Explore three national parks and two national monuments on this breathtaking, 1,761-mile Denver to Yellowstone road trip.
| Miles | Driving Time | States |
| 1,761 | 31.5 hours | Colorado, Wyoming, Utah |
What You’ll See and Do on This Road Trip
Spend your first day of this incredible 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. After exploring the park, head north to Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyo., giving you easy access to the scenic route through the Snowy Range Mountains. Stop in Saratoga, Wyo., for a dip in hot springs and then on to small authentic towns like Wheatland, Casper, Buffalo, Ten Sleep and Cody.
From Cody, you’ll enter Yellowstone National Park. Drive south to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson,Wyo., where you’ll find unparalleled scenery and a lively town. Continue 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 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
Two Perfect Days 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.
Longs Peak
It is impossible to
stare at the skyline of Rocky Mountain National Park and not be compelled to at least wonder what it would be like to climb Longs Peak. Dominating the park’s peaks and topping out at 14,259 feet, Longs is the ultimate adventure for experienced hikers.
Southeast Wyoming
A New West in Cheyenne
As you drive to
Wyoming’s capital from Denver, Colo., you’ll pass herds of bison at the Terry Bison Ranch where you can go on a trail ride or train ride to see these iconic creatures up close. Each July, you can visit Cheyenne Frontier Days, a world-renowned festival full of
pro-rodeo, country music and Western heritage. If you’re not visiting in July, the Hell on Wheels Rodeo Series on select Friday nights throughout the summer, complete with a Chuck Wagon Dinner, will give you a taste of cowboy culture. The Old West traditions are still a vital part of Cheyenne’s culture, but there’s so much more to this city than cowboy charm.
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’ll find four ranches in the Laramie-Carbon County area, one in Lander and a dozen near Jackson along this road trip route.
Central Wyoming
Go Off the Radar on the Oregon Trail
From
Glendo to Chugwater in Platte County, Wyo., this Pony Express route in southeast Wyoming’s Platte County is full of little-known gems including a state park and multiple historical sites.
Casper’s Top 7
As the heart of the Wild West in the 1880s Casper sat at the intersection of the Mormon, California, Oregon and Pony Express Trails. Today, it still serves as a crossroads for travelers. Stop in Casper on your way to Yellowstone National Park to relive the history of the West with trail landmarks, wagon rides and cowboy boots. Or
get a taste of Casper’s unexpected culture with its 100-year-old art scene, festivals and craft distilling.
6 Ways to Experience the West
Stop in the towns of Buffalo and Kaycee, Wyo., for a dose of Western culture including going on a trail ride, visiting a saloon and learning about Wyoming’s history. Nearby, stay at
Paradise Guest Ranch to see how a week with family at a 100-year-old dude ranch will create memories for a lifetime.
Hot Springs, Bison and Dinosaurs in Thermopolis
You’ll find Thermopolis tucked among the
foothills of the Owl Creek Mountains beside the Big Horn River. It’s a hot springs paradise with multiple places to slip into the hot mineral waters and soak.
Drive the Yellowstone Sweet 16 to Bighorn Mountain Country
Stop in the small towns like Worland and Ten Sleep on U.S. Hwy. 16, known as the Sweet 16. It’s touted as the best and safest way
over the Bighorn Mountains due to a less steep grade and gradual curves.
Heartbreak at Heart Mountain
During World War II, more than 14,000 Japanese Americans ended up behind barbed wire at Heart Mountain Relocation Center. Discover what life was like for them at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Powell, Wyo.
Cody, Wyoming
Find
the Wild West in Cody
When Buffalo Bill Cody helped found the town that bears his name, the year was 1895. One hundred and 25 years later, Cody, Wyoming, offers travelers to and from Yellowstone the best of the Old and New West. Plan your multi-day adventure with these must-sees.
Old West Experiences at Buffalo Bill Center of the West
Watch your dinner get prepared at a chuckwagon at the Cowboy Chuckwagon Experience at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. It’s one of many experiences you can have at this Smithsonian-affiliated
complex that’s home to world-class art, remarkable Indian artifacts and cultural exhibits.
Where to Stay Between Cody and Yellowstone
Buffalo Bill [Cabin] Village at Buffalo Bill Village Resort
Holiday Inn Buffalo Bill Village Resort
Comfort Inn at Buffalo Bill Village Resort
Lodges of East Yellowstone
Elephant Head Lodge
Pahaska Tepee Resort
Yellowstone National Park
Enter the east entrance.
2 Days 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.
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.
2-Days 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.
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
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.
10 Best Things to Do at Dinosaur National Monument
Seeing dinosaur bones, going rafting and more of our favorite things to do.
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.
The Grand Side of Rocky Mountain National Park
River Run RV Resort’s Rocky Mountain Retreat
Just 20 minutes from the park’s West Entrance, which sits in Grand Lake, Colo., lies River Run RV Resort, a new 200-acre resort with unparalleled amenities for the area. There’s actually so much to do on property that it may be hard to leave it. Learn more on
MyColoradoParks.com
End: Denver
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