and leave at 5:40 pm. While visiting the area, also explore the Volcanoes and Space Research available at the Visitor Center. That means some roads will be closed, so youll want to check the official site before you plan your trip. BEFORE YOU GO: The road can be hard to navigate using GPS. Spokane, sits between two reservations: Colville and Coeur dAlene Reservations. 2 years ago. Next tick off a bucket list item by taking a Red Canyon Wild Mustang tour to see wild horses. For your first stop on a road trip from Portland to Yellowstone, consider making a pit stop in the Columbia River Gorge. Lying proudly next to the stunning Snake River, Idaho Falls overflows with authenticity and friendliness. Overall, the direct distance from Seattle to Yellowstone National Park is about seven hundred and fifty miles. Continue stretching your legs as you explore the riverside walking trail. Where to Stay: Modern Hotel is within walking distance of many places in downtown Boise (rates start at $107 per night on Booking.com or Hotels.com). For those who can handle a few more hours on the road, continue on with your four-day trip from Boise to Yellowstone until you reach Jackson. As well as the great outdoors, Bozeman hosts the Museum of the Rockies, which houses an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils. Do I Need a Reservation to Visit Glacier National Park? This article includes 18 top tips that turn your California to Yellowstone National Park drive into an unforgettable journey. This is probably the unique stop along the way. The site is overflowing with wildlife and is known for its rare species of cougars, black bears as well as its Northern Spotted Owls population. Once youve indulged on the divine fruit in the area, plan to stop by the Yakima Greenway, the Valley Museum, and the Yakima Area Arboretum. Best of all, its only a slight detour off your route to Yellowstone from Seattle and only costs about $2 for admission to the viewing platform. Get inspired with tips about where to go and what to see on your national park vacation, delivered right to your inbox. Bridger Teton National Forest Best Denver to Yellowstone Road Trip Stops The tour is often referred to as an American-styled safari. I recommend planning a day or two and booking into a hotel for a night. This post was first written in 2018 and was last updated in February 2023. A trip from Michigan to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming will take a traveler on a more than 1,600-mile journey across the United States' northern Plains. Then if you decided to take my recommendation to take the north route to get to Yellowstone then take the southern route back to Seattle, you know that after youve enjoyed you time at Yellowstone, the next stop is Grand Teton National Park. With so much to see and do on the way, you'll be coming back to this incredible drive for years to come. On chillier nights, you can sit and chat around a fire pit on the charming patio. It then joins the I-84 east that runs along the Washington-Oregon border and Columbia River and passes through Idaho and the Grand Teton National Park. Day 6: Departed Yellowstone 7 AM. Tucked away in Bozeman, Montana, the Museum of the Rockies boasts one of the largest collection of fossils in the world. There's also an alternate, more southern route that takes around 14.5 hours, and it passes through Portland and south Idaho, completely bypassing Montana until the very end. Fly into a nearby airport to shorten your road trip. Check our road trip itinerary collection for your perfect vacation. . Below youll find the best Seattle to Yellowstone road trip stops and must-see destinations for traveling along the picturesque roads. Need help planning out your road trip? My new ebook is now live, soclick hereto buy your copy! Afterward, head into downtown Spokane and find a spot at one of the lively restaurants to fuel up during your drive from Seattle to Yellowstone National Park. drive for about 1.5 hours. Day 3: Hiking Cascade Canyon. Venture further and explore what awaits you three to five hours from Seattle. The road trip from Seattle to Yellowstone National Park will cover around 740 miles and take just over 11 hours to complete, not taking gas stops and food breaks into consideration. Below you'll find the best Seattle to Yellowstone road trip stops and must-see destinations for traveling along the picturesque roads. The downtown area is a fun place to spend some time during your trip. Answer 1 of 18: Our family of 6 is taking a road trip to Yellowstone/Mt. Just a short drive from Spokane, the town is a quaint and quiet area to take a breath and stretch your legs. Where to Stay: Sawtelle Mountain Resort is west of the park and has an indoor pool (rates start at $123 per night on Booking.com or Hotels.com). It's highly recommended for anyone who wants to drive the entire route. . Jackson is a fun stopover on your Seattle to Yellowstone road trip for families and adventure seekers, given that there are incredible activities all year round. From the mountainous views to the lush forest, this road trip is just unforgettable. The final stop on your road trip is West Yellowstone, Montana. Very few people in the national parks! More if you've got young kids and need to stop a lot. This post was first published in 2018 and fully updated in 2021. Wherever I go, my goal is to inspire you to travel there with my travel tips. After passing Columbia National Wildlife Refuge and Turnbull National Wildlife, drive through Spokane and check out the nearby Riverside and Mt Spokane State Parks, or detour further north to Colville National Forest. The area is made up of the grand canyons and the Snake River thus it is no surprise that it is home to a huge wildlife population. Electric Vehicles (EVs) are highly efficient in city driving and mixed driving conditions with stop-and-go traffic. All that aside, my personal recommendation is to visit from September to October. Caribou-Targhee National Forest Island Par Idaho United States. Come evening time, youll undoubtedly want the opportunity to explore the downtown area and lively city life. Each spring, these beautiful birds will spend more time here, mating and raising their young. Perrine Bridge your scenic gateway to Twin Falls. Porcelain Basin of Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Check out the Riverfront Park while youre there to get some steps in and view the beautiful river. If thats the case for you, stop in the Snoqualmie Pass area off I-90 to go on dozens of different hikes before you get home from your Seattle to Yellowstone road trip. If you truly want to see everything there is to see, the best move would be to take one route on the way to Yellowstone and the other on the way back. Where to Stay: Cody Legacy Inn & Suites is an affordable hotel close to Yellowstone with a Western theme (rates start at $119 per night on Booking.com or Hotels.com). In this national parks road trip itinerary we'll take you from Salt Lake City up to a few of the most iconic national parks, but not without passing through a myriad of smaller, more quaint, less-traveled towns that Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho have to offer. Aside from outdoor activities, one must also plan to go shopping, take wine tours, and guided walks around downtown. Walla Walla is also home to impressive art galleries, breweries, recreational activities, and excellent restaurants. Scenic view of mighty Grand Teton mountains and Snake River. Our Epic Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary. Believe it or not, theres more than one right answer to this question. This is a trip we have been dreaming of! Unsubscribe anytime by clicking the link at the bottom of your email. Before properly leaving the area, take another day or two to explore Jackson. Browse by destination . I had no idea there was so much to see along the way. What you can expect from this itinerary are forests, and lots of them - all the way through Washington, Idaho, and Montana. . Pretend youre in an old western movie while exploring the Old Trail Town that boasts 26 historic cabins. Cold nights and high-altitude snow notwithstanding, summer is generally a great season to visit Yellowstone. Interstate 90 connects with Interstate 84 near Kennewick, Washington. You can visit Yellowstone National Park any time throughout the year, but you should note the park does get snow in the winter. Once you're past Lolo National Forest and in Missoula, consider a detour toward Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest or Flathead Lake. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest offers visitors an extensive range of recreation activities. Your itinerary has me thinking its time to go back. Its the perfect destination for enjoying thrilling nature activities and world-class hiking trails. Closeup of a boiling geyser in Upper Geyser basin of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 1. San Juan Islands Distance from Seattle: 110 miles Driving time: 3 hours 10 minutes Monika Wieland Shields/Shutterstock.com However, youll likely want to stop along the way to get food and rest. Once youve reached Yellowstone, you can decide how many nights youd prefer to spend here. 4:54 pm West Yellowstone. This means that you'll have to split your drive into at least two days, although the more time you take, the better. We will be pulling a 34 ft. trailer and have 3 kids, young but seasoned road trippers. View of Mount Moran in Grand Teton National Park from oxbow bend. From there, U.S. 93 . Start the morning on the last day of your Seattle to Yellowstone itinerary by visiting the trendiest neighborhoods downtown and going on aBoise food tour. A road trip to Yellowstone isn't just about the destination. Distance between Seattle and Yellowstone is a long stretch of road - roughly 12 hours of driving (one way). 2015-2023, Postcards to Seattle. Now that you know how to plan your trip, let's get on to those road trip ideas. Allow yourself to wander along the bustling streets and embrace the city life while window shopping. If youre keen on exploring the Wild West during your Seattle to Wyoming road trip, a trip to Old Trail Town is in order. Its not possible to see all of it in only a few days, and I would say spending 4-5 full days at the park will really let you explore all the areas. Day 5 in Yellowstone; took a drive BY Grand Tetons down to Jackson and back to Yellowstone (about 5 hrs of driving) BEAUTIFUL view of the Tetons (and my Prius managed to get a whopping 62 miles per gallon that day, for some odd reason!) Things to Do in Moscow Idaho | Including Free Things! Pass Lake Walcott, and take the I-15 north just out of Pocatello. It runs from southeastern Idaho all the way to the Montana, Utah, and Wyoming borders. How Long is the Drive From Seattle to Yellowstone National Park? Annually, Paris, France is the most visited city in the world. All Rights Reserved. As the U.S. 90 interstate highway . It is a must-see especially because it even houses the Curlew National Grassland. 112. I make a formal land acknowledgment showing my respect and appreciation to the people of these lands. Make sure to plan out enough time for stops. I found out this was in the area and immediately decided to get up early to shoot sunrise photos here. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY deadwood.