If you havent gotten your fill of wildlife yet, visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone before starting your road trip back to Salt Lake City. In winter or early spring, you will instead turn right onto Gros Venture Road at an earlier roundabout. Starting and ending in Salt Lake City is an excellent option if youre planning a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. Maybe you would prefer to drive straight to the northern areas of Yellowstone and work down through the park, before exploring Grand Teton on the way back to SLC? 2 years ago. Day 5 Slowly explore Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. Pull over at the scenic route overlooks to admire the valley views. Leave dry land behind to explore the rivers and lakes of Yellowstone. We hope the long list of hotel options is helpful and not overwhelming! If not, have a great trip and good luck! Add them to walking, waterfalls and wildlife in Yellowstone and you have the perfect focal point on your Salt Lake City to Wyoming road trip. For the purposes of this example itinerary and our personal preference, we will split the day exactly in half. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip (2 Week Itinerary) The downtown is compact and walkable, perfect for a quick day exploring. It would. Four days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights in Yellowstone National Park at a relaxed but efficient pace. 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. A Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park Road Trip - MSN From Idaho Falls, you finally get to experience a scenic route as you turn slightly . The 830-mile road trip from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon will take 14 hours to drive. We will let you know as soon as this one is available and hopefully it is before your trip! The best cities to stay between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton are Logan, Afton, and Jackson. Day 1 11:00 am start in Salt Lake City drive for about 37 minutes 11:37 am Ogden stay for about 1 hour and leave at 12:37 pm drive for about 1 hour 1:45 pm Malad City stay for about 1 hour and leave at 2:45 pm drive for about 54 minutes 3:39 pm Pocatello stay overnight and leave the next day around 11:00 am day 1 driving 2.5 hours find more stops Its truly a sight to see! Read our popular guide listing the best places to stay in Yellowstone both inside and outside the park to help you figure out the most challenging part of planning this road trip. Walk around Upper Geyser Basin in the late afternoon. Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone - Tripadvisor Visit a museum or go for a hike. It is worth sticking around here until later in the day because this is regarded as the best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone. From historic homesteads to breathtaking river valleys, here are our top stops for a fantastic scenic drive plus road-trip advice. Plan to drive this in one day. This extra time gives you so much freedom and flexibility to add in time wherever you prefer. Learn more about GyPSy Guide here. Start in Salt Lake City, a vibrant community set against the backdrop of snow-dusted peaks, capped by impossibly blue skies. This side of the Tetons is home to uncrowded trails, hot springs soaks and more. This is easier but it will also mean a lot more driving. How Long Do I Need Driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? But before reaching the Grand Tetons, there are so many incredible destinations to see. We will cover where to stay on the Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip in much greater depth later in the guide. The America the Beautiful National Park Pass gets you into 400+ national park sites, including all 63 national parks, for 12 months! 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. 7 Sights at West Yellowstone Day 6 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport. Consider driving from Salt Lake City to Jackson, Wyoming via Highway 89 instead for a more scenic route. Look no further than Yellowstone and Grand Teton! . This town merges the mountain experience with a booming metropolitan area, with plenty of incredible dining options and breweries. The closest entrance into Yellowstone from Salt Lake City is west entrance, which is 320 miles drive and should take around 5 hours. Sleep in Jackson or Moran. 6 Amazing Places on the Other Side of the Tetons The closest airport is in West Yellowstone (WYS), serviced by both United and Delta Airlines. West Yellowstone 39F. Take the right turn, stop at String Lake and Jenny Lake Overlook for beautiful lake views. Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your road trip. Read more about the best time to visit Yellowstone here. 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. Spend the day out on the water on Bear Lake. Why Start A Yellowstone Road Trip From Salt Lake City? Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. Yellowstone is a different beast altogether when it comes to booking your accommodation. The shore of this brilliant blue lake is an excellent spot for a picnic lunch. Where To Stay On Your Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip, 5. Sign up below to get a free copy of my 28-page national park ebook to help you plan your upcoming national park trip! Sugar City to Jackson 1.5 hours. What Is The Closest Entrance To Yellowstone From SLC? Which Entrance to Yellowstone National Park Should I Take? would love to hear feedback. Both were great and worked perfectly for our itinerary. Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites Salt Lake City, Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City Downtown, Headwaters Lodge and Cabins at Flagg Ranch, 18 Best Hikes in Grand Teton National Park, short hike to the Grand Prismatic Overlook, 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone National Park. This small island within the Great Salt Lake provides incredible views of Utahs famous lake and the free-roaming herds of bison and antelope found here. 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. Three Park Entrances and a Surprise 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. You can continue south to Yellowstone Lake but in this 7 day itinerary you will head back towards Canyon and continue until you reach a parking lot at Dunraven Pass. At its most direct to Yellowstone it will take you 332 miles and over 6 hours. Explore Antelope Island on Great Salt Lake Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options. 3 Roadside Stops in Grand Teton National Park A misty morning at Lower Falls in Yellowstone, from mountain biking to al fresco dining to live music, Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable, Here are some of our favorite things to do, Enjoy adventures in Jackson and nearby Grand Teton National Park, old West town with a touch of class and a lot of fun, Via Ferrata assisted climbing course, riding the gondola, tackling the ropes course or biking and hiking downhill, a ton of activities for all ages, plus bike and SUP rentals, Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tour, Here are the top seven ways to avoid the parks crowds and see the best of the area, Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip. Disclosure | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use, Copyright 2023 | Where Are Those Morgans, Our Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip Experience. Discover the stories behind this unsung hero of a vegetable including VP Dan Quayles potato incident. You are now at 5.5 hours. Day 10-11 Las Vegas. This entrance is located 320 miles and 5 hours from Salt Lake City, Utah. Get a Potato Selfie at the Idaho Potato Museum Before planning your trip to Salt Lake City road trip, there are a few things you should know. The road from Salt Lake to Yellowstone has no shortage of beauty! Of course, you could skip the last part of Day 5 and instead of driving to Canyon, drive back from Norris to West Yellowstone. Splitting the fourth day between Grand Teton and Yellowstone is completely open to your interpretation. Jacksons ski town atmosphere is replaced by a quiet wild west town from spring to fall. 3-Day Road Trip with Kids from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming: Road Trip Stops on the Yellowstone Loop Also be sure to check out City Creek Center, a popular covered shopping and dining complex with high end shops and fountains. As you head out of Salt Lake City, stop at Antelope Island State Park. Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Grand Teton Lodge Company. Was This Guide Helpful? Here are the best hotels in West Yellowstone MT: Want to read more about where to stay in Yellowstone? This adventure hub is only minutes from incredible hiking, driving, and skiing (youve heard of Park City, right?). The Best 8-Day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip . 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. Heres the top six reasons to visit. Making this a great destination to stop on your road trip to Yellowstone. A 10 Day Salt Lake to Yellowstone Itinerary - Quiltripping Continue north to Snake River Overlook and look for bison roaming on the flatlands. The scenic drive cuts through jagged limestone rock formations along the Logan River as you pass through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. You have several options to reach Yellowstone and Grand Teton, such as Bozeman which is close and convenient, South Dakotas Black Hills which are stunning and often combined with the Wyoming parks or Denver Colorado which is another major city within driving distance. I am a first time visitor to Yelliwstone. Jackson Hole is a world-famous ski town and the gateway to Grand Teton National Park. It's a 5.5 to 6 hour drive depending on stops and how heavy your foot is on the gas pedal. National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah to Yellowstone & Grand Teton Head back to the car and drive to Grand Prismatic Spring parking lot to explore Midway Geyser Basin. drive to yellowstone, overnight in yellowstone. 63 reviews. After Yellowstone, dip into southern Idaho to explore nine attractions, including two national park sites, you wont find elsewhere. But it is also a great option for those who want easy access to Mammoth Hot Springs or Lamar Valley, the best place in Yellowstone for wildlife spotting. As a side note, this is one of the most popular sunset locations in Yellowstone. Who knows, this may become one of your all time favorite road trips too! Places to see between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone Mesa Falls Scenic Byway The route from Salt Lake City to West Yellowstone traverses northern Utah and eastern Idaho, only to eventually enter Montana, the state where our destination town is located. Yellowstones west entrance is 323 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, it is the closest entrance by distance and time from the airport and should take a little over 5 hours to reach. Moab, Utah. Stay in West Yellowstone. The easiest option would simply be to cut out the day in Salt Lake City and pick up the full itinerary above on Day 2. Next, head north until you reach a short trail leading to the impressive Tower Fall. Day 9 Set off early for SLC, but stop in Idaho Falls and Craters of the Moon on your way back.