Driving to Yellowstone - Questions

[daepp]

Has anyone here ever made the drive from LA to Yellowstone? I'm curious where to stay along the way. Is there anything between St. George Utah (too soon to stop) and Salt Lake City (a long drive for the five of us in 1 car)?

From my home 30 mile east of Los Angeles to SLC is 650 miles.

[onlycafe]

in cody, wy. there is a little place for breakfast and lunch called the noon break cafe. try the chili verde. it was so good that i spent an extra night in town just so i could have another breakfast the next day.
while in town ,check out the buffalo bill museum. they have a great winchester collection as well.
safe travel. have a great time.

[sammyg2]

I made that drive a couple of years ago. Cedar City is a cool place, just a ways north of St. George. You might want to go all the way to provo but that's almost SLC.

BTY on the way back I drove straight through from Old faithful inn to Orange, Ca is 16 1/2 hours.
Didn't get that good of gas mileage tho

[gr8fl4porsche]

I don't know about the drive from LA but I have driven to Yellowstone from St. Louis, MO several times. Yellowstone is the most amazing spot in the US. Everyone needs to go there. It is recovering nicely from the big fire in '88.

Enjoy your trip. Don't forget to take the steep hike down to the bottom of the Tower Falls.

[daepp]

Thanks for the input, guys. Any advice for handling my 15 year old daughter along the way. She's a great kid - but it's a long time in the car!

[slodave]

I've done the route a few times. Most was to and from college in Montana and I was alone - wanting to get to my destination ASAP.

Since you will have your 15 y.o., plan on a few more stops . Maybe look for some interesting sites along the way. There are many and they don't take long. Have fun and if she starts to complain, pull over at the nearest rest stop.

Dave

[LakeCleElum]

Cedar City, UT
Beaver, UT

[Drdogface]

I second the rec. of Cody. Granny's is also great for breakfast. Museum is a MUST...not just the firearms part...also Buffalo Bill stuff and Plains Indians. Custer Battlefield is less than a day's drive from Cody but north and out of the way for Yellowstone. Cody is only about 60 mi East of the park. The Silvan Pass going into the park is, well, exciting ;-) All beautiful country.

[LakeCleElum]

If spending a night in West Yellowstone, don't book the Super 8....It's about 10 miles west of town in the middle of nowhere. Best to find a place in town so you can walk to dinner, etc...

[daepp]

Mostly I am just looking for a place to stay the night between St. George and Sal Lake City. I will definitely check out Cedar and Beaver Cities. Anything else before Provo?

[sammyg2]

When in jellystone, I found that the southern part is cool but gets old fast, just more piled higher and deeper. Zillions of lodgepole pines, geysers, and bison. I've been there several times and it's gotten a little old. The grand canyon of jellystone is cool and the waterfalls are impressive, but after a day or two it looses some of it's shine.

When we finally decided to drive the northern loop, I fell in love with the place again. WOW! The scenery changed with every turn. If you can imagine it, you will see it. I think I saw it when I was a little kid but didn't really remember but it sure made a big impression on me this time. The next time I go i'll be spending most of the week in the northern loop.

[scottmandue]

It's a little out of your way but but you will be driving past Bryce and Zion, Springdale just outside of Zion was a nice little town.