Yellowstone To Salt Lake City

We have read a lot of views on the best way to drive from Yellowstone to Salt Lake in the forums. There was some good advice but we still have a few questions.

We plan on spending a few days in Yellowstone then leaving from Gardiner MT around 9 AM one day and going 89 to the Grand Tetons and on to Jackson. Then to Montpelier ID to Brigham City and end in Salt Lake City about 4 PM the next day. Not much time to see all the sites.

We are having a hard time deciding how far we should plan to drive the first day before spending the night to make best use of our time.

Which is the most scenic drive or with the most interesting stops along the way going through Wayan and Soda Springs ID or going through Thayne, Grover, Afton and Smoot WY?

What about drive time difference taking into consideration the sights or interesting stops along the way.

Do you have any Suggestions on ';Must See'; places to stop, good places to eat, and best places to spend the night along this route?

It is our first trip there.

Yellowstone To Salt Lake City

Will you have seen Teton Nat Park prior to Yellowstone? If not, then I would spend the 1st night in Jackson to visit that park.

I have not driven either route, we drive up from the Denver area. I think the only must see is Tetons!

Yellowstone To Salt Lake City

We will be going to the Tetons for first time after two days in Yellowstone.

Cat, I think we are confused about your itinerary and question. The drive you have detailed from Gardiner to Salt Lake City (and I%26#39;m assuming you are going to the airport) will take a little over 8 hours driving straight through.

We were wondering if your trip to Salt Lake needed to include some time enjoying the Tetons or had your visit already included them, and now you are just back-tracking?

The Tetons and Jackson Hole are worth some time, so those would be the places to stop on the way to Salt Lake. Spending the night in Jackson would be my choice and then getting up early and just driving to Salt Lake (probably 5-6 hours depending on road work %26amp; traffic).

Our time limit is leaving Gardiner MT at 9 or 10am one morning and ending in Salt Lake City the next day about 4pm.

That is only one afternoon and evening to see what little we can in the Tetons and the Jackson area.

In a single afternoon and evening what can be seen and done in the Tetons and Jackson?

I know this is not enough time to see much and wish it were longer.

Second day will be spent driving to Salt Lake with a few stops along the way. Hopefully stopping in Garden City at Bear Lake for a bit.

Thanks for your comments.

Leaving that late in the day from Gardiner, I%26#39;d say just a drive through the Tetons (which is lovely) with perhaps a late lunch at Dornan%26#39;s for the view (and good food). Spend the night in Jackson. Walk around the square, maybe see the gunfight, visit the Million Dollar Bar, have a nice dinner. Get up early and enjoy the drive to Salt Lake. That would be my itinerary.

Agreed.

Given your time constraints, I%26#39;d suggest overnighting in Jackson or Teton proper. From Jackson, I really don%26#39;t think you have the luxury to take a rural route and be in SLC by 4pm.

From Jackson (where you can have a late breakfast or early lunch), take 22 over the mountain and then the road down into Idaho Falls. It%26#39;s a very lovely scenic drive - much more scenic than US 26. On I15, there%26#39;s a lava field you could stop at (? mile marker 100 ?). 3 hours nonstop from Idaho Falls to the airport in SLC.

Your route from Gardner to Jackson will take you down the west side of Yellowstone past Old Faithful and the West Thumb area. You might consider that when deciding how to arrange your time in the park. You could visit the east and north areas on the other days (Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, Tower, Roosevelt, Canyon, Hayden Valley).

When you drive over Dunraven Pass on the east side, you might see people with telescopes - they%26#39;re watching wolves or bears. It%26#39;s okay to pull over and join them as long as you turn your car engine off (you%26#39;d be surprised at how many people leave engines running and complain they can%26#39;t hear anything).

Can someone please tell me ';approximately'; how long it takes to drive from Jackson to Idaho Falls then take I-15 all the way to Salt Lake or how long it would take to drive 89 to Brigham then getting on I-15 to SLC?

Thanks for your help.

Sorry!

Take WY22 out from Jackson. It becomes ID33 at the stateline; 25 miles total. Turn left onto ID31 5 1/2 miles later. Turn right onto US26 (21 miles). It%26#39;s 42 miles from ID31/US26 into Idaho Falls. Cut across on Broadway to I15 or follow the signed route.

Salt Lake City is 3 hours/215 miles south on I15 ... 5 hours/approximately 310 miles total.

You can also drive down through Hoback Junction to Alpine and drive US26 into Idaho Falls. I find the WY22/ID33/ID31 route far more relaxing and scenic.

Your other request, taking the rural route through Hoback Junction, Montpelier, Logan, Brigham City comes up as approximately 5 3/4 hours/270 miles.

Please accept my apologies for the oversight. Perhaps I%26#39;ve begun to take the drive for granted.

Thanks that helps a lot.

I once made the mistake of going via the Ogden Canyon which is a one lane and getting stuck behind an RV and a long line of cars. It is a prettier drive but not as unique as Jackson or Yellowstone. Unless you want to see something in Brigham City, Spiral Jetty and Golden Spike Museum, I would spend the most of your time in Jackson and Yellowstone. Then you can make it from Jackson to SLC is 4.5 hours without speeding if you take the Hoback junction route to Alpine left Afton, Smoot etc. After the canyon south of Afton go left, then another left at Border Jct, towards cokeville. After Cokeville go right before Kemmerer. Then two more lefts towards Evanston, at Evanston get on I80 West. It can be a little tricky I have the actual miles written somewhere if I can find them I will post it here. If you have some time stop and visit Park City.