Today is a big driving day, but it saves you a lot of time tomorrow on the drive out to Devils Tower. Robins Nest Bed & Breakfast. Just south of Rapid City is TKTK, where you can rent a two-bedroom house, a great option for families. Miazgas has a wide range of food. Just past the Pinnacles Overlook, Highway 240 turns north and heads to Wall. Day 1: Arrive in Jackson, spend some time in Grand Teton NP if you have time in the afternoon Day 2: Grand Teton in the morning, drive to Yellowstone in the afternoon Day 3: Yellowstone National Park, sleep in Cody Day 4: Drive from Cody to Devils Tower to the Black Hills of South Dakota Day 5: Custer State Park & Mount Rushmore Day 6: Badlands National Park Day 7: Wind Cave National Park in the morning, fly home in the evening, Grand Teton: $35 Yellowstone: $35 Devils Tower: $25 Mount Rushmore: No entrance fee but there is a $10 parking fee Custer State Park: $20 Badlands: $30 Wind Cave: Free (cave tours have an extra fee). Larsson's Crooked Creek Resort - Located 2 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota this campground has 84 RV sites, 15 cabins, a 14-room lodge, and12 Presidential Creek Side Sites. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. Tonight, I recommend staying in Cody, Wyoming. Caravan's Rapid City, South Dakota hotel, the Rushmore Hotel provides a courtesy shuttle from the Rapid City Airport (RAP). You should be able to print itI save off a PDF of new articles, which is about 4 times a week. How far is Mount Rushmore from Seattle, and how long will the road trip take? For more details on visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, read our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. If you stayed near Devils Tower, it is a one hour drive to get to Spearfish. Below are the details for both routes. For full details on things to do on this drive, read our Guide to Beartooth Highway. There are two routes to drive to Cody, which adds another 2 to 3 hours of driving. You can go for fishing at the beach, bait shop, or boat rental. Cheers, Julie. Big Bend National Park; . Search for buffalo, pronghorns and other wildlife on a Jeep Safari in Custer State Park. To get to the northeast entrance of Badlands National Park, it is an hour and forty-five minute drive from the Black Hills and an hour and fifteen minute drive from Rapid City. Activity level Natural Explorer. Immediately past the entrance station is the Big Badlands Overlook. Elevations of 3,400-7,731 feet. It was so good that we ate here two nights in a row. These shoulder months offer mild Travel Every year, tens of thousands of tourists come to the region's ski slopes to enjoy the world-famous snow and slopes. The Chamberlin Inn. When their flight to Chicago is abruptly canceled, Steve Martin and John Candy embark on a comedic road trip adventure as two clumsy yet lovable characters in this 1987 film: Answer: "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." 13. Who wrote the classic road trip novel "On The Road"? but that was only a one-way trip home after picking up our new motorhome in California. May, September and October are less busy and popular months to visit as well. This itinerary is a one-way, point-to-point road trip. Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip, Seattle to Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks Road Trip, Texas to Wyoming Yellowstone Cowboy Road Trip. Destinations; Itineraries; Travel Tips; English. If you like the idea of staying in a resort town just outside of the park, this is a great place to consider. When you reach Boise after your long drive, rest in luxury at The Grove Hotel. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind Cave. Starting from San Francisco in the Bay Area our suggested route will take you through Boise and Lake Tahoe, a somewhat more relaxed vibe but still jam-packed with unique attractions along the way. From Buffalo, it takes 2 hours to drive to Devils Tower (130 miles). Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, organic silk linens, and fresh flowers. If you choose to take this route with no stops in-between, it will take you approximately 9 hours. Start on the North Rim. Very helpful! Overview of this Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore itinerary, with Grand Teton NP, the Bighorn Mountains, Custer State Park, andd Badlands NP. Day 6: Glacier NP Going-to-the-Sun Road. Its not ideal, since its not formatted to be printed, but it is your best option right now. This is the best spot in Yellowstone to view wildlife. Day 1: Jenny Lake. Not only will you save money on park fees for this trip but you will also get free admission to any other national park or federal recreation sites that you visit within 365 days of purchasing this pass. Flying into here will save you some driving today. The actual road trip itself from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is great. This small restaurant serves gourmet food that is outstanding. Read our one day Grand Teton itinerary for full details on how to do this. On our first visit to the area, we stayed in Rapid City at the Courtyard by Marriott. The 1,840-mile road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore will take about 30 hours to drive. Uncover the history of Mt. . Mapbox . After seeing the beautiful Pyramid Lake, continue back on route and travel up I-80 and US-95 north into Boise, Idaho. This flat, easy trail is 2 miles long, takes about 45-minutes, and offers decent views of Jackson Lake. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise is a magical time to visit Badlands National Park. One of the most popular things to do in Grand Teton is to take the boat across Jenny Lake and hike up to Inspiration Point. Bison roam the park and we saw a huge herd of bison while hiking the Lookout Trail and Centennial Trail Loop. The nearby Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area has great hiking and skiing as well. Answer 1 of 4: Coming south from Deadwood, can a person do all three of these in one day? The map will be part of the document. ), Cody, Yellowstone, Reno/Carson City and Lake Tahoe. Along the drive, you can see Bridal Veil Falls, hike to Devils Bathtub (2 miles round trip, 1 to 1.5 hours), and visit Roughlock Falls. Deadwood is a great place to have lunch, depending on how your timing works out. Our suggested 7-10 day Ideal Western Road Trip Itinerary Day 1/2: Rapid City, South Dakota Here are the links to each national park website. However, reservations for the park lodges need to be made months in advance (as much as 6 to 12 months in advance!). drive for about 3.5 hours. In the evening, continue to Cody, Wyoming. The highlight is Abyss Pool, a brilliantly blue hot spring, but it is also very cool to see the geothermal activity right along the edge of the lake. From Boise, travel on through Montana and Wyoming and into your first destination of Yellowstone. But to explore a place like Yellowstone, you will have to leave your dogs in the hotel/apartment, because I think pets are only allowed in vehicles and parking lots, and not on trails and inside buildings. We have driven through here many times and sometimes you see a few bison off in the distance and sometimes an enormous herd is clustered along the road, creating a giant traffic jam. Tonight, sleep in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, or Teton Village. Really great road trip! To learn what to do and how to plan your time, read our post Mount Rushmore: 10 Things to Know Before You Go. Highlights: * Rail travel on Amtrak (1 night on train) * Scenic excursion on the 1880 Train. From Cody, it takes 2 hours to drive to Ten Sleep. Then the road twists and turns through a canyon and climbs up higher into the mountains. If you want to visit Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but have limited time or a different starting point, here are alternate versions of this itinerary. In Deadwood, walk through the historic town, Tour the Adams House, visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, and visit the Saloon #10 Bar. This is the first of two days in Grand Teton. First thing in the morning, traffic should still be light, so you will be able to drive to each overlook. Your email address will not be published. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK: Check out our Grand Teton National Park Travel Guide for important travel information, sample itineraries, and how to plan your visit. Plan your Yellowstone road trip with our helpful itinerary, from Denver to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park. About an hour's drive from Yellowstone National Park's main entrance, this cozy and comfortable accommodation has tons of luxurious amenities, including spacious rooms and private fireplaces. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Thats four national parks in one road trip, not to mention two national monuments, one incredible state park, and several very scenic drives. Beartooth Highway (one of the greatest road trips in America) Charles Kuralt called the Beartooth Highway "the most beautiful drive in America.". Yellowstone to Mt Rushmore is 8 hours, wheels turning. New England: New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Stunning Stops. Along both of these routes, there are short hiking trails and scenic overlooks to visit along the way. You can probably find these in South Dakota as well. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. The road distance is 1392.2 miles. Cheers, Julie. Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone Grand Loop Road (great to follow to see many of the sites) Whitewater Rafting Waterfalls: Osprey Falls, Fairy Falls, Towel Fall, Upper Falls, Lower Falls, Union Falls Favorites: Grand Prismatic Spring was at the very top of our list of things to see at Yellowstone. If this sounds like something you would like to do, stay in Wall the night of day 8. This was the real thing -- 3 weeks and over 6,000 miles of adventure ahead of us. The advantage to staying here is that you will do less driving on the day trip to Badlands National Park. Drive from Southern California to Indio/Palm Springs Fly from Indio/Palm Springs (PSP) to Rapid City (RAP) PSP - RAP $261 - $868 5 alternative options Bus to Las Vegas, fly 8h 21m Take the bus from Barstow Station to Las Vegas South Strip Transfer Terminal Fly from Las Vegas (LAS) to Rapid City (RAP) LAS - RAP $420 - $600 A must-visit if dropping by Boise, this historic prison boasts daily tours that detail the lives of its famous inmates. Spend the afternoon at the Midway Geyser Basin. This scenic drive is 20 miles long and it takes about 30 minutes to drive it, without stops. A visit here consists of seeing two basins: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. and leave at 6:08 pm. We can I purchase the itineraries for Yellowstone to Rushmore and the Washington Road Trip? drive for about 2 hours. Day 4: Drive toward Glacier (stop at Holland Lake) Day 5: Glacier NP. Overview of a 4 week 2000 Cross Country Road Trip with Travel Itinerary, Travel Road Map, . Sioux Falls. 11-Day San Francisco to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Yosemite, Yellowstone National Park, Lower Antelope Canyon and Mount Rushmore Tour (Free Airport Pickup) Tour Code: GOL-SFO-412A. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. For recommended hotels and locations, both inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park, read our article Where to Stay in Yellowstone. We plan to drive from Tucson, AZ. On the Road (to Lamar Valley): 110 miles, 3 hours from Old Faithful Village, 66 miles, 2 hours from Canyon Village, 106 miles, 3 hours from West Yellowstone. This Yellowstone road trip planner covers the northern route through North Dakota. It is faster and easier to day trip to Grand Teton from these locations. Hello Catherine. On top of that, you'll pass through the smaller town of Sutcliffe as well as the city of Boise. View more. This beautiful city and its surrounding area offer endless activities and stunning natural landmarks including the Great Salt Lake. Answer: Jack Kerouac. But I would love to see something different on our way back to Ohio. From Provo, your travels take you to the cowboy town of Jackson and Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Cody and then to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. This road trip works best from May through October, when the roads in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are open. For suggestions on how to plan your time today, read our post One Perfect Day in Grand Teton National Park. Ideally, stay in the park. These road trips to Yellowstone are complete resources with itineraries, maps and unexpected stops on the way including authentic small Western towns and undiscovered natural wonders that will make your trip unique. You can expect the clearest skies during this season and temperatures between 38 degrees and 76 degrees Fahrenheit lasting between mid-June and mid-September. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. To get into the heart of Jackson, it is a short drive or a 20-minute walk. I recommend visiting Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, then driving through Lamar Valley, and spend the afternoon on Beartooth Highway. About halfway along the Los Angeles Route you will reach Salt Lake City. Day 1 : Bismarck, North Dakota Do: Driving will take a big chunk of your day. Call to book 1-877-929-7245. by MARY July 16, 2014 Eruptions are unpredictable and you have to be very lucky to be here when it erupts. I recommend spending more time here, walking the Presidential Trail and learning more about the history of Mount Rushmore in the visitor center. Choose The Salt Lake City Route (via Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests), covering 1,500 miles over 23 hours of driving without overnight stopovers for a shorter, more direct route.