It will be getting into mid afternoon by now. Day 8 Spend the day revisiting any of your favorite spots in Yellowstone. Or check out Destination Delivery: Have an RV delivered directly to a campground or parking site to camp in style without having to get behind the wheel. This drive takes roughly 5 hours via I-15. Lastly, Salt Lake City itself is well worth a visit if you have the time. Heres how we might plan a 9 day itinerary: Day 1 Spend the day in Salt Lake City. These two places have the better locations for accessing other parts of the park, and they have plenty of places to eat. best things to do in Yellowstone National Park, How to plan the perfect road trip in 10 easy steps, Complete list of road trip packing essentials, 30 best things to do in Yellowstone National Park, 10 key things to know about visiting Yellowstone in October, Best places to stay in Yellowstone National Park, Mormon Row sunrise and sunset photography guide, Schwabacher Landing sunrise photography guide, Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone 10 days road trip itinerary, 10 key things to know about visiting Yellowstone in April, Zion to Bryce Canyon 3 days road trip itinerary, Best things to do in Capitol Reef in one day, 1. Day 5 Slowly explore Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. This attractive route has the most picturesque views and spends less time on freeways or interstate roads. However, if you stayed in West Yellowstone, you will need to drive back to Old Faithful to begin Day 5. Alternatively, if you are a hiker you should definitely spend the morning hiking to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point and eventually Cascade Canyon. Wed go as far as saying if you only have 4 days for your trip, take one from Yellowstone and give it to Grand Teton. West entrance is close to Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins where you will find Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. The good news is it has a wide range of places to grab dinner. With 6 days you wont have to compromise as much and you will still have enough time for both parks. The only road currently closed that will impact a typical Yellowstone visit is the road between Tower-Roosevelt and Cooke City, that means you won't be able to go out into Lamar Valley which is one of the best places for spotting wildlife in the park. *Please note this post may contain affiliate links. Also, keep an eye out for ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple as you drive through Afton. The whole point of a road trip is the scenic drive along the way, right? Head into Wyoming where youll find summer fun at Snow King Resort before exploring Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. If you have eight days, consider this breakdown for your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip: If you want to learn more about Yellowstone National Park, check out these posts! It is important to stay up to date with live conditions such as roads, weather, hiking trails and lodging when you visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Other major airports in the region include Jackson Hole (JAC), Bozeman (BZN), and Salt Lake (SLC). With two days in the park, youre able to see the highlights and explore the most iconic views of the Tetons. If you're planning a road trip to Salt Lake City, you can research locations to stop along the way. Once you have seen enough, quickly drive over to Schwabacher Landing to catch the end of sunrise. If not, have a great trip and good luck! At its most direct to Yellowstone it will take you 332 miles and over 6 hours. Fastest Route: Salt Lake City to Pocatello to Idaho Falls to West Yellowstone (via I-15). This salty oasis is home to birds, bison and pronghorn. As you approach the Tetons from the west, you might be surprised by the mirror-image view of the range youve seen photographed from the east. Take the right turn, stop at String Lake and Jenny Lake Overlook for beautiful lake views. The mountain drive to Bear Lake and the Snake River scenic views are worth it! Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! There will be four major areas of interest on your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip: Depending on your time frame and travel preferences, you might want to see all four places or you might only have eyes for Grand Teton and Yellowstone. 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. Take a Dip in Lava Hot Springs The route to here from Bear Lake weaves along the Idaho/Wyoming border through Jackson, Wyoming, and passes west of another popular local destination, Grand Teton National Park, before ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. Salt Lake City to Yellowstone Guide. Day 8 Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite spots before driving back to SLC. West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City road trip planner Here's a sample itinerary for a drive from West Yellowstone to Salt Lake City. Whether you are driving your own car or a hire car make sure you are carrying all of the following items: The roads around Grand Teton and Yellowstone are flat and easy to drive. Day 2 Spend the morning in Grand Teton before driving to West Thumb and eventually Old Faithful. This side of the Tetons is home to uncrowded trails, hot springs soaks and more. Salt Lake City is the natural stopping off point between visiting Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone to the north, and the 5 Utah national parks to the south for those on longer US road trips. You can go inside with free entrance and might even strike it lucky with a choir performance. Distance From Salt Lake City to Yellowstone: approximately 320 miles. We have spent a night at both a Mammoth Hot Springs cabin and a Canyon Village hotel room. As a side note, this is one of the most popular sunset locations in Yellowstone. Will land at Salt Lake City. Day 2 - Spend the whole day in Grand Teton, do Mormon Row or Schwabacher Landing for sunrise if possible. A longer but more scenic drive from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is about 400 miles along Highway 89 / Highway 26, taking in more of the highlights of Wyoming and Idaho. We have visited Yellowstone in both April and October when crowds were at a minimum, but even then it was busy enough both times. 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. Notable stops are Salt Lake City, Jackson, Moab, Idaho Falls, Dixie National Forest, Zion National Park, Geyser Park as well as Canyonlands Arches National Parks. Comfort Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport, Hampton Inn & Suites Salt Lake City Airport, 8 Best Airports and Flights to Yellowstone, Why Salt Lake City is the best place to start a Yellowstone road trip, Tips on where to stay, what to pack, and the best time to visit, The best route and recommended road trip itinerary. There are 6 places you can stay at park lodging inside Yellowstone: If you do choose just one place to stay inside Yellowstone, we recommend you pick a hotel either in Canyon Village or Old Faithful. The best cities to stay between Salt Lake City and Grand Teton are Logan, Afton, and Jackson. Depending on how much time you have for sightseeing, this trip could easily be accomplished in a weekend or longer. Check into a hotel and then spend the afternoon exploring Grand Teton. Let us know if you need any more help and enjoy your trip! Headwaters Lodge & Cabins at Flagg Ranch Its like having a tour guide, with the hassle of being on a group tour. The road begins to follow the Snake River as you head towards Jackson. We now help over 2 million people each year to travel, hike and photograph their bucket list destinations. Want to know more about Grand Teton? If you are lucky there will be wildlife drinking fresh water or playing in the river. 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. It is a gateway to both Wyoming and incredibly popular, Use incognito or private browser to see if the price changes, Use several devices such as your laptop and smartphone to see if you get different prices, Book in advance, especially if planning this road trip in summer, Sign up for free to one of the hotel search platforms like Booking or Hotels to save with membership rewards, Start by booking your hotels around Yellowstone before working forwards or backwards around those hotels, Try to arrive at Yellowstone during the week to avoid the busier and more expensive weekends, Booking in advance often means you have more flexibility over vehicle type, Smaller cars might actually be better for parking in tight spots around the parks, Photograph one of the 4 antler arches in Jackson, Drive up Signal Mountain for amazing views, See the Teton Range through Chapel Window, Spot wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. How Long Do I Need Driving from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone? Yellowstone has eight lodges inside the park, plus several campgrounds. This is where your accommodation challenges begin and why it really pays to be organized before you visit Yellowstone. Dont miss the incredible waterfalls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, the unique terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs, and the wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. The best hot springs along the route include Crystal Hot Springs in Brigham City, Utah, and Lava Hot Springs in Idaho. Location, Location. But if you are in a hurry and dont have time for the scenic route, you can take I-15 and US-20 to the resort village of West Yellowstone, which also serves as the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Overnight in West Yellowstone or continue on to Pocatello, Idaho. This would allow you to sleep right out in nature surrounded by the Tetons but you would have very few amenities nearby. Barker Ewing rafting on the Snake River in Jackson Hole. The road to Gardiner is closed. If you want to feel on top of the world,here are 5 views you must seeincluding Artist Point, Lamar Valley, and the Yellowstone River cutting thru lava spires. Before planning your trip to Salt Lake City road trip, there are a few things you should know. Itinerary: How to Spend 1 to 5 Days In Yellowstone Things to Do: 22 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone Hikes: 15 Best Hikes in Yellowstone Getting There: 8 Best Airports Near Yellowstone When to Visit: The Best Time to Visit Yellowstone Where to Stay: Where to Stay in Yellowstone Airbnbs Nearby: 25 Best Airbnbs Near Yellowstone. Here are seven reasons to visit. The most scenic journey from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole is via Logan Canyon, Bear Lake, the town of Afton, Alpine Junction and Snake River Canyon. This is an amazing hike with serious wildlife spotting potential and we cant recommend it highly enough. What Is The Closest Entrance To Yellowstone From SLC? June, July and August are warm enough for light layers but you will need sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats. Sleep in Jackson or Moran. Traveling with a dog or cat? The shore of this brilliant blue lake is an excellent spot for a picnic lunch. From here, youll cross Utah, Idaho and Wyoming on your way to Yellowstone, escaping the crowds to see a side of the West thats often overlooked. 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. Yellowstone National Park is Americas oldest national park and the 2nd largest park in the Lower 48. Head over to Lower Falls. 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. Most people planning a Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip have very limited timeframes, which means it is usually a straight-shot for Jackson, Grand Teton and Yellowstone.