sights between salt lake city and jackson hole
Visiting Yellowstone and Grand Teton as a loop from one airport will most likely be the cheapest way to plan your itinerary. Fly into Salt Lake City or Jackson Hole? If you havent seen enough wildlife, you can stop at Yellowstone Bear World. These flights most likely will route through Denver or Salt Lake City. 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). Think of it like Airbnb but for RVs. Not only are crowds lower on this trail, but you have an excellent chance to spot moose and other wildlife. We would have no problem staying at this property again. The next closest entrance is the south entrance which is where you will enter the park most likely if you are driving through Jackson, Wyoming. A great way to spend this time and get one of the best views on this entire Yellowstone and Grand Teton itinerary, is to ride the Aerial Tram to Rendezvous Peak. We are going to be flying into Salt Lake City a couple days before the rest of our family. Even if you cant get reservations inside the park, there are lots of great options near the park. When you are hiking around the far end of the lake, you can take a detour to Phelps Lake Overlook and/or Death Canyon. Its so reliable that you can download an app to get predicted eruption times. 12 years ago. 12:40 pm Boysen Reservoir. You will need to enter payment information, but you can cancel at any time. It is an easy 5.4 mile out-and-back hike with a viewpoint of the waterfall. The most scenic drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone would detour through Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. 3. Lookout Point | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. A visit to the Grand Canyon Yellowstone will take most of the morning. Or, you can spend two hours walking the boardwalk trails past each of the viewpoints. Since it is a large facility, it is generally cheaper to rent a car and take it on a point-to-point trip. There are lots of fun stops to see along the way and you can easily fill a day with fun activities. One thing to be aware of is that finding a parking space midday can be a challenge. Route #1: North from SLC through Utah and Idaho and then over Teton Pass You will also have to budget time to enter the park, because lines start to form at the entrance booths as early as 8 am. It takes you up to Rendezvous Peak and at an altitude of 10,450 feet, its one of the highest viewpoints in the area. These fees vary a lot from month to month and year to year. The view of Jackson Lake and the Teton Range from the Lakeshore Trail. Most of this drive will be on the Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway. Yellowstone Lake and the West Thumb Geyser are some of the first things you will get to coming in from the South Entrance. This is where you will see Morning Glory Pool, Castle Geyser, Solitary Geyser, and Grotto Geyser. 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. You can stay in nearby West Yellowstone and Gardiner which are just outside the park. The boardwalk trail is one-way only. Alternatively, at the Yellowstone Lake Junction, you can go west to Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. There are lots of fun things to do in Salt Lake and staying downtown will help limit traffic and driving times. For lunch, you can have a picnic lunch or go to one of the restaurants/general stores in Canyon Village. 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. A visit here lasts about 45 minutes to one hour. WebFrom Jackson Hole to Yellowstone the Southern Gateway for the perfect Yellowstone itinerary. 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. Within the Salt Lake area, there are lots of fun things to do. 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). Second, I had looked at staying in an Airbnb in Teton Village and then one in Island Park, ID. From Hayden Valley, it takes 2 hours (85 miles) to drive to Cody. I would add Teton time. 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. Your total driving time including your drive back from Yellowstone to Salt Lake City is 12 hours and 734 miles. Here is a list in order as you drive north on Grand Loop Road: Artist Paintpots | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Since these are regional airports, there will be a limited number of flights, but you might get lucky. 4. From the Phelps Lake Trail, its an uphill, 0.8 mile walk to get here. Is there 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. 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. The remaining itineraries give you suggestions if you have less or more time. 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. Salt Lake City is the heart of the Mormon religion, and Temple Square is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike. Since it is a larger airport, there are numerous flight options and rental car facilities. The Tetons are much quieter, and the weekend crowds are much smaller. The Jackson to Salt Lake Adventure Lets start this adventure with the destination youre taking this trip for, Jackson Hole, WY. 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. This is like Cascade Canyon but much better, in my opinion. 4. However, you can turn around at any point. This can be done one-way, traveling from Bozeman to Jackson, or done as a loop from one of the airports in the area. This is one of the best spots to see moose. 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 This drive takes 40 minutes (versus the 15 minutes it would have taken without the road closure). Visit Mammoth Hot Springs early in the morning and then drive Grand Loop Road east to Lamar Valley and continue to the Northeast Entrance. Check park conditions and road closures as you are planning your trip and again just before you go. After you pass Rexburg, Idaho you can turn off and take the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway which is really pretty. Driving through Logan, Utah and the Logan Canyon Scenic Byway on the way to Bear Lake is really pretty. And sitting just outside of the park are small towns, such as Gardiner and West Yellowstone, that also make great places to stay. On the hike back to the parking lot, take the trail to Taggart Lake, where similar views await. 2018-2023 CS Ginger. more information about how to visit this area and many more photos. 1. Moose along Moose Wilson Road | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. long list of things to do in Yellowstone. Since the flood, the park roads are now open. Here are the best options for accommodations inside the park. However, if you are going to take a day or two to explore Salt Lake, I would recommend staying in downtown Salt Lake. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, which I discuss later in this guide. You can see driving times on Google. Mammoth Hot Springs | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. If you choose to stay in Cody, it will take two and a half hours to drive to Old Faithful (the first stop on tomorrows itinerary). The ideal starting point for this itinerary is Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. And do not approach bison or other wildlife. If you want food and drink and shopping then no better place than Jackson imo. We have stayed in Woods Cross north of SLC airport and at Hilton Gar You are also not permitted to leave them in a car while you go hiking. This byway ends at the Snake River Canyon. West Yellowstone also has a bunch of private rentals on VRBO. All of this was very helpful. This is another great choice for either a point-to-point or round-trip itinerary. This is another top spot to visit for spectacular views (and photos) of the Teton Range. 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. Note: During the winter months, only the road between the North Entrance and Northeast Entrance are open. This itinerary can be done one-way, starting in northern Yellowstone and ending in Jackson, Wyoming, or as a loop from Bozeman. We stayed a little outside town so we wouldnt have quite as long of a drive to get to the hikes in the national park but then we had a bit of a drive to get into town. If you have any other questions please let me know. We hiked the Cirque Trail, a 1.8 mile mostly downhill trail to Bridger Gondola and then rode this back into town. WebScottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon National Park, Springdale, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Sheridan, Rapid City Tour Packages NORTH AMERICA PACKAGES National Parks Of America 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. Copyright All Rights Reserved. Read More: 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 ParkThe Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park 17 Best RV Parks Close to Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park RV Length Restrictions. There are two routes that are most commonly taken when traveling between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone. Save. This is one of the best areas of Grand Teton to spot wildlife. As a second option, you can fly into Yellowstone Airport in West Yellowstone or Idaho Falls Regional Airport. Persephones Bakery is an awesome breakfast/brunch spot in town. We know, weve done it, and it was awesome. If money was not an issue, this is the best way to plan your trip. WebItd be best if you have about 10 to 12 days for this trip, but it can be done in eight days if you dont mind driving a bit every day. You can visit the highlights of the park in this time frame. This really cuts down on the amount of driving you will do. Every additional day you can add gives you more time to either go hiking or explore off-the-beaten-path places. Its worth it if its open (it has been closed for at least 3 years). It can be chilly, and it might even snow, but it is a lovely time to be here. 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. 10. We usually stay in West Yellowstone and always have a great time. Our favorite restaurant in Jackson is Local Restaurant & Bar. Hot, steaming water spills out over travertine terraces, making this one of the most unique geothermal areas in the park. The drive from Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone is short, especially if you are entering through the south entrance. The drive from Salt Lake to Jackson takes about five hours. It has about 2,800 interconnected elk antlers that go over the entire road. However, we frequently get emails and comments about how to add this on to a trip to Yellowstone, so I am including it here. 8. They can be visited in either order, depending on the route that you are traveling through the country. Missoula, Montana Missoula is home to the University of Montana and has an active downtown with numerous restaurants and access to outdoor activities. We try to enter the park by 7 or 7:30 am to avoid this line. Make dinner reservations one to two weeks in advance. Grand Prismatic Spring | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. A road trip always goes smoother if you are prepared and have a good idea of what to expect. Why 8 days? Once you have flights narrowed down, research rental car costs from the airports you chose. Another really fun way to travel around this part of the country and Yellowstone National Park is by RV. Plus, the scenery is so pretty that driving around the park is a treat in and of itself. The disadvantage is that you will spend more time in your car. Park City was home to the Olympic Games and is a really fun mountain town. Plus June will be a little less crowded than July. Skip to Main Content. Websalt lake city logan jackson visitloganutah.com 1-800-882-4433 visitloganutah.com 1-800-882-4433 How Far From Salt Lake City to: Afton, WY 206 miles Alpine, WY 233 miles Bear Lake, UT 122 miles Brigham City, UT 60 miles Idaho Falls, ID 214 miles Layton, UT 25 miles Logan, UT 83 miles Montpelier, ID 152 miles Ogden, UT 38 miles Have fun exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton! Ride the Jenny Lake Shuttle across the lake to the trailhead for the Cascade Canyon Trail. This route will add about two hours of driving time. Canyon Rim Overlook: Short walk to a view of Upper Falls. There are lots of fun things to do there and many of them are very family-friendly. Grand Teton National Park is such a beautiful place with amazing hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and photo opportunities. Continue south on Grand Loop Road. Thank you for your great advice!!! The Rockefellers once owned over 3,000 acres of land near the southern end of the park. It is possible to spot wildlife from all of the roads in Yellowstone. WebUtah represents the best of both the Rocky Mountains and the Desert Southwest. Sometimes, shifting travel days to the weekdays lowers flight costs and gives you more flight options, particularly if you are planning your trip at the last minute. Our family travels throughout the United States in our RV visiting beaches, national parks and everything in between. It will be a whirlwind tour, but it is doable. A really fun road trip will take you through South Dakota and across Wyoming to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. If you visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton from Bozeman, it is a 5-hour drive to get from Jackson to Bozeman Yellowstone Airport. Lamar Valley is one of the best spots in Yellowstone to spot wildlife. We spent about a week exploring this part of Wyoming and loved it. 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. The best time to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton is from June through October. Lamar Valley is great in the late afternoon, but you might not get back to Island Park until 10 pm, which could be rough. Fairy Falls | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. have a detailed itinerary for Yellowstone National Park, Combining Yellowstone and Grand Teton into One Trip, Best Time to Visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton, How to Get to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. For dinner in Jackson, the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House is a popular spot. 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. USA TRAVEL INSPIRATION:For more great ideas on where to go in the United States, check out our article Best USA Road Trips, which has 18 sample itineraries for your next big adventure. The best time to visit Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is in the morning, before it gets crowded. Welcome to CS Ginger! top things to do in Grand Teton National Park: possible to visit Grand Teton in one day. Tonight, the best places to stay are Canyon Village, Mammoth Hot Springs, or Gardiner, Montana. Understand the Yellowstone Seasons. 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. Purchase your America the Beautiful Pass. In the Wyoming mountains, temperatures are cold at night and can reach freezing temperatures. 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. We are planning a trip with our teenagers in early June. 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. So, this adds on about a half day of driving time to return to your starting location. The Lakeshore Trail is a short, easy hike/walk with great views across Jackson Lake to the Teton Range. In 2001, the final 1,106 acres was donated to the park and became the Preserve. Can I stay in one location to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton? 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. Mount Washburn is one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone. Unless you are traveling with an RV that makes it hard to stop, I would recommend coming in through the south and stopping at some of the sights along the way as you make your way to wherever you are staying. Wild Bill Cody Scenic Byway | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. How many nights do you have in the Tetons before the second to last night? One of the most common airports to fly into when visiting Yellowstone National Park is in Salt Lake City. For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. Its flat, its easy, and its great for all ages and ability levels. You can also easily visit Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. You also have the option to hike into Death Canyon. It is a drive-thru wildlife park where you can see bears, deer, bison, and other animals. From Island Park, your longest driving days will be to Lamar Valley (3 hours one way), Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (2 hours), and Hayden Valley (2.25 hours). Just be aware that this will add a lot of driving on to the day and it is only worth it if you spend the night in Cody. 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. Elk, bear, coyotes, wolves, and pronghorn also make appearances. You can check back daily for cancellations and snag one of those spots. Here are our favorite things to do in Yellowstone: Read More: 21 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park. This is a big detour out of the park, but the drive is very scenic and you can end the day with dinner in town. PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you spot wildlife along the road or in the distance, pull off the road in a safe area. The weather in June should be greatcomfortable temperatures, not too much rain (baring any unusual weather event). If you enjoy history, the Salt Lake City Trolly Tour is a really fun activity. Bison in Hayden Valley | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary, Bison Traffic Jam in Hayden Valley | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. North Entrance, open year-round, brings you to Mammoth Hot Springs Northeast Entrance puts you at doorstep of parks Both will take you through the beautiful Utah mountains. 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. Other popular stops include Lagoon Amusement Park, Lava Hot Phelps Lake Overlook | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. This is an awesome road trip and so far, we have done it twice. 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. This annual park pass costs $80 and is valid for one year. A visit here lasts 15 minutes to an hour. If you are just staying in Salt Lake overnight and wont be exploring much of Salt Lake, I would recommend just staying close to the airport before you drive to Jackson. 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 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. one of the best scenic drives in the USA. Old Faithful erupts every 60 to 110 minutes, which is about 16 to 17 times per day. Read More: 10 Awesome Things to Do in Bear Lake. Mid-Range: Headwaters Lodge and CabinsMid-Range: Jackson Lake LodgeLuxury: Jenny Lake LodgeCabins: Colter Bay Village. It adds about two hours to your driving time to stop by the Tetons and Jackson, Wyoming. So, if you cant find any good options with the airports closer to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, give SLC a try. Jackson is home to three ski areas: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort, and Grand Targhee Resort. Navigation. What companies run services between Salt Lake City, UT, USA and Jackson, WY, USA? The South Rim, however, is well worth the time. Just set the travel time to June, because right now some roads are still closed in Yellowstone so the time estimates and route wont be accurate. Every time we drive through here, we see several herds of bison. If you are not going through the Tetons, the eastern Idaho route is the fastest. 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. You can also see more travel itineraries on our Travel Itineraries page and our National Park Itineraries. Hike, climb, and mountain bike, enjoy white-water rafting, or discover bird and wildlife watching around the state. This airport is the largest airport on this list and it is located 5 hours from Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Most of the listings have a kitchen and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms which works great. Grand Teton in September | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. OPTIONAL DETOUR: If you want to drive Beartooth Highway, skip Norris Geyser Basin. Explore the states five national parks, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Lastly, if we did stay in Island Park area, of your itinerary days, which would be the longest amount of time in the car? Yellowstone Lake | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Jackson has almost anything Grand Teton looks vastly different from Yellowstone. Inspiration Point: From here, you are very far away from Lower Falls (skippable if you are short on time). The drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton will take you below 5 hours. Your shortest route from SLC is straight up I-15 to Idaho Falls, and then east via the Swan Valley to Jackson Hole. Some of the best scenery is in the first mile of Cascade Canyon, so really, you dont have to go far. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. 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. 2. The second route you can take will first take you through eastern Utah and Southern Wyoming as well as the Tetons and Jackson Hole. best views of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Phelps Lake | Yellowstone and Grand Teton Itinerary. Map-a-City. There are lots of bison in this photo (they are tiny specks in the grassland) and as you drive farther into the valley, there is a good chance you will drive past (or even through) several herds of bison. NATIONAL PARKS: In our Guide to the US National Parks, get the full list of national parks with important travel planning information, such as things to do in the parks and sample itineraries. 5. You will stay in Jackson or Grand Teton National Park for the remainder of this itinerary (no more packing and unpacking). This is good to do BEFORE locking in flights and rental cars, to avoid any unfortunate surprises. You can also take a short detour to visit Lava Hot Springs or Craters of the Moon National Monument in southern Idaho. This is the time when all of the park roads are open. Mountain States Express operates a bus from Salt Lake City If you want to do the above itinerary in the opposite direction, this is what it would look like: Day 1: Arrive in Jackson Day 2: Grand Teton: follow day #6 above Day 3: Grand Teton: follow day #7 above Day 4: Drive to Yellowstone: follow day #5 above, reversing the order of the sights Day 5: Yellowstone: follow day #4 above Day 6: Yellowstone: follow day #3 above Day 7: Yellowstone: follow day #2 above Day 8: Fly home. Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. The best areas to stay tonight are Gardiner, Montana and Mammoth Hot Springs. Because it can be done in one week (it can be done Saturday to Saturday). The view of Grand Prismatic Spring from the Midway Geyser boardwalk trail. You can also learn more about the national parks and get a FREE printable checklist in our US National Parks Checklist. UNLESS you like hiking. If you look closely, you can see people at the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Grand Teton National Park . They are some of the best places to visit in the American west. The drive time from Salt Lake City to Glacier National Park is 10 hours. The visitor center is beautiful and it was the first property in Wyoming to be certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the highest accolade for environmentally friendly building practices. From Bozeman, it takes 90 minutes to drive to the north entrance of Yellowstone. 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. The most scenic route from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is going through Park City or Logan Canyon and Bear Lake.