During the Black Hills Gold Rush, from 1876 to 1879, this town was in its heyday. Trip - 1-2 weeks A Pacific Pride Road Trip . . About this Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore Itinerary, 7 Day Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore Itinerary, Day 1: Arrive in Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park, Day 7: Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, Lead & Mount Rushmore, Day 10: Wind Cave National Park & Fly Home. Leads claim to fame is its history in gold mining. CO. SD. From Cody, you will drive east to Shell, Wyoming (a one hour drive) and then take US-14 (the Bighorn Scenic Byway) through the Bighorn Mountains. As you travel the nearly 500 miles of scenic roadway, there is much to see and do. Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone via Bighorn Scenic Byway Distance: 441 miles Time Required: 9 hours This route runs for 441 miles, starting at Mt. If you are traveling as a family and want to stay in one of the top rated hotels in town, this is one to consider. This is a small geyser basin and it only takes about 30 minutes to walk through all of it. Total Distance . For the next three nights, you will stay in the Black Hills of South Dakota or Rapid City. Zion & Bryce Canyon: Epic 3 Day Zion to Bryce Canyon Road Trip Itinerary. Thank you! Press CTRL+P (or command+P on a mac) to bring up the printer dialog box. We liked the Wyoming Inn a little bit better but we wouldnt hesitate to stay here again, especially since prices are a little lower. Rather than joining the crowds, I recommend leaving the park for a few hours. Each room comes with a flat-screen TV, organic silk linens, and fresh flowers. Mountains rise against big blue skies, geysers and hot springs bubble up from the earth, and wildlife abounds. From Pinnacles Overlook, it is an hour drive to get back to Rapid City and an hour and a half drive to get back to the Black Hills. Eruptions are unpredictable and you have to be very lucky to be here when it erupts. Route #1: Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone on Bighorn Scenic Byway Distance: 441 miles Driving Time (without stops): 7.5 hours This driving route starts at Mount Rushmore and ends in Cody, Wyoming. At Midway Geyser Basin, you can get right up to it, while walking on raised boardwalk trails. Skip the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and go right to Norris Geyser Basin. Answer 1 of 7: Looking a new road trip, starting in Vegas, heading to the Scenic Byway 12 and then Denver to Mount Rushmore then to Yellowstone (for a few nights). This incredible hotel, voted #1 Best Hotel in Salt Lake City, is just minutes from the city's attractions including the Museum of Church, Salt Lake City Hall, and Washington Square Park. The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from late April to May as well as September through early October. Cody Cowboy Village. Get the reverse directions for a Mt Rushmore to Los Angeles drive, or go to the main page to plan a new road trip. Stay in a suite or a standard room, some of which can accommodate up to 7 people. I have been looking for a trip like this and so glad I found your site. Hot, steaming water spills out over travertine terraces, making this one of the most unique geothermal areas in the park. This small restaurant serves gourmet food that is outstanding. Tonight, I recommend staying in Cody, Wyoming. The Lodge at Jackson Hole. On top of that, you'll pass through the smaller town of Sutcliffe as well as the city of Boise. Driving from California to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore will take you through almost endless sights and worthy destinations. There are three main airports near Jackson, Wyoming. The Cody. Coastal Redwoods Road Trip. View Dates & Pricing. The Pinnacles Overlook is the most convenient, since it is located near Sage Creek Rim Road and just a short drive to Wall. WY. Porcelain Basin is our favorite of the two basins. Head north into Yellowstone National Park. Day 1: Jenny Lake. From the city by the bay, San Francisco, head east on I-80 towards California's capital Sacramento. Most of this drive is on Interstate 90 which is a large divided highway. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. For a full list of things to do and many more photos, read our Guide to Custer State Park. Check our our USA Road Trip Guide for travel ideas and sample itineraries. Take the one-way loop off the main road to visit Jenny Lake, or to do one of the shorter hikes to Leigh Lake (1.8 miles RT) or String Lake (3.7 miles RT). For a list of must-have experiences, read our article Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. It is faster and easier to day trip to Grand Teton from these locations. The Notch Trail is the most thrilling hike in the park and it is very short. Day 3: Yellowstone NP. Best Things to Do in Grand Teton National Park. First thing in the morning, traffic should still be light, so you will be able to drive to each overlook. Ideally, stay in the park. On the roads you will use for visiting Yellowstone, such as the Beartooth Highway or beautiful 191, don't expect to be cruising along at 65mph. Start New Trip. Things to Do Between Yellowstone NP and Glacier NP. Jewel Cave is located 30 minutes from the end of the Needles Highway in the Black Hills. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. This drive starts off with beautiful views of the Bighorn Mountains. Beartooth Highway (one of the greatest road trips in America) Charles Kuralt called the Beartooth Highway "the most beautiful drive in America.". You can go for fishing at the beach, bait shop, or boat rental. 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. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. Overview of a 4 week 2000 Cross Country Road Trip with Travel Itinerary, Travel Road Map, . Take the All-American Road Trip to Yellowstone, starting in Chicago. Beartooth Highway is typically open from Memorial Day through very early October. These shoulder months offer mild Travel Idaho Falls Regional Airport is 94 miles away and is a 2-hour drive from Jackson. From the East Entrance, it is a one hour drive on Buffalo Bill Cody Scenic Byway, another beautiful drive through the mountains. Starting from San Francisco in the Bay Area our suggested route will take you through Boise and Lake Tahoe, a somewhat more relaxed vibe but still jam-packed with unique attractions along the way. Mount Rushmore is only an 80 minute morning scenic drive away. Cheers, Julie. If you have plans to visit Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Badlands, and Wind Cave National Parks and Devils Tower, it is worth it to purchase the America the Beautiful Pass. From Deadwood, it takes about one hour to drive to Mount Rushmore. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Search for buffalo, pronghorns and other wildlife on a Jeep Safari in Custer State Park. Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane, and Wild Bill Hickok all walked these streets. day 2 driving 8 hours. Custer State Park is not included with this pass since it is a state park. Just past the Pinnacles Overlook, Highway 240 turns north and heads to Wall. After the first eruption, spend some time exploring the Upper Geyser Basin and Geyser Hill. Cheers, Julie. I dont seem to be able to print or save a copy from earthtrekkers.com/yellowstone-devils-tower-mount-rushmore-road-trip-itinerary. Be aware, as the lows can drop as far as -15 Fahrenheit. The third-largest cave system in the world and South Dakota's premier caving destination. You can simply view the monument from afar, from the terrace of the Welcome Center, or you can take a van ride to the monument for a closer view. During this time, you'll get to enjoy this natural wonder covered in snow which is one of the most prized sights for nature photographers. We are doing this trip this summer. RELATED: Old Faithful: 10 Tips to Have the Best Experience, The view of Old Faithful from Observation Point. If you prefer the southern route, scroll down to the Mt Rushmore to Yellowstone route. If this is the same in your case, you can fly into Bozeman and then make some modifications to this itinerary. Schwabacher Landing, the Snake River Overlook, and Oxbow Bend are beautiful places to visit, and photograph, in the morning hours. You get to see a little bit of everything on this tour, including boxwork and cave popcorn. You will start on the east side of the park and end on the west side, so it will be a shorter drive to get back to the Black Hills/Rapid City at the end of the day. Routing by HERE 2021; Improve this map; Remove Ads. Both of these routes are roughly the same distance and take the same amount of time. BUFFALO BILL CODY SCENIC BYWAY: This is the longer route (126 miles, 3 hours) and you will backtrack through Yellowstone. If you walk the Presidential Trail you get unique views like this one. Or, you can spend an hour or two walking the boardwalk trails and going on the scenic drive. Rome2rio displays up to date . If you want to take a cave tour, currently tours are booked in the morning on a first-come first-serve basis. Boise is known as the City of Trees for its many outdoor spaces boasting gorgeous trees. We are looking at 2023. . Below are the details for both routes. You'll pass strikingly beautiful mountain scenery and desert landscapes that will make any professional or amateur photographer fall in love. If you arent lucky enough to see a herd of bison here, you have another chance in Lamar Valley. . Amenities include a barn with music and kids movies and an on-site caf and bakery. Hop onto Teton Park Road, headed south towards Jenny Lake Lodge. You can either ride the Aerial Tram to Rendezvous Peak at Teton Village or have lunch in Jackson. This hotel was wonderful but we did A LOT of driving to get back and forth to the Black Hills. Make sure to enjoy the free Wi-Fi and on-site bar as well as the on-site restaurant. Upon arrival, request your shuttle by calling the Rushmore Hotel at 605-348-8300. July 8, 2022 Tori Peglar 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. Best Things to Do in Badlands National Park. 12. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. You can visit Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore year-round but keep in mind that some roads will be closed to driving in Yellowstone during winter. Elevations of 3,400-7,731 feet. On our first visit to the area, we stayed in Rapid City at the Courtyard by Marriott. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. Option #1 is perfect for families and those who want to see the best of the park without doing a lot of hiking. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. You will stay in Yellowstone or West Yellowstone for two nights. Get a free Yellowstone trip planner with inspiring itineraries and essential information. The Glacier National Park Route covers 1,380 miles with 23 hours and 10 . If you visit both basins, a visit here typically lasts about 2 hours. Before sightseeing, check out its award-winning Sunday Brunch served at their Laurel Brasserie and Bar. But I would love to see something different on our way back to Ohio. Recommended accommodations: No need to stay overnight - this is best done as a quick stop off on the way to Flagstaff and/or the Grand Canyon.. Stop 4: Flagstaff, Arizona (the Grand Canyon & Sedona) Caravan's Rapid City, South Dakota hotel, the Rushmore Hotel provides a courtesy shuttle from the Rapid City Airport (RAP). Cheers, Julie, Your email address will not be published. Once at Devils Tower, you will have a few hours to spend here. For dinner, the Gun Barrel Steak & Game House is a popular spot. For suggestions on how to plan your time today, read our post. On the Road: varies depending on what you do and your route through Custer State Park, this can range from 100 to 150 miles with 3 to 4 hours of driving. You'll get to explore some of the most stunning places in America on your way from California to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. After Reno, you can drive on a detour north to see Sutcliffe. Either route you choose, you will drive through Yellowstone National Park, one of the most celebrated parks in the US and a favorite for lovers of the outdoors. It is a lot of pages since it is not optimized for printing. Its not ideal, since its not formatted to be printed, but it is your best option right now. Winter sees the fewest tourists and the area's accommodation is generally cheaper. Keystone is located north of Custer State Park, near Mount Rushmore. Its a 30 minute drive from Mount Rushmore and a visit here can be very quick. For more details on visiting the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, read our Guide to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. The road distance is 1392.2 miles. Take this route early in the morning for at dusk for the best opportunities to see bears and wolves. Rent a canoe and spend an hour or two paddling around Jenny Lake. Just over two million people visit Mount Rushmore each year. I would not make the 2 day drive just for a bit of time at the one spot. Later, make your way south, stopping at as many viewpoints as your heart desires. I recommend getting an early start. This gravel road is suitable for standard cars. Cheers, Julie. Our website uses cookies. Experience the great American west on a road trip to Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore from the beautiful state of California. Start New Trip. Cloud Peak Skyway is 47 miles long, running from Ten Sleep to Buffalo, Wyoming, on US Highway 16. From Gardiner or Mammoth, it will be a very long drive to Grand Teton National Park (plus, they are closed due to the flood). For something quicker, hike the short but sweet Rankin Ridge Trail for panoramic views over the Black Hills. From here, you can save it and/or print it. The closest airport is Jackson Hole Airport, which is located in the park. After exploring the area, drive east into South Dakota to see the iconic Mount Rushmore. Last year myself and my wife took our first road trip driving the California coast from San Fransico to San Diego and fell in love love with road trips. After your cave tour (or instead of a cave tour), explore the above ground world of Wind Cave National Park. It is the southern route through the Bighorn Mountains. With 10 days, you can visit Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore, but thats not all. The cheapest way to get from California to Mount Rushmore costs only $308, and the quickest way takes just 6 hours. Overview of this Yellowstone, Devils Tower, and Mount Rushmore itinerary, with Grand Teton NP, the Bighorn Mountains, Custer State Park, andd Badlands NP. Head back down 385 on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.