You have two routes to choose from. 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. Trying to gather information how to see everything, where to fly into. Later, make your way south, stopping at as many viewpoints as your heart desires. 3. You can do this itinerary with less time, but you will have to give up a few sights. You will stay here for two nights. View more. During this time, you'll get to enjoy this natural wonder covered in snow which is one of the most prized sights for nature photographers. By starting here first thing in the morning, you get to avoid the midday crowds. Porcelain Basin is our favorite of the two basins. 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 map will be part of the document. Anything for Oregon? 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. I recommend getting an early start. The closest airport is Jackson Hole Airport, which is located in the park. Be aware, as the lows can drop as far as -15 Fahrenheit. Or get a full Los Angeles to Mt Rushmore flight plan. In nearby Wilson, you have tons of incredible restaurants and bars to choose from. Activity level Natural Explorer. 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. Routing by HERE 2021; Improve this map; Remove Ads. 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. Our favorite overlooks on the North Rim are Lookout Point, Red Rock Point, and Inspiration Point. Highlights include Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Death Valley, Zion National Park, Dixie National Forest and Salt Lake City. Another option is Panorama Point, our favorite sunset spot in the Badlands. Mount Rushmore is a days drive past Yellowstone, plus any time to see other things in the area. Its a nice drive but Tim and I both think that the Bighorn Scenic Byway is more thrilling from start to finish. About halfway along the Los Angeles Route you will reach Salt Lake City. States Covered. If you're planning a road trip to see Mount Rushmore, it makes the most sense to divide the surrounding area into three main scenic driving routes: The Black Hills with Mount Rushmore Badlands National Park Spearfish Canyon The Black Hills and Mount Rushmore loop will take a full day. At Colter Bay Village, there is a gas station and restaurants, a great place to refuel your car before continuing on to Yellowstone. Mapbox . 7:55 pm Mount Rushmore. In Spearfish, Spearfish Canyon Lodge is the highest rated property. Then drive onwards to the iconic Mount Rushmore, just make sure to account for the additional 8 hours it takes to get there! 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. Flying into here will save you some driving today. (And the next one on this list about visiting the Giant Redwoods too). From the fun-in-the-sun city of Los Angeles, get on I-15 towards Las Vegas. Reservations for Scenic Tours and Wild Caving Tours are strongly recommended. RELATED: Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience, The view of Old Faithful from Observation Point. It can be done in the order outlined here or in reverse order. From Lamar Drive, drive past Canyon Village and Yellowstone Lake and exit the park at the East Entrance. This is one of the best places in Yellowstone to spot bison, but they are not always hanging out by the side of the road. From Gardiner or Mammoth, it will be a very long drive to Grand Teton National Park (plus, they are closed due to the flood). 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. Thats four national parks in one road trip, not to mention two national monuments, one incredible state park, and several very scenic drives. These hot springs are spread over a large area. We plan to drive from Tucson, AZ. The Ultimate Guide To BBQ Styles Across The United States And Around The World, The Complete Guide to California National Parks, there is no better place to stay than the Grand America Hotel, When you reach Boise after your long drive, rest in luxury at The Grove Hotel, we recommend staying at the highly rated and luxurious Bentwood Inn. 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). Take this route early in the morning for at dusk for the best opportunities to see bears and wolves. Our website uses cookies. On the Road: 42 miles on the scenic loop plus extra driving time and distance depending on where you are staying. National parks. After Reno, you can drive on a detour north to see Sutcliffe. This scenic USA road trip route begins in Red Lodge, Montana, and ends in Cooke City and the northeastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. A visit here can be quick, with a short walk to one or two viewpoints. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise is a magical time to visit Badlands National Park. Visit Yellowstone, Salt Lake City, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Lake Tahoe, Casper, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Grand Teton National Park, Rapid City, Twin Falls. Head north into Idaho and drive through the beautiful community of Idaho Falls. Ideally, stay in West Yellowstone, Canyon Village, or Old Faithful Village. You can save this post as a PDF and then print the whole thing or just what you need. Julie, We are planning on driving an RV. For recommended hotels and locations, both inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park, read our article Where to Stay in Yellowstone. One of the best times to visit Lamar Valley is in the late afternoon and early evening. This bed and breakfast ticks all of the boxes. Beartooth Highway is typically open from Memorial Day through very early October. 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. If you are looking for a bit of luxury, this is a highly-rated historic hotel in Cody. Although this will depend on exactly where in Yellowstone is your first destination, since Yellowstone is big! Schwabacher Landing, the Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend are beautiful places to visit, and photograph, in the morning hours. On the South Rim, visit Artist Point (one of the most photographed spots in Yellowstone National Park), Canyon Overlook, and Uncle Toms Trail (if it is open). 5%. The Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mt. Search for buffalo, pronghorns and other wildlife on a Jeep Safari in Custer State Park. If I turn my computer off I need internet access to load it again. For example, the Kelly Inn in West Yellowstone allows pets on request. 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. Many of our readers have written in, saying that they got cheaper flights into Bozeman than Jackson or Idaho Springs. It is home to various animals such as wildebeest, elk, and moose. But you could come back through Colorado. Below, we've chosen our favorites for you to choose from. You'll get to visit Zion National Park and Dixie National Forest along the way as well as the small but beautiful city of Idaho Falls. Uncover the history of Mt. The closest thing I have right now is the Grand Teton Yellowstone Glacier itinerary PDF. Scenic Drive through the Bighorn Mountains. The Rocket Motel is a nice pick if you are looking for a budget property that gets good reviews. This route is the shortest and will take you to the famous Yellowstone National Park on your way. Head north into Yellowstone National Park. 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. Our favorite restaurant in Jackson is Local Restaurant & Bar. Recommended photo spots: The dam, obviously; the Pat Tillman memorial bridge. 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. Take the All-American Road Trip to Yellowstone, starting in Chicago. You can enjoy tons of amenities and opportunities to relax after a long day of driving, including indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, and a five-star spa. For dinner, the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House is a popular spot. The cheapest way to get from California to Mount Rushmore costs only $308, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. For the next three nights, you will stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota or Rapid City. If you arent lucky enough to see a herd of bison here, you have another chance in Lamar Valley. It is the southern route through the Bighorn Mountains. For suggestions on how to plan your time today, read our post. If you choose to take this route with no stops in-between, it will take you approximately 9 hours. View Dates & Pricing. If you'd like to unwind and relax in luxury, there is no better place to stay than the Grand America Hotel. There are a few national parks here that you could visit, and places like Aspen, Boulder, and Denver are nice to visit. From here, you have the option to hike to Fairy Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in Yellowstone. 12:17 pm Buffalo (Wyoming) If this is the same in your case, you can fly into Bozeman and then make some modifications to this itinerary. I have been looking for a trip like this and so glad I found your site. If you are doing well on time, you have the option to add on a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial. I love your itineraries. This road trip works best from May through October, when the roads in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are open. . Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Keystone: "Coming in from Nebraska, what road is." | Check out 5 answers, plus see 11,784 reviews, articles, and 7,905 photos of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 47 attractions in Keystone. Idaho Road Trip: Off the Beaten Path to Yellowstone. You can even go to the rodeo. Its best to fly home from Glacier, since it is located so far from Rapid City (it would take about a full day to backtrack to your starting point). This is the best spot in Yellowstone to view wildlife. The actual road trip itself from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is great. If you have any questions about this Yellowstone, Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore itinerary, let us know in the comment section below. Visit Badlands National Park, go hiking in Custer State Park, visit Wind Cave National Park, and learn how to visit Mount Rushmore. The Los Angeles Route will take you to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore faster. 7-Day Yellowstone, Arches, Mt. The colder months see fewer people and are still very beautiful. Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Tennessee. The Glacier National Park Route covers 1,380 miles with 23 hours and 10 . 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. 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. The Yellowstone Route will take you 1,330 miles in 21 hours and 10 minutes of driving time. The road distance is 1392.2 miles. There is a garden, library, and on-site bar. There is a lot more activity here, with noisy fumaroles, steaming hot springs, and blue pools of water. From the East Entrance, it is a one hour drive on Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, another beautiful drive through the mountains. 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. Surrounding its multicolored waters is the Spiral Jetty, a famous sculpture made by the famous sculptor Robert Smithson. You'll primarily pass through Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, with plenty of attractions to. Take advantage of the free breakfast before heading out to explore the nearby green spaces. Ate the roads and parking at Mount Rushmore able to accommodate the RV.? Visit Mormon Row at sunrise and then spend the morning driving the 42-mile scenic loop drive. From the parking lot, you walk to all of the sights (regardless if you got here by RV or car). This Yellowstone road trip planner covers the northern route through North Dakota. This small town was home to the Homestake Mine, the largest, deepest, and most productive gold mine in the Western Hemisphere. Call to book 1-877-929-7245. Skip the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and go right to Norris Geyser Basin. Get the reverse directions for a Mt Rushmore to Los Angeles drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. 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. You will spend one night in Cody. Share Map. Where to stay depends on whether or not you want to do an extra hour of driving today or save it for tomorrow morning. You can return to the Black Hills at this point, or stick around for sunset, another magical time to be here. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind Cave. but that was only a one-way trip home after picking up our new motorhome in California. Just past Ten Sleep, US-16 enters a canyon and you will drive past towering limestone peaks. You should be able to print itI save off a PDF of new articles, which is about 4 times a week. Drive through the wild Mojave Desert until you reach Sin City, Las Vegas. Try again, pressing CTRL+P (command + P on a mac) to bring up the printer dialog box. While in Boise, we recommend visiting the Idaho State Capitol Building and making a stop at the Old Idaho Penitentiary Site. We use Booking.com to book our hotels when we travel. Either route you choose, you will drive through Yellowstone National Park, one of the most celebrated parks in the US and a favorite for lovers of the outdoors. 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. Rushmore and the Grand Tetons Yellowstone, Mt. 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). Make your reservation in advance. For each property, if you scroll down to the bottom of the screen, they will list their pet policy. 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. 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. Spend the afternoon at the Midway Geyser Basin. That's 24 hours of driving just to get to your destinations. Inside the Park: There are numerous lodges and campgrounds available inside of the park. If you like the idea of staying in a resort town just outside of the park, this is a great place to consider. ), Cody, Yellowstone, Reno/Carson City and Lake Tahoe. If you want an upscale experience in the city center of Jackson, the Wort Hotel gets rave reviews. The views of the Badlands arent quite as good as they are along Badlands Loop Drive, but on Sagecreek Rim Road you have a much better chance to spot wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, coyote, and prairie dogs (we saw all of these animals here during our visit). 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. Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. The path could cover 1,500 miles and take two days of driving, depending on your California starting point. This route is about 419 miles and will take you around 7.5 hours if you drive straight through with no stops. Day 3. Both of these routes are roughly the same distance and take the same amount of time. The best route from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is via US-16 West. This state park has a little bit of everythingthrilling hiking trails, picturesque lakes, and an abundance of wildlife that rivals that in the neighboring national parks. A visit here can last as little as 30 minutes, if you just want to walk up and snap a selfie with Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. I would love it if you would email me for some questions I have. I do have a question, we will be traveling from Ohio by RV (I saw where you answered this question that it is RV friendly. Start in Chicago on this incredible road trip through some of the nation's most stunning prairies, wide-open skies and gorgeous rock formations on your way from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone. Below, we've included our picks for the best overnight stops so you can get the most out of your trip. Located downtown, the hotel is within easy access of the Idaho Black History Museum, Zoo Boise, the Morrison Center for Performing Arts, and the Old Idaho Penitentiary either on foot, or via a short drive. From Wall, its just a 30 minute drive to get to this overlook. Thank you so much! 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. Option #2 is for avid hikers. If you prefer the southern route, scroll down to the Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone route. Read on to discover the best routes to travel, our favorite places to stay, and the many must-see stops along the way. On the Road: 100 miles, 2 hours if you stay at Old Faithful; 160 miles, 3 hours if you stay in West Yellowstone; 140 miles, 3.75 hours if you stay in Canyon Village. Immediately past the entrance station is the Big Badlands Overlook. The visitor center opens at 8 am and I recommend getting here right at 8 am, or even a little before, to make sure that you are on the first tour of the day. The busiest months are June, July and August. The state's largest city and likely the place where you'd fly into, Sioux Falls is the logical starting point for a South Dakota road trip. The Pinnacles Overlook is the most convenient, since it is located near Sage Creek Rim Road and just a short drive to Wall. Dont miss our article Best Things to Do in Yellowstone for more great things to do in the park. This is one of the best scenic drives in the US. For more information about cave tours, visit the National Park Service website. Today, I'll take you on a road trip from Bozeman, Montana, to Bismarck, North Dakota, to Rapid City, South Dakota, and then on to Cody, Wyoming, before heading for a stop in Yellowstone National Park back in Montana. 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. The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May as well as September through early October. If you're having issues using the site, please enable JavaScript and refresh your browser. Cheers, Julie. Cloud Peak Skyway (US Route 16) crosses the highest pass in the mountains. From Buffalo, it takes 2 hours to drive to Devils Tower (130 miles). This is the first of two days in Grand Teton. This is the location of Steamboat Geyser, the worlds tallest active geyser. Mount Rushmore: SD: 47 : 1 : 19 : Wall Drug: SD: 80 : 1.5 . and leave at 6:08 pm. Continue on to learn more about our recommended routes, where to stay, and what to see along the way. Along the way, you get to see places like Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Devils Tower and, finally, Old Faithful.