Yellowstone & Grand Teton: A Six-Day Road Trip

Six days, two national parks, and a lot of driving — this was our road trip from Phoenix, Arizona through Salt Lake City into Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Here’s the full day-by-day plan.

Day 1: Phoenix to Salt Lake City, UT

8:00 AM — The road trip excitement was real as we packed up the car and hit the road early. With nearly 10 hours of driving ahead, we wanted to make the most of the day. A friend joined us and started around the same time, and we shared live locations on WhatsApp to stay close during the journey.

12:00 PM — Quick stop in Page, AZ for homemade lunch and to stretch our legs. Refueled the car, freshened up, grabbed a few essentials, and were back on the road by 1:00 PM.

4:00 PM — Stopped for snacks in Beaver, Utah, a small town with a Wild West feel. Grabbed a bite at Taco Bell before continuing north.

8:00 PM — Crossed into Salt Lake City! The Wasatch Mountains loomed in the background as we pulled into our hotel. Checked in, freshened up, had dinner, and straight to bed.

Day 2: Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

6:30 AM — A friend was supposed to fly directly from Los Angeles to Yellowstone via Salt Lake City airport and join us there, but a Crowdstrike outage upended flight schedules. Plans changed on the fly — a friend picked him up from the airport and brought him to the hotel. Rental cars were very hard to come by that morning.

10:00 AM — Hit the road early with the goal of reaching Yellowstone National Park by afternoon.

1:30 PM — Stopped in Idaho Falls for gas and a quick brunch. The drive through Idaho was scenic, with open landscapes and rolling hills.

5:00 PM — Finally arrived at the West Entrance of Yellowstone! The excitement was building as we slowly made our way into the park.

6:00 PM — Stopped at a few points alongside the Yellowstone River bank, taking in breathtaking views in the glowing dusk light.

7:00 PM — A pit stop at Dragon’s Mouth Spring, to capture the awestruck views, then walked over the geyser bridges in the Mud Volcano area.

7:00 PM — Checked into Canyon Lodge, nestled inside the park near the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. The rustic lodge was the perfect base for the days ahead.

9:00 PM — Homemade dinner in the sitting area, then an early night to rest up for a big day of exploring Yellowstone.

Day 3: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful

7:00 AM — Grabbed breakfast and hit the road for a full day of exploring.

8:00 AM — First stop: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone! The dramatic Lower Falls was breathtaking — watched in awe as the Yellowstone River thundered down the canyon.

9:30 AM — Drove to Mud Volcano, a surreal landscape of bubbling hot springs and sulfuric steam. The smell wasn’t great, but the sight more than made up for it.

10:30 AM — Headed toward the Yellowstone Lake Overlook. The vast blue waters stretched endlessly, with snow-capped peaks in the background.

11:30 AM — Arrived at West Thumb Geyser Basin — a stunning collection of hot springs and geysers right on the edge of the lake, with the mix of deep blues and mineral colors.

1:00 PM — Lunch break at the Old Faithful Inn before heading to the park’s most famous sight.

2:00 PM — Watched Old Faithful Geyser erupt — right on schedule! Seeing the powerful column of water shoot into the sky was unforgettable.

3:00 PM — Started our short hike to Morning Glory Pool. The colors of the pool were even more vivid in person, transitioning from bright yellow to deep blue.

5:00 PM — Drove back to Canyon Lodge to rest.

7:00 PM — A quiet dinner, recapping the day’s adventures.

Day 4: Wildlife & Geysers — Lamar Valley, Mammoth Springs, Grand Prismatic

7:00 AM — An early morning start for Lamar Valley, known as the “Serengeti of North America.”

8:30 AM — Spotted bison herds moving across the valley, a few elk grazing, and even a distant wolf! Stopped at multiple pullouts to take it all in.

12:00 PM — Next stop: Mammoth Hot Springs, where terraces of mineral deposits created a surreal landscape. The white and orange formations looked almost otherworldly.

1:00 PM — Had lunch and spent some time in the small but picturesque town. The kids enjoyed the museum and learned a lot about the park’s history.

4:00 PM — Stopped at Grand Prismatic Spring, the most colorful and striking hot spring in the park. Took the short hike to the overlook for the best view.

6:00 PM — On the way back, made a quick stop at Washburn Hot Springs, a lesser-known but beautiful geothermal area.

7:00 PM — Dinner at the Canyon Fountain & Grill in Canyon Village — a casual, retro-style spot with great burgers and shakes!

Day 5: Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, Hidden Falls

9:00 AM — Checked out of Canyon Lodge and said goodbye to our friend, who had a flight to catch from Salt Lake City back to Los Angeles. Grand Teton National Park was next!

12:00 PM — Entered Grand Teton National Park, with jagged peaks rising in the distance. The morning mist made the mountains look even more dramatic.

12:15 PM — First stop: Jackson Lake Overlook. The stunning view of Jackson Lake with the Teton peaks in the background was breathtaking — we paused here just to soak it in.

12:45 PM — Arrived at Colter Bay Visitor Center, where we collected maps and got recommendations from the park rangers.

1:00 PM — Lunch at a pizza shop nearby before continuing our adventure.

3:00 PM — Back on the road, with a quick stop at Mountain View Turnout for incredible views of the Teton Range.

4:00 PM — Took the scenic one-way road leading to Jenny Lake Overlook. The panoramic views from this spot were simply stunning.

6:30 PM — Took the shuttle boat across Jenny Lake to reach Inspiration Point. The short ride across the lake was incredibly scenic, with reflections of the mountains dancing on the water.

6:40 PM — Hiked up to Hidden Falls, a beautiful cascading waterfall tucked away in the forest. The cool mist from the falls was refreshing after the hike.

6:55 PM — Made it back to the boat launch just in time for the last boat of the evening at 7:00 PM. Phew!

7:15 PM — Drove back to Jenny Lake Overlook to capture a few more photos in the golden hues of sunset.

8:00 PM — Finally arrived at Signal Mountain Lodge, our stay for the night. Checked in and headed for dinner at the lodge’s restaurant.

8:30 PM — Dinner was amazing — fresh, flavorful food served by the friendliest staff. The perfect way to end the day.

Day 6: Exploring Grand Teton & Return to Salt Lake City

6:30 AM — Woke up to the most stunning sunrise over Jackson Lake, right from our lodge hut. The serene water reflecting the morning light was pure magic — next time, we’ll plan for a longer stay to allow more time for hiking.

7:30 AM — Breakfast in the lobby of Signal Mountain Lodge, taking in the view of Jackson Lake one last time.

9:00 AM — First stop: Oxbow Bend. The calm waters perfectly mirrored the Teton Mountains, creating one of the most picturesque views of the trip.

9:45 AM — Next up, Snake River Overlook — the iconic viewpoint where Ansel Adams took his famous photograph of the Tetons.

10:30 AM — Another scenic stop at Teton Point Turnout, offering yet another breathtaking perspective of the jagged mountain range.

11:30 AM — Explored the Mormon Row Historic District, home to the famous Moulton Barns — rustic barns with the Tetons in the background, straight out of a postcard.

12:30 PM — Exited Grand Teton National Park, bidding farewell to its incredible landscapes.

1:00 PM — Started the drive back to Salt Lake City.

6:00 PM — Arrived in Salt Lake City and headed straight for dinner at Bawarchi, an Indian restaurant that served delicious comfort food — perfect after a long day on the road.

8:00 PM — Checked into our hotel, exhausted but incredibly grateful for the unforgettable experience in Yellowstone and Grand Teton.