Pat_in_Mich

We'll be leaving Yellowstone (Old Faithful Snow Lodge) on Friday morning (September 2nd) and we would like to be in Salt Lake City by about 6:00 that evening. The only stop we have planned is in Blackfoot Idaho (about 30 miles south of Idaho Falls) for about an hour.

I'm trying to decide whether we should leave Yellowstone via the west entrance or via the south entrance. Google maps tell me that the south entrance route is about 48 miles longer and would take about 1 hour and 15 minutes more not including stops of course.

Is this time somewhat accurate? Is it worth going this way given that we'll have time for only brief stops?

Thanks for any advice!

boom_boom

From my experience (which is 5 years old) the southern entrace route adds more like 2 hours to the trip. Not only do you have the slow traffic in the parks, but the route itself is mostly rural 2 lanes roads and not as straight as shot as leaving via West Yellowstoneto 20 & 15. However, the southern route is more scenic and interesting IMO.

tekwriter

Also, there is major road construction going on for about 10 miles right after the south park entrance. You could be completely stopped for up to 30 minutes while they let only one lane through. We just drove that stretch last week coming up from Grand Teton and although we weren't stopped for all that long, it's slow and bumpy driving on the dirt road. The drive through Grand Teton is beautiful, though, and if you haven't been down there, it might be worth the slow driving to have a look-see.

Pat_in_Mich

Thanks for the info. I guess we'll just have to see what we feel like when the time comes.

sludick

Pat - if you wouldn't mind, please come back and post what you decided to do. We'll be there September 11-20, and will be making the same decision. Thanks a bunch.

Pat_in_Mich

I hope to do a trip report when I return.

Pat_in_Mich

In case anyone is interested, we decided to leave via the west entrance. Seeing Grand Teton was tempting but we had already seen many mountains by this time and we wanted to arrive in Salt Lake City in time to do some things.