The Jackson to Salt Lake Adventure Lets start this adventure with the destination youre taking this trip for, Jackson Hole, WY. The Tetons are much quieter, and the weekend crowds are much smaller. Liberty Park is open year round and has numerous walking and running trails, as well as an aviary. From the trailhead, it is an easy, uphill walk through a forest of evergreen trees and past horse corrals. Colter Bay Village is also a good place to refill your gas tank and grab a bite to eat. Skip to Main Content. The drive from Denver to Yellowstone is about 10 hours so the only way you would want to fly into Denver is if the flights were significantly less expensive or you wanted to spend time in Denver or Rocky Mountain National Park during your road trip. Make your flight, rental car, and hotel/lodging/campsite reservations. If you only have 7 days, eliminate a day from Grand Teton. If you like hiking, you can combine the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook trail with Fairy Falls. 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. The driving time from Salt Lake to Yellowstone National Park is about five hours depending on traffic conditions. 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. These fees vary a lot from month to month and year to year. Drive down Teton Park Road to Jenny Lake, and if you want another nice view of the park, drive Signal Mountain Summit Road to Jackson Lake Overlook. West Thumb Geyser Basin | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. 1.6-mile out-and-back walk to the viewpoint. This airport is the most convenient on this list because of its location. Drive to the Jenny Lake Visitor Center. If you visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton from Bozeman, it is a 5-hour drive to get from Jackson to Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. The view from Signal Mountain Summit Road | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Grand Prismatic Spring is located in Midway Geyser Basin. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. Grand Teton is ablaze in fall colors and crowds are lower in Yellowstone. In helping people plan their trip to Yellowstone, we have heard of rental car drop fees getting up to $1000! Salt Lake City is the heart of the Mormon religion, and Temple Square is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Note: if you plan a point-to-point trip, you will have an additional rental car drop fee. If you dont have a full seven days for your vacation, I would recommend spending a little less time in Salt Lake and going directly to Jackson. Can I stay in one location to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton? Laurance S. Rockefeller Visitor Center | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. We stayed at The Cody and highly recommend it. We would have no problem staying at this property again. This is the time when all of the park roads are open. The remaining itineraries give you suggestions if you have less or more time. We are planning a trip with our teenagers in early June. You can see driving times on Google. Your shortest route from SLC is straight up I-15 to Idaho Falls, and then east via the Swan Valley to Jackson Hole. Yellowstone can be crowded. This is the most popular hike in Grand Teton National Park. This really cuts down on the amount of driving you will do. Mid-Range: Headwaters Lodge and CabinsMid-Range: Jackson Lake LodgeLuxury: Jenny Lake LodgeCabins: Colter Bay Village. The drive from Boise to Yellowstone is about six hours. From Hayden Valley, it takes 2 hours (85 miles) to drive to Cody. Here are some great hotel options close to the Salt Lake City airport. Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. Here is a list of the top things to do in Grand Teton National Park: It is possible to visit Grand Teton in one day. The server encountered an internal error or So, this adds on about a half day of driving time to return to your starting location. Here is a list in order as you drive north on Grand Loop Road: Artist Paintpots | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Taking into account everything that I mentioned above, here is a step-by-step guide for how to plan your trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. In West Yellowstone, there are a bunch of hotel options as well as private rentals with kitchens and multiple bedrooms. If you look closely, you can see people at the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Its long enough that you wont feel rushed but short enough that you dont have to take off too much time from work. Since it is a larger airport, there are numerous flight options and rental car facilities. Grand Teton looks vastly different from Yellowstone. Its land mass tops out over 2 million acres. 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. The drive from the Salt Lake City Airport to Yellowstone National Park is about 320 miles and takes about 5 hours to drive via I-15N. The view of Jackson Lake and the Teton Range from the Lakeshore Trail. Having driven the routes between Jackson and SLC many times, there are no towns that are interesting enough to warrant an overnight stay. If you us Another really fun way to travel around this part of the country and Yellowstone National Park is by RV. We have reservations for Jackson Hole and then Yellowstone for one week this summer. Salt Lake City is the closest international airport to Yellowstone National Park however it is not really close to the national park. However, keep in mind that the park is very large. Drive through Hayden Valley to spot bison and other wildlife. Phelps Lake Overlook | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Traveling point-to-point (for example, from Bozeman through Yellowstone and Grand Teton, ending in Jackson) saves you time, since you dont have to drive back to your starting point. Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. 1. You should also plan for driving times to take longer than expected, especially during the summer months. We visited during the summer months and had a great time riding bikes around town, shopping, and hiking in Grand Teton National Park. Mammoth Hot Springs | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Crowds are enormous during the summer months, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: As a Loop, Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary: One-Way. I would recommend making a loop if you are wanting to spend some time in Grand Teton National Park. To get from one park to the other, it only takes an hour of driving. Since these are regional airports, there will be a limited number of flights, but you might get lucky. There are lots of fun things to do there and many of them are very family-friendly. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. However, everything is pretty close, so it just depends on if you want to be closer to the park or to the restaurants and amenities in town. They are some of the best places to visit in the American west. 2. Salt Lake City, Utah to Jackson Hole just over 300 miles or between 5 and 6 hours There are about five ways to get to Jackson Hole from Salt Lake City. You can also use the second half of this day to explore the northern areas of the park, like Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Geyser Basin. This itinerary can be done one-way, starting in northern Yellowstone and ending in Jackson, Wyoming, or as a loop from Bozeman. You will want to make your reservations as early as you can, especially if you want to stay or camp in the park. We are usually able to get cheap, direct flights into this airport. West Yellowstone is a really cute town with lots of restaurants and souvenir shops as well as the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center. You can drive north through eastern Idaho to the west entrance of the park. long list of things to do in Yellowstone. A visit here lasts about 45 minutes to one hour. In 2001, the final 1,106 acres was donated to the park and became the Preserve. A road trip to Yellowstone isnt just about the destination. This route takes you from Logan to Bear Lake, then follows the Snake If you are planning your Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary, we have lots of valuable information to share with you. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Understand the Yellowstone Seasons. Oxbow Bend just after sunrise | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Both of these parks are popular road trip destinations for those traveling by RV. 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. Moose along Moose Wilson Road | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. OPTIONAL DETOUR: If you want to drive Beartooth Highway, skip Norris Geyser Basin. More Information for Your Trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton: Read all of our articles about the United States in our, We also have important planning information and travel ideas in our. Inspiration Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Your drive time will be much shorter going through Jackson or Bozeman, but your flight time will be longer, and flights may be more expensive. The RV park was very nice and the cabins were so darling. To get to Teton Village from the Jenny Lake area, you will have to drive through Jackson and then take Moose Wilson Road north from Highway 22 (Teton Pass Highway). Even if you cant get reservations inside the park, there are lots of great options near the park. After the byway, the drive continues to be really pretty with lots of mountains and views of the Tetons and really pretty forest. There are several more geyser basins in the area. Once you officially enter the park, make a quick detour to Oxbow Bend. You can also see more travel itineraries on our Travel Itineraries page and our National Park Itineraries. You can also continue up to Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you like scenic drives, this is worth adding on to your Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary. The bison in Antelope Island will get you excited to see all of the wildlife in Yellowstone National Park. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. If this is something you are planning to do, check out this post. some of the most thrilling hiking trails in the national park system. Im mentioning it because this is the airport we use. The Dyrt Pro has amazing resources that really simplify trip planning: We have arranged with The Dyrt to give the CS Ginger viewers a FREE-30 Day Trial using the code csginger. Normally the trial is 7 days! I group Jackson and the Tetons together because they are very close. WebUtah represents the best of both the Rocky Mountains and the Desert Southwest. With five entrances and 251 miles of roads, this is a BIG park to explore. A great place to start a sightseeing tour of popular Jackson attractions is the Town Square. Not only are you treated to gorgeous views of the Cascade Canyon Creek, but moose and black bears are frequently spotted here. Hike to Bradley Lake first and enjoy the view of Grand Teton, Middle Teton, and Teewinot Mountain from across the lake. Lots of visitors, road construction, and animal traffic jams can cause hour delays in driving through the park. You dont need to book your Tetons reservations quite as early but book Yellowstone as early as you can, especially if you are visiting during the peak summer season. If accommodations are full in the park, West Yellowstone is a great place to stay. Elk, bear, coyotes, wolves, and pronghorn also make appearances. 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. It starts near the northeast corner of Yellowstone and ends in Red Lodge, Montana. Before heading to Norris Geyser Basin, grab lunch at the Mammoth General Store or Mammoth Terrace Grill. You can also visit Lava Hot Springs on your way back to Salt Lake City if you dont want to miss either Bear Lake or Park City but still want to visit the Hot Springs. We are interesting in hiking, seeing wildlife, having a good meal, Map-a-City. It is an easy 5.4 mile out-and-back hike with a viewpoint of the waterfall. I wouldnt really recommend flying into Boise to start your road trip unless you are meeting up with family or friends before starting your Yellowstone trip. I know its a hassle to pack and unpack, but you will save more time by road tripping through the park. This afternoon, take your pick between two hikes. There are so many fun things to see along the way as you make your way to Yellowstone National Park and nearby Teton National Park. If your flight is out of Bozeman, in the morning, drive to Bozeman (4.5 hours, 220 miles) and in the afternoon fly home. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Read our Yellowstone National Park Travel Guidefor important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. Whether youre flying into the airport, or you live in this area, the SLC valley is a great place to start a road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park. Copyright All Rights Reserved. In my opinion, the amount of extra driving you will do is not worth it for many people. 9. You would want more than seven days to complete the trip because there is so much to see. After your hike, take a few minutes to visit the visitor center. There is a lot to see as you drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. We like Porcelain Basin more than Back Basin, with its loud fumaroles and light blue thermal pools. PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you spot wildlife along the road or in the distance, pull off the road in a safe area. PRO TRAVEL TIP: To minimize driving in Yellowstone, I recommend staying in at least two different areas during your visit. 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. If you want to stay in Grand Teton National Park, there are some really pretty lodges (with amazing views) as well as some cabins. To get here, drive Highway 191 north from Jackson, turn left on Teton Park Road, and then turn left on Moose Wilson Road. It is about 5 hours away and 321 miles. One of the most common airports to fly into when visiting Yellowstone National Park is in Salt Lake City. SCENIC DRIVES IN WYOMING: Beartooth Highway is located along the border of Montana and Wyoming, near Yellowstone, and is one of the most scenic drives in the USA. Inspiration Point: From here, you are very far away from Lower Falls (skippable if you are short on time). Schwabacher Landing | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours to visit all of Norris Geyser Basin. 5. We know, weve done it, and it was awesome. Grand View: OK views of the canyon (skippable if you are short on time). Another route is to turn off the I-15 where a two-hour detour will take you through Logan and Bear Lake, a beautiful lake town known as the Caribbean of the Rockies. 3. Yellowstone is also very busy, especially during the summer months so planning ahead can save you some headaches and frustration. If you only have five days, spend all of your time in Yellowstone and day trip to Grand Teton. You can see the opening dates here. Punctuating the drive are breathtaking panoramas, national 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. 7 to 8 days is the perfect amount of time, since that gives you three days in Yellowstone, two days in Grand Teton, and travel time to and from the area. Because of stunning views and the easy nature of this hike, this is an extremely popular hike in Grand Teton National Park. Read More: 10 Awesome Things to Do in Bear Lake. Tonight, have dinner in Teton Village or Jackson. Old Faithful erupts every 60 to 110 minutes, which is about 16 to 17 times per day. 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. West Yellowstone also has a bunch of private rentals on VRBO. Plus, the scenery is so pretty that driving around the park is a treat in and of itself. Get costs for round trip flights to these airports and how much it would cost if you went point-to-point from Bozeman to Jackson. Route #1: North from SLC through Utah and Idaho and then over Teton Pass In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Both will take you through the beautiful Utah mountains. 2018-2023 CS Ginger. What companies run services between Salt Lake City, UT, USA and Jackson, WY, USA? After you pass Rexburg, Idaho you can turn off and take the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway which is really pretty. Jackson Hole Airport This airport is the most convenient on this list because of its location. 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. Grand Teton National Park is such a beautiful place with amazing hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and photo opportunities. There are lots of fun stops to see along the way and you can easily fill a day with fun activities. 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. If you have more than seven days, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring the Salt Lake Area. Here are the best options for accommodations inside the park. A road trip always goes smoother if you are prepared and have a good idea of what to expect. Yellowstone is very busy on the weekends, especially over holiday weekends. Here are some of the best things to do between Boise and Yellowstone National Park. Taggart and Bradley Lakes are two beautiful lakes with spectacular views of the Teton Range. Brink of the Upper Falls is a separate section of the Grand Canyon. If you want to visit Park City as well as Bear Lake, you can take a short day trip up to Park City and then drive to Jackson Hole through Bear Lake. After you are done driving through the wildlife area, you can stop in at the petting zoo and go on some small kids rides. 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. 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. Use the "Go To The Deal" button to access the website, then click the "Redeem Your Gift" button to start your FREE 30-DAY Trial. 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. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Grand Teton National Park . Hike into the Tetons, explore the geyser basins and hot springs in Yellowstone, and spot elk, bison and bear as you tour the parks. RoadsideAmerica.comYour Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions . Two basins make up Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Mountain States Express operates a bus from Salt Lake City The ideal starting point for this itinerary is Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. WebSalt Lake City boasts a surprisingly robust food scene and the incredible Temple Square, with its namesake masterpiece that took 40 years to complete. From the Phelps Lake Trail, its an uphill, 0.8 mile walk to get here. If you have plans to drive between Yellowstone and Devils Tower or Mount Rushmore, take your pick between Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway. How far in advance you are planning your trip can also affect rental car prices (if you are planning a trip at the last minute, expect to pay a lot for your rental carand keep your fingers crossed that you can even get one). This airport is the largest airport on this list and it is located 5 hours from Yellowstone and Grand Teton. WebIf there is an interesting town on the way to Salt Lake City we could potential stay there in stead of Jackson Hole. My BF and I will be driving from Jackson Hole to Salt Lake City on Sept. 21st (Monday Morning). Spend the afternoon in Lamar Valley. Crowds are enormous during the summer months, peaking in July and August. It is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. ROAD TRIP ITINERARY: Learn how to put together Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks into one amazing 10 day road trip. Roosevelt Arch, the main entrance into Yellowstone when it first opened. This will save you lots of driving time later. 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. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to visit this area. 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. If you are looking to take the scenic route, there are some really pretty scenic byways to take.