Yellowstone & Grand Tetons loop
Geysers, grizzlies and granite peaks.
Six days north through the Tetons' jagged skyline into Yellowstone's geyser basins and wildlife valleys — America's first national park, done properly.
6 days, 958 mi, roughly 18h 16m of driving spread across them — Salt Lake City to Salt Lake City.
Each day below is paced around a realistic amount of time in the car, with stops, timings and somewhere to sleep already worked out. Swap anything you don't like, or rebuild a whole day.
A highway day: you trade Salt Lake's grid for a basalt gorge at midday and the glow of Idaho Falls by night.
About halfway to Idaho Falls, a short detour off the interstate reaches the gorge rim.
Portneuf Wildlife Management Area · McCammon
A quiet basalt canyon carved by the Portneuf River, a good leg-stretch roughly 40 km off I-15.
💡 Small pullout parking — arrive midday for best light in the gorge.
Portneuf Wildlife Management Area, McCammon
Museum of Idaho
A solid regional science and history museum to break up the drive if you arrive with daylight left.
200 N Eastern Ave, Idaho Falls
After the museum, walk down to the river where the falls give the town its name.
Idaho Falls River Walk - Greenbelt Trail
A pleasant walkway along the Snake River falls right in town, good for an evening stroll.
💡 Best at sunset when the falls are lit.
525 River Pkwy, Idaho Falls
Overnight in Idaho Falls
- View
Browse places to stay
Idaho Falls · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Fill up on gas in Idaho Falls — fewer stations once you head toward the park tomorrow
- No ZBE zones here — park free at the hotel and walk the Riverwalk
- Book Idaho Falls lodging ahead in summer; it's a gateway stop for park traffic
- Craters of the Moon National Monument+56 mi
Otherworldly lava fields and cinder cones, a dramatic detour if you have an extra hour.
- Fort Hall Bottoms+9 mi
Wetlands and wildlife viewing along the Snake River, a quiet nature stop.
Waterfall detour day: you trade the interstate for a scenic byway, ending at the park's front door.
Instead of the straight highway, swing onto the byway for waterfalls tucked in the forest.
Mesa Falls Scenic Byway
A gorgeous alternate route past Upper and Lower Mesa Falls, about 20 km off the direct highway.
💡 Short paved paths to both viewpoints — Upper Mesa Falls has the better overlook.
Harriman State Park · Island Park
Broad meadows, the Henry's Fork river, and frequent moose and trumpeter swan sightings.
💡 Bring binoculars — wildlife viewing is best at dawn or dusk.
3489 Green Canyon Rd, Island Park
Overnight in West Yellowstone
- View
Browse places to stay
West Yellowstone · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- West Yellowstone fills fast in summer — book lodging weeks ahead
- Fuel up here; prices rise once you're inside the park
- Grab a park map at the West Entrance visitor center before day 3's early start
- Big Springs+16 mi
A crystal-clear spring-fed river, easy walk, popular with canoeists and birders.
- Island Park Caldera viewpoint+6 mi
One of the largest calderas on Earth, an easy roadside stop with interpretive signs.
Geyser to canyon day: you watch Old Faithful erupt at dawn and stand over the Yellowstone's yellow gorge by afternoon.
Old Faithful · Yellowstone National Park
The world's most famous geyser, erupting predictably roughly every 90 minutes.
💡 Check the visitor center board for the next predicted eruption time.
Yellowstone National Park
A short drive north along the Firehole River brings you to the park's most photographed spring.
Grand Prismatic Spring
The largest hot spring in the US, famous for its rainbow colors from heat-loving bacteria.
💡 Walk the Fairy Falls trailhead overlook for the best aerial-style view of the colors.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Canyon Of The Yellowstone · Yellowstone National Park
N Rim Dr, Yellowstone National Park
Artist Point · Yellowstone National Park
The classic overlook of the Lower Falls plunging into the yellow-walled canyon.
💡 Arrive early or late for softer light and fewer crowds.
Yellowstone National Park
Overnight in West Yellowstone
- View
Browse places to stay
West Yellowstone · $$
Booking happens on the partner's site.
- Enter the park before 7am — parking at Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic overflows by mid-morning
- Cell service is nonexistent inside the park — download offline maps beforehand
- Gas is pricier inside the park; top off in West Yellowstone before entering
- Midway Geyser Basin boardwalk+0 mi
Right next to Grand Prismatic, an easy boardwalk loop past bubbling pools and steam vents.
- Fountain Paint Pot+3 mi
A compact, easy boardwalk showing all four types of Yellowstone thermal features.
Lake day: you leave Yellowstone's big lake behind and arrive under the jagged spine of the Tetons by evening.
Yellowstone Lake
The largest high-elevation lake in North America, ringed by the Absaroka peaks.
Yellowstone Lake
Oxbow Bend
The classic still-water bend of the Snake River mirroring Mount Moran — a Teton icon.
💡 Best light and calmest water at sunrise, but any time offers the view.
Oxbow Bend
Continue south along the Teton Park Road to the next glacial lake.
Jenny Lake
A glacial lake beneath the jagged Teton peaks, one of the park's most photographed spots.
💡 Take the boat shuttle or walk the easy lakeshore trail for Teton views.
Jenny Lake
- Jackson lodging is pricey in summer — book ahead or consider Teton Village alternatives
- Grand Teton entrance fee is separate from Yellowstone unless you have the interagency pass
- Jackson's town square area has limited parking — arrive early for a spot near the shops
- Mormon Row Historic District+9 mi
Iconic weathered barns with the Tetons behind them, a favorite photo stop.
- Schwabacher Landing+6 mi
A quieter beaver-pond reflection spot for the Teton range, less crowded than Oxbow Bend.
Descent day: you cross Teton Pass in the morning and end among Pocatello's quiet parklands by dusk.
Snake River Overlook · Moose
A sweeping view back at the Teton range from the pass summit before you descend west.
💡 Small pullout at the summit — watch for cyclists and steep grades.
Moose
Continue south through Idaho farmland toward Rexburg, where the wildlife park sits just off the highway.
Yellowstone Bear World · Rexburg
A drive-through wildlife park near Rexburg where black and grizzly bears roam near your car.
💡 Keep windows up in the bear enclosure as instructed.
6010 S 4300 W, Rexburg
Arriving in Pocatello, the park offers a quiet stretch of legs before dinner.
Lower Ross Park
A pleasant green space in Pocatello with a small zoo and pond, an easy end-of-day stroll.
2695 S 2nd Ave, Pocatello
- Teton Pass has steep grades — check brakes before the descent, especially with a full tank
- Pocatello has no ZBE restrictions — standard hotel parking is fine
- This splits the return drive so day 6 into Salt Lake City stays under the pace cap
- Hell's Half Acre Lava Field+12 mi
An easy boardwalk loop through a stark lava flow, a quick geological curiosity off I-15.
- Massacre Rocks State Park+19 mi
Basalt rock formations and Oregon Trail history along the Snake River.
Last-leg day: a turquoise lake overlook and a limestone canyon carry you home instead of a flat highway grind.
A detour east off the interstate climbs to the ridge overlooking Bear Lake's blue water.
Bear Lake Overlook SR-89 Rest Area · Garden City
A striking turquoise alpine lake straddling the Utah-Idaho border, a scenic detour off the direct route.
💡 Pull off at the summit overlook for the best view of the lake's color.
Garden City
Descending from Bear Lake, the byway winds down through the canyon toward Cache Valley.
Logan Canyon · Logan
A dramatic limestone canyon drive following the Logan River back toward the valley.
💡 Several easy pullouts for river views along the canyon road.
US-89, Logan
- Bear Lake detour adds distance but stays well under the day's pace cap
- No stops planned inside Salt Lake City itself — the day ends with the drive in
- Logan Canyon road can have wildlife crossings at dusk — drive attentively
- Wind Caves Trail+5 mi
A short, easy hike near Logan Canyon to natural rock arches, if you have an extra hour.
- Minnetonka Cave+12 mi
A guided cave tour near Bear Lake with striking formations, a fun detour for cave enthusiasts.
Make this trip your own
Plan your own road trip →This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Made with Roadanza
What will the fuel cost?
This route covers 958 mi. Put your own car's consumption and local fuel price in and you'll have the number in a few seconds.
Work it out for this route →Questions, answered
- How long does this route take?
- 6 days as planned here, covering 958 mi — an average of 160 mi a day and about 18h 16m of driving in total. You can stretch it by adding days, which spreads the same distance more thinly rather than adding new ground.
- Can I drive it in fewer days?
- You can, but the driving days get longer rather than the trip getting shorter: the distance doesn't change. Cutting one day from a 6-day plan adds roughly 160 mi to whichever days absorb it. If you're short on time, it's usually better to cut the far end of the route than to compress every day.
- Is this a loop?
- Yes, this one returns to where it starts, so a hire car goes back to the same desk and you don't pay a one-way fee.
- Can I change this itinerary?
- Yes. Open it in the planner and every stop can be swapped for one of three alternatives, any day can be rebuilt, and you can add or remove days. The drive times and the budget recalculate around whatever you change.
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