Salt Lake city to Jackson Hole--Where to stop in between for a night?
 

We are travelling to Jackson Hole and West Yellowstone for ten days in August. Our flight is from Philadelphia to Salt Lake City leaving very early in the a.m. and making a couple of stops along the way. Consequently it will be a long day of flying. We are thinking of splitting up the drive from Salt Lake to Jackson and staying somewhere in between for the first night. We will be arriving at Salt Lake City sometime in mid afternoon and after spending so much time sitting on a plane, we don't think we could handle the 4 1/2 - 5 hour drive to Jackson on the same day.

Any suggestions where we might stay so that we only put in a few hours of driving both days? Our plan is to get to Jackson with enough time to make use of the second day there. We also have part of the third day at Jackson, leaving late afternoon or evening and heading off to West Yellowstone (which I understand is about a 3 hour drive). Can you also suggest which hotels we might use for our stopover night?

Thanks so much for any suggestions you can give us!!

We stayed in Pinedale, WY at a little no name motel outside of town, which suited our purpose fine. We were doing the same thing, but opposite direction, leaving Yellowstone - SLC, having stayed in Jackson Hole on the way there. It's a cute town with a beautiful park on top of the mountain. If my memory serves me right, it is about 1/2 way between Jackson and SLC.

Your shortest route from SLC is straight up I-15 to Idaho Falls, and then east via the Swan Valley to Jackson Hole. That's an easy freeway drive---little or no traffic, and quite scenic. You could stay in either Pocatello or Idaho Falls, Idaho. We've stayed in both; lots of mid-size chain motels to choose from. Of the two, we prefer Idaho Falls, where you can stay right on the river, and stroll down to see the falls. That is, however, a longer drive than Pocatello, which would be an OK choice too.

Hi D,

Another option would be to drive up through Logan Canyon to Bear Lake and stay there. Very beautiful drive, the most scenic route to Jackson. It would be about 2 1/2 - 3 hours to Bear Lake.
There are motels, condos, and B&Bs.

Thanks to all for your prompt replies. I did have a couple of followup questions to your posts. Enzian, you had suggested Pocatello or Idaho Falls, but I wondered if you know what the difference in the driving times would be for both (from Salt Lake and then onto Jackson Hole). Also, Dayle, how much time would it take to drive from Bear Lake to Jackson Hole? Again, thanks for all the help and suggestions!

I'll wait for Dayle's answer, because I'm sure she has suggested the more scenic route. Unless it is considerably longer or for some other reason you don't want that route, I would vote for her suggestions---she lives there and knows the area.

Also, I would have to consult AAA or Mapquest for actual driving times to Pocatello and Idaho Falls, 'cuz it's been some years (about 10) since I've gone that way. Now I live in Seattle and get to SLC from the west, not the north.

Hi again D,

I live in Park City, so normally drive up Hwy 89 in WY through Evanston. this route takes 4 1/2 hours to Jackson from my house.

If you stay in Bear Lake, you will be staying on the west side (it's a very big lake). When you leave the lake, you will travel east a short distance and join up with Hwy 89.

It should not take you more than 2 hours to Jackson from where you stay. Lots of quaint, old pioneer towns along the route.

You will also get to drive through Star Valley which I think is heaven on earth.

When we vacationed in Jackson Hole, we flew into SLC and drove up 89 through the magnigicent Star VAlley. We spent the night in Afton, the cute town with the enormous antler arch.

On the way home we drove nonstop to SLC via Idaho Falls.

I much preferred the scenery on 89.

Personally I would stay in Salt Lake City one night and start out early next morning for Jackson Hole by way of Route 89 and Bear Lake. Stop along route 89 by the lake for raspberry ice cream. If you can't do that, I thought Logan looked liked a very neat town, and it's much closer to your Jackson Hole destination. A college town, very scenic, big enough that there are restaurants, etc.

i took this same route in 2002. bear lake is a real nice area-stay there.

Thank you all for your excellent advice!! We definitely will take Route 89 and go by way of Bear Lake, but I was wondering where would we spend the night? Does anyone know of lodging in the vicinity? Our hope was to split the trip from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole in half so that we would only be doing about 2 1/2 hours driving each day. Can that be done and if so, where would we spend our first night? We're not really the "roughing it" type and would prefer to stay somewhere that is reputable and well-kept. Any ideas?

Thanks again for the posts!

Hi D,

The largest town on Bear Lake is Garden City, UT. Try a search for motels in this town. I know there are several and lots of condos for rent too.

Doing a quick search for B&Bs, I found this one a tiny bit further north on the lake, technically in Idaho.
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/idaho/bear-lake-bb.html.

The towns along the west side of the lake are VERY small. If you do a search on MapQuest, starting with Garden City, UT and zoom in, or get a detailed map (which I hope you will have for driving anyway) to get the town names.

I'll look for you too. Bear Lake will be half way on the drive to Jackson. I would stay there. As much as I love Star Valley, it's much further.

Here you go, D!

http://www.sleephere.org/UT/GardenCity.htm

We did the same trip last year arriving SLC late afternoon. We toured Temple Square and had dinner. We then overnited outside the city close to Antelope Island for a quick tour in the morning. After that we went to Bear Lake and stayed at the Bear Lake Motor Lodge for the night. Enjoyed walking about the town and by the lake. The Lodge was slightly dated style wise, but clean and afforadable. We had a nice breakfast in the a.m. before departing. Talking to the owner of the Lodge, she told us to say HI to the guys who sing at the BAR J ranch in Jackson, as they always stay with her. Granted we could have done the trip in one day we were totally trying to have a very relaxing ride into the parks...besides the fact that our in-park reservations were not till the next day! We left W Yellowstone and headed for the same La Quinta we had stayed out at by Antelope Island stopping at the Golden Spike RR Musuem.

Thanks, again, to all for the helpful hints. Dayle, I called quite a few places around the Garden City area and it seems we happen to be visiting during their "Raspberry" festival and couldn't seem to find a room anywhere!! One place I called the lady was kind enough to suggest that I travel a little further north to Montpelier and check that out.

Seems that there is a Super 8 hotel in Montpelier and although we don't usually stay at places like a Super 8, there is a review on Tripadvisor that says it's one of their top locations across the country! I guess for the sake of one night I'm willing to give it a try.

According to mapquest, Salt Lake City is about three hours from Montpelier and Montpelier is about two and a half hours from Jackson. I think we could handle that.

If anyone has any better suggestions, I'm certainly open to them!! Thanks all!

Check out the trip from Salt Lake City up Hwy 89 to Afton, Wyoming. I don't remember how long that is, (I was born there and we used to visit SLC regularly) but it seems like a reasonable first leg, and the town is charming. Easy trip from here to Jackson.

When you get to Jackson, look for the Trapper's Inn, on the main drag. Nice place, clean, new, etc.

We stayed there 3 weeks ago.

Enjoy the trip!

Vermonter

Bear Lake raspberries are amazing! Be sure and stop at a stand for some, and try a raspberry shake!

D,

Montpelier, ID would be just fine as a stopping point. It's the largest town along the route, by the lake. Yes, definitely go for those raspberries! Devine!

Great thread!

Sounds like Star Valley is the most scenic portion of the drive.

We will be leaving in the morning from SLC airport and driving up to Jackson Lake lodge.

Should we simply go up I-15 and hit Hwy 89 just south of Brigham City, or is it worthwhile to take the route described in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34668084

Also, where to stop for lunch? Good food most important, setting (casual/upscale, view/no view) less so.

Thanks for your advice!
Andre