Denver to Yellowstone Road Trip
Explore the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Wyoming
Explore three national parks and one national monument on this breathtaking, 1,300-mile Denver to Yellowstone road trip. Spend your first day of this incredible 1,300-mile, round-trip route in the Mile High City, checking out the art and food scene before heading north from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park.
In the park, take Trail Ridge Road, the country’s highest continuously paved road, over the Continental Divide. From there explore Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyo., giving you easy access to the scenic route through the Snowy Range Mountains. Afterwards, stop in Saratoga, Wyo., for a dip in hot springs. From there, drive to Jackson, Wyo., and Grand Teton National Park where you’ll find unparalleled scenery and a lively town with great food, nightlife and daytime activities.
Head north to explore Yellowstone before driving south to the uncrowded Fossil Butte National Monument, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and Dinosaur National Monument with entrances in Vernal, Utah, and Dinosaur. Colo. Afterwards, head east back to Denver.
Road Trip Map
Start: Denver, Colorado
Mile-High Fun
From fine art to trendy restaurants, use your feet to explore Denver. Enjoy a Rockies game, hike, visit the Denver Art Musuem, and see the zoo. Read more on our sister website at www.mycoloradoparks.com/road-trips/denver-co
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
48-Hours in Rocky Mountain National Park
Only have 48 hours? Make the most of your time by following our itinerary covering both sides of the park. Read more on our sister website at www.mycoloradoparks.com/national-parks/weekend-itinerary
Laramie and Carbon Country in Southeast Wyoming
Locals in Laramie
Here’s where to go and why from three enterprising locals, Rebecca Walsh, owner of Basecamp, Jennifer Small, owner of Golden Prairie Bakery and Kari Kilmer, manager of Vee Bar Guest Ranch.
Laramie’s Top 6
Escape the crowds by taking the scenic route to Yellowstone. Located on the edge of the Snowy Mountain Range, Laramie has a ton of outdoor and cultural attractions for travelers from great microbrews to uncrowded alpine hikes. Here are the top things to do.
Small Wyoming Towns and Open Spaces in Carbon County
In southern Wyoming, you’ll discover a string of towns woven together by hot springs, ranching, coal, oil and a growing wind turbine industry. Break up your drive to Yellowstone by stopping at some of these attractions.
Connect with Nature at a Dude Ranch
Experience cowboy life firsthand. Make reservations at one of the the West’s top dude ranches and guest ranches. You find four ranches in the Laramie-Carbon County area, one in Lander and a dozen near Jackson along this road trip route.
Wind River, Wyoming
Home Off the Range
Spend a couple spectacular hours with wild horses and learn about Native American culture at the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary.
Riverton’s Holiday Inn and QT’s Restaurant
Sleep in the heart of the Wind River Indian Reservation and enjoy the indoor Fundome with an indoor pool, exercise room, QT’s Restaurant and Bottoms Up Lounge.
Dubois, Wyoming
Escape to Dubois, Where the Largest Herd of Bighorn Roam
What rhymes with “cowboys” and has been named “best escape in Wyoming” by Expedia? The small, scenic town of Dubois, just 90 miles from Yellowstone and worlds away from the crowds.
National Bighorn Sheep Center
You can see wild sheep year-round at Whiskey Basin. Visit the National Bighorn Sheep Center in Dubois.
Jackson, Wyoming
Saddle Up in Jackson
Just 15 minutes from Grand Teton National Park and two hours from Yellowstone, Jackson is a great stop if you’re looking for an old West town with a touch of class and a lot of fun.
Fun on the Snake River and Grand Teton Lakes
With temperatures reaching new highs, figuring out how to stay cool is key to enjoying your summer. Enjoy adventures in Jackson and nearby Grand Teton National Park.
Barker Ewing by Jackson Hole Whitewater
Barker-Ewing Scenic Float Trips
Mad River Boat Trips
Solitude Float Trips
Grand Teton Lodge Company
6 Big Adventures at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Right next to Grand Teton National Park, spend a day on the new Via Ferrata assisted climbing course, riding the gondola, tackling the ropes course or biking and hiking downhill.
Head to Snow King Mountain Resort for Family Fun
Jackson, Wyo.’s best-kept secret offers a ton of activities for all ages, plus bike and SUP rentals.
Town Square Inns of Jackson Hole
With four Jackson locations and over 400 rooms and cabins, the Town Square Inns have more options to meet your style and budget than any other area hotelier.
Elk Country Inn
Antler Inn
Cowboy Village Cabins and Lodge
49er Inn and Suites
Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone’s Sister Park, Grand Teton
Located at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Rockefeller Parkway connects Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park with Yellowstone.
48 Hours in Grand Teton National Park
Here are some of our favorite things to do in Grand Teton from amazing hiking trails to scenic boat rides and the best huckleberry milkshake ever.
3 Roadside Stops in Grand Teton National Park
From historic homesteads to breathtaking river valleys, here are our top stops for a fantastic scenic drive plus road-trip advice from Nokian Tyres.
8 Best Places to Eat and Sleep in Grand Teton National Park
It’s easy to get distracted by the park’s world-class views, but don’t miss these places at Grand Teton Lodge and Jackson Lake to eat and sleep.
A Level Up with Great Western Expeditions
Tour Yellowstone and Grand Teton with Great Western Expeditions for a touch of luxury. It’s not just another Jackson, Wyo., tour company. Family-owned and operated, the staff has taken national park touring to the next level.
GyPSy Guide’s Yellowstone and Grand Teton Tour App
Download the Yellowstone narrated driving tour app that’s like having a tour guide in your car. GyPSy Guide automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go.
3-Day Eco-Friendly Vacation Itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton
Want tips on how to be a sustainable traveler? We’ve put together ideas for a three-day vacation.
Yellowstone National Park
Enter the south entrance.
48 Hours in Yellowstone
Only have 48 hours? Make the most of your time by visiting some of our favorite spots in the park including wildlife watching, dining at historic lodges and see geysers erupt.
Top 5 Vistas in Yellowstone National Park
If you want to feel on top of the world, here are 5 views you must see including Artist Point, Lamar Valley, and the Yellowstone River cutting thru lava spires.
Fun on the Water in Yellowstone National Park
Leave dry land behind to explore the rivers and lakes of Yellowstone. Go paddling, fishing, boating, or take a boat cruise tour in the national park.
Exit the south entrance.
Wyoming’s Fossil Basin
Lost in Time
Explore a 52-million-year-old graveyard that preserves an ancient underwater world of fish, turtles, crocodiles, insects, mammals, birds, and leaves. Visit a private fossil quarry to hunt for your own fossils.
Flaming Gorge, Utah
Desert Oasis in Flaming Gorge Country
Take a break from the desert heat by jumping in the sparkling water at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and spend several days exploring this 91-mile-long reservoir.
Dinosaur National Monument, Utah/Colorado
The dinosaur bones at this park straddling northwestern Colorado and northeastern Utah would be reason enough to stop here. The quarry displays the remains of Allosaurus, Diplodocus and Stegasaurus, among other dinosaurs. But the monument also has excellent river rafting, hiking and ancient rock art panels. Two visitor centers, one in Colorado and one in Utah, each have interactive displays. See the wall of bones at the Quarry Exhibit Hall and raft the Yampa River past the iconic formations such as Steamboat Rock.
Vernal’s Hidden Gems
Looking to avoid the crowds and see one of the country’s most spectacular national monuments? You’ll dig ancient animal history in Vernal, Utah, located close to Dinosaur National Monument
A Jurassic Journey through Moffat County
See wild horses, hundreds of elk and the eastern side of Dinosaur National Monument near Craig, Colo., on the way back to Denver.