Self-Drive: Yellowstone and National Parks of Western USA

Day 1 Arrive in Seattle

Start your journey by boarding your non-stop international flight from the UK to Seattle. Upon arrival make your way to the city to check into your centrally located hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. Located on Washington’s northwest coast framed by mountains and forest Seattle is a cutting-edge city where technology meets nature. Spend the evening at leisure where you are able to explore the city’s exciting food and drink scene. (N)

Accommodation in Seattle: Staypineapple At Watertown Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Seattle

Today enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Seattle. Top attractions include the observation deck of the 650-foot tall Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass art and sculpture museum and the Museum of Pop Culture inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Pike Place Market is a great place to stop for a leisurely lunch with daily food markets and street food stalls. In the evening enjoy a cocktail in the Space Needle’s bar overlooking the city at night and dine at one of the city’s excellent eateries. (N)

Accommodation in Seattle: Staypineapple At Watertown Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Seattle to Coeur d’Alene - 311 miles

This morning pick up your hire car in downtown Seattle to begin your journey heading inland to Coeur d’Alene in western Idaho. This drive will be the longest of your road trip, however there will be many opportunities to stop off for coffee and food. On arrival in Coeur d’Alene check into your hotel before exploring this picturesque city. Located on the pretty Lake Coeur d’Alene, there are many lakeside parks including Tubbs Hill and City Park which are great for sand beaches and walking trails. Spend the afternoon relaxing, stretching your legs and taking in the beautiful scenery of northwest Idaho, America’s Gem State. (B)

Accommodation in Coeur d’Alene: Best Western Plus (or similar)

Day 4 Coeur d’Alene to Kalispell - 239 miles

Today you will cross state borders and enter Montana. Drive to Kalispell where you will stay for the next two nights. En route stop off at Flathead Lake which is home to crystal clear water and pine forests and offers the perfect conditions for a gentle swim after a long drive. Kalispell is the gateway to the spectacular Glacier National Park which is a wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains dotted with glacier-carved peaks, rolling valleys and glistening lakes. (B)

Accommodation in Kalispell: Homewood Suites (or similar)

Day 5 Glacier National Park

Enjoy a full day exploring Glacier National Park today at your own pace. A quintessential part of any Glacier visit, Going-to-the-Sun-Road connects the east and west sides of the park. Take this road to explore the trails, mountains and lakes of Glacier National Park. Highlights include the huge alpine lake, Lake McDonald, Logan Pass which offers breathtaking vistas from the Continental Divide, Grinnell Glacier famous for its hiking trails and the beautifully clear Hidden Lake. (B)

Accommodation in Kalispell: Homewood Suites (or similar)

Day 6 Kalispell to Bozeman - 291 miles

After breakfast depart Kalispell and drive south to the Rocky Mountains city of Bozeman. After a long drive, you are free to explore the city or relax in the hotel’s indoor pool or attractive terrace. Bozeman offers a few attractions including the Museum of the Rockies which houses a renowned collection of dinosaur fossils, the Montana State University and the Gallatin History Museum which is home to regional artefacts and a photo archive. (B)

Accommodation in Bozeman: Springhill Suites (or similar)

Day 7 Bozeman to West Yellowstone - 90 miles

This morning take the short drive to West Yellowstone on the Montana-Wyoming border where you will stay for the next two nights in order to explore iconic Yellowstone National Park. America’s oldest national park, Yellowstone is renowned for its spewing geysers and rainbow pools, rolling grasslands, alpine valleys and rushing waterfalls. After checking in to your authentic lodge, take the very short drive into Yellowstone National Park and spend the afternoon exploring the north western region where you can regularly see bison, elk and pronghorn antelope gracing the land. You may also wish to visit the famous Mammoth Hot Springs which is known for its terrace-like cascades of steaming pools. (N)

Accommodation in West Yellowstone: Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone (or similar)

Day 8 Yellowstone National Park

Today spend the whole day self-exploring Yellowstone by car. Drive around its figure-of-eight Grand Loop Road and pause at different points to follow various walking trails, view wildlife and photograph extraordinary geothermal features. Highlights include the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser known for its consistent eruptions and the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring, a blue hot spring tinged with greens, yellows and oranges. Other places of interest include the Yellowstone Caldera and Lake, Upper Yellowstone Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. (N)

Accommodation in West Yellowstone: Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone (or similar)

Day 9 West Yellowstone to Jackson - 126 miles

After breakfast depart West Yellowstone and start your journey heading south into Wyoming towards Jackson. A unique old Western-style town surrounded by prairie land and lakes, Jackson is the gateway to the stunning Grand Teton National Park. Home to tree-lined boulevards, craft shops, art galleries and boutique cafes, spend two nights in charming Jackson. On arrival, opt to enjoy lunch in the Town Square which features arches made of shed elk antlers or visit the National Museum of Wildlife Art which is home to works by Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe. (B)

Accommodation in Jackson: Cowboy Village Resort (or similar)

Day 10 Grand Teton National Park

Today spend the day exploring Grand Teton National Park by car at your own pace. Although not one of the US’s largest, Grand Teton is one of the country’s most spectacular national parks that is home to jagged peaks and sheer cliffs that rise up to 7000 feet above the ground. Sparkling lakes lie at the feet of the towering mountains where the park's wildlife congregates including bison, moose, elk, pronghorn antelope and squirrel. Discover Grand Teton National Park’s beautiful panoramas and enjoy gentle hikes through the natural wilderness. Return to Jackson in the evening and explore the city’s fabulous food and drink scene. (B)

Accommodation in Jackson: Cowboy Village Resort (or similar)

Day 11 Jackson to Salt Lake City - 278 miles

This morning continue your journey south and cross into the Beehive State of Utah towards Salt Lake City. Situated in the foothill of the Rocky Mountains, Utah’s capital Salt Lake City is bordered by the Great Salt Lake and the snowy-peaks of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Originally home to the Ute Indians before the Mormons settled in 1847, the city has substantially grown to become a culturally diverse melting-pot home to a first-class performing arts scene, award-winning craft breweries and an impressive tech scene. Spend the afternoon at leisure; explore the impressive Utah State Capitol Building or landscaped Temple Square, get active on one of the many biking or hiking trails or head to the Great Salt Lake and enjoy some kayaking, sailing, or even a sunset cruise. (N)

Accommodation in Salt Lake City: Hampton Inn Downtown (or similar)

Day 12 Salt Lake City to Torrey - 213 miles

Today continue further south into Utah and enjoy the drive to small desert town of Torrey. After lunch why not head to Capitol Reef National Park which is home to striking rock formations, red canyons and golden sandstone layers. Take a gentle hike through part of the park viewing the incredible natural structures, or for the more adventurous, why not abseil down Cassidy Arch or take part in some canyoning. That evening enjoy a beer under the star-filled sky in the open desert. (N)

Accommodation in Torrey: Capitol Reef Resort (or similar)

Day 13 Torrey to Springdale via Bryce Canyon National Park - 180 miles

Depart Torrey and continue through the spectacular scenery that Utah has to offer. On the drive to Springdale and Zion stop en route at Bryce Canyon National Park famous for its terracotta-coloured hoodoos which are spire-shaped rock formations. Spend a few hours exploring the extraordinary landscapes of Bryce Canyon and walk though mazes of dazzling coloured rocks on the various walking trails the park has to offer. If time permits, why not watch the sunset from Bryce Amphitheatre where the sky and rocks morph into a canvas of fiery colour. Continue to Springdale where you will stay for the next two nights. (N)

Accommodation in Springdale: Cable Mountain Lodge (or similar)

Day 14 Zion National Park

Today you are at leisure to explore the dramatic landscapes of Zion National Park, one of the greatest parks of the south west. Zion is dramatic and wild with its massive sandstone monoliths, riverine forests and cascading waterfalls. It offers fantastic hiking, nature walks, wildlife viewing and world-class rock climbing and canyoning. Highlights of Zion National Park include the Great White Throne, Grand Staircase and Checkerboard Mesa, all spectacular monoliths, as well as the Emerald Pools Trail, Canyon Overlook and the famous Angel’s Landing. An excellent way to see the park in addition to hiking trails, is the six-mile Scenic Drive which bisects Zion Canyon. (N)

Accommodation in Springdale: Cable Mountain Lodge (or similar)

Day 15 Zion National Park to Las Vegas - 161 miles

Depart Springdale in the morning and continue your journey, briefly through Arizona, before reaching Nevada and enjoying the final stretch of open road to Las Vegas. Known as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’, Las Vegas is a bewildering blend of neon lights, glitz and glamour and 24-hour casinos. After checking in to your hotel located on the world-famous ‘Strip’, spend the afternoon at leisure to explore this eccentric city. (N)

Accommodation in Las Vegas: Luxor (or similar)

Day 16 Las Vegas

Today enjoy a full free day in Las Vegas where the options are endless; explore the neon-lit ‘Strip’ and the mesmerising casinos, visit the Venetian complex with the replica Grand Canal, watch the famous water show at the Bellagio or catch some last-minute rays at the hotel pool. In the evening enjoy your final meal at one of the city’s amazing restaurants or enjoy a huge variety of world-class theatre and concert performances. (N)

Accommodation in Las Vegas: Luxor (or similar)

Day 17 Depart Las Vegas to the UK

Enjoy your final morning and lunch at leisure in Las Vegas before making your way to the airport to drop off your hire car and board your non-stop international flight back to the UK. (N)

Self-Drive: Yellowstone and National Parks of Western USA

17 days from £2800 per person

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Itinerary: Self-Drive: Yellowstone and National Parks of Western USA

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