Lev

Hi,
I'll arrive to SLC airport around 11AM, then drive to Jackson, stay overnight in Jackson, then 2 nights at Signal Mountain Lodge (Grand Teton) and 4 nights at West Yellowstone.
The last day will be just going back from West Yellowstone to SLC airport (I have 7:20PM flight). Both Yahoo and MapQuest recommend the following route from SLC airport to Jackson: take Interstate 15 North, then 26 West to Jackson which by Yahoo estimate is about 6 hours drive. I noticed that there is another route to Jackson from SLC – 15 North and then 89 North the whole way up to Jackson. It is marked as a picturesque road. Is it one lane slow mountain road? Will it take me more than 6 hours to get to Jackson if I take 89? Is it worth to take 89 or you recommend just to follow Yahoo-MapQuest recommendation?

vivi

Lev-

We visited Jackson/Yellowstone in the same way---by flying in and out of SLC.
The Hwy 89 route was very scenic, some of it seemed almost Alp-like, several cute towns along the way. I really enjoyed it more than the I-15. You may want to do what we did--- take one route there and the other on the way back so you can see different scenery.

jet519

It has been a few years but I remember taking the scenic route from SLC to Jackson. We had gone to the Morman Church area that morning to tour, then went to Antelope Island for an hour or so, then spent the rest of the day driving to Jackson. I think it did take around 7 hours but it was beautiful. There is a lake at some point called Bear Lake I believe. It has a limestone base and it is the most beautiful blue water I have ever seen. We stopped at a little stand in the area and got ice cream. I think the area is also known for blueberries or raspberries.!

Deblynn

We live just north of Salt Lake and like going to Jackson & West Yellowstone quite frequently. Your best bet would be to take the scenic Hwy 89 up to Jackson and then taking I-15 back to the airport. There are alot of nice scenic places to stop along the way including bear lake (stop at the drive-in called Labeau's in garden city right at Bear Lake) to have wonderful burgers and they are famous for fresh raspberry shakes. Taking this route takes you thru Alpine, along the Snake River which is very beautiful. The road will take longer than I-15, but very much worth it! While staying at Signal Mtn Lodge, take the short boat ride across Jenny Lake and a short hike to the waterfalls. Very beautiful! It you are planning on eating breakfast in Jackson, there is a place that is famous for breakfast called Jedediah's - House of sourjacks. Go early, as they line up quickly. Have fun!

Lev

Thank you!
I'll definitely take 89 from SLC to Jackson and 15 from West Yellowstone back to SLC airport. Would you recommend to visit Minnetonka Cave near Bear Lake on my way to Jackson and Lava Hot Springs on my way back (both are star attractions in Idaho,Montana, Wyoming Fodor's book)?
Lev.

asdaven

AAA routed me the Rte.89 way as the fastest way from SLC. It is a pretty fast road except though Logan Canyon where it gets a little winding. But is very scenic. I wouldn't take the other way. It took me 6 1/2 hours to drive the route, not too bad and that was with a couple of stops. I would reccomend driving Rte 20 from West Yellowstone to Interstate 15 at Idaho Falls. I would suggest taking a detour off Route 20 onto the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway, the scenery is spectacular and beautiful waterfalls. Maybe you consider staying only three nights in Yellowstone and a night in Idaho Falls to get closer to SLC. From Yellowstone to Idaho Falls, it is about a 2 hour drive. From Idaho Falls to SLC, it is only a four hour drive. You could still spend some of that day in Yellowstone and see Mesa Falls. You really only need 2-3 days to explore Yellowstone unless you are doing some long hikes. Make sure in the Tetons, you do the Cascade Canyon Trail, one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done. To get to the trailhead, you take a boat across Jenney Lake, about a 5 minute boat ride, then you hike past a waterfall and hike up to the top of the hill with a view of the lake called Inspriation Point, HIKE past this and don't turn around there. From there it is very easy hiking between 13,000 foot peaks with waterfalls coming down from them! We hiked about 6 miles round trip and saw a moose! Also, take an early shuttleboat to avoid the crowds. The crowds only go up to the view and then turn around. But, going up the Cascade Canyon Trail, IMO is the ultiment way to experince the tetons without exactually climbing them. The 6 miles round-trip of hiking didin't take me that long, the only hard part of the trail is the beginning which I though was not that hard. Defintely continue on into Cascade Canyon. The shuttle boat is the way to go and the prices are reasonable, you can hike around the south end of the lake, but I'd take the shuttle boat and use the time to hike in Cascade Canyon.

Wednesday

Lev, I did the exact same thing last summer, we did a big circle, going up Hwy 15 through Iadho Falls and over (about 5-6 hours), then came back south from Jackson on Hwy 89, it was gorgeous !

brookwood

I think you are looking at a 12 noon departure or even 12:30 by the time you reclaim your luggage and turn the ignition key in your rental vehicle. Assuming of course that your flight is on time.

That means you have a fairly long drive of about 6 hours in front of you even if you take the quickest route.

The quickest route according to Map Quest brings you in over the Teton Pass, with its 11% grades. (Actually that is not too bad; I have seen 28% grades in Switzerland that were traversed by concrete mixer trucks.)

If you want another scenic route, leave I 15 at Logan and, taking US 89, drive over Logan Pass and follow north along the Snake River to Jackson. I think that will lengthen your trip by at least 30 minutes.

I might add that the route up Logan Canyon is winding and narrow. If you happen to be trapped behind slow vehicles, your travel time could lengthen by several minutes.

You will see scenery going either way. I just think the US 89 route will take you longer and offer perhaps more prolonged scenery, but no one view will be as dramatic as the Teton Pass!

However, the view from the top of Logan Pass is not exactly a yawner of a view! It, too, is dramatic.

I might add, that nothing enroute is going to outclass the Tetons. I just depends on what you want to see in between.

Bear in mind that your I 15 return route will be duplicate of the northbound I 15 route as far as
Idaho Falls.

I have driven both routes and have no clear preference. Both have highly scenic features as well as some stumbling blocks.

Which would I choose? I think I would opt for the Teton Pass route because of its dramatic climb. But that is a personal choice. Everybody needs to experience the Teton Pass, but the crest of Logan Pass is dramatic as well because you go from the lush green of the canyon to the semi desert of western Wyoming.

Flip a coin.

Deblynn

Lev;
Like others have mentioned, it will be a fairly long drive from SLC to Jackson. I would not take the time to visit Minnetonka Caves or Lava Hot Springs, unless you could add an extra day to itinerary. Lava Hot Springs have two areas of interest; an olympic size swimming pool with some of the highest diving boards and then the actual Hot Springs which people like to soak in mainly at night time if temperatures are high in the summer. As for Minnetonka Caves, they are neat, but nothing significant. If I could add extra time, I would spend it up in the Tetons, hiking or sightseeing. We go up every year or two and always wish we had more time to enjoy the beauty. Would that be an option; to add a couple of days in the Jackson area?

Dayle

HiLev,

Just to offer another opinion. I live in Park City, UT just east of SLC. I always go east on I80 thru Evanston, WY and take 89 north from there. This route isn't quite as scenic as Logan Canyon and Bear Lake, but it's faster. It usually takes me 4 1/2 hours from Park City, so add 30 minutes from the airport.

Going thru Logan Canyon and Bear Lake is really nice - but if you are behind the RVs (and you will be) it does get pretty slow.

I would not bother to go all the way up to Idaho Falls and over Teton Pass. It's further than you need to go.

Going up 89, you pass through Star Valley which is one of the most beautiful places in the west. At Alpine you take the road east through the river canyon to get to Hoback Junction and then to Jackson. This road is always under construction, so sometimes it gets a bit slow here too, but I still prefer it to Teton Pass. You can look down on the Snake River.

Yes, do the I15 route back to the SLC airport. If your flight comes in at 11am, you'll be out of the airport by 12 noon at the very latest. SL is a super easy airport.

Have fun!

Lev

Thanks.
I'll skip Minnetonka Cave and may go to Lava Hot Springs if I have time and it is not hot.
I'll definitely take Mesa Falls Scenic Byway (bypass from highway 20 to Ashton) on my way back to SLC.
Will a couple of hours to spend in the Mesa Falls be enough?

youngtom2910

So let me be sure I understand. the two major ways of getting to jackson are going up I-15 to Idaho Falls and then go over. Or take 89 most of the way. And I'm hearing that both ways are pretty spectacular. Is that right? I"m going to Jackson next week from SLC--so based on this I think I'll take one route up and the other back.

Wednesday

I think so youngtom, we didn't know any better and went the Idaho Falls route up, but then wanted a different way back and the scenery was unbelievable down 89....doing it again this fall but just one way back....

islandbeachangel

Hi - we are thinking about doing this in early November. Is November a good time? I know it's off season between Summer & Ski season, but it's our only available time.

Thanks!