How To Plan A Salt Lake City To Yellowstone Road Trip

Planning a Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip is actually pretty straightforward. But it’s important to be organized, so start by figuring out the things you want to do, then create the perfect itinerary and book your hotels well in advance.

We’ve explored these two famous national parks extensively, and we think 7 days is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights, visit some off the beaten path spots and also see the best of downtown Salt Lake City.

We’ve helped hundreds of thousands of first time visitors plan trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton since taking this route ourselves back in 2019. And we’ve also driven Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone twice, in case you’re considering going a different way to the parks.

We recommend taking a look at our popular Yellowstone guidebook if you’re a serial planner like us, but for now in this guide we’re going to show you exactly how to plan your bucket list road trip from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone based on the knowledge and experiences we’ve gained in the area. Read more about us.

Note: This article may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Why Start A Yellowstone Road Trip From Salt Lake City?

You can start your visit to Yellowstone from a number of places including Denver, Bozeman and even West Yellowstone. So why would you choose to begin or end in Salt Lake City?

• It’s less than 5 hours drive to Grand Teton and Yellowstone
• Salt Lake City itself is one of the top places to visit in Utah
• There’s loads of fun things to do around SLC
• It’s a gateway to both Wyoming and more popular Utah road trips
• SLC international airport conveniently serves domestic and international travelers

Tip: We think Salt Lake City International is the best Yellowstone airport for international visitors to the park and it’s also a great option domestically because it’s served by low-cost airlines from many airports across the US.

Places You’ll Visit

Your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip consists of 5 major areas:

• Salt Lake City
• SLC to Jackson
• Jackson
• Grand Teton
• Yellowstone

Let’s take quick look at what you can expect from each area.

1. Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City is among the most popular US vacation spots for outdoors enthusiasts. The 4,000 ft tall Wasatch Mountains provide endless hiking and skiing opportunities throughout the year. SLC is safe, clean and walkable. It also has a booming culinary and brewing culture.

We only had one day spare to explore Salt Lake City during our road trip. In hindsight, we would have allocated 3 full days for SLC so we could drive up into the Wasatch Mountains to take on some of the top hikes in Utah. If you have 8 or 9 days for your road trip, include at least half a day extra in SLC.

Things To Do Around Salt Lake City:

• Walk around Temple Square
• Explore the Natural History Museum of Utah
• Visit the Red Butte Garden
• Ski on the famed Park City slopes
• Hike in the Wasatch Mountains
• Shop at City Creek Center
• Hike in Millcreek Canyon
• Day trip to Bonneville Salt Flats

2. Drive From SLC To Jackson

There’s a wide range of places you can visit when driving between Salt Lake City and Jackson including Antelope Island and Craters of the Moon. We recommend skipping them all if you only have 5, 6 or 7 days for your road trip so you can focus on the two national parks.

But you might want to consider stopping at one or two places on the way if you have plenty of time available. Our example itineraries naturally take you the most scenic way from SLC to Jackson, which will include passing by Logan Canyon, Bear Lake, Afton and the Snake River.

Places to visit on the drive from SLC to Jackson:

• Antelope Island State Park
• Lagoon Amusement Park
• Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
• Idaho Falls
• Craters of the Moon

3. Jackson, Wyoming

Jackson is one of the most popular places to visit in Wyoming because it’s a famous ski resort in the winter months and it’s the perfect base to use for exploring Grand Teton in the warmer months. The park loop road is just 12 miles from downtown Jackson, which has loads of hotels and restaurants.

We really enjoyed our 2 night stay in Jackson. It’s a quiet, relaxing wild west town with saloon-style bars and a great vibe. You can stay in Teton Village or a remote hotel between Grand Teton and Yellowstone instead of Jackson, but the amenities are better in Jackson and hotels are more affordable.

Things To Do In Jackson, Wyoming:

• Shop at outdoorsy gear stores
• Eat and drink your way through town
• Watch the Jackson Hole Rodeo
• Walk around Jackson Town Square
• Visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art
• See the National Elk Refuge
• Photograph one of the 4 antler arches in Jackson

4. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Grand Teton National Park is a dream come true for landscape photographers. We’ve seen a lot of amazing places in the US, but Grand Teton is one of our favorites. There’s just something special about the park and we strongly recommend you allow for at least one day here.

You can do a little bit of everything in Grand Teton, from hiking to wildlife spotting and from sunrise photography to swimming in glacial lakes. We’d go as far as saying if you only have 4 days total for your trip, take one day from Yellowstone and give it to Grand Teton.

Things To Do In Grand Teton:

• Kayak or swim in Jenny Lake
• Hike Cascade Canyon (one of the top hikes in the US)
• Drive up Signal Mountain for amazing views
• See the Teton Range through Chapel Window
• Photograph Mormon Row at sunrise
• Watch sunrise at Schwabacher Landing
• Enjoy the view at Oxbow Bend

5. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park is unique, spectacular and bursting with amazing things to see and do. We’ve spent a total of 7 days in the park and we still haven’t seen everything because it’s enormous and there’s hidden gems to unearth around every corner.

Our advice is to plan for 3 or 4 full days in Yellowstone if this will be your first visit. It’s important to know that Yellowstone is among the most popular US national parks, so it’s like a theme park in the summer months and you must plan and book hotels in advance. We’ve visited in April and October when overcrowding isn’t an issue.

Things To Do In Yellowstone:

• Watch Old Faithful erupt
• See the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring
• Hike Mt Washburn
• Walk around remarkable geyser basins
• See the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Spot wildlife in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley

Road Trip Route Map

Below is a map showing the major stops for each day on our 7 days Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary. Seven days is the sweet spot, so study the map first before we get into the itinerary next.

Click or touch the map to activate. Scroll around, zoom in and out, look for the colored icons and see which places you can visit. The expandable column on the left side breaks down each day.

Map key:

• Red – Day 1
• Blue – Day 2
• Green – Day 3
• Orange – Day 4
• Brown – Day 5
• Yellow – Day 6
• Grey – Day 7

Okay, let’s dive into our step by step 7-day itinerary! Later in the guide we’ll also show you 5, 6, 8 and 9 day itinerary ideas in case you have a few days less or more available.

At the end of each day you’ll find our recommendations for places to eat and stay, but we’ll cover accommodation options in greater detail after the itineraries.

Remember to adapt the itinerary below to suit your exact travel plans, and please feel free to leave us a comment at the end if you need help planning for your specific goals, such as hiking or photography focused.

Day 1: Explore Salt Lake City

The first day can be action packed or easy going depending on your journey to reach SLC and how you prefer to travel. Whether you decide to go to Park City, the Great Salt Lake, hiking or to a museum, we highly recommend you spend at least an hour walking around Temple Square in the center of town.

Don’t miss the Tabernacle right behind Salt Lake Temple. You can go inside with free entrance and you might even strike it lucky with a choir performance. Also be sure to check out City Creek Center, a popular covered shopping and dining complex with high end stores and fountains.

Here’s more information about the Tabernacle Choir. And if there’s a Utah Jazz basketball game on, buy tickets in advance.

Where to eat:

• White Horse
• Siegfried’s Delicatessen
• Caffe Molise

Where to stay:

• Grand America
• Homewood Suites

Day 2: Drive From Salt Lake City To Jackson

Get an early start and head for Antelope Island State Park ($15 vehicle entry). Next, take I-15 N and US-89 N through Logan Canyon to the town of Garden City on Bear Lake. Follow the western shores of Bear Lake until you reach North Beach State Park ($7 vehicle entry).

Continue on US-89 to Afton, the largest town in Star Valley. Here, you’ll drive underneath the world’s largest Elkhorn Arch and see the ultra-photogenic Star Valley Mormon Temple.

Next you’ll drive through Alpine Junction, which marks the beginning of a scenic drive following the Snake River. Pull over at the scenic route overlooks for excellent valley views. US-89 eventually transitions into US-191 N and not long after you will arrive into Jackson, Wyoming.

Without stopping the drive will take around 5 hours. But you’ll be stopping so plan for 6-7 hours, especially if you swim in Bear Lake.

Where to eat:

• Hand Fire Pizza

Where to stay:

• Inn on the Creek
• Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole

Day 3: Discover Stunning Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton is exceptionally photogenic so get your camera charged! There’s loads to do in the park, but here’s the best way to spend your full day in Grand Teton (in this exact order):

• Mormon Row for sunrise
• Schwabacher Landing
• Snake River Overlook
• Oxbow Bend Overlook
• Signal Mountain Viewpoint
• String Lake
• Jenny Lake Overlook
• Chapel of the Transfiguration
• Mormon Row for sunset
• Or visit the National Elk Refuge

Mormon Row is home to the most photographed barns in the US. It’s one of our all time favorite photo spots because the backdrop is jaw-dropping. If you’re lucky you’ll see wildlife at Schwabacher Landing. We saw a moose and an otter playing on ice.

Signal Mountain has the best elevated viewpoint in Grand Teton but Snake River Overlook, Oxbow Bend and Jenny Lake Overlook are also fantastic photo spots. If you enjoy photography, you’re going to love Grand Teton National Park.

Where to eat:

• Bubba’s Bar-B-Que
• Bin22

Where to stay:

• The same hotel as night 2 in Jackson
• Or Jackson Lake Lodge (inside the park)

Day 4: Grand Teton And South Yellowstone

Split the fourth day between Grand Teton and Yellowstone. It’s completely open to your interpretation based on your preferences, but here’s how we would split the day (in this exact order):

• Schwabacher Landing for sunrise
• Hike to Hidden Falls and Cascade Canyon
• Swim in Jenny Lake
• West Thumb Geyser Basin in Yellowstone
• Old Faithful

The mountain reflection at Schwabacher Landing is magical. Hidden Falls is great for beginners and Cascade Canyon is a superb trail for stronger hikers. It’s 60 miles to drive from Jenny Lake to West Thumb Geyser Basin in south Yellowstone, which will take around 1 hour 30 minutes without stopping.

You’ll see Abyss Pool, Black Pool, Big Cone Geyser, Fishing Cone and more colorful hot springs in West Thumb. Next, head over to Old Faithful to see the most famous geyser eruption on the planet. If you have time before sunset, hike to Old Faithful viewing area to see it erupt from an elevated position.

Where to eat:

• Old Faithful (inside the park)
• The Buffalo Bar (West Yellowstone)
• Wild West Pizzeria (West Yellowstone)

Where to stay:

• Old Faithful Lodge (inside the park)
• Kelly Inn (West Yellowstone)
• Explorer Cabins (West Yellowstone)

Day 5: Geyser Basins And Yellowstone Falls

Your fifth day is an action packed geyser and hot spring extravaganza. You’ll start at Old Faithful, so it helps to stay at the lodge on day 4 otherwise you’re driving back here from West Yellowstone.

Here’s what you’ll see today (in order):

• Morning Glory Pool
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Excelsior Geyser Crater
• Firehole Lake Drive
• Fountain Paint Pots
• Firehole River
• Gibbon Falls
• Artists Paintpots
• Norris Geyser Basin
• Steamboat Geyser
• Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

You’ll see almost all of Yellowstone’s most famous hot springs and geysers as you pass through Upper, Midway and Lower Geyser Basins along with Norris Geyser Basin. Finish the day with a drive along the North Rim at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Where to eat:

• Canyon Eatery

Where to stay:

• Canyon Village

Travel Tip: Plan your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip itinerary around booking night 5 in a Canyon Village hotel or lodge. In spring and fall you should be able to book night 5 in Canyon quite easily, but for a summer visit you might run into issues with Canyon being fully booked unless you book in advance.

Day 6: Yellowstone Falls, Hayden Valley, Mt Washburn And Lamar Valley

This will be one of the best days on your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip. You’ll be covering stunning waterfalls, an abundance of wildlife and the most popular hiking trail in Yellowstone.

Here’s how to spend day 6 (in order):

• Artist Point
• Upper Falls View
• Hayden Valley
• Mud Volcano
• Mount Washburn
• Tower Fall
• Lamar Valley
• Mammoth Lower Terrace

Start the day by driving South Rim to Artist Point for sunrise over Lower Falls in Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Mt Washburn is the most famous hike in the park, and both Hayden Valley and Lamar Valley are the two best wildlife spotting areas around Yellowstone.

Where to eat:

• Mammoth Hotel Dining Room
• The Corral (Gardiner)
• Wonderland Cafe (Gardiner)
• Cowboys Grille (Gardiner)

Where to stay:

• Mammoth Hot Springs (inside the park)
• Yellowstone Gateway Inn (Gardiner)
• Yellowstone Riverside Cottages (Gardiner)

Day 7: Lamar Valley, Mammoth And Drive From Yellowstone To Salt Lake City

Complete your 7 days Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip with an early start in Lamar Valley. Sunrise is when animals are most active in Yellowstone, so don’t miss this unique opportunity to see bears, wolves, bison and bald eagles in the wild. Head back to Mammoth Hot Springs to see the Upper Terrace.

Now it’s up to you to decide how to spend the rest of your seventh day, which might depend on flight times from SLC or getting to the next destination on your road trip. This is your chance to revisit your favorite spot, before leaving through West Yellowstone to get back to Salt Lake City.

Where to eat:

• Breakfast in Mammoth or Gardiner
• Lunch in West Yellowstone
• Dinner in SLC or at SLC airport

Where to stay:

• Tru by Hilton (SLC airport)
• Spring Hill Suites (SLC airport)

5 Day Itinerary

For a 5 day variation of this road trip route, our advice is to cut Salt Lake City entirely, then cut half a day in Grand Teton and half a day in Yellowstone.

Here’s how you could spend 5 days:

• Day 1 – Drive straight from SLC airport to Jackson. Check into a hotel and then spend the late afternoon exploring Grand Teton.
• Day 2 – Spend the morning in Grand Teton before driving to West Thumb and eventually Old Faithful. Walk around Upper Geyser Basin in the late afternoon.
• Day 3 – See Midway and Lower Geyser Basins, explore Norris Geyser Basin and drive over to Canyon so you can check into a hotel. Watch sunset over Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
• Day 4 – Enjoy a sunrise over Lower Falls from Artists Point and explore Hayden Valley. Hike Mt Washburn and Tower Fall, before heading out into Lamar Valley around sunset.
• Day 5 – Go back into Lamar Valley for sunrise and walk around Mammoth Hot Springs terraces. Revisit any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before heading back to SLC airport.

6 Day Itinerary

For a 6 day variation of this road trip route, the simplest advice we have is to cut out the day in Salt Lake City and pick up our 7 day itinerary on day 2. However, there are other ways you could do it, so we’ll walk you through a completely different route.

Here’s how you could spend 6 days differently:

• Day 1 – Drive straight from SLC airport to Jackson. Check into a hotel and then spend the afternoon exploring Grand Teton.
• Day 2 – Spend the full day hiking and taking photos in Grand Teton, before staying at a hotel near Moran.
• Day 3 – Drive to Yellowstone and explore West Thumb, Old Faithful, Morning Glory Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring. Walk around Lower Geyser Basin and then drive to a hotel in West Yellowstone.
• Day 4 – Walk around Artist’s Paintpots and Norris Geyser Basin, before driving over to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley.
• Day 5 – Hike Mt Washburn and Tower Fall, before venturing out into Lamar Valley. Drive over to Mammoth and explore the terraces.
• Day 6 – Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite Yellowstone spots before driving back to SLC airport.

8 Day Itinerary

For an 8 day variation of this road trip route, our advice is to include half a day extra around Salt Lake City and half a day at Grand Teton.

Here’s how you could spend 8 days:

• Day 1 – Spend the day in Salt Lake City. Take things easy in town or head out for a hike.
• Day 2 – Drive to Bonneville Salt Flats or Antelope Island before heading to Jackson.
• Day 3 – Spend the day ticking off the sights in Grand Teton. Drive back to Jackson.
• Day 4 – Enjoy another relaxing day in Grand Teton before staying near Moran.
• Day 5 – Spend the morning in Grand Teton before seeing West Thumb and Old Faithful.
• Day 6 – Spend the day at Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins before driving to Lower Falls.
• Day 7 – See Hayden Valley, hike Mt Washburn, walk to Tower Fall and drive into Lamar Valley.
• Day 8 – Explore Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin and Artist’s Paintpots on the way out.

9 Day Itinerary

For a 9 day variation of this road trip route, our advice is to spend more time exploring attractions and hikes around Salt Lake City.

Here’s how you could spend 9 days:

• Day 1 – Spend the day exploring Salt Lake City.
• Day 2 – Hike in the Wasatch Mountains or see Bonneville Salt Flats and Antelope Island.
• Day 3 – Drive to Park City in the morning, before heading to Jackson later in the afternoon.
• Day 4 – Spend a full day ticking off the top sights in Grand Teton. Drive back to Jackson.
• Day 5 – Spend another full day enjoying Grand Teton. Sleep in Moran.
• Day 6 – Explore West Thumb, Upper, Midway and Lower geyser basins. Stay in West Yellowstone.
• Day 7 – Explore Norris Geyser Basin, then visit Lower Falls and Hayden Valley. Stay in Canyon.
• Day 8 – Hike Mt Washburn, head into Lamar Valley and see Mammoth Hot Springs. Stay in Gardiner.
• Day 9 – Spend the morning revisiting any of your favorite spots in Yellowstone. Head back to SLC.

When To Drive From SLC To Yellowstone

Do you have flexibility with your dates of travel?

If so, we recommend you plan your Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip for May or September. You’d benefit from fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures and better hotel availability around Yellowstone.

July and August are by far the busiest months of the year in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. You’ll have to contend with overcrowding, and inflated hotel prices with extremely limited availability. Despite having the warmest temperatures of the year, we would avoid these peak months at all costs if possible.

Planning your road trip during the shoulder season months of April or October is risky because the weather is volatile and some of the park roads are closed. For instance, Teton Park Road typically opens for the season at the beginning of May.

Where To Stay

Earlier in our 7 day itinerary we gave you one or two hotel recommendations for each night, but there’s plenty more hotels available for you to book in each area. And sometimes it helps to see each night in a row.

So here are the top rated hotels in each place you will stay on the road trip (highest ratings by previous guests on Booking.com):

1. Salt Lake City Airport

Depending on your flight times into and out from SLC airport, you may need to book a night at a hotel airport either side of your road trip.

• Budget: Tru by Hilton
• Mid-range: Spring Hill Suites
• Mid-range: Hilton Garden Inn

2. Downtown Salt Lake City

Here are the best hotels if you choose to spend a day or two in downtown SLC.

• Budget: Holiday Inn Express
• Budget: Salt Lake Plaza Hotel Temple Square
• Mid-range: Homewood Suites
• Mid-range: Hyatt House
• Luxury: Grand America
• Luxury: Kimpton Hotel Monaco SLC

3. Jackson

Jackson has a wide range of hotel options spanning the budget and quality range to suit all travelers. Hotels are typically quite expensive in Jackson, particularly in the summer months.

• Budget: Elk Country Inn
• Budget: Cowboy Village Resort
• Mid-range: Wyoming Inn of Jackson Hole
• Mid-range: The Lexington at Jackson Hole
• Mid-range: Parkway Inn of Jackson Hole
• Luxury: Inn on the Creek

4. Teton Village

Teton Village is a quieter and more upscale place to stay when visiting Grand Teton. You might want to consider a hotel here instead of Jackson.

• Mid-range: The Alpenhof
• Luxury: Teton Mountain Lodge
• Luxury: Hotel Terra

5. Between Grand Teton And Yellowstone

There are a handful of remote hotel options between Grand Teton and Yellowstone which give you more of a national park feel. Consider staying near Moran for a night after leaving Grand Teton and before heading into Yellowstone.

• Budget: Buffalo Ranch Valley
• Budget: Hatchet Resort
• Mid Range: Togwotee Mountain Lodge
• Mid Range: Colter Bay Village
• Mid Range: Headwaters Lodge Flagg Ranch
• Luxury: Jackson Lake Lodge

6. Yellowstone

Yellowstone is a different beast altogether when it comes to booking accommodation. You must book in advance for stays in the summer months. Shoulder seasons give you more flexibility and potential for last minute bookings but we still don’t recommend risking leaving it late.

It’s more efficient to spend each night at a different hotel but it’s more convenient to book one hotel for the duration of your time in the park. Yellowstone is huge and you’ll spend a lot more time driving if you have to go back to the same hotel each night.

Where to stay inside Yellowstone:

• Mammoth Hot Springs
• Roosevelt
• Canyon Village
• Lake
• Old Faithful
• Grant Village

It makes the most sense to book Old Faithful and Canyon for one night each because they can save you a lot of driving to reach backup options at West Yellowstone. Mammoth is less important because Gardiner is so close by.

Gardiner and West Yellowstone are the two most convenient resort villages for accessing the park. We’ve stayed at 2 hotels in Gardiner and 2 hotels in West Yellowstone, and they’ve all been great. Shop around for the best prices because there’s lots of competition. Here are the top rated hotels in Gardiner and West Yellowstone.

Gardiner:

• Mid Range: Yellowstone Gateway Inn
• Mid Range: Yellowstone Riverside Cottages
• Mid Range: Yellowstone Basin Inn
• Mid Range: Yellowstone Big Rock Inn
• Mid Range: Yellowstone Village Inn + Suites

West Yellowstone:

• Budget: Al’s Westward Ho Motel
• Budget: Stage Coach Inn
• Mid Range: Crosswinds Inn
• Mid Range: Kelly Inn
• Luxury: Explorer Cabins
• Luxury: Yellowstone Park Hotel

Planning Resources

Let’s take a quick look at key Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip resources you can use to help with planning.

1. Flights

We personally use and recommend Skyscanner as the best flight search engine. You can also compare prices against Google Flights.

Tips for booking flights to SLC:

• Be flexible with your dates
• You can stay at SLC airport at the beginning or end of this road trip
• Consider flying into SLC and out from a different airport
• Read our guide on how to book cheaper flights

2. Hotels

For accommodation outside the parks, we always use Booking.com first and then compare prices against Hotels.com to find the best deals available.

Lodging inside Yellowstone can be booked either through the official Yellowstone National Park Lodges site or at Hotels.com.

Tips for booking hotels:

• Book in advance, especially if planning this road trip in summer
• Start by finding available hotels inside or around Yellowstone
• Make sure you can book consecutive nights before you pay for anything
• Avoid Yellowstone at weekends
• Read our guide on how to book cheaper hotels

3. Hire Car

If you’re not driving your own car from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone, you’ll need to hire a car when you land at SLC International Airport.

We always search for prices with Rental Cars and compare with Discover Cars. Input Salt Lake City and your travel dates to see your options.

Tips for hiring a car:

• Booking in advance for more flexibility over vehicle type
• You do not need a 4WD high clearance vehicle to visit Grand Teton or Yellowstone
• Smaller cars are better for parking in tight spots around the parks

4. National Parks

It’s important to stay up to date with live conditions such as roads, weather, hiking trails and lodging when you visit Grand Teton and Yellowstone. This is even more important if you drive from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton and Yellowstone in the shoulder season months of April or October.

Here are our guides to visiting Yellowstone in April and visiting Yellowstone in October if you’re planning an early spring or late fall trip.

Check conditions:

• Yellowstone – Live updates and conditions
• Grand Teton – Live updates and conditions

What To Pack

Spending a few minutes considering what you need to pack for your SLC to Yellowstone road trip can save you time, money and energy later in your vacation.

After multiple long term US road trips, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to best prepare for a successful adventure. Read our guide on how to plan a road trip and the road trip packing essentials you shouldn’t forget.

And here’s what you need to consider when packing:

Clothes

June, July and August are warm enough for light layers but you’ll need sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats. Don’t forget bug spray if you visit Yellowstone in summer.

Mornings and evenings in April, May, September and October will be cold and potentially snowy. You need heavy layers, gloves, wooly hats and a winter coat in addition to your basic hiking or exploring gear.

We always take at least 2 pairs of shoes with us to national parks so that we have one pair for hiking and one pair for the evenings. Remember you’ll need a daypack with water and snacks if you hike any trails.

Vehicle Safety

Whether you’re driving your own car or a hire car on this road trip to Yellowstone from Salt Lake City, make sure you are carrying all of the following items:

• First aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Spare tire
• Fix a flat kit
• Empty gas can
• Flashlight
• Plenty of motor oil, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, etc.
• Insurance, license, registration, identification, roadside assistance and extra car keys.

The roads around Grand Teton and Yellowstone are flat and easy to drive. You also won’t be going off road or into any harsh terrain like you might in other national park landscapes around the US.

You’ll have no issues with potholes or extreme heat, but you might have to deal with extreme cold if you visit in April or October. Don’t forget a deicer and a scraper for your windshield if you plan your trip when snow and ice is possible.

The Morgan Conclusion

Salt Lake City to Yellowstone is one of our favorite road trips in the US because it’s an easy route, there’s not much driving and it focuses on two amazing national parks. But it’s important to be organized by booking hotels in advance and figuring out exactly what you want to do before you arrive, in order to make the most of each day.

We think 7 days is the perfect amount of time for the road trip if this will be your first visit to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. With more time you should add extra time at Grand Teton or maybe spend another day in Salt Lake City. But with less time, you should focus more on whichever park you’re more interested in exploring.

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We hope our Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip guide helps with planning your itinerary!

Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments box a little further below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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