The distance from Salt Lake City to Grand Teton is around 300 miles / 480 kilometers, and the trip takes approximately 5.5 hours. You can plan to spend two days traveling if you want to explore every gorgeous road along the way. Furthermore, this article will provide a comprehensive list of cities and picturesque roads connecting Salt Lake City, UT and Grand Teton National Park.
In this scenario, the distance increases if you drive past several stops. You need to expect to spend two days traveling because this distance includes local roads to get into each town, so there is a need to factor in traffic and road conditions, rest stop breaks, and exciting detours along the way. Nevertheless, if you’re in a rush, you can make the trip with zero stops, and your total travel time would be roughly around 4 hours, 35 minutes. Briefly, you can travel from Salt Lake City and rest in Preston, Idaho, which finally gets you into Grand Teton.
Highlights
Table Of Contents
- Logan Canyon Scenic Byway
- Old Ephraim’s Grave
- Tony Grove Lake
- Greys River Road
- Teton Scenic Byway
- Grand Teton Loop
- Gros Ventre Loop
- Moose, WY
Day 1: Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is well-known for its beautiful outdoor visas, which you can see from the comfort of your car. Little Cottonwood Canyon, located about 25 miles from Salt Lake City, provides an accessible and enjoyable day excursion. It was named after the canyon’s length and width. Despite its modest size, it is an equally lovely playground with several recreational activities for visitors. You can find the quarry for enormous granite slabs utilized in the Historic Temple Square and Conference Center at the canyon’s mouth. On your trip to Snowbird and Alta ski resorts, this 7-mile trail takes you through rocky cliffs and into a glacially-carved corridor. There are wilderness regions to the north and south.
Then there’s the Ogden River. You’ll note how rapidly the canyon road narrows as soon as you enter it—layers of limestone and shale line the cliffs, stained with cream, pink, and red. You can go on excellent walks and locate good fishing places in the canyon. The picturesque Pine Reservoir and dam is at the top of the canyon, 6 miles from the mouth and water recreation is popular all year, with boating, camping, and picnic areas. The byway travels through South Fork Canyon in Huntsville, just past the reservoir. The route follows the south fork of the Ogden River through densely forested terrain.
Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass
Furthermore, the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass is a one-of-a-kind ticket that allows you to be your tour guide around everything Salt Lake offers. Use your pass to see 13 of Salt Lake City’s top attractions. National Parks, National Monuments, Cities & Towns, and State Parks are examples of these. The Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway provides a one-of-a-kind experience.
The Logan Canyon National Scenic Byway provides enough untamed natural beauty, numerous recreational options, and fascinating stories to satisfy even the most ardent adventurer. This meandering stretch of US Highway 89 connects Logan to the stunning blue waters of Bear Lake. It winds through brilliant wildflower fields, between towering limestone cliffs, and along scenic streams teeming with native trout. Depart from the road behind and immerse yourself in the colorful energy of Logan Canyon. Beaver Mountain Resort offers skiing and snowmobiling on thousands of acres of fresh powder.
Preston, Idaho
Traveling or driving from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Preston, Idaho, takes two hours. The driving distance is around 110 miles / 180 kilometers. Preston, located in Southeastern Idaho’s Cache Valley, is a small community with breathtaking mountain beauty on its doorstep. The Bear River Mountains are on the eastern flank, and you can be fishing in a crystal clear lake or trekking in an alpine meadow in a matter of minutes. Among the most excellent things to do in Preston is to drive along the Pioneer Historic Byway. This driving route, which combines magnificent natural scenery with captivating history, follows the roads used by the region’s initial European visitors in the opening decades of the nineteenth century.
Traveling or driving from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Preston, Idaho, takes two hours. The driving distance is around 110 miles / 180 kilometers. Preston, located in Southeastern Idaho’s Cache Valley, is a small community with breathtaking mountain beauty on its doorstep. The Bear River Mountains are on the eastern flank, and you can be fishing in a crystal clear lake or trekking in an alpine meadow in a matter of minutes. Among the most excellent things to do in Preston is to drive along the Pioneer Historic Byway. This driving route, which combines magnificent natural scenery with captivating history, follows the roads used by the region’s initial European visitors in the opening decades of the nineteenth century.
Preston Park
Preston’s primary urban park is directly close to the Franklin County Fairgrounds and offers a variety of family-friendly amenities. The splash pad, which is usually open from early June until mid-September, is a summertime favorite. And this is a beloved neighborhood amenity for young families, having launched in 2016 and featuring a variety of sprays and jets. There are also two playgrounds for children, a skate park, plenty of open space, and baseball, soccer, basketball, and tennis facilities. In the summer, you’ll discover nice boweries with tables if you want to take a picnic.
The Bear River Mountains to the east will be brutal to ignore. In minutes, you can hike in the romantic upland landscape, surrounded by floral meadows, soaring peaks, and giant conifers. The Willow Flat Campground, located at an elevation of 6,300 feet, can serve as the starting point for an exciting mountain hike. There’s a 4.7-mile out-and-back trail that follows the Cub River course and leads to the beautiful Bloomington Lake. This alpine lake is surrounded by sheer granite walls, which give way to boulder-strewn green slopes laced with wildflowers in early June.
Day 2: Grand Teton
Finally, after driving roughly 190 miles/300 kilometers, you arrive at Grand Teton National Park in 3.5 hours. Driving through Grand Teton National Park provides breathtaking views of the Teton Range and the possibility to see wildlife. Many of the park’s turnouts have exhibits about the park’s geology, fauna, and plants. Turnouts also provide a safe environment to appreciate picturesque views, observe wildlife and snap photographs. You don’t have to pull over in the middle of the highway to see wildlife. The Jenny Lake Beautiful Drive, which borders the east coast of Jenny Lake and affords fantastic views of the peaks, is another scenic drive worth noting in Grand Teton.
The Moose-Wilson Road connects the villages of Moose and Wilson; drive the Signal Mountain Summit Road for sweeping views of the Teton Range and Jackson Hole, and the Teton Park Road from Moose to Jackson Lake Junction. Finally, the 42-mile Scenic Drive Loop in Grand Teton National Park provides visitors with up-close vistas of the Tetons and the opportunity to spot plentiful and diverse animals in the surrounding wilderness. Making a round of the Grand Teton Park Road is the most significant way to enjoy it. Drive up the inner park road to Jackson Lake Junction, then down the outer park road past Moran Junction to Moose.
FAQs
Things to see between Salt Lake City and Yellowstone
You can see a lot of scenic views and natural landmarks if you take the most scenic route from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone. This route would take you through Preston, Idaho, which is home to the Pioneer Historic Byway. This byway follows the roads that the region’s first European visitors used in the early 1800s. You can also drive to Grand Teton National Park to see the Teton Range and possibly some wildlife.
What is the best time of year to take this road trip?
The best time to take this road trip would be during the summer when the weather is ideal for driving and camping. You can also expect to see more wildlife during this time of year.
Where to stay between Salt Lake City and Jackson Hole
You can stay in one of the many campgrounds in Grand Teton National Park. These campgrounds include Jenny Lake, Signal Mountain, and Colter Bay. You can also find hotels and motels in the town of Jackson Hole.
Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Park road trip distance
Salt Lake City and Yellowstone National Park distance is approximately 300 miles/480 kilometers. One can drive this route in about 8 hours, but we recommend taking your time to enjoy the scenic views and landmarks along the way.