Chapel of the TransfigurationA picturesque little church with views of the Tetons.Menors Ferry Historic DistrictTake a short ride on a replica of a historic ferry. Here are the most helpful travel planning resources you might need to drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major international airport to Yellowstone National Park. However, hotel prices here are much higher on average and there are fewer places to eat out. The third day is when your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip bursts into life. All things considered we think SLC is the best airport to use for Yellowstone because it is the most convenient for long haul travel and offers low budget airlines for domestic US travel. The most beloved of Yellowstones geysers is Old Faithful. 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. There is so much to see and explore. I would love to hear about your experiences in Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Park! Here are the top seven ways to avoid the parks crowds and see the best of the area. Drive 17 miles south to visit Fountain Paint Pots or 2.5 miles further to Grand Prismatic Spring. Read our guide on the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park which covers the top attractions, hikes and geyser basins. But if you have an afternoon flight we recommend you drive south past Norris Geyser Basin before leaving the park via West Yellowstone. Spend the night in Salt Lake City at Grand Americaor Homewood Suites. Save. I have had my Ahnus for 2-3 years now and they have many miles left in them. 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. Sponsored. When we hit the national park with its 25 mph speed limit, the car wasn't happy. Here you'll experience Glacier's pristine forests, alpine . How Far Is Yellowstone From Salt Lake City International Airport? Watch for a majestic bull elk resting in the grass keeping watch over his lady-herd. And their proximity to one another makes combining a visit to. It will be about a 40 minute drive just to get to the nearest points of interest in Yellowstone. Heres how we might plan a 6 day itinerary: Day 2 Spend the full day hiking and taking photos in Grand Teton, before staying at a hotel near Moran. Yellowstone is an awe-inspiring and extraordinary landscape, but it requires careful planning to do it the right way without losing time driving back on yourself or missing out on top attractions. Thanks in advance! It is best to begin driving through the park as early as possible to avoid traffic and crowds. If possible, we would suggest you try to book your third night at any of the Old Faithful Lodges. The Clark Fork River runs through the town and offers some of the best opportunities for white water raftering in the region. But they might be worth a stop if you have enough time, which is why we have included several SLC to Yellowstone road trip itinerary ideas later in the guide. The Yellowstone Route is a longer 1,570-mile drive that takes about 26 hours. This place is alway hoppin. Covering over 2 million acres, Yellowstone is one of the largest national parks in the United States. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights in Yellowstone National Park at a relaxed but efficient pace. Day 2 Drive to Park City in the morning, before heading to Jackson later in the afternoon. Excelsior Geyser will be billowing and hopefully you have a clear day to see vibrant colors inside Grand Prismatic Spring. It is worth sticking around here until later in the day because this is regarded as the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone. Bozeman is a fantastic town. Sounds like a great trip you have planned with the Utah Mighty 5 right after - enjoy! We typically use Booking to book our hotels but park lodging inside Yellowstone is not available with Booking. Day 3 Drive to Yellowstone and explore West Thumb, Old Faithful, Morning Glory Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring. Walk around Lower Geyser Basin and then drive to a hotel in West Yellowstone. Salt Lake City. Below are tour offerings for the fearless as well as reluctant, fearful or solo traveler. Solitude Float Trips If you choose to spend a day in downtown SLC there are plenty of hotel options available. During my time in the parks, I got a lot of use out of my Ahnu hiking shoes. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. If you are lucky there will be wildlife drinking fresh water or playing in the river. Kids will love this place. Western-style cabins with kitchenettes.The Wort HotelAn upscale experience near town square restaurants and shops.Teton VillageWhat a happy ski resort area. Watch for deer at dawn and dusk resting in alfalfa fields. You will not go hungry. A booming culinary and brewing culture is emerging out of SLC, perfect for fueling up in between epic national park road trip loops. A bit terrifying and narrow in places but one of the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park. Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks are three of Americas most valued treasures. 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. 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. One of our favorite parts about Jackson is how the small town has managed to retain its wild west feel, despite the obvious potential for commercialization. From Salt Lake City to St. Mary on the east side of Glacier National Park is about 700 miles but a long stretch of that can be done on I-15 so it will go fast. Jenny LakeStroll through this busy lake-park area for stunning views of the Tetons and access to trails. Missoula and Jackson Hole are adorable and offer so much! 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. Two Things You Must Do at Bear Lake Here are our popular road trip resources for planning and packing: Packing for Grand Teton and Yellowstone is fairly straightforward year round. For Yellowstone, we have reservations at the Lake Lodge (July 29), Canyon Lodge (July 30) and Mammoth Lodge (July 31) before heading back to Salt Lake City (August 1). Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. I wear only quality shoes with good arch support to avoid plantar fasciitis flare-ups and my Ahnu hiking shoes are perfect. If you are tight on time you can do it in 5 or 6 days but it will be a rush. The land literally hisses, steams, and bubbles while bison and elk roam the grasslands. Head to Snow King Mountain Resort for Family Fun The good news is it has a wide range of places to grab dinner. It was one of the easiest road trips I had ever taken due to all the unique towns along the way. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Stay in West Yellowstone. May 3, 2021 Tori Peglar Hit desert highlights on this road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, returning through Craters of the Moon National Monument and southern Idaho. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Day 7 Hike Mt Washburn, head into Lamar Valley and see Mammoth Hot Springs. It sounds so beautiful! Going-to-the-Sun Road is an engineering marvel of switchbacks passing through and to numerous trailheads, glacial pull-outs, and overlooks. Next, drive through the center of Yellowstone Loop road to Canyon. 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. I think you will too. First choice here is a room at one of the Old Faithful lodges for convenience. Walk around Upper Geyser Basin in the late afternoon. To Enjoy a Yellowstone National Park Tour Call 1-800-CARAVAN (227-2826) However, we will also explain how to drive this road trip route in less and more time later in the guide. Without stopping the drive should take around 5 hours, but you will be stopping so plan for more like 6-7 hours. What an incredible road trip guide! There isnt much to see between Tower and Mammoth. 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. Thank you. Plus, flights into SLC are likely to be cheaper because of higher airline competition. What if you have more or less time than 7 days? Wildlife in Glacier National Park includes . Throughout Montana and Wyoming, the yellows of grain fields, greens of alfalfa grass, and blues of the sky and flowing rivers form an incredible backdrop for photos. Here are seven reasons to visit. 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. From the park, head southwest to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, Sun Valley, Boise and Twin Falls before reaching City of Rocks National Reserve on your return route to Salt Lake City. 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. Start your journey in the historic and spiritual heart of Salt Lake City, Temple Square. This historic warehouse building has been renovated with several warehouse-style rentals available on Airbnb. Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips You might be able to find a cheaper rate with Hotels compared to going direct so it is worth checking. Trip Details. If you have less than a week to explore, consider flying into Jackson Hole Airport. . Lodging inside Yellowstone can be booked through the official Yellowstone National Park Lodges site but we strongly recommend you try to beat the prices with Hotels.com before booking anything. You will likely be visiting Grand Teton and Yellowstone in late Spring, Summer or Fall, which means Jackson will be (mostly) free of snow and the enormous crowds of thrill seekers in the winter season. Read our popular 2 days in Grand Teton itinerary which organizes the best things to do into two easy days. We are assuming you need to drive back from Yellowstone to Las Vegas on the sixth day? Saddle Up in Jackson Gather RestaurantAn upscale restaurant serving tasty small portions.Liberty BurgerServing great burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and more.The Bunnery Bakery and RestaurantA local favorite serving traditional breakfasts, sandwiches, baked goods, and desserts.Snake River BrewingRefined comfort food and certified organic brews served in a chill atmosphere.Drive south 5 hours to Salt Lake City, if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_1',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');There are numerous great options for lodging in Salt Lake City. Day 4 Spend another full day enjoying the tranquility in Grand Teton. Everything from recommended footwear to lodging, to best sites to a mysterious interesting door to check out by the bathrooms! This road trip offers continual opportunities to spot wildlife. 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. On the north side of Yellowstone, you'll find wildlife galore along the banks of scenic rivers. I chose the Comfort Inn Yellowstone North. Dont skip this 1-mile trail loop. Allowing for 8 days gives you more flexibility and a bit of breathing room to slow things down. 2 Days in Yellowstone Yes, it is such a beautiful part of the country! Lewis Lake is one of the best stops for kayaking in the park and you will pass it as you approach the south entrance to Yellowstone. Spending a few minutes considering what you need to pack for your SLC to Yellowstone road trip can save you time, money and energy later in your vacation. Head south on US-20 W as far as Idaho Falls and join I-15 S all the way to Salt Lake City airport. Salt Lake City, UT. 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. Leave dry land behind to explore the rivers and lakes of Yellowstone. Once you visit Jackson, you will not want to leave. The road to Gardiner is closed. 4. Simply use my 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary and allow an extra day in each of the parks. Due to road construction in 2020, we were unable to visit the Many Glacier area. I planned a week-long itinerary to explore these magnificent wonders. Explore these four stops where youll see Stripes and Shoni, a place devoted to cleaning up,ancient curious creaturesand a hub of ethnic flavors. Especially at dawn or dusk, keep an eye out for herds of elk and other wildlife enjoying rivers and ponds. Take the drive from Grand Teton to the Yellowstone area on the evening of day 1 or the morning of day 2. Possibly visit Craters of the Moon on the way. Rome2rio makes travelling from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park easy. Here are the best hotels in West Yellowstone MT: Want to read more about where to stay in Yellowstone? Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Planning Resources. . The heavily trafficked 2.9-mile loop offers close-up views of Hot springs and fumaroles with temperatures as high as 200F. On the way back, stop at Upper Falls View and Uncle Toms Trail if it is open. Stay in Canyon. Clean and Green in Pocatello About Old Faithful, Yellowstone's Famous Geyser. In Park City theres a trail for everyone, from mountain biking to al fresco dining to live music,and theres no better time to hit them than summer. If theres a Utah Jazz basketball game on. Notice the front door and impressive lock, lobby mission-style furniture, candelabra-style light fixtures, and massive wrought iron and brass lobby clock, and dining room hickory chairs and chandeliers. . if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_14',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_15',120,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sunshineandvine_com-narrow-sky-1-0_1');.narrow-sky-1-multi-120{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}FindGooseIslandViewpointat a pullout along Going-to-the-Sun Road. The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel offers a spa, a gift shop selling Shoshone-Bannock crafts and a place to watch your favorite sports team. We reached the park around 7:45 am and enjoyed watching the sun begin illuminating streams, mountainsides, and glaciers. Alternatively, if you are a hiker you should definitely spend the morning hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and eventually Cascade Canyon. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. The 320-mile road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park takes 4 hours and 30 minutes to drive. Farther north, youll discover Yellowstone National Park. Note: If you plan to rent a car,compare pricesand book in advance to ensure availability.