3-Day Road Trip with Kids from Salt Lake City to Yellowstone

Salt Lake City to Yellowstone National Parks

Routes

Salt Lake City - Logan Canyon - Bear Lake - Lava Hot Springs - Pocatello - Grand Teton - Yellowstone National Park

Best Time 

The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from April to May and between September and November. These seasons offer mild weather and fewer crowds. July and August are the most popular months to visit: The kids are out of school, and the weather is warm enough to sleep outside.

Where to Stay

Day 1: Hotels in Lava Hot Springs 

Recommendation: Lava Hideout Cabins

Located in Lava Hot Springs, Lava Hideout Cabins provides accommodations with free WiFi, air conditioning and access to a garden with a grill.

Day 2: Hotels in Yellowstone National Park 

Recommendation: Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone

Located in West Yellowstone, Explorer Cabins At Yellowstone is in a walkable area with good shopping. Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Yellowstone Park West Entrance and Gallatin National Forest.

Day 3: Lovely Home

Find the best vacation hotel deals and book yours at Booking.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia, Trip.com, Travelocity & Trip.com. Plus don't forget to earn up to 6% cashback from Extrabux! 

Day 1: Salt Lake City - Logan Canyon - Bear Lake - Lava Hot Springs

Logan Canyon

The drive between Logan and Bear Lake is beautiful. There are campgrounds and many hiking trails. Don't miss Tony Grove Lake ($7 parking fee) in Logan. The road zigzags up the side of the mountain for several miles, then culminates at a gorgeous mountain lake. There is a trail that winds around the lake for 1.25 miles. In mid-late July the wildflowers are absolutely gorgeous. There are hiking trails up the mountain if you want a little more strenuous hike. Another easy hike a little farther up the canyon is the Limber Pine trail. The trees are spectacular in the fall with the aspens, big tooth maples and green pines.

Bear Lake

Bear Lake is a popular destination, known for its brilliant turquoise waters and spectacular scenery. The area around Bear Lake is a recreation playground, with dozens of fun activities both in and out of the water. Go to Bear Lake for the beach. We all know that the beach is very shallowly sloped. This means that the water doesn’t get deep fast. In fact, you can walk out nearly 100 yards and still didn’t get the water up much past your belly-buttons. This will make it awesome for kids. It also means that the water is much warmer than it would be if it were deeper. So the beach at Bear Lake is incredible. And don't miss straddle the Utah-Idaho border, this recreational paradise is known for its turquoise waters and a delicious treat.

Lava Hot Springs

Year-round world-class hot pools! Relax in the odor-free, natural hot mineral water that bubbles directly into the bottom of the soaking pools at 112 cooling to 102 degrees F. Summer Olympic swimming complex, waterpark and indoor aquatic center provide excitement for the entire family. You can scream down the waterslides at the summer fun Olympic Swimming Complex or dive from the 10-meter diving platforms. Play in the year-round Indoor Aquatic Center with Portneuf Kiddie Cove year-round. Camping, lodging, food, and fun are located next door in the town of Lava Hot Springs. Stop here and take a rest.

Day 2: Lava Hot Springs - Pocatello - Grand Teton - Yellowstone 

Pocatello

Surrounded on three sides by snow-capped mountains, Pocatello is a beautiful small city in the heart of eastern Idaho. The unspoiled wilderness in and around the city is perfect for cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter or hiking and biking in the summer. The Pontneuf River Greenway running through town is popular for jogging and strolling in warmer climes. For a more cultured vacation, try any of the city's theaters, dinner museums or outdoor bandshells for live entertainment.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park attracts more than 4 million yearly visitors, who come for the mountaineering, hiking, river rafting or the mere spectacle of a wall of high, sharp peaks. Popular things to do in Grand Teton National Park: Jenny Lake Trail, Signal Mountain Summit Road, Mormon Row Historic District and Taggart Lake.

The second day, you'd better stay nearby the Yellowstone National Parks so that you have enough time to visit Yellowstone.

Day 3: Yellowstone National Parks

Yellowstone National Parks, most of the points of interest are centered around volcanic phenomena [geysers, hot springs, etc.], but there are also many remarkable natural sites [Yellowstone River, Upper and Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, etc], and the animals to be seen [bear, bison, deer, elk, etc.] are simply spectacular.

If you need to rent a car to start your road trip, you can book at Dollar Rent A Car, Europcar, Avis, Thrifty, Hertz, Sixt Rent A Car, CarRentals.com. Don't forget to earn up to 6% cashback from Extrabux!

Extrabux is an international cashback shopping site, offering up to 30% cashback from 10,000+ Stores!

Booking.com, Ripley's Aquarium, Marriott, Pontins, Trip.com, Ripley's Myrtle Beach, The Brehon, ebookers, Away Resorts, Gleneagle Hotel, Agoda, Extended Stay America, Worldwide Insure, Malmaison, Scotts Hotel, Priceline, Zafiro Hotels UK, TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Discovery Cove, etc.

Join to get $20 welcome bonus now! (How does Welcome Bonus work?)