Day 4 – Idaho, Grand Teton, drive to Yellowstone 

If you are ahead of schedule, check out Idaho’s City of Rocks National Park. It has some really great views and fun rock formations. If you are behind schedule, skip it, as there are brighter pastures ahead. When you get to the Welcome to Idaho sign, take out that bag of potatoes you bought in San Francisco. Take funny pictures with potatoes at the signs. Get back in car and continue driving. 

11:30 – Stop off for a bite to eat in Idaho Falls. It’s a cute town, and has some waterfalls, hence the name, Idaho Falls. Take out some more potatoes. Have a catch with the potatoes. Throw them at the locals … they love that sort of thing. 

12:30 – Drive the remaining couple of hours to Grand Teton National Park. Wow … it’s beautiful. It’s also one of the best places to see wildlife, no matter the time of day. Though, if you get there closer to sunset, you will see more animals. 

6 PM – Time to leave Grand Teton, and head towards Yellowstone. Yellowstone Hotels sell out in peak season. This is one of the times you want to book your night in advance. Once, I didn’t book a hotel room, and wound up staying in the Bates Motel. True story … the place was so bad, the business card had a cross out, the rugs smelled like ox urine, and instead of a mint on our pillow, THERE WAS HEART MEDICATION. Yes, a pill on the pillow. So, book your hotel before you stay. To save a good hour for tomorrow, I would HIGHLY recommend staying INSIDE the park at the Old Faithful Inn. It’s right by Old Faithful, and is surprisingly reasonably priced.

 

Day 5 - Wake up and do Yellowstone. People come here for a few days or a week ... I know that. But, if you can soak in the beauty, see Old Faithful, and get a look at a bear ... you will be happy. I mean, how many of these natureseekers are going to see Mount Rushmore at sunset tonight! That's right ... hop on the highway out of Yellowstone (or the backroads until the highway) and you can be in Keystone, South Dakota in about 10 hours. Actually, it's not uncommon for people to wake up in Yellowstone, and be in Keystone by sunset. But be warned! Around these parts they give out tickets if you pass an emergency vehicle in the right lane ... always make a pass in the left lane. After sunset at Mount Rushmore, begin the 6 Hour drive to Denver. Stop at a hotel wherever is cheapest.

Day 6 -I say Denver because, it is probably the cheapest place to 1) drop off the rental car, and 2) fly home. It's the only close major hub. If you have time, drive through Estes Park and go to Rocky Mountain National Park in the morning (if you have a night flight).

So ... 6 days, and you just saw a massive amount of the most beautiful part of America. So, when people say, "you didn't hike in Yellowstone or Yosemite?", you say ... "Sorry, I had to get to the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Rushmore."

               

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