Hello everyone,
We are planing to spent 10 days in mid-September visiting Arches, Yellowstone and Teton NP. What would be the best way to plan this trip? Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
10 days in September - Arches-Yellowstone-Teton: need advice
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Yellowstone is amazing!
Have you looked into the Sierra Nevadas? Went there last year and loved it!! Sequoa National Park is awesome!
If you are flying in, I'd probably fly into Salt Lake City. I'd do Yellowstone, then Grand Tetons and then work my way down to Moab via 191. It's a slower driving route but very scenic. This way you won't have to back track to Salt Lake City.
10 days is going to make for a quick trip but here's an example of what it can look like.
1. Fly in to SLC
2. Drive to Yellowstone 320 miles
3. Yellowstone
4. Yellowstone
5. Yellowstone & drive to Grand Tetons 100 - 125 miles depending on where you stay.
6. Grand Tetons
7. Drive to Vernal, Utah via Flaming Gorge National Recreational area 300 miles. You might decide to make a fast trip to Dinosaur National Monument while in the area.
8. Vernal to Moab, Utah 215 miles. Gives you time to stop at Canyonlands on the way to Moab.
9. Moab, Utah - See Arches
10. Quick stop in arches before driving back to SLC 231 miles.
I'd do Yellowstone first to make sure you have good weather and Arches last to hope for cooler weather!
Utahtea
I agree with Utahtea that you should start with Yellowstone, and while I find it is fantastic, but I would probably do one day less there and add one for Canyonlands/Arches/Moab area.
Before you commit to Dinosaur NM make sure it is not still under construction. When we were there last the VC and Dionsaur trail were not open yet. And keep an eye on the weather in both areas.
Have a fantastic trip
Utahtea's plan is a common one and would work, though I also would give one day more to the Moab area....hoping that the "day one" of UT's plan would allow you to travel to Yellowstone on the day you arrive.
One way car rental would be expensive, but to make the most of your time that is one option you should look into. Then you wouldn't need to back track. Fly into Bozeman (or maybe Billings- car rental would be the determining factor for me). Then heading south to Yellowstone for 3-4 days, Tetons for 1 day, driving to Moab the better part of 2 days, and three days in Moab, dropping the car off in Grand Junction if possible, or SLC otherwise.
Definitely Yellowstone first at that time of year.
Dinosaur is set to reopen completely Oct 4th, though some buildings may open earlier.
Thank you all. Since I am planing to take photos, I might need a bit more then one day in Arches so I guess I have to skip Dinosaur NM in favor of the Canyonlands (if I have time for it).