I planned a trip for my parents during their visit to my sister in Seattle in September, 2023. I wasn’t able to join them myself. While some of the photos they took might not be of the best quality, their feedback about the trip was positive. The weather was generally pleasant, typical of autumn, with no snow and slightly chilly evenings.
I considered various options for flying in and out of the region. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) are the larger airports in the area. Ultimately, I chose to start our journey at Bozeman Airport and depart from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). This itinerary allowed us to maximize our exploration without retracing our steps.
Day 1: Arriving in Yellowstone National Park North Entrance
- Collect rental car: Unlike countries like New Zealand or Iceland, where there are reputable domestic rental car companies offering newer cars and better service, the U.S. mostly features international rental car brands at airports. Therefore, it’s advisable to use comparison search engines like Klook to secure the best deal.
| Klook (Affiliate Link): https://affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=60612&aff_adid=846043&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Fen-US%2Fcar-rentals%2F – Pickup at BZN Airport / Drop-off at SLC Airport – 8 days – Chevrolet Malibu – Full protection |
| Reference price: $635 |
- Hotel [Drive: 1 hour 20 min]: Every hotel within the national park is extremely expensive and tends to be fully booked months in advance. Therefore, I chose to book my accommodations just outside the national park. The town of Gardiner is a great option, conveniently located near the north entrance, making it an ideal base for visiting the park.
| Corral Villas Yellowstone (Link): https://www.corralvillas.com/ – Elk Deluxe Studio – 2 nights |
| Reference Price: $504 (2 nights) |
- Dinner: The hotel offers a 10% discount on any meal when you dine at their restaurant, The CORRAL.
| The CORRAL: https://maps.app.goo.gl/w6VpCfqvphD7fta8A |
Day 2: Wildlife Safari Tour
- Yellowstone Safari Company: There are many tour options; we chose the most basic one.
| Yellowstone Wildlife Safari Tour (Link): https://yellowstonesafari.com/ Season: April to October Duration: 8-10 hours Time: 07:30 from Gardiner |
| Reference price: $ 350 |
Day 3: Mammoth Hot Springs and Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
- Mammoth Hot Springs: [Drive: 20 min]
- Tower Fall: [Drive: 30 min]
- Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: [Drive: 50 min]
- Norris Geyser Basin: [Drive: 25 min]
- Hotel [Drive 50 min]: The hotel is situated a short distance from the national park’s west entrance.
| Wagon Wheel Hotel (Link): https://www.booking.com/Share-GKdObU – 1 Deluxe Double Room – 2 nights |
| Reference price: $ 534 (2 nights) |
Day 4: Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful Spring
- Fountain Paint Pot Trail [Drive: 40 min]
- Grand Prismatic Spring [Drive: 5 min]
- Midway Geyser Basin Trail
- Fairy Falls Trail
- Old Faithful Inn [Drive: 20 min]
- Old Faithful Spring
- Morning Glory Pool
Day 5: Driving to Grand Teton National Park
- West Thumb Geysers, Yellowstone Lake [Drive: 1 hour 30 min]
- Lewis Falls [Drive: 20 min]
- Jackson Lake Overlook [Drive: 30 min]
- Colter Bay Visitor Center [Drive: 10 min]
- Jackson Lake Dam [Drive: 15 min]
- Oxbow Bend [Drive: 15 min]
- Moran Entrance Station [Drive: 5 min]. There is no Grand Teton entrance station when traveling south from Yellowstone into Grand Teton. When you pass through the Moran Entrance Station from north to south, you are actually exiting Grand Teton National Park. This is one reason to visit Yellowstone before Grand Teton if you decide to skip Jenny Lake. By taking Highway 191 instead of Teton Park Road, you can still enjoy the beauty of the Grand Teton mountain range without paying a second entrance fee, since you technically do not enter Grand Teton National Park.
- Hotel: [Drive: 20 min]
| Togwotee Mountain Lodge (Link): https://www.booking.com/Share-ST9aQW – 1 Cottage – 1 night |
| Reference price: $ 243 |
Day 6: Grand Teton National Park
- Elk Ranch Flats Turnout [Drive: 25 min]
- Snake River Overlook [Drive: 10 min]
- Schwabacher Landing [Drive: 10 min]
- Mormon Row [Drive: 10 min]
- Menors Ferry Historic District [Drive: 10 min]
- The Maud Noble Cabin
- Chapel of the Transfiguration
- ***Moose Entrance***: When you pass through the Moose Entrance, you’ll officially enter Grand Teton National Park. The entry fee for a vehicle is $35.
- Jackson Hole’s Elk Antler Arch [Drive: 21 min]
- World’s Largest Elkhorn Arch [Drive: 1 hour 20 min]
- Bear Lake Overlook [Drive: 1 hour 30 min]
- Hotel: [Drive: 45 min]
| Hampton Inn & Suites Logan (Link): https://www.booking.com/Share-1uo1NbF – King Room – 1 night |
| Reference price: $ 197 |
Day 7: Salt Lake City
- Antelope Island State Park [Drive: 1 hour 30min]: $15 per vehicle
- Temple Square
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Salt Lake City Tabernacle
- Assembly Hall
- Joseph Smith Memorial Building
- Hotel
| The Kimball at Temple Square (Link): https://www.booking.com/Share-uuNBGo – Studio Apartment – 1 night |
| Reference price: $ 127 |
Day 8: Last Day. Back to Seattle.
- Wandering around the city in the morning
- Airport [Drive: 12 min]
So, this is the short trip that I planned last year (2023). If I hadn’t been on a budget, I would definitely have booked accommodations within the national parks because the landscapes are just phenomenal. Everything outside the national parks was very affordable, even in big cities like Salt Lake City—a beautiful city, by the way—where you can easily find very nice places to stay at modest prices.