Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip from San Francisco

Morning — Fly into Jackson Hole and collect the car

Your SFO–SLC–JAC itinerary lands in Jackson Hole at 10:50 AM. Allow roughly 45 minutes for baggage and the Avis pickup, then drive north on US-89/US-191 toward Grand Teton National Park and Colter Bay—about 1 hour 15 minutes without stops. The airport is small, but rental-car counters and luggage can still take time; keep water and snacks handy, and remember that the park entrance fee is separate from the rental car. If you have not already arranged it, a private vehicle pass is generally around $35 for seven days, subject to 2026 pricing.

Afternoon — Jackson Lake Lodge and the northern park

Make Jackson Lake Lodge your first substantial stop, about an hour from the airport. The broad terrace is the main draw: on a clear day, Mount Moran rises dramatically beyond the sagebrush flats, and it is one of the easiest high-payoff viewpoints in the park. Allow about an hour for the overlook and lunch in the lodge, budgeting approximately $20–35 per person. Food service hours can change late in the season, so check the lodge’s posted schedule or pack a backup picnic from Jackson; September afternoons are quieter, but wildlife and weather can still slow the drive.

Late afternoon and evening — Oxbow Bend to Colter Bay

Continue north on US-89 to Oxbow Bend Turnout, allowing 30–45 minutes. This is a particularly good late-day stop for waterfowl, elk, and sometimes moose, with Mount Moran reflected in the river when the wind is calm. Stay in designated pullouts and use binoculars rather than approaching animals. From there, drive north to Colter Bay Marina for an easy lakeside walk and sunset; bring a warm layer, since temperatures drop quickly beside the water. Finish with dinner at Colter Bay Village Dining Room, budgeting roughly $20–40 per person. It is one of the most convenient evening options near your lodging, but seasonal hours may be limited—confirm closing time on arrival and avoid leaving dinner until too late.

Early Morning

Start at Colter Bay Indian Museum, which typically opens around 9:00 AM in September; confirm seasonal hours with the National Park Service before setting out. Give the collection about 45 minutes—its regional Indigenous art and cultural objects provide useful context for the landscapes you’re about to cross. From there, drive a few minutes to Jackson Lake Dam for wide views toward the Teton Range and a quick look at the historic dam structure. Morning light is usually best, and 30 minutes is enough unless the peaks are especially clear.

Late Morning and Afternoon

Continue south on US-191, then turn into Grand Teton National Park for the Jenny Lake Scenic Drive and String Lake area. Allow roughly 1½ hours for an easy shoreline walk and a relaxed picnic-style stop; bring food from Colter Bay or Jackson, since nearby options can be limited and busy. Afterward, drive south toward Moose and the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve. Set aside about two hours for the forest-and-lake trail, a quieter counterpoint to Jenny Lake. The preserve’s visitor facilities and parking are seasonal, and the lot can fill quickly, so don’t linger too long at earlier stops. Keep an eye on the clock: from Moose, Old Faithful is still a substantial drive via US-191 and Yellowstone’s Grand Loop Road, often around 2½–3 hours with park traffic and wildlife stops.

Evening

Aim to reach Old Faithful before your dinner reservation at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room, where dinner generally runs about $25–50 per person. The inn is one of the park’s classic interiors, so arrive a little early to look around rather than treating it as just a meal. Afterward, check the next Old Faithful eruption prediction and take the short walk to the geyser if the timing works; September evenings are cooler, and a headlamp or flashlight is useful for returning to your lodging. Park once you arrive and avoid moving the car again—walk between the inn, geyser basin, and nearby lodging whenever possible.

Early Morning — Old Faithful

Leave your Old Faithful lodging early and walk over to the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center for the day’s eruption predictions. Old Faithful is best before the main crowds arrive; plan about an hour to watch the geyser and stroll the nearby boardwalk. September mornings can be close to freezing, so bring a warm layer, water, and shoes with good grip. Yellowstone’s entrance fee is generally about $35 per private vehicle unless covered by an America the Beautiful pass.

Morning — Biscuit Basin and Midway Geyser Basin

Drive north on the Grand Loop Road to Biscuit Basin, roughly 10 minutes from Old Faithful, and allow an hour for its compact boardwalk loop. Then continue south toward Midway Geyser Basin for about 1½ hours, including the overlooks for Grand Prismatic Spring and Excelsior Geyser. Parking fills quickly, especially at Grand Prismatic; if the lot is full, circle back rather than stopping on the shoulder. Stay strictly on the boardwalks—thin crusts around the hot springs can look solid but are dangerously unstable.

Afternoon and Late Afternoon — Fountain Paint Pot and Norris Geyser Basin

After the geothermal basins, drive north toward Fountain Paint Pot, a manageable 45-minute stop for bubbling mud pots, colorful springs, and fumaroles. Continue north on the Grand Loop Road to Norris Geyser Basin, allowing about two hours for Porcelain Basin and the Steamboat Geyser trails. Norris is often breezier and noticeably cooler than Old Faithful, and the trails have little shade, so carry food and water. Check Yellowstone’s road-status page before leaving; September construction or weather can affect the loop, and cell service is unreliable.

Evening — Canyon Lodge Eatery

From Norris Geyser Basin, continue east to Canyon Village and check in before dinner at Canyon Lodge Eatery. Expect cafeteria-style meals in the range of $15–30 per person, with service generally concentrated in the early evening and seasonal hours changing in September. If you arrive after the main dinner rush, keep a backup of trail snacks or a simple picnic in the car—food options are sparse once you are inside the park.

Early Morning — Mount Washburn Trailhead at Dunraven Pass

Leave Canyon Village around 6:30–7:00 AM for the Mount Washburn trailhead at Dunraven Pass; the drive is roughly 20 minutes, and the small parking area fills quickly. Allow 3–4 hours for the strenuous 6.2-mile round-trip summit hike, with about 1,400 feet of elevation gain. In early September, check the morning trail and road report carefully—snow, ice, wind, or wildfire closures are possible—and carry plenty of water, layers, snacks, and bear spray. The broad views from the fire lookout are superb, but turn around if weather moves in; this is exposed high country.

Late Morning and Early Afternoon — Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Return toward Canyon Village, then follow the North Rim road for Brink of the Upper Falls and Lookout Point, allowing about 1½ hours including the short walks and viewpoints. Parking is limited and traffic can be slow, so use signed pullouts rather than stopping along the road. After the hike, this is a good point for a relaxed picnic from your own supplies—park food options can be crowded or limited between meal periods. The North Rim has little shade, and the canyon overlooks are unfenced in places, so keep a safe distance from edges.

Afternoon and Evening — Hayden Valley, Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room, and Lamar Valley

Continue east through Hayden Valley for 1½–2 hours, driving slowly between pullouts and scanning the river flats for bison, elk, coyotes, and—if you are lucky—wolves. Never stop in the traffic lane or approach wildlife; bring binoculars and expect delays when animals gather near the road. Have an early dinner at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room, roughly 45–60 minutes beyond Hayden Valley; plan on about $30–60 per person and verify September seating hours or reservations before leaving Canyon Village. After dinner, continue toward Lamar Valley via Tower-Roosevelt and the Northeast Entrance road. Spend up to two hours on the valley’s pullouts around sunset, when wildlife activity often improves, then make the final drive to Silver Gate. This is a long scenic transfer—roughly 4½–6 hours of driving before stops—so keep fuel topped up, avoid lingering after dark, and confirm the Northeast Entrance is open before setting out.

Early Morning — Beartooth Highway

Leave Silver Gate at first light and drive east on US-212 toward Cooke City for roughly two hours of unhurried alpine scenery. The road climbs quickly into exposed country, with broad pullouts around Beartooth Pass and the high lakes offering the best chances for sunrise color and mountain-goat sightings. In early September, frost, snow, or wind can arrive overnight, so check the Beartooth Highway and Yellowstone road-status pages before leaving; conditions can change even when the valley looks clear. There is no reliable food service once you leave Silver Gate, so take coffee, water, and breakfast with you, and turn around if visibility becomes poor.

Late Morning and Midday — Tower-Roosevelt

Return west toward Tower-Roosevelt, allowing about an hour and a half for the drive and photo stops, then spend around 45 minutes at Tower Fall. The overlook is a short walk from the parking area, but the steeper trail toward the base is often rough and not worth forcing into an already long driving day. Continue to Petrified Tree, reached by a short spur road near Tower-Roosevelt; allow about 30 minutes, and note that the spur is narrow with limited parking. This is a quieter stop than the headline Yellowstone sights, and the ancient tree’s volcanic history makes it a worthwhile change of pace. Pack lunch or use anything available at Tower-Roosevelt, since options are limited and seasonal.

Afternoon — Mammoth Hot Springs

Drive south and west through Yellowstone toward Mammoth Hot Springs, roughly two hours depending on wildlife and construction delays. Spend about 1½ hours on the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces boardwalks; start at the upper or lower parking areas and follow the loop at an easy pace, taking care on wet steps and bringing a light layer—the terraces can be noticeably cooler and breezier than the valley. Afterward, continue through the Mammoth area toward Gardiner for dinner. Keep an eye out for elk around the historic buildings, but give them a wide berth, particularly during the September rut.

Evening — Dinner and Bozeman Transfer

Have dinner at The Corral in Gardiner, budgeting about $20–40 per person; it is a relaxed, practical choice after a full day on the road. Check its September hours before committing, as restaurant schedules can shift late in the season. After dinner, drive north on US-89 toward Livingston, then west on I-90 to The Outpost near Bozeman, allowing about 1½ hours plus fuel. Arrive with enough time to organize luggage and confirm the morning’s airport plan; with a 6:00 AM departure from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, fill the tank tonight and avoid relying on very early-morning services along the route.

Before Dawn — The Outpost to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport

Set an alarm for around 3:00 AM and leave The Outpost by 3:30–3:45 AM for Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN). The drive is usually about 20–30 minutes at that hour, but allow extra time for wildlife, construction, or rural darkness. Refuel near Belgrade if needed, then return the Avis car before entering the terminal; confirm the exact after-hours key-drop instructions the evening before, since the rental lot and counter may operate differently for such an early flight. For a 6:00 AM departure, arriving around 4:00 AM gives you a sensible cushion for the return, baggage, and security.

Morning — BZN–SLC–SFO Return Flight

Your flight connects through Salt Lake City International Airport, with total travel time of roughly five hours depending on the connection. If you have time at Salt Lake City, follow the airport signs to the concourses rather than leaving security; the airport is large, and walking between gates can take 10–20 minutes. Pick up coffee and breakfast in the terminal, and keep water and a light snack handy—the early departure and connection make this an easy day to underestimate. You should arrive back in San Francisco late morning or around midday, depending on the connection and any delays.