Thinking of flying into SLC mid September. Looking for suggestions on what to see and do and hotels. My friend was at Zion on Wednesday and paid $150/night. When I want to go they’re over $350/night. I thought it would be cheaper after Labor Day.
I’m also thinking Yellowstone and not sure where else. Please help
Why Salt Lake City? Wouldn't Vegas be closer? I'm guessing it might be cheaper too. I suggest flying into Vegas and staying in an inexpensive Priceline hotel -- consider something off the Strip -- then drive out the next morning.
Important: You're talking about 2025, right? You'll never get reservations for this month.
Cliffrose in Zion and Three Bear Lodge in West Yellowstone
We paid $$$ to stay inside Yellowstone Park, and I wouldn't do it again. The room was really, really basic and had no real benefits over staying just outside the park in West Yellowstone. Don't even think about buying gas inside the park -- so expensive. I'd look into the West Yellowstone hotel with Wolf -- Gray Wolf? -- in its name /across the street from the Grizzly, Wolf and Bear Center (which you should totally visit!).
Do note that Yellowstone is HUGE, and driving in /out of the park to various locations will take some time.
Consider stopping at a grocery store before you leave either Vegas or Salt Lake City and doing a BIG stock-up trip -- no good-sized grocery stores around Yellowstone /high prices in convenience stores. Food is quite expensive inside the park -- but consider that bears can break into cars. Another reason to get a hotel room in West Yellowstone.
We paid $$$$$ to stay inside Grand Tetons National Park, and I would pay that again -- but only for 1-2 nights because of the price.
Consider doing a Snake River rafting trip. So much wildlife. And do the hike around Jenny Lake /up past Hidden Falls.
Thinking also checking out the Grand Canyon. Any ideas on where to stay or what else is around there?
First choice: Which Grand Canyon do you want to visit? No right or wrong answers, but these are different experiences:
- South Rim, Grand Canyon is the most popular, most hotels /restaurants, also most crowded by far
- North Rim, Grand Canyon has great cabins that look like Lincoln Logs, only one hotel + pizza + one dinner show -- remote, not open all year long
- West Rim, Grand Canyon -- not part of the park, owned by the Havasupai Indian Tribe
Regardless of which you choose, look into the ranger programs; if you have children, look into the Junior Ranger programs -- my kids were highly motivated by them. We rode mules around the edge of the Grand Canyon, and it terrified me -- I don't think I have it in me to ride down into the canyon. What if Ole' Sparky decides this is the day he wants to end it all?
We were at the Grand Canyon on July 4, and the various emergency services threw a spontaneous parade -- it was one of my kids' favorite experiences of the whole trip. They threw granola bars and water guns to the kids. I mean, big Nerf guns. A huge water fight ensued, which -- obviously -- was won by Fire Services. What a great day.
Best meal we had in a three-week trip: Pizza eaten sitting on the ground on the back porch of the Grand Canyon North Rim's Lodge watching the sun go down. The staff lit a giant fire in a fireplace so big I could've stood in it, and they sold hot chocolate.
Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon are a doable drive to each other over a weeks time but you will feel like you spent a lot of time in the car. We just did this but flew into Las Vegas instead of Salt Lake City. But Yellowstone is a haul. How long do have?
We left Vegas, spent a short time in Zion and slept at the North Rim, Grand Canyon that night.
Do consider Antelope Canyon (Page, Arizona) as you go through this area -- it's genuinely other-worldly. You must reserve a trip with the Indian tribe who owns it /ride out in their big-wheeled trucks. I thought this was just about making money, but we rode out in a convey of three trucks -- one truck got stuck in the sand, and the drivers /assistants all got out with shovels and started driving. Even if we could've somehow snuck by the people at the gate, our car NEVER would've made it through that sand.
Alternatively, do Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons - they are right next to each other.
Love them, but they are more expensive than the others we've just described. They're also more crowded.
Consider doing the cowboy cookout in Yellowstone -- we rode horses out to the site, then had a delicious meal cooked over a campfire. We shared a picnic table with a couple who'd just retired and bought an RV, while our kids played in a creek.
Consider driving through Yellowstone /out the Western Gate and on to Cody, Wyoming for the rodeo and the Buffalo Bill Museum. Stay away from the Big Bear Motel.
Regardless of what you choose, consider buying the America the Beautiful Pass -- it's good for a year, and we really got our money's worth from ours! Because your 12-months start counting down the day you buy it, wait to buy it at your first park.
