road trip from california to yellowstone and mount rushmore

States Covered. Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Parks Road Trip 1 Week Itinerary. Below is our 9 days road trip plan for Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore; Day 1 - Leave home drive to Elko,Nevada or Wendover Day 2 - Wendover to Salt Lake City to Casper Day 3 - Casper to Mount Rushmore Day 4 - Mount Rushmore to Sherindan Day 5 - Sherindan to Yellowstone Day 6 - Yellowstone Day 7 - Yellowstone - Garnider Ideally, stay in the park. 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. I dont seem to be able to print or save a copy from earthtrekkers.com/yellowstone-devils-tower-mount-rushmore-road-trip-itinerary. This is one of the best road trips in the USA. For more information about how to visit Devils Tower, check out our Guide to Devils Tower. Where to stay depends on whether or not you want to do an extra hour of driving today or save it for tomorrow morning. Rome2rio displays up to date . On the Road: 42 miles on the scenic loop plus extra driving time and distance depending on where you are staying. Continue on US-89 north until you get to Dixie National Forest. You can probably find these in South Dakota as well. The cheapest way to get from California to Mount Rushmore costs only $308, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. Take a detour to explore the coastline and mountain scenery of Lake Tahoe. Surrounding its multicolored waters is the Spiral Jetty, a famous sculpture made by the famous sculptor Robert Smithson. . Yellowstone, Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore Itinerary, Yellowstone, Devils Tower & Mount Rushmore Itinerary. Because of all the amazing destinations and things to see along the way, we recommend taking seven days to make this journey. WY. View more. From West Thumb Geyser Basin, continue the counter-clockwise drive on Grand Loop Road until you get to Hayden Valley. There is RV parking here. The Cody. If you are doing well on time, you have the option to add on a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Thats four national parks in one road trip, not to mention two national monuments, one incredible state park, and several very scenic drives. Start New Trip. Experience the great American west on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore from the beautiful state of California. The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May as well as September through early October. The most optimal route would be to travel from Rapid City to Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier. Be aware, as the lows can drop as far as -15 Fahrenheit. The closest thing I have right now is the Grand Teton Yellowstone Glacier itinerary PDF. There is a third section, Brink of the Upper Falls, which is nice, but I recommend skipping it in order to give yourself enough time to visit the other sights today. The Rocket Motel is a nice pick if you are looking for a budget property that gets good reviews. 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. On the Road (from Keystone): 240 miles, 5 hours. Grand Prismatic Spring and the Fairy Falls Hike, Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience. Day 1: Arrive in Rapid City, drive to Wall, South Dakota Day 2: Badlands National Park from sunrise to sunset, drive to the Black Hills Day 3: Custer State Park Day 4: Wind Cave NP, Mount Rushmore Day 5: Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon & Devils Tower Day 6: Drive to Cody via Bighorn Scenic Byway or Cloud Peak Skyway Day 7: Yellowstone NP Day 8: Yellowstone NP Day 9: Yellowstone NP in the morning, Grand Teton NP in the afternoon Day 10: Grand Teton NP in the morning, fly home in the evening. Now we are looking at going to mt Rushmore to Yellowstone finishing up at Yosemite. Since Bozeman is a 4-hour drive from Jackson, and you will drive right past Yellowstone, it doesnt make sense to drive to Jackson on the first day of this itinerary. Really great road trip! Yellowstone Driving distance from Cooke City to Old Faithful: 100 miles / 2 hours 50 minutes You will come into Yellowstone via Lamar Valley, which is an amazing wildlife watching area in the park. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Los Angeles to Mt Rushmore. drive for about 2 hours. Located in Cody, rooms are rustic and can accommodate from two to six people. The actual road trip itself from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is great. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind Cave. Trying to gather information how to see everything, where to fly into. Big Bend National Park; . You can print a copy of the Yellowstone to Rushmore and Washington Road Trip from your browser by pushing CTRL+P. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Crowds are lower and you could see some fall colors. Experience the mystique of Devils Tower Monument, see Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park and take in the majesty of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole. This route is the shortest and will take you to the famous Yellowstone National Park on your way. The Wort Hotel. As you head south, towards Jenny Lake, consider taking the detour up Signal Mountain for stunning views over the park.The park gets extremely crowded midday. I dont want to go as far south as the Grand Canyon as we have done that before (Grand Circle in 2018 by car). You'll wind your way through the Californian Sierra Nevada Mountains and discover the largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe. There is a garden, library, and on-site bar. The closest airport is Jackson Hole Airport, which is located in the park. If you want to take a cave tour, currently tours are booked in the morning on a first-come first-serve basis. It is the northern route through the Bighorn Mountains. Schwabacher Landing, the Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend are beautiful places to visit, and photograph, in the morning hours. Required fields are marked *. The Travelodge by Wyndham Spearfish and the Best Western Black Hills Lodge get good reviews. Recommended photo spots: The dam, obviously; the Pat Tillman memorial bridge. Mount Rushmore in early October. but that was only a one-way trip home after picking up our new motorhome in California. Not only will you get to tour the park crowd free, at least for a little bit, but you also get to see the park at sunrise. You can begin at the southern end of the Shenandoah National Park, near Waynesboro, VA, and wind along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Inside the Park: There are numerous lodges and campgrounds available inside of the park. Cheers, Julie. You will start on the east side of the park and end on the west side, so it will be a shorter drive to get back to the Black Hills/Rapid City at the end of the day. If you want an upscale experience in the city center of Jackson, the Wort Hotel gets rave reviews. From Cody, it takes 2 hours to drive to Ten Sleep. USA ROAD TRIPS: Planning your next big adventure in the USA? The Yellowstone Loop: 11 Stops to Make on an Epic Western Road Trip By Michael Yessis Route distance: 1,561 km Suggested Time: 2 weeks + A vast, scenic landscape provides the timeless backdrop for the western United States. With the recent flooding in Yellowstone, some park roads are closed. By starting here first thing in the morning, you get to avoid the midday crowds. You would need to make reservations to stay in the park as. You'll pass strikingly beautiful mountain scenery and desert landscapes that will make any professional or amateur photographer fall in love. With 10 days, you can visit Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but thats not all. Located in Cody, this property gets some of the best reviews in town. Trip Guides. One Perfect Day in Grand Teton National Park. Old Faithful erupts roughly every ninety minutes, so it is possible that you can catch two eruptions while you are here. Anything for Oregon? The first thing to see in Salt Lake is, of course, the Great Salt Lake! Overview of this Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore itinerary, with Grand Teton NP, the Bighorn Mountains, Custer State Park, andd Badlands NP. Destinations; Itineraries; Travel Tips; English. On top of that, you'll pass through the smaller town of Sutcliffe as well as the city of Boise. From early November through mid-April, many of these park roads will be closed due to snow. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise is a magical time to visit Badlands National Park. For more details on visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, read our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. To make the most of the day, I recommend getting an early start, ideally getting on the road at 7 am. Explore the museums and the Great Salt Lake before hitting the road to Yellowstone. Make sure to visit the museum below the viewing deck for some history & statistics. Take the one-way loop off the main road to visit Jenny Lake, or to do one of the shorter hikes to Leigh Lake (1.8 miles RT) or String Lake (3.7 miles RT). Today, you will visit a few more sights in Yellowstone. There are also a number of fishing lodges in the park. This route is about 419 miles and will take you around 7.5 hours if you drive straight through with no stops. 9:00 am leave from Mount Rushmore. For more information about how to visit Devils Tower, check out our, To learn what to do and how to plan your time, read our post, For a full list of things to do and many more photos, read our, More Information about Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Devils Tower & South Dakota. Take the All-American Road Trip to Yellowstone, starting in Chicago. Route #1: Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone on Bighorn Scenic Byway Distance: 441 miles Driving Time (without stops): 7.5 hours This driving route starts at Mount Rushmore and ends in Cody, Wyoming. After living it up in one of the world's party capitals, continue on I-15 until you reach UT-9. 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. Save. If you're driving west, follow this route . Day 7: Whitefish. From here, you can save it and/or print it. Head north into Yellowstone National Park. Near the Old Faithful Inn, you will also find restrooms, gift shops, a convenience store, and restaurants, so this is the perfect place to grab lunch. In May this year we drove from Minneapolis to San Francisco via the Badlands, Mt. Ate the roads and parking at Mount Rushmore able to accommodate the RV.? If you will be driving back to your starting point then plan on adding on an extra day and hundreds of miles of driving to this itinerary. Drive through the wild Mojave Desert until you reach Sin City, Las Vegas. 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. 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. The quickest way to get answers to your questions is to ask them in a comment section at the end of a post, like this one (I try to answer everything within 12 hours). From Lamar Valley, it takes 2 to 3 hours to drive to Cody. Theres so much to see and do that we welcome you to pick and choose your stops to fit your vacation style whether thats family fun time, scenic cruises or adventure challenges. There is an onsite pool and hot tub and this is one of the highest rated properties in Cody. This is one of the best scenic drives in the US. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore features the 60-foot high faces of four United States presidents intricately carved out of a granite mountainside. Your email will not be provided to third parties. Travel through breathtaking wild scenery and get the chance to see enchanting Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and so much more on this road trip of a lifetime. We have 16 days, including driving time from Southeast. 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. We are planning on reversing your 10 day itinerary from Rapid City to Grand Teton. We liked the Wyoming Inn a little bit better but we wouldnt hesitate to stay here again, especially since prices are a little lower. Zion & Bryce Canyon: Epic 3 Day Zion to Bryce Canyon Road Trip Itinerary. If you can schedule a late afternoon or evening flight, you have time in the morning to visit Wind Cave National Park. View details. Stay in a suite or a standard room, some of which can accommodate up to 7 people. You'll get to explore some of the most stunning places in America on your way from California to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. Below we give an overview of both routes, but for more information and many more photos, read our Guide on How to Drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone. This is a small geyser basin and it only takes about 30 minutes to walk through all of it. Below are two different ways to spend your time in Custer State Park. Things to Do and See on this Road Trip The Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mt. Visitors can also experience watching sports teams like the Utah Jazz in their home stadiums. Most of this drive is on Interstate 90 which is a large divided highway. Here are ideas of where to stay in and around Grand Teton National Park. There are two main areas to visit, the North Rim and the South Rim, and it takes 3 to 4 hours to visit both rims. Rushmore, Devils Tower, the Bighorn Mountains (spectacular views but be sure to watch the road! To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. UNITED STATES: We have TONS of information about places to visit in the United States in our USA Travel Guide. Instead, go right to Yellowstone. Then drive onwards to the iconic Mount Rushmore, just make sure to account for the additional 8 hours it takes to get there! Plan well and select from these suggestions the sites and attractions that will most please your family. The path could cover 1,500 miles and take two days of driving, depending on your California starting point. Driving directly, it might take around 8 hours of driving time from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. We recommend the K Bar S Lodge and the Rockerville Lodge and Cabins. If you're departing from Los Angeles getting to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore will take you 30 hours, and covering 1,840 miles if you don't make any detours. Best of all, you'll If you choose to take this route with no stops in-between, it will take you approximately 9 hours. Is there a printable version of this itinerary or even just the map? If you do one hike today, this is the one that I recommend. After your cave tour (or instead of a cave tour), explore the above ground world of Wind Cave National Park. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. The town of Custer is located just outside of Custer State park, on the west side. Hello Jeff. Make your reservation in advance. Unfortunately, we dont have a PDF version of this itinerary. However, since we are making a return trip, do you have another similar itinerary where we would be seeing other sites on the way home? My minimum recommendation for a first time trip just to see the main sights is 4 nights (3 full days) for Yellowstone, 2 nights (1 full day) for Grand Tetons. It takes about 2 hours to thoroughly explore this area.Get full details on how to plan your visit in our Guide to the Geyser Basins. We are looking at 2023. How long does it take to drive across the USA? Get the reverse directions for a Mt Rushmore to Los Angeles drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Rushmore Tour from San Francisco/Salt Lake City Log in / Register Support +1-617-500-7002 Toggle navigation Log In or Register My Account . There are a few national parks here that you could visit, and places like Aspen, Boulder, and Denver are nice to visit. Coming from Florida is no easy feat. Mapbox . Just south of Rapid City is TKTK, where you can rent a two-bedroom house, a great option for families. On the Road: 165 miles, 3.5 hours from Devils Tower; 105 miles, 2.5 hours from Spearfish. At this point, you can drive Sagecreek Rim Road farther into the Badlands. The shuttle operates daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Taxis cost $25.00 to $30.00 and take 20 minutes. While in Boise, we recommend visiting the Idaho State Capitol Building and making a stop at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Site. Caravan's Rapid City, South Dakota hotel, the Rushmore Hotel provides a courtesy shuttle from the Rapid City Airport (RAP). Option #2 is for avid hikers. Looking at going to Rushmore/Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, then. Salt Lake City and Area 51 on the way back to Vegas. I would not make the 2 day drive just for a bit of time at the one spot. However, you might also be OK on the Bighorn Scenic Byway, it just might take some research if there are any vehicle restrictions for this road. Scenic Drive through the Bighorn Mountains. Coastal Redwoods Road Trip. Yellowstone will be about a day's driving west and would be my first choice of places to see. This can be done mostly on back roads. Visit Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Lake Tahoe, Casper, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Grand Teton National Park, Rapid City, Twin Falls. Start / End. This is amazing! The Holiday Express & Suites Custer-Mount Rushmore also gets good reviews. Rushmore road trip is exactly what we are looking for. Wyoming: 7 Day Road Trip Itinerary Salt Lake City to Grand Teton and 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. Rooms are clean and tastefully decorated. It was closed in January 2002. Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs that is located in north Yellowstone. Read our one day Grand Teton itinerary for full details on how to do this. Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Cloud Peak Skyway is 47 miles long, running from Ten Sleep to Buffalo, Wyoming, on US Highway 16. Old Faithful is one of Yellowstones most popular sights. Day 6: Glacier NP Going-to-the-Sun Road. You can even go to the rodeo. It is here that you will see the Grand Prismatic Spring, the most colorful hot spring in the park. Tonight, I recommend staying in Cody, Wyoming. The Door and Window Trails are very easy walks that take you up close to the rock formations. Cloud Peak Skyway (US Route 16) crosses the highest pass in the mountains. When translated to driving times, it will be around 16 hr 30 min to 16 hr 45 min. We stayed here on our most recent visit. The Chamberlin Inn. The Hoover Dam from above on a helicopter tour - truly a sight to behold on a Southwest road trip. 12. 14. It was the nicest hotel that we stayed in during our South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming road trip. Brink of the Lower Falls is a short but strenuous walk to a close-up view of Lower Falls (0.7 miles round trip and 600 feet of elevation gain). On your drive, you'll have several incredible places to rest and explore. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (points of interest and the walking route). Enter the park through the northeast entrance. 5%. Activity level Natural Explorer. There are free rental bikes, a fitness center, and an indoor pool as well so you can really make the most of your stay. I highly recommend having dinner at Skogen Kitchen in Custer. We have booked for end of May 2023 Old Faithful (three nights) and Canyon lodge (two nights) a total of five nights. It is also known as Lake Yellowstone. Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Tennessee. If you stayed near Devils Tower, it is a one hour drive to get to Spearfish. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. Spend the afternoon in and around Jenny Lake. Overview of a 4 week 2000 Cross Country Road Trip with Travel Itinerary, Travel Road Map, . We havent traveled with pets, but each national park and national monument has a section about where inside the park pets are allowed. On the way, take your pick between two different scenic drives through the Bighorn Mountains. You can return to the Black Hills at this point, or stick around for sunset, another magical time to be here. Denver, Colorado. There are some fishing options in the lake. Things to Do Between Yellowstone NP and Glacier NP. Tonight, sleep in Cody. Yellowstone to Mt Rushmore is 8 hours, wheels turning. 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). On the roads you will use for visiting Yellowstone, such as the Beartooth Highway or beautiful 191, don't expect to be cruising along at 65mph. This small restaurant serves gourmet food that is outstanding. This drive starts off with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains. From Hayden Valley, drive north. Your email address will not be published. A visit here can be quick, with a short walk to one or two viewpoints. The colder months see fewer people and are still very beautiful. From Denver to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone. This Yellowstone road trip planner covers the northern route through North Dakota. Cheers, Julie. After exploring the area, drive east into South Dakota to see the iconic Mount Rushmore. You need a minimum of 4 nights/3 days in Yellowstone and probably 1 or 2 nights at Mount Rushmore. Trip - 1-2 weeks Offbeat, Fresh and Iconic: 4 Sides of California from North to South Trip - 5 days South Carolina to Alabama Road Trip: Beaches, History and Iconic Music Trip - 1-2 weeks Culture, History, and Tranquility: 3 Captivating Stops in Georgia Off the beaten path Trip - 1-2 weeks Southern Atlantic Coast Trip - 4 days The New England Coast We use Booking.com to book our hotels when we travel. For more information about Badlands National Park, check out our article 15 Best Things to Do in Badlands National Park. This small town was home to the Homestake Mine, the largest, deepest, and most productive gold mine in the Western Hemisphere. If you are doing well on time, hike the Red Beds Trail, a 2.8 mile trail that makes a bigger loop around Devils Tower. View Dates & Pricing. Beartooth Highway is typically open from Memorial Day through very early October. What a detailed site you have!! To learn what to do and how to plan your time, read our post Mount Rushmore: 10 Things to Know Before You Go. You will drive a portion of the spectacular Beartooth Highway and then take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to Cody. For example, the Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone allows pets on request.