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. We have 16 days, including driving time from Southeast. You can return to the Black Hills at this point, or stick around for sunset, another magical time to be here. From Gardiner or Mammoth, it will be a very long drive to Grand Teton National Park (plus, they are closed due to the flood). I would love it if you would email me for some questions I have. The hike out to Taggart Lake is longer but its also a very nice hike. After exploring the area, drive east into South Dakota to see the iconic Mount Rushmore. Sacramento to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore - Road Trips Forum 5%. Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Amazing when you really think about it - See 11,784 traveler reviews, 7,905 candid photos, and great deals for Keystone, SD, at Tripadvisor. Head to Badlands National Park (a 90-minute drive from Mount Rushmore) to see world-famous canyons and buttes, Wind Cave National Park (a 55-minute drive) to explore one of the largest and most. 8 Epic San Francisco Road Trips to Plan Right Now You will stay here for two nights. The actual road trip itself from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is great. Scenic Drive through the Bighorn Mountains. The Chamberlin Inn. New England: New England Fall Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Stunning Stops. Your Guide to a Mount Rushmore Road Trip | Reader's Digest Day 4: Drive toward Glacier (stop at Holland Lake) Day 5: Glacier NP. The most optimal route would be to travel from Rapid City to Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier. About halfway along the Los Angeles Route you will reach Salt Lake City. To get into the heart of Jackson, it is a short drive or a 20-minute walk. At Colter Bay, you also have the option to walk the Lakeshore Trail. From Cody, it takes 2 hours to drive to Ten Sleep. States Covered. To make the most of the day, I recommend getting an early start, ideally getting on the road at 7 am. Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone via Bighorn Scenic Byway Distance: 441 miles Time Required: 9 hours This route runs for 441 miles, starting at Mt. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise is a magical time to visit Badlands National Park. The hand of cards he was holding (two pairs of black aces and eights) is now called the Dead Mans Hand. Continue on and head east into Montana and Wyoming and into your destination of Yellowstone. National parks. The Cloud Peak Skyway tends to be more popular, since it lacks the switchbacks and tight turns that the Bighorn Scenic Byway has. Recommended accommodations: No need to stay overnight - this is best done as a quick stop off on the way to Flagstaff and/or the Grand Canyon.. Stop 4: Flagstaff, Arizona (the Grand Canyon & Sedona) Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mount Rushmore: 10 Things to Know Before You Go. Was hoping to do Mt, Rushmore, then Crazy Horse, then Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop, then Iron Mt Road and short visit to Keystone. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, organic silk linens, and fresh flowers. South Dakota Road Trip - 7 Stops You Don't Want To Miss Elevations of 3,400-7,731 feet. Recommended photo spots: The dam, obviously; the Pat Tillman memorial bridge. We are looking at 2023. There are a few national parks here that you could visit, and places like Aspen, Boulder, and Denver are nice to visit. If you prefer the southern route, scroll down to the Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone route. This beautiful city and its surrounding area offer endless activities and stunning natural landmarks including the Great Salt Lake. The Hoover Dam from above on a helicopter tour - truly a sight to behold on a Southwest road trip. Deadwood is a great place to have lunch, depending on how your timing works out. Sawin Logs in is one of the highest rated properties near Devils Tower. From Dayton, it takes 3 hours to drive to Devils Tower (185 miles). If you're driving west, follow this route . Western USA: Road Trip to 11 Stops on the Yellowstone Loop The Glacier National Park Route covers 1,380 miles with 23 hours and 10 . When translated to driving times, it will be around 16 hr 30 min to 16 hr 45 min. Answer 1 of 7: Looking a new road trip, starting in Vegas, heading to the Scenic Byway 12 and then Denver to Mount Rushmore then to Yellowstone (for a few nights). 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. To learn what to do and how to plan your time, read our post Mount Rushmore: 10 Things to Know Before You Go. When you reach Boise after your long drive, rest in luxury at The Grove Hotel. Reservations for Scenic Tours and Wild Caving Tours are strongly recommended. From Cody, you will drive east to Shell, Wyoming (a one hour drive) and then take US-14 (the Bighorn Scenic Byway) through the Bighorn Mountains. Last year myself and my wife took our first road trip driving the California coast from San Fransico to San Diego and fell in love love with road trips. Cloud Peak Skyway reaches its highest point at Powder River Pass (9,666 feet) and then descends to Buffalo. Rent a canoe and spend an hour or two paddling around Jenny Lake. Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip - Yahoo! While in Boise, we recommend visiting the Idaho State Capitol Building and making a stop at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Site. You can even go to the rodeo. You'll get to explore some of the most stunning places in America on your way from California to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. Today, you will visit a few more sights in Yellowstone. For the quickest visit, simply walk the Tower Trail, a 1.3 mile trail that loops around the base of Devils Tower. Historic Lantern Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Within one square mile, there are over 150 geothermal features here, making this one of the best spots in the park to see geysers, hot springs, and thermal pools. I hope this helps! Go canoeing, kayaking, or fishing during your stay. Rushmore and ending in Cody, Wyoming. After Reno, you can drive on a detour north to see Sutcliffe. Jackson: From Jackson, it takes just 15 minutes to drive to Moose (the southern end of Grand Teton National Park) and 30 minutes to drive to Jenny Lake. Cheers, Julie. Really great road trip! Yellowstone Lake is a large alpine lake in Montana, USA. You can go for fishing at the beach, bait shop, or boat rental. By staying here, you will have a much shorter drive to get to Devils Tower on day 6. For suggestions on how to plan your time today, read our post One Perfect Day in Grand Teton National Park. From Rocky Mountain National Park and Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakotas Black Hills, Glacier National Park in Montana and Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho, weve filled these park-connecting trips with tips to avoid the crowds without missing out on interesting activities, attractions and views. Take advantage of the free breakfast before heading out to explore the nearby green spaces. On your drive, you'll have several incredible places to rest and explore. Along the way, you can make a quick visit to Jackson Lake, since you will drive right past it before exiting Grand Teton National Park. If you have plans to visit Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Badlands, and Wind Cave National Parks and Devils Tower, it is worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. This Yellowstone road trip planner covers the northern route through North Dakota. This itinerary is a one-way, point-to-point road trip. 7:55 pm Mount Rushmore. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go and the driving route). The warmer months see larger crowds yet often great weather, so if you aren't bothered by crowds, late spring and summer might be the best times to visit. Overview of this Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore itinerary, with Grand Teton NP, the Bighorn Mountains, Custer State Park, andd Badlands NP. Cowboy Village Resort. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Los Angeles to Mt Rushmore. We took the Natural Entrance Cave Tour, which lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes. For more information about cave tours, visit the National Park Service website. One of the best times to visit Lamar Valley is in the late afternoon and early evening. I highly recommend having dinner at Skogen Kitchen in Custer. Rushmore and the Grand Tetons Details Itinerary Tour Vendor 11 days Midwest US, North America, Western US 3/5 Road Trips ATI offers the most extensive and creative array of independent tour itineraries across North America. Explore the endless hiking trails of this one-of-a-kind natural area. Stay in a suite or a standard room, some of which can accommodate up to 7 people. Because of all the amazing destinations and things to see along the way, we recommend taking seven days to make this journey. After your cave tour (or instead of a cave tour), explore the above ground world of Wind Cave National Park. Road trip from Orange County to Yellowstone! - Tripadvisor Grand Prismatic Spring and the Fairy Falls Hike, Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience. There are also a number of fishing lodges in the park. I dont want to go as far south as the Grand Canyon as we have done that before (Grand Circle in 2018 by car). Cloud Peak Skyway (US Route 16) crosses the highest pass in the mountains. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. I love your itineraries. You should be able to print itI save off a PDF of new articles, which is about 4 times a week. drive for about 2 hours. You can print a copy of the Yellowstone to Rushmore and Washington Road Trip from your browser by pushing CTRL+P. Cheers, Julie. Mount Rushmore Tours - Yellowstone, Little Big Horn, Grand Teton - Caravan by MARY July 16, 2014 But it is arguably the least scenic compass direction to approach Yellowstone, considering some of the stunning landscapes found in the US northwest: From the South and Salt Lake City, you have scenic roads and majestic Grand Teton National Park. Later, make your way south, stopping at as many viewpoints as your heart desires. These shoulder months offer mild Travel This was the real thing -- 3 weeks and over 6,000 miles of adventure ahead of us. You also have enough time to visit the highlights of Grand Teton, day trip out to Badlands National Park, spend some time at Wind Cave National Park, and cruise the scenic drives and spot wildlife at Custer State Park. Make sure to enjoy the free Wi-Fi and on-site bar as well as the on-site restaurant. Our favorite restaurant in Jackson is Local Restaurant & Bar. Summer is the busiest tourism season. Just south of Rapid City is TKTK, where you can rent a two-bedroom house, a great option for families. Entering the Bighorn Mountains near Shell, Wyoming. You can simply view the monument from afar, from the terrace of the Welcome Center, or you can take a van ride to the monument for a closer view. We had a great meal at Jacobs Brewhouse & Grocer but Cheyenne Crossing, El Jefes Fresh-Mex Cantina, Lewies Saloon & Eatery, and Deadwood Legends Steakhouse all get great reviews. Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary: The Black Hills Route Here are ideas of where to stay in and around Grand Teton National Park. Located in Cody, this property gets some of the best reviews in town. This shorter and more direct route will take you through two major cities: Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. In the afternoon/evening, fly home or continue on to your next destination. Mountains rise against big blue skies, geysers and hot springs bubble up from the earth, and wildlife abounds. Here is the link to our One Day Badlands Itinerary. If you are doing well on time, you have the option to add on a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial. This drive starts off with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains. From Deadwood, it takes about one hour to drive to Mount Rushmore. On the sidebar, under Amenities there is a filter for pet friendly hotels, so this will help you narrow down the list. Any suggested itineraries? Mapbox . Thank you! Getting in/out of motor coach frequently. If I turn my computer off I need internet access to load it again. Inside the Park: There are numerous lodges and campgrounds available inside of the park. We dont have those specific PDFs done yet but thanks for asking, and Ill them to our to-do list. Persephones Bakery is an awesome breakfast/brunch spot in town. Purchase your pass at the first national park that you visit (in this case, at Grand Teton) or you can get it online. Visit Mormon Row at sunrise and then spend the morning driving the 42-mile scenic loop drive. Its a 30 minute drive from Mount Rushmore and a visit here can be very quick. The Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mt. Rushmore to Yellowstone - An Epic Road Trip Road Trip Itinerary Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park: Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota Day 2: Mount Rushmore (Custer State Park) Day 3: Badlands National Park Day 4: Buffalo, Wyoming Day 5: Billings, Montana (Optional) Day 6 & 7: Yellowstone National Park Day 8: Grand Teton National Park Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota Temperatures during the winter season lie between 4 degrees and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. At Mount Rushmore, you drive through the main entrance and then will immediately park in a large lot/parking garage. Visit Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Lake Tahoe, Casper, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Grand Teton National Park, Rapid City, Twin Falls. I would not make the 2 day drive just for a bit of time at the one spot. Just past Ten Sleep, US-16 enters a canyon and you will drive past towering limestone peaks. In Deadwood, walk through the historic town, Tour the Adams House, visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, and visit the Saloon #10 Bar. Tonight, sleep in Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, or Teton Village. Road trip Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone and Yosemite - Road Trips Forum 40 Best Stops Between San Diego and Yellowstone National Park - Wanderlog Visit Badlands National Park, go hiking in Custer State Park, visit Wind Cave National Park, and learn how to visit Mount Rushmore. For dinner, the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House is a popular spot.