Salt Lake City to Yellowstone & Mount Rushmore: 4-Day Grand Teton, Devil's Tower & Crazy Horse Road Tour
Difficulty
easy
Duration
4 days (approx. 96 hours)
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers with basic mobility; involves short walks (30–90 minutes) at moderate elevation and long periods seated on the bus.
Overview
A compact four-day road tour from Salt Lake City that stitches together Grand Teton, Yellowstone’s geyser basins, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Expect early starts, long scenic drives, and front-row wildlife and geological highlights.
Salt Lake City to Yellowstone & Mount Rushmore: 4-Day Grand Teton, Devil's Tower & Crazy Horse Road Tour
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Dawn in the Rockies pulls a thin blue light across the windshield as the tour bus rolls out of Salt Lake City. By midmorning the Tetons push through the horizon, jagged and unapologetic, and steam from Yellowstone’s thermal basins begins to fog the glass. This is a route that trades quiet suburbs for volcano-born hot springs, prairie monoliths, and carved presidential visages — a compressed sweep of the northern Rockies and Great Plains that asks you to trade one night’s hotel for four days of continuously changing scenery.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Start early to beat the crowds
Most sightseeing windows happen in the morning—arrive at major viewpoints before tour buses and midday parking congestion.
Dress in layers
Temperatures can swing from sub-freezing at dawn in the Tetons to hot in Yellowstone’s lower valleys; pack a warm mid-layer and a light shell.
Carry bear-aware gear
Bring bear spray if you plan independent walks; stay on boardwalks in thermal areas and keep at least 100 yards from bears.
Bring binoculars and spare batteries
Wildlife viewing in Lamar and Hayden Valleys is best with optics and long shutter patience—carry extra power for phones/cameras.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Bison
- Elk
History
This route traces Ice Age geology and settlement history: Yellowstone’s caldera records volcanic upheaval, while Independence Rock preserves names carved by 19th-century emigrants.
Conservation
Stick to boardwalks and marked trails in thermal zones to protect fragile microbial mats; follow park guidance to minimize wildlife disturbance.
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Adventure Hotspots in Salt Lake City
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Layered clothing (base, insulating, waterproof)
Handles big temperature swings between valleys and alpine zones.
Sturdy walking shoes
Required for boardwalks, short hikes like Tower Trail, and uneven viewing areas.
Binoculars or spotting scope
Improves wildlife viewing in Hayden and Lamar Valleys.
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
High-elevation sun and reflective water surfaces increase UV exposure.
summer specific