Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton Full Plan
Embedded Files
Day 1: Phoenix to Salt Lake City, UT
Day 1: Phoenix to Salt Lake City, UT
18th July 2024 - 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 of mine also joined us and started around same time. We shared our live locations on Whatsapp to stay close during the road journey.
12:00 PM – Quick stop in Page, AZ for homemade lunch and to stretch our legs. Refueled car, freshen up, bought some stuff from walmart and back on route around 1:00pm.
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
Day 2: Salt Lake City to Yellowstone
19 July, 2024 - 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 due to the Crowdstrike patch incident causing downtime for Microsoft users rendered all flights cancelled. Luckily he had already reached Salt Lake City airport. We had change in plan and my friend picked him up from Airport and brought him to the hotel. Rental cars were very hard to get due to the incident. But somehow we managed to pick one and continue our trip.
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. Back en-route around 3:00 pm.
5:00 PM – Finally, we arrived at the West Entrance of Yellowstone! The excitement was building as we slowly made our way into the park.
5:30 PM – Stopped at few points alongside Yellowstone River bank. Enjoyed the breathtaking views in the glowing busk of sun rays in the back.
6:00 PM – A pit stop at Dragon's Mouth Spring, to capture the awestruck views and 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 exploring.
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
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? Not great. But the sights? Incredible.
10:30 AM – Headed toward 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. The mix of deep blue, orange, and white mineral pools was mesmerizing.
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
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 locations to engulf the scenic views of the valley.
12:00 PM – Next stop Mammoth Hot Springs, where terraces of mineral deposits created a surreal landscape. The white and orange formations almost looked frozen in time.
1:00 PM – Had lunch and spent some time in the small but picturesque city. Kids enjoyed the museum and learned some history of the hot springs.
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 a better view.
6:00 PM – On our way back, made a quick stop at Washburn Hot Springs, a lesser-known but beautiful geothermal area.
7:00 PM – Dinner at Canyon Fountain and Grill in Canyon Village Market—a casual, retro-style spot with great burgers and shakes!
Day 5: Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, Hiddel Falls
Day 5: Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake, Hiddel Falls
9:00 AM – Checked out of Canyon Lodge, bade goodbye to our friend who had a flight to catch from Salt Lake City back to Los Angeles. Unfortunately he could not join us due to some previous commitments. But the adventure wasn’t over yet for other two families - 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 for photos and just to soak in the beauty.
12:45 PM – Arrived at Colter Bay Visitor Center, where we collected maps and got recommendations from the park rangers. The center had an interesting exhibit on the history and wildlife of the park.
1:00 PM – Lunchtime! We found a pizza shop nearby and enjoyed a relaxing meal before continuing our adventure.
3:00 PM – Back on the road, and we made a quick stop at Mountain View Turnout. The view of the Teton Range was incredible, so we took our time capturing photos before moving on.
4:00 PM – Took the scenic one-way road leading to Jenny Lake Overlook. The panoramic views from this spot were simply stunning, with the deep blue lake set against the towering peaks. Hiked down to the shore of Jenny Lake, enjoying the fresh mountain air and the peaceful sounds of nature.
5:50 PM – Started driving towards Jenny Lake Visitor Center, arriving around 6:15 PM.
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 pad just in time for the last boat of the evening at 7:00 PM. Phew!
7:15 PM – Back at Jenny Lake Visitor Center, but before heading to our lodge, we drove back to Jenny Lake Overlook to capture a few more photos with the golden hues of sunset.
8:00 PM – Finally arrived at Signal Mountain Lodge, our stay for the night. Checked in, freshened up, and headed for dinner inside the lodge’s restaurant.
8:30 PM – Dinner was amazing—fresh, flavorful food served by the most welcoming and friendly staff. The perfect way to end the day!
Day 6: Exploring Grand Teton & Return to Salt Lake City
Day 6: Exploring Grand Teton & Return to Salt Lake City
6:30 AM – Woke up to the most stunning sunrise view over Jackson Lake right from our lodge hut. The serene water reflecting the morning light was pure magic. Next time, we’ll definitely plan for a longer stay, allowing more time for hiking and exploring deeper into the park.
7:30 AM – Had breakfast in the lobby of Signal Mountain Lodge, enjoying the view of Jackson Lake one last time before starting our final day of exploration.
9:00 AM – First stop: Oxbow Bend. The calm waters of the bend 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. Standing there, looking at the winding river and towering peaks, felt surreal.
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. These rustic barns with the Tetons in the background were straight out of a postcard.
12:30 PM – Exited Grand Teton National Park, bidding farewell to its incredible landscapes.
1:00 PM – Started our 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 Grand Teton National Park.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse