Salt Lake City to Seattle 5 – One of the most recommended, most in-depth and most scenic routes in Northwest USA and West Canada. Includes the Vancouver Island and the Canadian Rockies National Parks – all in Canada, and in the USA – Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. All the above in addition to the beautiful cities of Seattle and Vancouver.
Day 1 – Land in Salt Lake City and spend a few hours in the city
Lodging location: Salt Lake City
(if you land early you may start driving north on this day, lodging on the way, for example here)
Day 2 – Drive to Grand Teton National Park and enjoy the afternoon in the southern part of the park, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 3 – Visit Grand Teton National Park and around noon start driving north through Grand Teton, towards Yellowstone National Park, after entering the park visit the West Thumb Geyser Basin (on the shores of Lake Yellowstone), 3 hours drive
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 4 – Visit the the Upper, Midway and Lower Geyser Basin, and drive east to Canyon, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Canyon (or Lake Yellowstone)
Day 5 – Visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and enjoy this canyon’s wonderful waterfalls and views and the drive to the Lamar Valley and tour the valley, in the afternoon drive to Mammoth Hot Springs and tour the springs, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 6 – In the morning bath in the Boiling River and then drive north towards Glacier National Park, 6 hours drive
Lodging location: Saint Mary (or the eastern part of Glacier National Park)
Day 7 – Visit the Many Glacier region and/or the Two Medicine region of Glacier National Park and then cross the border to Canada and drive to Waterton Lakes National Park, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Waterton
Day 8 – Visit Waterton Lakes National Park and drive to Banff, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Banff
Day 9 – Drive north and travel in the Lake Louise region of Banff National Park and/or visit Yoho National Park, 1 hour drive
(Try reserving a spot on the bus to Lake O’hara located in Yoho)
Lodging location: Lake Louise
Day 10 – Drive north along the Icefields Parkway through Banff National Park and to Jasper National Park, 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Jasper
Day 11 – Visit Jasper National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Jasper
Day 12 – Start driving west and on the way visit Mount Robson Provincial Park or go on a boat tour near the small town of Blue River, 2.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Clearwater
Day 13 – Continue to Vancouver and spend the afternoon in the city, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Vancouver
Day 14 – Enjoy a day in Vancouver
Lodging location: Vancouver
Day 15 – Take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) and drive to Tofino, 2.5 hours ferry ride plus 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Tofino
Day 16 – Spend the day around Tofino and in Pacific Rim National Park, short drive
Lodging location: Tofino
Day 17 – Drive to Victoria and spend half a day in the city, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Victoria
Day 18 –Take the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles and visit the northern part of the Olympic National Park, 2 hours ferry ride plus 1-2 hours drive
Lodging location: Port Angeles
Day 19 – Drive, plus take a short ferry ride from Bainbridge Island to Seattle and spend the afternoon in town, 2 hours drive plus 20 minutes ferry ride
Lodging location: Seattle
Day 20 – Fly Home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our Northwest USA and West Canada destinations page, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
