Drive from your Oklahoma starting point into Oklahoma City, allowing enough time for the distance and a hotel check-in; aim to arrive by early afternoon. Once you’re downtown, park once and walk between the first stops. Give the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum about two hours. The outdoor memorial is a quiet place to begin, while the museum offers a moving, detailed account of the 1995 bombing. Check the museum’s current hours and admission before you go; budget roughly $15–20 per adult.
Walk about 10 minutes south to Myriad Botanical Gardens for an hour among the downtown gardens. The outdoor grounds are a pleasant, low-key break; check ahead for current hours and any separate admission for the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory. Afterward, head east to Bricktown Canal—it’s an easy walk or a short rideshare—and take a relaxed 45-minute stroll along the water. The canal area gets livelier toward dinner, so there’s no need to rush.
From Bricktown, take a rideshare or drive about 10–15 minutes to Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Stockyards City. It’s a classic, no-frills Oklahoma steakhouse; expect about $25–50 per person before drinks and tip. Check today’s hours and consider reserving, especially if you’re arriving during a busy evening. After dinner, head back to your hotel and get some rest before tomorrow’s drive west.
After the drive and a quick fuel or rest stop, head to Cadillac Ranch, about 10 minutes west of downtown just off I-40. Plan on roughly 45 minutes to wander among the half-buried, brightly painted cars; it’s free, open-air and exposed to the sun, so bring water and a hat. You’re welcome to add your own graffiti—pack a marker or spray paint, and take any cans with you when you leave.
Drive east to The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery for a hearty, distinctly Amarillo dinner. Allow about $20–45 per person, depending on what you order; the restaurant is generally open daily, but check current hours before setting out. It’s a popular stop, so expect a wait at peak dinner time. The famous 72-ounce steak challenge is a spectacle, but most travelers will be happier with a more manageable meal.
If you still feel like stretching your legs, drive back toward downtown and spend 30–45 minutes around Hodgetown, the compact ballpark district. Take an easy wander along the nearby downtown blocks, but note that access to the stadium itself depends on whether there’s an event. It’s a relaxed way to finish the day after several hours on the road.
With an early start from Amarillo, aim to reach downtown Santa Fe around midday; the clock moves back an hour on arrival, which helps. Head to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum first and allow 1.5–2 hours for a focused visit. It typically operates during daytime hours, but check its current schedule and book ahead if timed entry is required—Saturday can be busy. Parking garages near downtown are handy if you’re driving; once parked, the rest of this plan is an easy walk.
Wander the Santa Fe Plaza for about an hour, taking in the adobe buildings and side streets, then walk a few minutes to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Allow around 30 minutes, but check visitor access around services and keep voices low inside. Finish at The Shed for New Mexican classics in its colorful historic setting; budget roughly $20–40 per person. It’s popular, so expect a possible wait—arriving early for dinner can make the evening more relaxed.
Leave Santa Fe early for Moab; the drive typically takes 6.5–7.5 hours with breaks, so plan on reaching town in the afternoon. Check road and weather conditions before setting out, especially for the mountain stretch on US-550, and keep water and snacks handy. After checking in, head to the Moab Museum downtown for about an hour. It offers a useful, compact introduction to the region’s Indigenous history, mining, and outdoor culture. Check its current hours before you go, since schedules can vary by season and day.
Take an easy 45-minute wander through Moab town center, browsing the shops and galleries along Main Street; most are a short walk from the museum, though hours vary and some may close early. For dinner, finish at Sunset Grill, a historic house on the north edge of town with broad views over Moab. Budget about $25–50 per person; reservations are a good idea in busy summer season, and arriving before sunset gives you the best chance to enjoy the view.
Leave Moab in the morning and expect to reach Salt Lake City around midday, allowing for a quick check-in and parking before exploring. Start at Temple Square downtown; give the landscaped grounds about an hour. Access to buildings and exhibits can change with ongoing visitor arrangements, so check the official site before you go. Entry to the grounds is generally free.
The next planned stop is the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on the University of Utah campus, usually a 10–15-minute drive from downtown. There’s an important snag: the museum is typically closed on Mondays, and this itinerary puts you here Monday, June 28. Check its current summer hours before setting out; if it is closed, you won’t be able to see the collections today, so the museum visit needs to be moved to a day when it’s open rather than relying on walk-up access.
Head to Red Iguana near the city center for dinner and its celebrated range of moles; budget about $15–30 per person. It’s popular, so expect a possible wait at peak dinner time—arriving early is your best bet. From the university, allow roughly 15–20 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
Leave Salt Lake City early enough to reach Jackson around lunchtime after the planned drive and a break. Once you arrive, park near downtown and stretch your legs at Jackson Town Square; the elk-antler arches are the town’s signature photo stop, and 45 minutes is plenty to browse the surrounding shops. Street parking and paid lots are available, but spaces can be tight in summer.
Drive about 10 minutes north to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, set above the National Elk Refuge. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the collection and the views from the building. It generally keeps daytime hours, but check its current schedule before setting out; adult admission is roughly $18. Arriving by about 2:30 p.m. gives you a comfortable visit before closing.
Head back downtown for a relaxed meal at Snake River Brewing. It’s a casual spot for local beer and filling pub fare; budget about $20–40 per person, and expect a wait at peak dinner time. Check the day’s hours and food service before you go, then enjoy an easy evening—tomorrow’s Yellowstone drive is better with an early start.
Leave Jackson early—ideally around 6 a.m.—for the full park-crossing day. The drive to West Yellowstone is listed at about 3–4 hours before stops, but wildlife jams, road work and entrance queues can add considerably more. Check Yellowstone’s road and entrance conditions before setting out, carry water and snacks, and keep your park pass or entrance-fee payment ready.
Make West Thumb Geyser Basin your first stop. The boardwalk loops past steaming pools and geysers right beside Yellowstone Lake; allow about an hour, and stay on the boardwalk because the ground is dangerously hot and fragile. Parking can fill during summer, so an early arrival helps. Then continue north toward Hayden Valley; allow around 1–1.5 hours to pause at designated pullouts and look for bison and other wildlife. Traffic can slow this stretch, and animals have the right of way—never stop in the road or approach wildlife.
Continue to West Yellowstone and check in before dinner if timing allows. Head to Madison River Brewing Company for a casual meal and a local beer; budget about $20–40 per person, and check its current hours and food service before you go, as they can vary. If park delays push your arrival late, call ahead or have a backup dinner option in town.
Leave West Yellowstone around 7 a.m. and enter through the West Entrance; in summer, queues and wildlife-related stops can add time. Drive south toward the Fairy Falls Trailhead for the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. The hike is about 1.6 miles round trip, with a steady climb and little shade; allow 1.5–2 hours, bring water, and expect the small parking area to fill early. The overlook gives you the broad color pattern that’s hard to take in from ground level.
Drive back to the Midway Geyser Basin parking area for the Grand Prismatic Spring boardwalk. Set aside 45–60 minutes for the walk and viewpoints. Stay on the boardwalk: the hot, fragile ground around the spring is unsafe, and stepping off trail can cause serious damage. Parking is limited here too, so be patient if you need to circle or wait.
Continue south to Old Faithful and allow 2–3 hours for the predicted eruption and a wander through the geyser area. Eruption estimates are posted at the visitor area and can shift, so check them when you arrive rather than building the whole afternoon around a fixed time. Then have dinner at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room—budget about $20–45 per person, before drinks and tip. Seasonal hours and service can change; check the current schedule and make a reservation if offered, as walk-in waits can be long in summer. Allow extra time for the return drive to West Yellowstone, especially near closing time when traffic backs up at the park exit.
The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is worth a visit only if you can get on the road early and still arrive in Cheyenne with time to spare. It’s in West Yellowstone, so go before setting out rather than after the drive; allow 1–1½ hours, and check that day’s opening hours and admission prices before you leave. Otherwise, save your energy for the long drive and don’t try to squeeze it in.
Allow roughly 8–9 hours of driving from West Yellowstone to Cheyenne, plus breaks; roadwork, weather and summer traffic can stretch the day. Check current road conditions before departure, and plan a fuel and meal stop along the way. On arrival, head to the Cheyenne Depot Museum downtown if its seasonal hours allow—budget about an hour, but confirm it will still be open given your arrival time.
Finish at The Albany, a historic former hotel downtown, for dinner; budget about $20–40 per person. After a full day on the road, it’s a welcome place to sit down and unwind.
Leave Cheyenne around 5:30–6 a.m. for Oklahoma City via I-25 south, I-70 east and I-35 south. The drive itself is roughly 8–9 hours before breaks, so budget most of the day for the road, food and fuel; check weather and traffic before setting out. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton makes a good stretch-and-history stop if you’re keeping to schedule—allow 1–1½ hours, and confirm current hours before you leave, as seasonal schedules can vary.
Continue east, then take a short break at Pops 66 in Arcadia, known for its giant soda-bottle sign. About 30–45 minutes is plenty to browse the bottle collection and grab a drink; check the current hours, especially if your drive is running late. Leave some flexibility here: the two stops add time beyond the drive, and a late departure from Clinton may mean skipping the Arcadia stop rather than rushing both.
Finish at Nic’s Grill in Oklahoma City for a no-fuss burger, typically around $10–20 per person. Check its current hours before making it your final stop, since the schedule can be limited; if you arrive after closing, pick up dinner nearby instead. You’ve made it back—leave time to return the rental car or unload and settle in before calling the road trip done.
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