I have seen this question so many times, and finally I think I have nailed down the most beautiful route we took to the Tetons from SLC--and it is 89. According to google, it really doesn't add any extra time to your trip, and it truly is gorgeous.
Temple Square is definitely worth a look--park and walk around.
U.S. Route 89 through the canyon has been designated a National Scenic Byway and connects the Cache and Bear Lake valleys.

Recent construction and proposed enhancements to the highway have been the focus of a decades-long confrontation between environmentalists and the Utah Department of Transportation. Some of the improvements have included reconstructing the bridges, which were in poor shape, straightening the road leading to Bear Lake, and reconstructing the Bear Lake Overlook, making it much larger and more attractive and adding basic facilities.

Ohh, so not only does 89 take us into SLC, but it's a beautiful drive!

Thanks for the vote to go ahead and see Temple Square.

I appreciate your input!

This site may prove useful to you: http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/maps_and_transportation/static_maps/
If parking in SLC is a problem, you can park in Sandy and ride the light rail to within a block of Temple Square.

Definitely stop at Temple Square, if you have time you should stop by Park City (outside of SLC at the beginning of 80) which is so amazing and lots to do. Olympic Park is my favorite thing there where you can learn about the 2002 Olympics in Utah and go through the museums, go Bobsledding down the actual Olympic course, or try ziplines or Alpine Slide. Really cool place.

Tetons is beautiful (just there about 3 months ago), Jenny Lake was our favorite scenic spot to take pictures and ride the ferry.

sheri,

Hwy 89 past Bear Lake and down Logan Canyon is definitely the most beautiful route, but it is the slowest in drive time. You hca to go through all the little towns with 30 mph limits along the west side of the lake, then twist and turn over the pass to Logan Canyon. Can be very slow with RVs in the way.

Still, get an early start and do it. Stop for a raspberry shake / fresh Bear Lake respberries if in late summer. Drive carefully.

Also notice how grogeous Star Valley, WY is on the way down! One of my very favorites.

No point in driving to Sandy (south SLC valley) to take the Trax back north to downtown SLC. Downtown SLC has had a major "remodel" in the last 6 years. There is LOTS of underground parking (paid) if you can't find stret parking.

Traffic will depend on arrival/departure time of day to SLC. Typical rush hours into downtown from both directions on I-15 - 7 - 8:30 am and 5 - 6:30 pm.

If you do have time, an overnight in Park City would be wonderful.

Have fun

Thanks for the map, Tom.

dhutch2, oh you tempt! Son would LOVE to go bobsledding on the Olympic course! I was telling DH yesterday that no matter how much time or money you're spending on something (a trip or a purchase), it's just human nature to want *just a little more*!! It's almost hard to be satisfied with what we're doing, knowing there is so much more to do!!

Thanks for the fantastic info Dayle! I hadn't really thought of the drive being scenic before I asked about 89. Can't wait! *raspberry shake duly noted on plans* Are you familiar with the Whole Foods in SLC? Easy in/out location?

sheri,

If you are going to be in downtown SLC anyway to see Temple Square, etc., then go to the Whole Foods at the Trolley Square location. Parking isn't too bad there.

There is also a very easy Whole Foods in Park City, located in Red Stone center just off I-80 at the Park City exit. Basically right across Hwy 224 from the Olympic Park - which I also highly recommend!

When are you visiting?

Thanks! We will be passing through on Tuesday Sept 11.

I can't really find anything about the Star Valley you mentioned, other than a ranch. Is that what you were referring to as we are driving 89?

Star Valley, WY is a large agricultural valley. Apline, WY is at the very top (north end) of the valley and that's the point where you go east along the Snake River to Hoback Junction on the way to Jackson.

You will enter Star Valley after going along the west side of Bear Lake, east to WY Hwy 89 and north on Hwy 89 thru a mountain pass.
It's just gorgeous, although this year with the dry conditions and in Sept, it may be a little brown.

Let me know if you have more questions,
Dayle

PS, I remember you will be driving south, so you will go thru Star Valley after you pass thru Apline (where the 2 highways meet).

Ahh, finally figured it out and see it on Google map! Thanks for the specifics! Hopefully there will be a little color left for us.

I concur with 89 being a great way to travel between Jackson and SLC, I love it in the fall. Sept might be a bit early but seems this year the colors are going to be early as well.

You might consider heading over at Spanish Fork and continuing on down 89 to Panguitch. Definitely slower doing it that way but you'd see the heart of Utah. I love Spring City- stop by and get some pottery from Joe.

This drive was UH-maz-ing!! So gorgeous. Even saw a hillside with about a thousand sheep on it. Stopped for photos.

As we were driving by Bear Lake (wow, it's soo blue!!) I said to the family, "Remember, we're supposed to be getting Raspberry Shakes around here somewhere." 10 seconds later we saw a Raspberry Shake place. Closed. Shoot. Wait...another one. Closed. Another one! OPEN!! I made DH turn around to go there. He was ready to get on down the road but I said we HAVE to stop. Fodors Folks said so. DS exclaimed that he loooves Raspberry. We have to get raspberry shakes!

Then we saw the list. Not only Raspberry Shakes but about 49 other flavors. Suddenly no one wanted Raspberry! Peanut Butter was calling. After much argument (SOMEONE has to get the raspberry?!) I said no (don't like seeds and guy said lots of seeds since they are fresh raspberries) DH and DS both got the raspberry, DD got Strawberry Shortcake and I got Choc Fudge Brownie. Guy made a Peanut Butter by mistake, so boys ended up getting it after all!! (in addition to our other 4!)

They were so freaking good and we were stuffffffed. YUMMM raspberry!!! We all loved it (taste tested everyone's!) Polished them off just about the time we got to the Bear Lake overlook. It was pretty hazy and not such a good view. Where'd the BLUE go? But a great bathroom stop.

Our day was running really late (late start out of Tetons) but DH wanted to stop at Temple Square for a quick 10 minutes just to see it. A quick 10 minutes turned in to 2 hours. It was beautiful and the volunteers were quite willing to offer tours... "Have you been on the roof yet?" asked one. Roof?? He took us to the top of the conference center and it was a gorgeous sunset over Salt Lake and a gorgeous city lit up. I felt kind of silly like I was "gawking" at them, but everyone was thrilled to share info about their beliefs and their beautiful buildings.

A run over to Whole Foods was in order (GPS took us to the closed location, but a security guard told us it was just down the street a block or two.) Got dinner and groceries.

I think we left Salt Lake around 9:00 or 10:00 (??) and we pulled into our next stop in Panguitch at 2:15 am!! By the time we got in bed we had been up 21 hours, but we still had no regrets about stopping in Salt Lake or taking the scenic route.

thanks for all the great advice!

Aw, sounds wonderful.... all except the Panguitch at 2am. yikes.

Sunset on the Conference center roof, how marvelous. And so glad you got the raspberry shakes!.

sharie,
Thanks so much for reporting back! I'm really, really glad you enjoyed the drive and the raspberry (and other) shakes.
Also very glad you didn't encounter any deer on that drive down to Panguitch in the night.

I always take my visitors up into the neighborhood above the Capitol for the night view!

Sorry all the smoke form the western wildfires hazyed up Bear Lake. The entire west has been like that for most of the summer. Very glad this summer is almost over with - and I have NEVER said that before....