Our website uses cookies. If this sounds like something you would like to do, stay in Wall the night of day 8. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, organic silk linens, and fresh flowers. The Chamberlin Inn. Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Wind Cave. Road Trip Itinerary Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park: Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota Day 2: Mount Rushmore (Custer State Park) Day 3: Badlands National Park Day 4: Buffalo, Wyoming Day 5: Billings, Montana (Optional) Day 6 & 7: Yellowstone National Park Day 8: Grand Teton National Park Day 1: Rapid City, South Dakota If you arent lucky enough to see a herd of bison here, you have another chance in Lamar Valley. For recommended hotels and locations, both inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park, read our article, For more details on visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, read our. Not only will you save money on park fees for this trip but you will also get free admission to any other national park or federal recreation sites that you visit within 365 days of purchasing this pass. From Lamar Valley, it takes 2 to 3 hours to drive to Cody. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to Your Places, click Maps, and you will see this map on your list. Return to your hotel, lodge, or campsite and have dinner. by MARY July 16, 2014 The Fossil Exhibit Trail and Saddle Pass are two more walks/hikes to consider doing. One of the best times to visit Lamar Valley is in the late afternoon and early evening. Rushmore and the Grand Tetons Yellowstone, Mt. Start in Chicago on this incredible road trip through some of the nation's most stunning prairies, wide-open skies and gorgeous rock formations on your way from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone. It takes about 2 hours to thoroughly explore this area.Get full details on how to plan your visit in our Guide to the Geyser Basins. You can also compare the travel time if you're flying or driving by calculating the distance from Los Angeles to Mt Rushmore. But not to worry, you will be choosing between two very scenic drives. Day 1: Jenny Lake. Head back down 385 on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Elk, bison, pronghorn deer, bear, coyotes, and wolves can all make appearances. For the next three nights, you will stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota or Rapid City. For more details on visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, read our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. For the quickest visit, simply walk the Tower Trail, a 1.3 mile trail that loops around the base of Devils Tower. I hope this helps! Answer: Jack Kerouac. CO. SD. Can I purchase a copy of the Yellowstone-Devils Tower-Mount Rushmore Trip Itinerary and other trip itineraries in hard copy, or if not, in PDF format that I can print out or load on my computer. About halfway along the Los Angeles Route you will reach Salt Lake City. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. If you want to visit Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but have limited time or a different starting point, here are alternate versions of this itinerary. Read our one day Grand Teton itinerary for full details on how to do this. Day 6: Glacier NP Going-to-the-Sun Road. Today, spend the morning in Grand Teton and the afternoon in Yellowstone. I recommend visiting Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, then driving through Lamar Valley, and spend the afternoon on Beartooth Highway. Big Bend National Park; . The advantage to staying here is that you will do less driving on the day trip to Badlands National Park. View details. Mount Rushmore in early October. EO Bungalows is one of the highest rated properties and your room comes with a kitchenette. Then the road twists and turns through a canyon and climbs up higher into the mountains. Or, you can spend an hour or two walking the boardwalk trails and going on the scenic drive. Mount Rushmore: SD: 47 : 1 : 19 : Wall Drug: SD: 80 : 1.5 . RELATED: Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience, The view of Old Faithful from Observation Point. 3. Idaho Falls Regional Airport is 94 miles away and is a 2-hour drive from Jackson. For suggestions on how to plan your time today, read our post. Read on to discover the best routes to travel, our favorite places to stay, and the many must-see stops along the way. This small restaurant serves gourmet food that is outstanding. To get to Cody, you will then drive the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. The Freedom Ridge Cabins and the Black Elk Resort are two of the highest rated properties in this town. The nearby Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area has great hiking and skiing as well. This is our favorite of the two routes through the Bighorn Mountains. The Hoover Dam from above on a helicopter tour - truly a sight to behold on a Southwest road trip. This is one of the best road trips in the USA. Immediately past the entrance station is the Big Badlands Overlook. Driving from California to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore will take you through almost endless sights and worthy destinations. From Colter Bay, it is less than 20 miles to the South Entrance of Yellowstone National Park (about a 30-minute drive). We use Booking.com to book our hotels when we travel. Yes, you can do this trip in an RV. You can still explore the national park on a snowmobile or a snowcoach. At the end of this article, I give the links to each national park so you can get updates on park conditions and road closures. From Dayton, it takes 3 hours to drive to Devils Tower (185 miles). Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price. On the South Rim, visit Artist Point (one of the most photographed spots in Yellowstone National Park), Canyon Overlook, and Uncle Toms Trail (if it is open). If you check google maps, it will tell you that the distance from Dallas to Mount Rushmore is between 1,041 to 1,069 miles. Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. You can do this itinerary with less time, but you will have to give up a few sights. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. You can begin at the southern end of the Shenandoah National Park, near Waynesboro, VA, and wind along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This drive starts off with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains. Mount Rushmore National Memorial: Amazing when you really think about it - See 11,784 traveler reviews, 7,905 candid photos, and great deals for Keystone, SD, at Tripadvisor. We are doing this trip this summer. PRO TRAVEL TIP: Sunrise is a magical time to visit Badlands National Park. PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you want to go farther on Beartooth Highway, you will have to skip something in Yellowstone today. It was closed in January 2002. This is one of the best scenic drives in the US. Total Distance . By starting here first thing in the morning, you get to avoid the midday crowds. Below, we've chosen our favorites for you to choose from. This is a jaw-dropping view of the hot spring and a must-do on a trip to Yellowstone. Drive through the wild Mojave Desert until you reach Sin City, Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Route will take you to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore faster. The shuttle operates daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. Taxis cost $25.00 to $30.00 and take 20 minutes. A visit here consists of seeing two basins: Back Basin and Porcelain Basin. Your email address will not be published. There are three main airports near Jackson, Wyoming. Here is the link to our One Day Badlands Itinerary. In the afternoon/evening, fly home or continue on to your next destination. Leads claim to fame is its history in gold mining. About halfway on the Bay Area Route is Boise, Idaho's capital and the largest city on this route before reaching Yellowstone. Denver, Colorado. Note: This post contains affiliate links. It is also known as Lake Yellowstone. Looking at going to Rushmore/Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, then. Highlights include Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Death Valley, Zion National Park, Dixie National Forest and Salt Lake City. It is home to various animals such as wildebeest, elk, and moose. Not only will you get to tour the park crowd free, at least for a little bit, but you also get to see the park at sunrise. May, September and October are less busy and popular months to visit as well. You can save this post as a PDF and then print the whole thing or just what you need. It was the nicest hotel that we stayed in during our South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming road trip. Just past the Pinnacles Overlook, Highway 240 turns north and heads to Wall. Historic Lantern Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis. On the way, stop at Craters of the Moon National Monument, a unique natural attraction that boasts an ocean of blackened lava and unique rock formations. A visit here can last as little as 30 minutes, if you just want to walk up and snap a selfie with Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Cloud Peak Skyway is 47 miles long, running from Ten Sleep to Buffalo, Wyoming, on US Highway 16. You would need to make reservations to stay in the park as. As you travel the nearly 500 miles of scenic roadway, there is much to see and do. We had a great meal at Jacobs Brewhouse & Grocer but Cheyenne Crossing, El Jefes Fresh-Mex Cantina, Lewies Saloon & Eatery, and Deadwood Legends Steakhouse all get great reviews. Choose The Salt Lake City Route (via Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests), covering 1,500 miles over 23 hours of driving without overnight stopovers for a shorter, more direct route. Make sure to visit the museum below the viewing deck for some history & statistics. On top of that, there's plenty of nightlife to enjoy after your long drive. The Cloud Peak Skyway tends to be more popular, since it lacks the switchbacks and tight turns that the Bighorn Scenic Byway has. Thats four national parks in one road trip, not to mention two national monuments, one incredible state park, and several very scenic drives. Unfortunately, we dont have a PDF version of this itinerary. After seeing the beautiful Pyramid Lake, continue back on route and travel up I-80 and US-95 north into Boise, Idaho. The longer Bay Area Route will take you from San Francisco to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. Enter the park through the northeast entrance. Save. In Deadwood, walk through the historic town, Tour the Adams House, visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, and visit the Saloon #10 Bar. On a clear day you can also see out to Badlands National Park. The hand of cards he was holding (two pairs of black aces and eights) is now called the Dead Mans Hand. If you are looking for a bit of luxury, this is a highly-rated historic hotel in Cody. About; Roadtrippers Plus; Magazine; Contact; Help; Did you know: If you use the Roadtrippers . Near the Old Faithful Inn, you will also find restrooms, gift shops, a convenience store, and restaurants, so this is the perfect place to grab lunch. If I turn my computer off I need internet access to load it again. You will drive a portion of the spectacular Beartooth Highway and then take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to Cody. Rushmore, Devils Tower, the Bighorn Mountains (spectacular views but be sure to watch the road! If you walk the Presidential Trail you get unique views like this one. The Pinnacles Overlook is the most convenient, since it is located near Sage Creek Rim Road and just a short drive to Wall. Or get a full Los Angeles to Mt Rushmore flight plan. At Mount Rushmore, you drive through the main entrance and then will immediately park in a large lot/parking garage. Caravan's Rapid City, South Dakota hotel, the Rushmore Hotel provides a courtesy shuttle from the Rapid City Airport (RAP). 9:00 am leave from Mount Rushmore. For dinner, the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House is a popular spot. Continue on through Wyoming and see Bighorn National Forest. Activity Level On Your Feet Walking up to 2 miles a day. On top of that, you'll pass through the smaller town of Sutcliffe as well as the city of Boise. Winter sees the fewest tourists and the area's accommodation is generally cheaper. For full details on things to do on this drive, read our Guide to Beartooth Highway. This scenic drive is 20 miles long and it takes about 30 minutes to drive it, without stops. Continue on US-89 north until you get to Dixie National Forest. After Reno, you can drive on a detour north to see Sutcliffe. The third-largest cave system in the world and South Dakota's premier caving destination. I love your itineraries. Its still possible to visit Yellowstone in the winter, but you will get around by snowmobile or snow coach, which of course will be a much different experience than the summer months. For more information about how to visit Devils Tower, check out our, To learn what to do and how to plan your time, read our post, For a full list of things to do and many more photos, read our, More Information about Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Devils Tower & South Dakota. This state park has a little bit of everythingthrilling hiking trails, picturesque lakes, and an abundance of wildlife that rivals that in the neighboring national parks. Teton Village at Jackson Hole: Ski resort by winter, outdoor playground by summer, this resort offers hotels and restaurants, plus gondolas, chair lifts, and a cable car that will whisk you up to Rendezvous Peak for stunning views over the Tetons. Located in Cody, rooms are rustic and can accommodate from two to six people. Cheers, Julie. There are some fishing options in the lake. At Colter Bay, you also have the option to walk the Lakeshore Trail. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. Stay in Yellowstone through day 5 of this itinerary and use one of these days to day trip to Grand Teton National Park. This hotel was wonderful but we did A LOT of driving to get back and forth to the Black Hills. Rushmore Bus tour from Los Angeles/Las Vegas Tour Code: 678-973 Yellowstone From USD Price shown is based on the lowest price per person over the next 30 days $711 $748 Save 5% Offer Ends h m s 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 2 reviews Available: Mon (5/21 - 8/20), Wed, Fri (4/25 - 9/28) Depart from: But we loved the spacious room, excellent Wi-Fi, and comfy beds. This was the real thing -- 3 weeks and over 6,000 miles of adventure ahead of us. On the way, take your pick between two different scenic drives through the Bighorn Mountains. This shorter and more direct route will take you through two major cities: Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.