Alternatively, if you brought a packed lunch, head straight to Norris Geyser Basin to enjoy some of the most interesting geysers in the park. I chose to drive up and down this road several times in the early morning to watch for wildlife. I loved the park just as much this time as I had the first. 32 Best Stops Between Salt Lake City and Glacier National Park - Wanderlog It also makes for a fantastic road trip. 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. Now you know the best things to do and places to stay in Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone. 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. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake and cross into Idaho. What Is There To See Between Salt Lake City And Yellowstone? Like Missoula, Bozeman is spotless and its streets are lined with perfectly preserved historic buildings. Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips Glacier, Yellowstone & Grand Tetons | Holiday Vacations Salt Lake City - Vernal - Jackson - Yellowstone - Helena - Glacier Park - Missoula - Sun Valley - Pocatello - Salt Lake City. you will have limited camping options in the parks so book now for 2015. This visitor center parking lot fills up between 9 am and 4 pm so it is a good idea to arrive early. Drive 21 miles south to Norris Geyser Basin. 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. For all accommodation outside of the parks, we recommend using Booking.com and then comparing against Hotels.com to find the best deals available. Day 6 Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. Pricey, but exquisite. Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Craters of the Moon National Park Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks: 10 Day Road Trip . Park alongside the Yellowstone River and look carefully for bears, wolves, coyotes, bison, elk, eagles and dozens more species. At the highpoint of the trail, along Paint Pot Hill, is an active mudpot. Need Help! traveling from salt lake city. - Glacier National Park Forum There are great detours to natural forests on this path, including Mt. And a 2-hour direct flight from Salt Lake City International Airport. Road Trip from Seattle to Moab - LazyTrips Guided tours are a great option when exploring a new area or traveling solo. In winter or early spring, you will instead turn right onto Gros Venture Road at an earlier roundabout. 9 Uncrowded Gems in Southern Idaho The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel offers a spa, a gift shop selling Shoshone-Bannock crafts and a place to watch your favorite sports team. The mountain city is safe, clean, walkable and has a wonderful vibe. Hike to Mt Washburn summit for some of the best views in Yellowstone National Park. I also cant believe a bear just sauntered out by you! Grand Prismatic Spring has bright colors of orange, yellow, and green with deep blue waters. Changing between three styles of footwear (hiking shoes, running shoes, and flip flops) kept my feet happy. Possibly visit Craters of the Moon on the way. Lets assume you will arrive into Salt Lake City or SLC airport the night before we begin this itinerary on Day 1. 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. The September drive offered stunning colors of wheat fields and purple mountains. While in Gardiner, watch for elk roaming around EVERYWHERE at dawn and dusk. Visit the Old Faithful Area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, and more! With the recent developments, I could use some help creating an alternate plan for the Yellowstone portion. We spent 2 nights in Jackson, which is undoubtably one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming. 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. Would love to spend some time in Glacier National Park next time! It was one of the easiest road trips I had ever taken due to all the unique towns along the way. After Yellowstone, dip into southern Idaho to explore nine attractions, including two national park sites, you wont find elsewhere. Remember, the extra night also means you need the budget for a hotel room, eating out and another day with a hire car. Alternatively, you could spend a night at Jackson Lake Lodge or another hotel near Moran. 17 Tage Yellowstone Circle | America Unlimited Utah and Arizona are fantastic places to visit in November / December. We have spent a night at both a Mammoth Hot Springs cabin and a Canyon Village hotel room. Guide to Planning a Trip to Yellowstone - AARP Missoula is home to the University of Montana and has an active downtown with numerous restaurants and access to outdoor activities. Bison on Antelope Island in Great Salt Lake. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-leader-3','ezslot_5',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-leader-3-0');West Thumb Geyser Basin is one of the most overlooked areas of the park. 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. If you have less than a week to explore, consider flying into Jackson Hole Airport. And in a great atmosphere.Blackfoot TaproomA microbrewery and taproom featuring craft beers and live music. Stay in a cabin, hotel room or your RV on the shores of sparkling Bear Lake with Sun Outdoors Garden City. Take short hikes to geyser basins and waterfalls. 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. This is one of our favorite road trips and we cant wait to help you plan the perfect Salt Lake City to Yellowstone vacation. 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. I prefer hiking shoes over hiking boots and certainly for easy and short hikes. Yellowstone is a different beast altogether when it comes to booking your accommodation. 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. Helena is another great college town and the capital of Montana. See my Seattle Travel Guide and Washington State Travel Guide for all things Seattle and Washington State. Spend around two hours walking through Upper Geyser Basin, the area with the highest concentration of geysers in Yellowstone. This tour hits highpoints including the Old Faithful area, Midway Geyser Basin, Fountain Paint Pots, the Canyon Area, Hayden Valley, as well as short hikes to geyser basins and waterfalls. The park headquarters is located in this area as well as Albright Visitor Center and Museum, lodging, campgrounds, a grill, and more. 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. Thank you, Kim. I'd like to break the drive up.. Around 5-6 hours would like to. Norris Geyser Basin is the hottest geyser basin in Yellowstone. We will let you know as soon as this one is available and hopefully it is before your trip! During my September visit to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park, the days were sunny with lows around 40F and highs between 60F and 75F. What other options can you recommend to replace the Mammoth Lodge? Antler Inn Take the ferry across Jenny Lake to cut out a long walk around the lake to Cascade Canyon trailhead. 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. Amtrak to Yellowstone National Park | Amtrak Guide Continue North and drive through Alpine Junction, which marks the beginning of a scenic stretch of highway following the Snake River. I was spellbound every few feet as I walked the boardwalk around the massive Black Pool. In 2016 I planned a 4 day road trip with the expectation to do a quick driving tour of Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. I Quit My Job for an Adventurous Life. Then My Car Broke Down We are flying into SLC and staying for a night, then to Jackson Hole for 2 nights. The changing colors of blues and blacks reveal the depth of this fascinating pool. Bear in mind this would mean you have to loop from Jackson through Teton and Yellowstone before returning to Jackson. These two places have the better locations for accessing other parts of the park, and they have plenty of places to eat. Salt Lake City to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier 2015 It is best to begin driving through the park as early as possible to avoid traffic and crowds. 4 Idaho Falls Secrets to a Fantastic Yellowstone Area Vacation 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. 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. First choice here is a room at one of the Old Faithful lodges for convenience. I recommend:The Little America HotelAn affordable 4-star hotel great for families and with a touch of elegance.The Grand America HotelTHE top-rated hotel in Salt Lake City. There is so much to see and explore. Road Trip Advice - Round trip Salt Lake City to Glacier 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. Next, head north until you reach a short trail leading to the impressive Tower Fall. Fastest Route: Salt Lake City to Pocatello to Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone (via I-15). You will love the Portland area. Moab and Arches National Park (77) Salt Lake City (151) Uinta Mountains (96) Zion National Park (70) . 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. . Stay at one of the convenient airport hotels such as Tru by Hiltonor Spring Hill Suites. This route stops in major national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Bozeman is a fantastic town. 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. Plan a Trip to Yellowstone National Park | Things to Do | Where to Stay Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We reached the park around 7:45 am and enjoyed watching the sun begin illuminating streams, mountainsides, and glaciers. Your road trip ends in Glacier National Park, one of the USA's most beautiful national parks. Continue north to Snake River Overlook and look for bison roaming on the flatlands. It looks delicious! This hike offers incredible views, mountain goat sightings, and other wildlife. During my time in the parks, I got a lot of use out of my Ahnu hiking shoes. The only downside if you stay at Old Faithful is being limited to eating in the restaurants or food courts on site. 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. Show only these on map 1 Ogden Save On 1 list Ogden is a city north of Salt Lake City, in Utah. Of course, you could skip the last part of Day 5 and instead of driving to Canyon, drive back from Norris to West Yellowstone. Use the morning to revisit any of the areas in Grand Teton you liked the most, such as Jenny Lake or Oxbow Bend. Day 4 Enjoy a sunrise over Lower Falls from Artists Point and explore Hayden Valley. The best driving route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone 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. Doubletree by Hilton in Helena, or drive 2 hours to stay in Bozeman or Livingston. The drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park's south entrance covers around 330 miles and takes about five and a half hours. Plenty of motor oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, etc. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Take the boardwalk to Yellowstone Lake, the backdrop to unique geysers and pools as well as peculiar fishing cones. Take the right onto N Beach Road to enter Idahos North Beach State Park with $7 vehicle entry fee and dont forget your swimsuit. 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. Explore Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake Day 1: Start by renting a car at the Salt Lake City International Airport. In summer Yellowstone is like a theme park, so you have to be organized and book hotels way in advance. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. Shine Beer SanctuaryAn open-air fun place with a taco bar. Solitude Float Trips It was my first visit to Glacier, and my second visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Book a trip with one of Yellowstone Anglers fishing guides. There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. You can then drive back to SLC via Grand Teton and the scenic route. The Abyss Pool is equally mesmerizing. This is easier but it will also mean a lot more driving. Jenny Lake to West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone is around 60 miles and will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes without stops. Stay in Gardiner. Lets start planning your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip! If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Fly out of Glacier Park International Airport on day 4. This is one of the most-detailed itineraries Ive ever seen, but its truly helpful for those of us hoping to plan a trip to the area! Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. USA Glacier Grand Canyon Yellowstone Yosemite Zion. Static Peak DivideA difficult hike with epic alpine scenery.Lake SolitudeA difficult hike offering a subalpine lake and the largest waterfall in the park.Cascade CanyonOne of the most popular hikes in the park with views of Teewinot Mountain. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park West Yellowstone will put you on just one side of the 2 million acres + that is Yellowstone. The long stretches of road are beautiful and often filled with bison. If you are looking for ghosts, Savannah, Georgia is the place. Salt Lake City is the closest big city to Yellowstone and Grand Teton with a major international airport. Glacier National Park to Yellowstone National Park - 6 ways - Rome2rio Old Faithful may be more famous, but the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring is the most photographed thermal feature in Yellowstone. You also have a better range of hotel prices in West Yellowstone. I chose to explore the parks in order from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Teton. Clean and Green in Pocatello We hope the long list of hotel options is helpful and not overwhelming! If time allows, take the hike to the overlook to view from above. Stopping in Missoula, Montana to explore the town broke up the drive, making it a most enjoyable day. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone - A road trip guide! - Travel I loved entering the park here. Consider lodging at the East side of the park:Many Glacier Hotel or Swiftcurrent Motor Lodge inside the park.St. Glacier to Yellowstone to Grand Teton National Park: 7-Day Road Trip Best car for this trip: SUV. From Salt Lake City, the park's west entrance (West Yellowstone) is the shortest distance, about 325 miles. I am a first time visitor to Yelliwstone. The terraces can be accessed by lower and upper boardwalks and are very different from most other thermals in the area. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. See the West Glacier Village website for details and hours. LOVE them! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',119,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-leader-1-0');Also accessible at Logan Pass is Highline Trail, an 11.6-mile one-way hike.