Drivng time from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

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newbie - 24 Feb 2006 17:36 GMT

Planning to visit Yellowstone in the summer. What is the typical driving
time from Salt Lake City to YNP? Will the return trip be any difference
in term of time?
Depend on the driving time, we may:
1) Fly into SLC and stay for a night before start driving in the
morning. 2) Take a morning flight and drive to YNP on the same day.

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Ad absurdum per aspera - 24 Feb 2006 23:56 GMT

It's not a long drive by the standards of the western US -- Mapquest
guesses 329 miles and 5 hours. But some of it is mountainous and a lot
of it is unfamiliar -- besides, driving by night wastes opportunities
for looking out the window and seeing en-route scenery and getting a
sense of where you are.

Used along with road maps, this should give you an idea of the terrain:
http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/states/us/big_us_33_b.gif

You didn't say how much time you have and what you plan to do during
your visit, but you might want to consider a loop itinerary -- at the
very least to nearby Grand Teton NP. Depending on ages and interests
in your party and how much time you have, maybe Dinosaur or Fossil
Butte National Monuments or Jackson Hole or some of the other natural
and historical sites in the region might be good to visit.

Salt Lake City itself and its surroundings (especially to the east)
have a lot to offer too.

For starters:
http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm
http://www.jacksonholechamber.com/

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george - 25 Feb 2006 07:05 GMT

Depending on ages and interests

> in your party and how much time you have, maybe Dinosaur or Fossil
> Butte National Monuments or Jackson Hole or some of the other natural
> and historical sites in the region might be good to visit.

Dinosaur NM for the excellent large bed of in place dinosaurs is
excellent, and could be coupled with a drive through Flaming Gorge and
past the Wind River Mountains (enter by Pinedale for a short drive into
them, and the pictures in local businesses in Pinedale of the Moose in
town in winter are nice. In the summer you can go to the city park in
the evening to watch moose and deer invade the town.) to Yellowstone.
Although much longer, it is a nicer drive than the direct one. Fossil
Butte NM is one of my favorite places in Wyomng. Although having no
spectacular scenery, the scenery is pleasant and there will be almost
no tourists and some animals to see besides the fossil museum. Near
the entrance is Ulrich's who does world famous fossil preparations
which can be purchased, as well as inexpensive fish fossils which you
can expose and complete yourself. It is also possible to collect in
nearby quarries yourself.

George

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mwlogs - 25 Feb 2006 23:13 GMT

Made this trip myself a couple years ago. If you get into SLC early enough,
you can make the drive a couple ways. I headed east on I-80 into Wyoming,
then north on RT 189 int the Teton N.P. Stayed at Signal Mountain Lodge
there a couple days then drove on into Yoellowstone for the rest of the
week. I headed back to SLC by going back down thru the Tetons to Jackson,
but then headed west on RT 30 to Rt 89. Stayed in a very nice B&B in
Providence UT the night before flying out. It was wonderful trip and the
only thing I'd do diffrent is SPEND MORE TIME! (Oh, and I got my 1st
speeding ticket ever in WY on the way up. I'm 50 yrs old and have driven
thru 35 of the lower 48 states and had to be on one of the most deserted
highways in America to get pulled over for speeding! I blame in on the
Eagles Greatest Hits - just couldn't keep the speed down listening to that
CD with the wind rushing thru the car!)

> Planning to visit Yellowstone in the summer. What is the typical driving
> time from Salt Lake City to YNP? Will the return trip be any difference in
> term of time?
> Depend on the driving time, we may:
> 1) Fly into SLC and stay for a night before start driving in the morning.
> 2) Take a morning flight and drive to YNP on the same day.

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Travel Forum / Destinations / USA and Canada / February 2006

Drivng time from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone