We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. Carpets of wildflowers spread out before us as the car descended down the eastern side of the road. The countrys (and the worlds) oldest national park, established in 1872, Yellowstone was first explored by frontiersman John Colter, who passed through in 1807; its also one of the largest parts of the lower 48 states never to be farmed or fenced. For dinner why not head into downtown Jackson, which is only a 20-minute walk away. Interstate 84 runs directly through the Gorge on the south side of the river and youll take this interstate when driving to Yellowstone NP. 7:36 pm arrive at Yellowstone National Park. Nestled near Victor and just over Teton Pass from the tourist haven of Jackson, our HomeAway cabin had a hot tub with a view of the mountains, a cozy loft with three beds and a comfortable living space that included a kitchen stocked with cooking supplies. Now, its time to discover the best restaurants from Yellowstone to Oregon. We made a beeline for Old Faithful geyser and got there just in time to watch it erupt. Also read: more tips for your North West USA road trip This post was first published in 2018 and fully updated in 2021 Day 1. During summer, plan for warm temperatures. If an adventure of epic proportions sounds appealing to you, read on and find out . Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, California Redwoods, Oregon Coast. Check our road trip itinerary collection for your perfect vacation. Stage 3: Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone, a hot spring surrounded by the rainbow, How to visit Bannack Ghost Town? Thunder rumbled and rain poured as I stood in line at a campground check-in kiosk during my fifth day on the road. If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your Oregon to Yellowstone road trip. This brings us to the end of this 3-part itinerary, which is certainly not one of the most popular routes in the United States. The distance from Portland to Yellowstone is 873 miles. However, it is an excellent alternative for enjoying natural beauty outside the classic routes, thus contributing to the discovery of a part of America that most people don't know. The whole thing went off without much of a hitch, and it was easily the best road trip I've taken this year. So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. The rain died down shortly after we pitched our tent, and we avoided forecasted thunderstorms the rest of the trip: A gallivanting, nine-day tour that spanned roughly 2,300 miles and covered five states and two national parks. With Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park being just 31 miles apart, the two parks make for an incredible weeklong road trip. That said, winters in Yellowstone can be very cold, so you must be well prepared if you want to visit in winter. We have five restaurant recommendations worth your attention. We have listed five hotels, five restaurants, and five places to visit on the Portland To Yellowstone drive. The magic bubble burst. We got an early start the next morning, heading to Rendezvous River Sports in Jackson to pick up a pair of kayaks for a float down the Snake River. Grand Teton National Park. Click here to see their availability. When driving straight, the average drive time is about 14 hours in regular traffic. Click here to browse more Boise hotels! Visit our blog to explore Yellowstone on a driving tour. As the itinerary recommended, we also hiked the Lost Lake Loop before deciding to take it easy for the rest of the day. Upon arrival, youll begin walking on a boardwalk that takes travelers close to the hot spring. What awaits us? Bentwood Inn If youre looking for a luxury hotel close to Yellowstone, then this is a fantastic option. You can choose from many different routes that make the trip almost as exciting as the adventures you'll have when you arrive. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6e87840ee631b07021c7e8aca1a2501" );document.getElementById("b934630cd5").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi! There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from Oregon to Yellowstone. To find out how to visit them, read our upcoming in-depth feature on Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds. Here we list five places to visit for you. Yellowstone National Park. . Roughly 550 miles of open road awaited me in the morning, and I said my goodbyes and started ticking off miles by midmorning. Suggestions for a South West USA road trip; Suggestions for an East Coast USA Road Trip; Suggestions for a West Coast USA Road Trip; Suggestions for a 'Deep South' road trip; Suggestions for a Great Lakes Road Trip The campground itself is nothing special, but it served our purposes well for two nights. LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. Her approach to traveling combines exploring famous tourist sites and wandering off the beaten path to discover new destinations. Go canoeing, kayaking, or fishing during your stay. To make the most of your journey and see as much as possible, consider using some of these resorts as stopovers: The Riverside Hotel is situated along the banks of the Boise River, offering a great location for a stopover on your road trip from Portland to Yellowstone. Follow Pine Creek Road, or Route 31, to the small town of Victor. Old Faithful is reliable in its eruption interval due to its independent thermal features. So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Oregon to Yellowstone. Make sure to plan your time at Multnomah Falls carefully. This small city is home to several day hikes and other outdoor activities including whitewater kayaking and windsurfing. Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site Start off by admiring the singular beauty of the Pacific Coast at Newport's Yaquina Bay. The park's most famous feature, of course. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Indianas Amish Country: Middlebury and Shipshewana. My friends and I had driven into Yellowstone National Park hours before and watched the famed Old Faithful geyser shoot scalding water into a cloudless blue sky. Youll have plenty of places to stop along the way for gas, lodging, and snacks. Whatever you do, dont try to see it all in a day or two; if time is tight, choose one or two places and spend all your time there. Sailing on Bear Lake Bear Lake Valley CVB Stop Six: West Yellowstone, Montana Kilometers from Bear Lake: 432 Known for: Gateway to Yellowstone National Park Recommended stay: 2 days minimum Keep reading for everything you need to know when planning your road trip from Portland, Oregon to Yellowstone National Park. Even without paying a visit to Yellowstone National Park, youve probably seen photos of the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Stay on Highway 20 through Idaho Falls, and then re-join Highway 26. The view from our cabin near Victor, Idaho. The 420-mile road trip from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone will take over 7 hours to drive. We found our site a bit homier than the one we were given at Bridge Bay, but both proved perfect for our intents and purposes. 1:37 pm Craters of the Moon National Monument. Farther along the south rim is Artists Point, which gives the classic view of the canyon. Locating in the Idaho capitals Linen District, they have a range of great rooms available and there s a bar and a lovely outdoor terrace on site, as well. In between eruptions, visit the impressive Old Faithful Visitor Education Center, opened in August 2010, or wander around the other features of the Old Faithful basin. This article includes 15 tips that turn your Oregon to Yellowstone drive into an unforgettable journey. Yellowstone to Oregon road trip is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. Major cities and towns along the route include Portland, Hood River and La Grande in Oregon; Seattle, Winthrop, and Spokane in Washington; Coeur d'Alene, Sun Valley, Stanley, and Boise in Idaho; and Missoula and Bozeman in Montana. During an eruption, boiling water is thrown 106 to 185 feet into the air and can last for up to five minutes. 10 Best Stops on a Denver to Montana Road Trip, 10 Best Stops on a Portland to San Francisco Road Trip, 10 Best Stops on a Denver to Yellowstone Road Trip. If walking isn't your style, you can always get the free bus in. In the warmer months, you can dine on a patio outside allowing you to enjoy the fresh mountain air. There are very few tourists crowding the park around this time, so you get to enjoy the beautiful nature without any distractions. So if youre looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from Yellowstone to Oregon, take your coffee and keep reading! Hot springs, high peaks and Montana's wide open spaces dominate this tour from Seattle to Glacier and Yellowstone national parks and back. Either way, the drive is relatively long, so you'll have plenty of places to stop on the way if you see traffic ahead. All rights reserved (About Us). Its a strenuous hike that begins from the Jenny Lake Trailhead. A mega road trip along this epic route will take you through 12 states and across 3,365 miles. I suspect, however, that's not the case in the heat of summer, when the park is busier and the trail is easier to follow. Photos from this day of the trip show a pool roughly resembling light blue Kool-Aid, stream wrought with unusual shades of green and geyser billowing skyward. Yellowstone got its name from the vibrantly colored rock in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Heres an interactive map of this last part of the itinerary (for the full route go to the bottom of the article). Delta flies from Eugene to Yellowstone National Park once daily. There are ranger stations at most main features and large visitors centers (307/344-7381) at Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, and the Canyon. Along the way, stops include the cities of Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Jackson, as well as Payette and Bridger-Teton National Forests. We have five restaurant recommendations worth your attention. 2024 Winter in Yellowstone Photography Tour - Photograph the "Winter Wonderland" of Yellowstone National Park with wildlife photographer Daniel J. Cox. The University of Montana was founded in 1893. If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Oregon to Yellowstone drive, you can consider the five restaurants we have chosen. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from Yellowstone to Oregon as enjoyable as possible. Highway 26 will lead you to the otherworldly Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Lets now move eastward, crossing Idaho, one of the most fascinating and underrated states in the United States, and head towards the most surreal natural spectacle of the State: Craters of the Moon National Monument, an expanse of lava cones, craters, caves, molten lava channels, mounds of earth and twisted trees that really gives the impression of being on the moon. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post. Do yourself a favor and start planning your own Yellowstone vacation. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Soak up the outdoors as you travel through Washington, Idaho and Montana on this northern-states road trip. The 658 miles of Oregon to Yellowstone drive takes around 9 hours and 56 mins without stops. Mammoth Hot Springs was created thousands of years ago when hot water from nearby hot springs cooled. But we tacked on a few more miles after returning to the trailhead because the boat shuttle had already stopped running for the day. If the weather conditions allow for it, you can get to your destination. Grand Teton National Park is teeming with hikes: everything from the short and straightforward to an awe-inducing 30-mile-plus loop. If you wanted to, you could visit the Craters of the Moon on your way to the park. On the way, explore Mt Rainier National Park & Craters of the Moon, make a stop in Portland, Missoula, or Idaho Falls, and visit the Grand Teton National Park. This lunar landscape is truly impressive and can be accessed by paying a weekly ticket ($8 for cars, $4 for others). By following this Teton and Yellowstone road trip itinerary, you'll hit up a large number of the best sites in the parks in just 7 days without spending too much time in the car.". However, on your road trip, there are also some unique destinations, like West Yellowstone, Montana. We have listed five hotels, five restaurants, and five places to visit on the Yellowstone to Oregon drive. From Painted Hills to Grand Prismatic Spring: discovering bizarre and unusual natural wonders. The restaurant is very well reviewed and definitely a highlight. On your trip to the park, don't drive past these amazing places to find uncrowded adventures, spend the night, or eat a great meal. The geyser got its name from its intervaled eruption that occurs every 60 to 90 minutes. Rooms in the old lodge, without baths, start at about $210. You can also indulge in some great skiing at nearby Jackson. This article includes 15 tips that turn your Oregon to Yellowstone drive into an unforgettable journey. Have you ever taken the Yellowstone to Oregon road trip? Mountains dominated the long view in Cascade Canyon. Munich or Frankfurt: Which German City to Visit? Our alarms rang well before dawn, rousing us for a morning of wildlife spotting. Stop 5: Jackson, Wyoming. Similarly, if youre traveling during the summer, consider camping! Another historic lodge, at Yellowstone Lake, is plusher but architecturally less distinctive. Located directional outside Grand Teton National Park gives this town plenty of lodging and dining options for travelers. Home / The Oregon Trail / Wyoming / Yellowstone National Park. We want to explain the top five destinations we recommend on the Oregon route. If traveling in winter, make sure you pack accordingly. There are lots of options available in the city, such as this 1940s bungalow. The next day, we set off toward Victor, Idaho -- a small burg in the scenic Teton Valley that we chose for a three-night stay because of its relative affordability and proximity to Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. on Amazon that will make travel fun for them. We want to explain the top five destinations we recommend on the Yellowstone National Park route. Oregon to Yellowstone road trip recap This brings us to the end of this 3-part itinerary, which is certainly not one of the most popular routes in the United States. When driving straight, the average drive time is about 14 hours in regular traffic. The early wakeup call paid off as we headed for Lamar Valley. 7:05 pm Weiser . For your first stop on a road trip from Portland to Yellowstone, consider making a pit stop in the Columbia River Gorge. While there is beautiful scenery, its cold and wet. Were passionate about getting off the beaten path, promoting responsible tourism, supporting local economies and sharing our knowledge with other travellers! Day 7 - Explore Yellowstone + drive to Ketchum, Idaho Enjoy this post with a long Oregon and Washington road trip itinerary. On the Yellowstone to Oregon road trip, you may want to stay at some points. Sitting astride the Continental Divide, high up in the northern Rockies at the northwest corner of Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park is one of the true wonders of the natural world. These hotels are listed below. The direct drive from Portland to Yellowstone National Park is 873 mi (1404 km), and should have a drive time of 14 hrs 10 mins in normal traffic.. Remember, like you, people planning a Yellowstone road trip need your opinion. This fall road trip originates in the Columbia River Gorge area of Oregon and ends in the Yellowstone area. Follow the interstate as it meanders through small cities like La Grande and Baker City. This section lists five restaurants to dine at on the road trip from Yellowstone to Oregon. This two-tier waterfall is a staple of sites to see in the Portland area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Now that you know how to plan your trip, let's get on to those road trip ideas. Some restaurants will please you on your Portland To Yellowstone road trip if dining is a pleasure. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Arrival in Seattle Day 2. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post. drive for about 2 hours. Audrey Webster is a writer for The World Was Here First. Portland Day 4. Changes in light and humidity can greatly affect the tones and hues of the hills. If youre planning to drive from Portland, Oregon to Yellowstone National Park, stay tuned. From the top, you get incredible 360-degree views of the Jackson Hole valley and the Tetons. Add to that the extremely generous price, and you have a truly amazing resort on your hands. This means you can stretch your legs after a long day of driving. After a long day of driving, there is no better way to unwind than to relax in a lava hot springs mineral pool. Here we list five places to visit for you. The Lava Hot Springs Foundation World Famous Hot Pools are heated from natural underground springs, but possess none of the sulfur smells commonly associated with hot springs. Yellowstones visitor facilities book up well in advance (sometimes up to a year), so if you want the complete experience, its best to plan ahead as much as possible. If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Yellowstone to Oregon drive, you can consider the five restaurants we have chosen. However, should you choose to take your time, you can easily spend three to four days driving from Portland to Yellowstone. She is an Oregon native who has visited countries across the globe and currently spends her weekends exploring the Pacific Northwest. and leave at 5:14 pm. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 5 Best Restaurants On The Portland To Yellowstone Road Trip. Little Bighorn Battlefield for reenactment of Custer's last stand. The Adventure Inn Yellowstone: If you are taking a road trip from Oregon to Montana, West Yellowstone is must have a place you should visit. However, if you can spare the time, I would suggest you allow yourself up to a week. Your email will not be provided to third parties. This road trip will provide you with lifetime memories of one of the most striking landscapes in . It is The Adventure Inn Yellowstone, 657 miles from Oregon, and it would take 9 hours and 53 mins to drive. It's western-style dcor and a roaring log fire make this inn the perfect place to stay in Jackson. Artist Point offers a stunning view ofthe Yellowstone River and Lower Falls. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post. Take a simulated wagon ride, then thank modern technology for your car as you continue driving north on Highway 89. Keep reading. Stage 1: Painted Mountains Painted Hills, Oregon, a photographers paradise. 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