Salt Lake City Circular 3 – A beautiful route for nature lovers that features spectacular, diverse, scenery in one of wildest regions of Northwestern USA. This route combines the glacial peaks of the Glacier National Park, in addition to the one and only Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, in addition to National Monuments and State Parks in Montana and Idaho.
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 the southern part of Grand Teton National Park and enjoy activities around Jackson, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 4 – Enjoy one more day in the southern part of Grand Teton National Park and in activities around Jackson, less than 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Jackson
Day 5 – Drive 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 6 – Visit the Upper Geyser Basin, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 7 – Visit the Midway and Lower Geyser Basin (and if time allows visit the Norris Geyser Basin as well), 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: West Yellowstone
Day 8 – Drive to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and enjoy this canyon’s wonderful waterfalls and views, 1 hour drive
(in the afternoon – if you have time, add a drive back and forth in the Hayden Valley where wildlife is abundant)
Lodging location: Canyon (or Lake Yellowstone)
Day 9 – Drive to the Lamar Valley and tour the valley and drive to Gardiner, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Gardiner
Day 10 – Visit the Mammoth Hot Springs and bath in the Boiling River and then drive north to Helena (on the way you may visit this museum in Bozeman), 3 hours drive
Lodging location: Helena
Day 11 – Drive to Glacier National Park and in the afternoon visit the Two Medicine Region of the park, 3.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Saint Mary (or the eastern part of Glacier National Park)
Day 12 – Visit the Many Glacier region of Glacier National Park, 1 hour drive in each direction
Lodging location: Saint Mary (or the eastern part of Glacier National Park)
Day 13 – Drive west on the scenic Going to the Sun Road (that crosses the park) and go on hikes along the way, 2 hours drive
Lodging location: Apgar or West Glacier
Day 14 – Travel in the western part Glacier National Park and enjoy activities in the town of Whitefish, short drive
Lodging location: Apgar or West Glacier
Day 15 – Spend the morning in the western part Glacier National Park and drive to Missoula, 4 hours drive
Lodging location: Missoula
Day 16 – Drive south to Idaho, to the small town of Stanley, 5 hours drive
Lodging location: Stanley
Day 17 – Enjoy a day of leisure and recreation in Redfish Lake, short drive
Lodging location: Stanley
Day 18 – Drive south in the scenic Sawtooth Mountains and enjoy the vistas along the way, in the afternoon visit the small town of Sun Valley, 1.5 hours drive
Lodging location: Sun Valley or Hailey
Day 19 – Drive to Twin Falls through Craters of the Moon National Monument, 3 hour drive
Lodging location: Twin Falls
Day 20 – Visit Shoshone Falls (in Twin Falls) and drive back to Salt Lake City, 3 hour drive
Lodging location: Salt Lake City
Day 21 – Fly home
– In order to fill this route with content – see our Northwest USA destinations page, where you can find articles that include suggestions what to do in various locations along this route.
