This is a small geyser basin and it only takes about 30 minutes to walk through all of it. It is a drive-thru wildlife park where you can see bears, deer, bison, and other animals. On June 12, 2022, Yellowstone and northern Montana had record floods. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Its still possible to hike to Phelps Lake from other parts of the park, but for a lake hike, the traffic on this trail is relatively low. If you are visiting during the summer, there is a nice beach you can play at called North Beach State Park. We have driven through this area many times over the years, at all times of the day, and the time of day does not seem to matter much here for spotting wildlife (unlike Lamar Valley). If you have two days in the park, you will want to strategically plan what you want to see and the trails you want to explore so you dont spend all of your time driving. The weather in June should be greatcomfortable temperatures, not too much rain (baring any unusual weather event). This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. Your email address will not be published. Since the flood, the park roads are now open. You can see driving times on Google. Once you have a basic itinerary, check hotel prices and availability. The town has lots of fun things to do and is surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake. Here is the awesome view: OPTIONAL: Hike to Fairy Falls. To get here, drive Highway 191 north from Jackson, turn left on Teton Park Road, and then turn left on Moose Wilson Road. The most scenic drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone would detour through Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. National Parks Road Trip Itinerary: Utah to Yellowstone & Grand There are lots of fun things to do there and many of them are very family-friendly. Jackson is about 12 miles from the Grand Teton National Park Loop Road. Artist Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Bison might look slow, but they can run a lot faster than you and they have been known to charge at people. 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. Skip Grand View Point, Inspiration Point, and Seven Mile Hole Trail, and then move on to the South Rim. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. They can be visited in either order, depending on the route that you are traveling through the country. If you will be flying to these parks, research flight costs. Jackson to Salt Lake Explore Along the Way This is good to do BEFORE locking in flights and rental cars, to avoid any unfortunate surprises. It is so nice to just have a quick five-minute drive to or from the airport, especially when we have our kids with us. 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. We are going to be flying into Salt Lake City a couple days before the rest of our family. However, its still a lovely spot to visit and seeing it now saves you a lot of driving later in this itinerary. The Ultimate Grand Teton & Yellowstone Itinerary by This park is named for the Teton Range, a jagged, rocky mountain range that runs through the heart of the park. You can even take a picture at the Idaho Potato Museum. We have stayed at a few in this area and always enjoy having a kitchen and multiple bedrooms. 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. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to 2. The afternoon and early evening is prime time to be here for wildlife spotting. Bear Lake has a beautiful turquoise color lake and is famous for its raspberry milkshakes. This is one of the best spots to see moose. The Best 8-Day Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Road Trip If you have more than 8 days, there are several things you can do with the extra time. Here are the links to both national park websites. If you choose this option, the best places to stay tonight are Old Faithful Village, Canyon Village, Yellowstone Lake, or West Yellowstone. This will save you lots of driving time later. Purchase your America the Beautiful Pass. There are lots of great hotels in Jackson as well as in the surrounding area. The route awaiting you crosses the north side of the Salt Lake Valley, where the Wasatch Mountains rise up, and as you continue Go shopping and have dinner. 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. 32 Best Stops Between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton National If so, you could very easily spend a week here, hiking a different trail every day. Yellowstone is very green during the summer months and by mid-September, the leaves begin to change and the grasses turn brown. 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. As you drive up Grand Loop Road towards Grand Prismatic Spring, its worth the quick detour to Black Sand Basin. It is about five miles south of Rexburg. Places to Visit: Salt Lake City Utah Old Faithful is part of the Upper Geyser Basin, where 150 geothermal features are packed into 1 square mile. 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. There are swimming pools, hot tubs, waterslides, and diving boards. The closest airport is the West Yellowstone airport. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park via Jackson Hole This byway ends at the Snake River Canyon. Tonight, the best place to stay in the park is Old Faithful (Canyon Village and Lake Yellowstone are also good options). If you need lodging recommendations, take a look at our Yellowstone Lodging Guide. Since it is a large facility, it is generally cheaper to rent a car and take it on a point-to-point trip. The second itinerary is an 8-Day Grand Teton and Yellowstone itinerary (this itinerary starts with Grand Teton and ends with Yellowstone). As a second option, you can fly into Yellowstone Airport in West Yellowstone or Idaho Falls Regional Airport. It is 2-miles out-and-back, takes an hour or two, has 420 feet of elevation gain, and leads up to a wonderful view over Jenny Lake. 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. All of this was very helpful. Steamboat Geyser, which is in Back Basin, is the worlds tallest active geyser but you have to be very lucky to see it in action (eruptions are very unpredictable). We would recommend two to three days to see Yellowstone. 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. After you are done driving through the wildlife area, you can stop in at the petting zoo and go on some small kids rides. Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. 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. However, it is a small airport and both flight and rental car options will be more limited than at Bozeman International Airport. To avoid the crowds, plan your visit for mid-September through mid-October. Both of these parks are popular road trip destinations for those traveling by RV. If you have any other questions please let me know. After the byway, the drive continues to be really pretty with lots of mountains and views of the Tetons and really pretty forest. This can be very expensive, particularly if you are flying in or out of a smaller regional airport. Fly into Salt Lake City or Jackson Hole? They are not permitted on hiking trails or inside of the visitor centers. 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. Look into Bozeman, Jackson, the smaller regional airports, and Salt Lake City. The drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park is about eight hours. best views of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Im wondering about your experience of weather that time of year. One of the most common airports to fly into when visiting Yellowstone National Park is in Salt Lake City. From Hayden Valley, it takes 2 hours (85 miles) to drive to Cody. Here are the best hotels to stay at in Jackson , Budget: Elk County InnMid-Range: Wyoming Inn of Jackson HoleMid-Range: The Lodge at Jackson HoleCabins: Cowboy Village Resort. It is the closest major airport to the park and there are a lot of really fun things to see along the way. Its worth it if its open (it has been closed for at least 3 years). These flights will most likely be the most affordable but will have the longest driving time. Since these are regional airports, there will be a limited number of flights, but you might get lucky. Phelps Lake | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Or, you can spend two hours walking the boardwalk trails past each of the viewpoints. If you want to go farther, you can walk the loop around String Lake or continue along Leigh Lake. The drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton will take you below 5 hours. SLC to Jackson Hole - Route Advice 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 There is a small version of the elkhorn arch in downtown Jackson. And dont miss two famous landmarks, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the Silver Dollar Bar. Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 10 Things to Do with Kids in Salt Lake City, Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City Downtown, 21 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park, 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 Park, The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park, 17 Best RV Parks Close to Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone National Park RV Length Restrictions, Tips for Driving the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Bruneau Sand Dunes, Top 7 easy hikes to do with kids in Yellowstone National Park - Glorious Sunrise, 25 Beautiful Road Trips to take in the USA - Plaid Shirt Yoga Pants, Take advantage of PRO Membership discounts to save up to 40% on campground costs, Plan camping road trips with the Trip Planner, Use The Dyrt app anywhere with offline access, Take the boat shuttle across Jenny Lake and hike to Inspiration Point, Enjoy the views at sunset at the top of Signal Mountain, See two of the most photographed barns in the United States at Mormon Row, Look for wildlife along Moose Wilson Road, Hike to the Grand Prismatic Springs Overlook and walk the boardwalks surrounding the springs, Look for wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, Watch Old Faithful Erupt and Visit the Old Faithful Lodge, Tour Mammoth Hot Springs and see the large elk in town, Hike to the lookout points in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hike to the top of Mount Washburn for beautiful views of the park, Participate in the keeper program at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center (for kids). Drive through Hayden Valley to spot bison and other wildlife. UNLESS you like hiking. Read all of our articles about the United States in our United States Travel Guide. Now that you have flights and rental car prices, plan your itinerary using one of the suggestions below (or if you leave a comment below, Tim and I can help you with your plans). The drive from Boise to Yellowstone is about six hours. 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. It is possible to spot wildlife from all of the roads in Yellowstone. stay for about 1 hour. Craters of the Moon NM, south of Pocatello, might be an interesting stop. Then overnight in Park City or SLC. In my opinion, its still worth the extra drive to visit Rendezvous Peak since the views are so great. I wish I could tell you what to expect for rental car prices and drop fees. Lamar Valley at the beginning of October. Once you have flights narrowed down, research rental car costs from the airports you chose. To get from one park to the other, it only takes an hour of driving. Utah Road Trip Stops on the Way to the Grand Canyon Inspiration Point: From here, you are very far away from Lower Falls (skippable if you are short on time). 5. Alternatively, at the Yellowstone Lake Junction, you can go west to Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. On the hike back to the parking lot, take the trail to Taggart Lake, where similar views await. Yellowstone is also very busy, especially during the summer months so planning ahead can save you some headaches and frustration. Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do Inspiration Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Every time we drive through here, we see several herds of bison. Its a lot of fun to go hiking during the day and then relax in town in the evening. It does not save you money on this trip but if you have plans to visit any other national park sites within 365 days of purchasing this pass, then you can save money. You will need to enter payment information, but you can cancel at any time. 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. It is located inside of Grand Teton National Park and it takes 90 minutes to get to Yellowstone. If you are not going through the Tetons, the eastern Idaho route is the fastest. You can visit the highlights of the park in this time frame. To visit the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook, park in the Fairy Falls parking lot. We are here to show you that traveling as a family is not as hard as you might think. If you are willing to drive a bit, the Bonneville Salt Flats and Antelope Island State Park are both fun stops. Over the years, this land was donated to the national park service. Spend the rest of your time in Jackson. This is where you will see Morning Glory Pool, Castle Geyser, Solitary Geyser, and Grotto Geyser. Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming, and Yellowstone Airport at the West Entrance of Yellowstone are also worth a quick search. Here is a list in order as you drive north on Grand Loop Road: Artist Paintpots | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. The overall geographical area is much smaller than Yellowstone and you shouldnt really run into any traffic jams or delays like you do in Yellowstone National Park. There are so many fun things to do in Yellowstone. Fairy Falls | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. How To Plan A Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip - Where 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. You can also fly to the Jackson Hole Airport or Bozeman, Montana. We are planning a trip with our teenagers in early June. 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! We're thinking of driving through Idaho and make several stops just 5. Why 8 days? If you want to stay in Grand Teton National Park, there are some really pretty lodges (with amazing views) as well as some cabins. You can go the full distance (this will take the full day) or turn around at Rock Creek Vista. There are five Yellowstone entrances North Entrance, Northeast Entrance, South Entrance, East Entrance and West Entrance. Once you officially enter the park, make a quick detour to Oxbow Bend. 12:40 pm Boysen Reservoir. Its hard enough in a car, but spots for RVs are very limited. Two basins make up Norris Geyser Basin: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Driving through Logan, Utah and the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway on the way to Bear Lake is really pretty. Old Faithful | 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. Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Outdoorsy is a company that connects RV owners with adventurers. Its flat, its easy, and its great for all ages and ability levels. In this guide, we cover how to plan a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, followed by several itineraries, depending on your travel style and the amount of time you have. Mt. highlights between Jackson Hole and Salt Lake City - Tripadvisor Finding a place to stay in Yellowstone can be tricky because it is such a popular place to visit and places to stay in the park is pretty limited. We are an every day family prioritizing experiences and memories. As you head north, you will pass Antelope Island State Park and Lagoon, a fun-filled theme park in Ogden, Utah. 6 Best Road Trips The end of September is our favorite time to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Park City was home to the Olympic Games and is a really fun mountain town. Sunset Point: Easy, 0.6-mile round trip walk to another view of Upper Falls. Jackson to Salt Lake Explore Along the There are 6 ways to get from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole by bus, train, car, plane, taxi or shuttle. Red Rock Point: Like Brink of the Lower Falls, you will hike and walk down several long staircases for another view of Lower Falls (0.6 miles out-and-back and 260 feet of elevation gain). For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. Map-a-City. Canyon Rim Overlook: Short walk to a view of Upper Falls. 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. Its land mass tops out over 2 million acres. 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. 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. Outside of the park, I recommend West Yellowstone. Jackson has almost anything Salt Lake City to Jackson Determine how many days you can travel. WebAttractions. If you enjoy history, the Salt Lake City Trolly Tour is a really fun activity. This park is so big that there are several villages inside the park, each with lodging, campsites, and food services. You can either continue north on I-15 and will pass Lava Hot Springs and the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. Other great restaurants include Caf Genevieve, Bin22, Liberty Burger, and Blue Lion. We would have no problem staying at this property again. This section of the road is open in 2022. IMPORTANT:In 2022, Moose Wilson Road will be closed between the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve and the Granite Entrance Station. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Read More: Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park. From here, you can ride the tram back down to Jackson Hole or hike to one of the other chairlifts or gondolas on the mountains. If the fee is too expensive, consider planning your trip as a round trip to avoid this extra fee. Plus June will be a little less crowded than July. This is an awesome road trip and so far, we have done it twice. From the Phelps Lake Trail, its an uphill, 0.8 mile walk to get here. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. From here, it is a 1.6-mile out-and-back walk to the viewpoint. In the Wyoming mountains, temperatures are cold at night and can reach freezing temperatures. You can also continue up to Canyon Village and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. We spent about a week exploring this part of Wyoming and loved it. This is the second largest airport on this list. Depending on where you stay, this drive will take 1 to 2 hours. Make sure A great place to start a sightseeing tour of popular Jackson attractions is the Town Square. Another fun thing to do is drive the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway. Death Canyon | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. 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.