After visiting Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and a few things in vicinity, we will be driving towards Yellostone, in late May. What itinerary would you suggest ?
South-West to Yellostone: looking for itinerary
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How many days do you have for your trip?
Lee Ann
For the drive from the South-West to Yelloastone - up to 3-4 days, depending on if there is much to see on the way. The total trip (Nearby of LA - Grand Canyon area - Yellowstone) is 17 days.
Well, the question is closed: drop-off charges for a car rented at LAX and dropped at Jackson, WY, are way too steep to consider a one way drive.
If go over to Moab and visit Arches and Canyonlands then leave Moab via 191 north (it joins 70 west for a couple of exits) you can stop in Vernal UT and visit Dinosaur NP for a relaxed trip, just continue on 191 right into Grand Teton NP and into Yellowstone
Fly to or take the train to Salt Lake City. Rent the car there and make a loop including Moab, Rock Springs WY, Yellowstone and Pocatello ID.
Fly to Las Vegas from SLC if you want to see things in the LV area or the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
I am thinking of flying to Jackson, WY. It seems to be within 50 miles from Yellowstone, by a scenic HWY 89. But Google Maps show a huge loop, 350 miles. Why ? Is HWY 89 is not passable by car (I am talking about end of May) ?
No idea what you are looking at - but from Jackson, Wyo - you are not that far from Yellowstone park. They may be showing the Beartooth hiway - toward Red Lodge or some such - or other options, from which you can freely pick and choose.
Driving up to Yellowstone - and looking out and seeing the Grand Tetons, just doesn't get any better than that.
We went Salt Lake City - Boise - Idaho Falls - Grand Teton - Yellowstone
Oops - Insert Twin Falls between SLC and Boise
Have you checked the price to fly to and rent in Jackson compared to flying to and renting in SLC? You will likely pay about twice as much just to save 6 to 10 hours of driving.
The roads through Yellowstone are closed this time of year. If you are looking at an online mapping site that may be why they give you a longer route, though google let me get from Jackson to Old Faithful.
You could also fly into Idaho Falls
Bozeman
Billings
I don't know where the cheapest car rental would be.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I am travelling with a first timer in the US, with just 17 days to see the South West and the Yellowstone area. My feeling is that places like Twin Falls or Idaho Falls, which seem to be nice towns rather than spectacular tourist attractions, may be better left for a slower trip.
I was suggesting flying into Idaho Falls not as a destination, but as a gateway to Yellowstone. It may work better for you than Jackson for car rental and fares (I don't know, it is just another option). It is about 2 hrs from West Yellowstone which is certainly closer than Las Vegas which you were considering, or SLC which is about a 5 hr drive. Billings and Bozeman are also closer towns with bigger airports than Jackson.
The Grand Tetons have an inside road and an outside road. It's like the scenic and express route. However the express route in this case has some pretty good sights.
Both meet at the top of GT at Oxbow Bend. Many photos have been taken there.
From Jackson airport to Old Faithful is about 2 hours without obligatory stops. There are some Teton sights that are on Rt89: Mormon Row barns, Swabacher Landing and a few others.
It would be best to fly into Salt Lake or even better Idaho Falls, and I don't think it is much more expensive to fly into.
Drive from Idaho Falls to Jackson via the Teton pass, which is one of the more spectacular sights in the world.
From Jackson go up Hwy 89 to the park. The reason that google told you to go another way is that you are going over some high passes (3 are continental divide) and the roads are not always open in mid May. But that being said they are always open at the end of May and this year we have had NO snow so I'm sure they will be open in mid May. Check Yellowstone Park web site for this. ABSOLUTELY the best time to see all the little babies in the park.
Go to all of the parts of the parks you want and then come out the west entrance and down through Idaho and back to Idaho Falls and fly out from there.
The driftwood is a good place to stay in IF and there are wonderful restaurants downtown.