hagerman, Idaho. Artist Point: Its a short, easy walk to this iconic view of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We hope you have found this guide helpful in planning your next road trip. webmaster@aaaamericanlocksmith.smileylocksmith.com to inform them of the time this error occurred, This is the most popular hike in Grand Teton National Park. Here is the itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Yellowstone Day 2: Yellowstone Day 3: Yellowstone Day 4: Grand Teton day trip from Yellowstone Day 5: Fly home. You also have the option to hike into Death Canyon. misconfiguration and was unable to complete Since these are regional airports, there will be a limited number of flights, but you might get lucky. The afternoon and early evening is prime time to be here for wildlife spotting. 1.6-mile out-and-back walk to the viewpoint. If you have some flexibility, visit Yellowstone during the week and the Tetons on the weekend. Bison might look slow, but they can run a lot faster than you and they have been known to charge at people. Old Faithful is part of the Upper Geyser Basin, where 150 geothermal features are packed into 1 square mile. Jackson Hole Airport This airport is the most convenient on this list because of its location. Here are some of the best things to do between Boise and Yellowstone National Park. Death Canyon | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. This is another great choice for either a point-to-point or round-trip itinerary. Day 1: Arrive in Yellowstone Day 2: Yellowstone: Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin & Lamar Valley Day 3: Yellowstone: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Hayden Valley Day 4: Yellowstone: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring & Geyser Basins Day 5: Drive to Grand Teton National Park Day 6: Grand Teton: Jenny Lake, Inspiration Point, Cascade Canyon Day 7: Grand Teton: Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve, Phelps Lake, Jackson Day 8: Fly home, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary Map. Check park conditions and road closures as you are planning your trip and again just before you go. I would not say the drive is especially pretty after leaving the beautiful Salt Lake Valley mountains until you reach about Idaho Falls if you are traveling on I-15. One thing to be aware of is that finding a parking space midday can be a challenge. Two basins make up Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. From Bozeman, it takes 90 minutes to drive to the north entrance of Yellowstone. The best time to visit Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is in the morning, before it gets crowded. Laurance S. Rockefeller Visitor Center | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Artist Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. This itinerary can be done one-way, starting in northern Yellowstone and ending in Jackson, Wyoming, or as a loop from Bozeman. Also, keep in mind that it can be significantly more expensive to return a rental car to a different place where you picked it up. This is a great option for those with limited time. We would recommend spending some time in the historic downtown area along Main Street, grabbing some lunch, and visiting the Olympic Complex here before finishing your drive to Jackson. We have a guide to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which has more information about how to visit this area and many more photos, but here are few essential tips and things to do. Traveling in an RV is so much fun and it is so nice to have all of your food and everything with you during your drive from SLC to Yellowstone National Park. To do everything on this list, you need a minimum of three days, and even then, they will be very busy days. Because it can be done in one week (it can be done Saturday to Saturday). Here are some of the things my kids enjoyed the most , Fillings & Emulsions: A delicious dessert spot specializing in French culinary and Latin flavorsDiscovery Gateway: A 60,000 square-foot childrens museum with lots of interactive play areasLoveland Living Planet Aquarium: A large aquarium south of Salt Lake City with lots of sea life creatures to seeClark Planetarium: A FREE planetarium with lots of hands-on exhibits, Read More: 10 Things to Do with Kids in Salt Lake City. If you have any other questions please let me know. 5. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours to visit all of Norris Geyser Basin. Mountain States Express operates a bus from Salt Lake City The next closest entrance is the south entrance which is where you will enter the park most likely if you are driving through Jackson, Wyoming. You can stay in nearby West Yellowstone and Gardiner which are just outside the park. Go as far as you like on this trail and then turn around when you are ready. Route #1: North from SLC through Utah and Idaho and then over Teton Pass However, we frequently get emails and comments about how to add this on to a trip to Yellowstone, so I am including it here. In the morning, head south to Grand Teton National Park. You can still visit both parks in the winter, but you will get around by snowmobile or on cross-country skis, which will be a much different experience than the summer months. PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you only want to see the highlights, hike Brink of the Lower Falls Trail, visit Lookout Point, and hike to Red Rock Point. We love traveling in our RV and always have a great time when we take our RV through Yellowstone and the Tetons. We have heard horror stories from people who booked their flights and hotels and then could not rent a car. It will be a whirlwind tour, but it is doable. If you choose this option, the best places to stay tonight are Old Faithful Village, Canyon Village, Yellowstone Lake, or West Yellowstone. Ride the Jenny Lake Shuttle across the lake to the trailhead for the Cascade Canyon Trail. If you want to visit Jackson Hole as well as Grand Teton National Park, the driving time is about 7.5 hours one-way. Read More: 25 Memorable Things to Do in Park City. 8. WebHighway 12 from Panguitch to Torrey passes through twisting canyons, red rock towers, pine forests and pioneer towns. If you have more than seven days, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring the Salt Lake Area. First question have you been in early June? On June 12, 2022, Yellowstone and northern Montana had record floods. Hello Jennifer. Old Faithful gets its name because of its reliable eruption schedule. However, it is possible to stay in Old Faithful Village, at Yellowstone Lake, or even Coulter Bay Village in Grand Teton, to visit both parks, but you will do A LOT of driving. Mid-Range: Old Faithful Lodge and CabinsMid-Range/Cabins: Canyon Lodge and CabinsMid-Range: Mammoth Hot Springs HotelLuxury: Old Faithful InnRV Campground: Fishing Bridge RV Park. This lovely little hike takes you out-and-back along String Lake and has a viewpoint of Leigh Lake. But as a very rough estimate, rental car prices can range from $100 to $200 per day and a rental car drop fee can cost you several hundred dollars. Phelps Lake Overlook | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. We would recommend two to three days to see Yellowstone. The route awaiting you crosses the north side of the Salt Lake Valley, where the Wasatch Mountains rise up, and as you continue If your flight is not until late in the day (and you are flying out of Jackson), you can spend the morning canoeing on Jenny Lake or hiking another trail in Grand Teton. 2. We have had great experiences at the Wyoming Inn and The Lodge at Jackson Hole, but the Wort Hotel and Cowboy Village Resort both get great reviews. WebAttractions. 10. Since they sit side-by-side, its easy to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton together. There are two routes that are most commonly taken when traveling between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone. Bear Lake has a beautiful turquoise color lake and is famous for its raspberry milkshakes. Budget: Salt Lake Plaza Hotel Temple SquareBudget: Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City DowntownMid-Range: Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake CityLuxury: The Grand America HotelRV Park: Salt Lake City KOA. Yellowstone Lake and the West Thumb Geyser are some of the first things you will get to coming in from the South Entrance. Jackson is about 12 miles from the Grand Teton National Park Loop Road. Along the way to Yellowstone, weve included fun attractions, great places to eat and other national park sites that offer different experiences than Yellowstone. Along the way, dont miss the huge boulder that serves as a diving board in the summer months (on the east side of the lake) and Huckleberry Point for its view over the lake (on the west side of the lake). Mount Washburn is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone. Sign up for any tours you plan to take. We are interesting in hiking, seeing wildlife, having a good meal, Web6 Best Road Trips. Moose Wilson Road is one of the best places in the area to see moose. 3. Read More: Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is primarily located in Wyoming, although a small part of the park crosses the border into Idaho and Montana. Required fields are marked *. You are also not permitted to leave them in a car while you go hiking. If youre looking for a great place to camp in the area, we highly recommend checking out The Dyrt, the #1 Camping App. We frequently get emails and comments about planning a trip to this region, so many that we decided to write this guide. Every additional day you can add gives you more time to either go hiking or explore off-the-beaten-path places. The SLC International Airport is a very large airport with lots of rental options available from small cars to larger SUVs or vans. Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Beartooth Highway starts just outside of the park and runs to Red Lodge, Montana. and the actions you performed just before this error. The highlight is Abyss Pool, a brilliantly blue hot spring, but it is also very cool to see geothermal activity right along the edge of the lake. A really fun road trip will take you through South Dakota and across Wyoming to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Plus June will be a little less crowded than July. Today you will fly home. This is one of the best areas of Grand Teton to spot wildlife. WebPopular Routes Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole Travel for prices as low as $55 on shuttles from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole Large elk antler arches curve over Jackson Town Square, Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The best way to get from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park is by renting or car. If you will be flying to these parks, research flight costs. Another great option that works really well for our family or if you have multiple groups that want their own room is a private rental through VRBO. Hike into the Tetons, explore the geyser basins and hot springs in Yellowstone, and spot elk, bison and bear as you tour the parks. The closest major international airport to Yellowstone is the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah. From early November through late-May, many roads in Yellowstone are closed. I would add Teton time. If you want to go farther into the Teton Range, hike to Inspiration Point and then continue on the Cascade Canyon Trail into Cascade Canyon. There are several things to see between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone, including the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, and the Yellowstone National Second, I had looked at staying in an Airbnb in Teton Village and then one in Island Park, ID. From Bear Lake, you can continue to the south or west entrances to Yellowstone National Park. This is good to do BEFORE locking in flights and rental cars, to avoid any unfortunate surprises. String Lake | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary, Distance: 5.5 miles | Time: 2 to 3 hours | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Total Ascent: 560 feet. The best way to get to Lamar Valley is by taking Grand Loop Road past Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to Tower. Jackson has almost anything Mormon Row is one of the most photographed spots in Grand Teton National Park. Schwabacher Landing | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Distance: 1.8 miles out-and-back | Time: 1 to 2 hours | Difficulty: Easy | Total Ascent: Minimal. This hike is 5 to 6.2 miles round-trip, depending on the route you choose, and takes you to the top of Mount Washburn for views over the park. The Boise airport is pretty small and Salt Lake is a much better airport to fly into. Jackson to SLC is a day drive. no reason to split the drive unless you want to spend time in SLC or Park city for a day before your airport night. Our favorite restaurant in Jackson is Local Restaurant & Bar. Drive through Hayden Valley to spot bison and other wildlife. WebThe top stops along the way from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton National Park (with short detours) are Jackson Town Square, Antelope Island, and Jackson Hole Aerial Tram and Gondola Rides. I would say this is probably the least scenic drive but has a really fun stop at Lava Hot Springs. There is the historic barn on Mormon Row (in the photograph below) and the T. A. Moulton Barn located on Gros Ventre Road, across Antelope Flats Road. They are not permitted on hiking trails or inside of the visitor centers. What are you thoughts on those places? If you have any questions about routes or things to see along the way, please let us know in the comments below or you can always reach out to us on Instagram. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between.