Help out a novice for a road trip

Depends on the person. We spent two weeks in SD with a side trip to Devils Tower. Also have spent 2+ weeks in Yellowstone and Grand Teton's multiple times. Do you hike?

More sightseeing than hiking. Could probably stretch a week to 10 days.

About 15 years ago we made a trip somewhat like that but all driving, round trip from Atlanta.

It is all going to depend on how much you want to see and doat each place.

For us (picking up in the area you are talking about) we spent the night in Mitchell, SD, got up early and drove west. Went to Badlands NP, Wall Drug Store, and Mt Rushmore all in a day. Drove on to Gillette, WY for the night. Badlands we did a couple of the short boardwalk loops and the visitors center. Mt Rushmore you hit the visitors center and see the mountain.

Next day left Gillette and drove to Little Bighorn. Walked the cemetery, did the visitors center and the grounds. Left from there and drove to West Yellowstone for the night.

Next day got up early and went into the park. Did both loops, saw Old Faithful Mammoth Hot Springs, Upper and Lower Falls on the river and Grand Prismatic Spring. Drove down the parkway to Grand Teton and went as far south as Jenny Lake. Stopped a couple of times for the view, then drove back to West Yellowstone. This was mid May so crowds were not as bad as summer.

Drove the next day from West Yellowstone to Missoula to see friends who lived there. Spent a few days there. When we left Missoula we drove south to SLC. We stayed a little north of the city but drove in the next morning.

So really we did all of that in a week or so, when you factor in the few days in Missoula. But we only did the basics in the parks, so that adds a lot of variability.

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Into Idaho for a night in Pocatello

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Why? It sucks.

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Would like to check Idaho off the list

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If this is the reason, then this is comparable to going to Monroe and thinking you have seen Louisiana. The Sawtooths are what to see and do in Idaho.

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have not seen very much of Wyoming

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Instead of the Pocatello nonsense go to Pinedale from Tetons and spend the night there. You can drive past the ski area there and start to get into the Wind River range plus there are a few cool lakes.

Save Idaho for another trip where you can actually see the good parts of the state like Sun Valley, Stanley, Hells Canyon, and McCall. Maybe add in Glacier National Park on that trip or parts of Oregon.

I thought Deadwood was a cool town. I would spend a night there. Eat dinner, walk around, have a shot of whiskey in the saloon where Wild Bill Hickok was killed while holding Aces and Eights, which became known as the Deadman's Hand.

Here's 6-day portion of a road trip we did in 2018 (but, opposite of you, this starts in SLC and moves east to SD). This pace certainly isn't for everyone, but it worked for us for this particular trip. Hope it helps.


Day 1
- Start in SLC
- Great Salt Lake State Park
- Drive to Lava Hot Springs, ID
- Tube the Portneuf River and visit the hot springs pools

Day 2
- Take Pioneer Historic Byway to Jackson Hole
- Teton Village to ride aerial tram
- Explore Jackson

Day 3
- Grand Teton National Park
- Jenny Lake shuttle boat to Inspiration Point hiking trail
- Yellowstone National Park (stay at Old Faithful Lodge)
- Old Faithful

Day 4
- Spend day within Yellowstone National Park
- Exit at East Entrance and head to Cody, WY
- Cody Nightly Rodeo

Day 5
- Drive to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, MT, visit Visitors Center and take the 4.5 mile Tour Road (cell phone audiotour)
- Drive to Bowman, ND

Day 6
- Drive to Custer State Park
- Take 16N Iron Mountain scenic drive to Mount Rushmore
- Crazy Horse Memorial
- Picnic at Sylvan Lake
- Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop scenic drives

It’s probably too much, yes, but it can be done. Just depends on how many days and how much driving. If you’re thinking a 10-14 day trip, then it’s fine. If you’re not going to go for that long, it’s too much.

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Fly into Rapid City and do Mt Rushmore, Badlands NP and that area.
Drive into Montana…Little Big Horn
Devils Tower
On to Yellowstone
Grand Teton
Into Idaho for a night in Pocatello
Fly home from SLC

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Could probably stretch a week to 10 days.

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I guess I'd look at it this way. You are looking at about 20 hours of driving. If you spend a week doing it you will have maybe 4 total days to actually see the things you are interested in. Of the things you listed I think a few hours to half a day is fine for each, other than Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. And if you don't hike you might just be satisfied with the great view of the Tetons which doesn't necessarily take long. Yellowstone is huge and takes time. If you are satisfied with a wham-bam visit to the places you listed then I guess a week is barely possible. Personally, I'd spend 3 weeks with about half of it Tetons/Yellowstone. And I'd make it 4 weeks and add Glacier. But I have a lot of time these days.

You need to be sure you have lodging for Yellowstone. If you are going at a peak time that can be tricky.