DETAILED 2-WEEK ITINERARY: Wild West/Big Sky Country U.S. Road Trip

Gail McElroy
Aug 14, 2022
7 min read

With tips on what to see and do and where to eat and stay.

DAY 1 – DRIVE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO ZION NATIONAL PARK IN UTAH

Eat: We ate at a fast-food place just outside of Las Vegas for lunch. For dinner, we ate pizza on the patio of River Rock Roasting Company, which is located on the edge of a cliff overlooking a scenic canyon in La Verkin, Utah. (They have a variety of menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.)

Stay: Fairfield Inn & Suites Virgin Zion National Park (It is brand new and very clean with a nice pool area and scenic views of the red hills.)

Tip: Pick up groceries or food in town to eat at the hotel or plan to eat at a restaurant in La Verkin before taking the turnoff on Hwy. 9 toward Zion National Park. The Fairfield Inn is located halfway between the turn off and the town of Springdale (near the entrance of the park). From the hotel, if you didn’t bring food with you or plan ahead for a meal, it’s about a 15-minute drive to services whichever direction you choose (30 minutes round trip.)

DAY 2 – DRIVE THROUGH ZION NATIONAL PARK AND BRYCE CANYON ON THE WAY TO GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO

See/Stops: Plan your route to drive through Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park on the way. We left first thing in the morning so we could spend the morning driving through the park, allowing for plenty of turn-offs to enjoy the view and take pictures. It took us around three hours to drive through the Park. Then we drove to Bryce Canyon. (If we had more time, we would have fit in Arches National Park as well, which would have required an extra night in the area.)

Eat: We had lunch at The Canyon Diner, part of Ruby’s Inn located near the entrance of Bryce Canyon. It’s touristy, but the food is good. (There aren’t many options in the area.) You can also get gas there before heading out on the next leg.

Tips:

(1) Plan for traffic – both to get into the park and to drive through. If hiking is your thing, plan to spend an extra night in the area so you’ll have more time. We opted for only one night because we were happy to see the area with the time we had, but it was just one stop along the way for us. (Adjust your timeframe accordingly.)

(2) Consider purchasing a National Park Pass. If you are a senior (62+) you pay a flat membership fee, and then you can access any National Park for free for the rest of your life. We ended up visiting seven national parks on this trip.

Stay: SpringHill Suites Grand Junction Downtown/Historic District (We weren’t enamored with this property. It was older and a little worn, but it is within walking distance of the downtown with several options for dinner.)

DAY 3 – DRIVE THROUGH THE COLORADO ROCKIES ON THE WAY TO FORT COLLINS, COLORADO

See/Stops: The Rockies are beautiful to drive through, but we decided to get off the main highway (70) near Dillon and took an alternate scenic route (Route 6 – The Grand Army of the Republic Highway) through Keystone and the Arapahoe Basin to see the mountains in a more natural setting, allow for stops, and take a pic standing on the Loveland Pass Continental Divide (elevation 11,990 feet above sea level).

Tip: The Loveland Pass Scenic Drive may be closed for winter conditions. It had just reopened when we drove through in mid-May (2021). The road was plowed, but there was still 3-4 feet of snow and ice on the road. Drive cautiously!

Eat: We had lunch at Last Chance Pizza in Dillon, Colorado. For dinner we ate at Blue Agave Grill in Fort Collins, Colorado

Stay: The Elizabeth Hotel, Autograph Collection (a boutique Marriott property with a décor theme centered around music).

DAY 4 – DRIVE ACROSS THE PLAINS OF SOUTHEAST WYOMING TO RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, VISITING CHEYENNE AND FORT LARAMIE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ON THE WAY

See/Stops: (1) Visit the Wyoming State Capital and tour the Cheyenne Depot Museum; (2) Stop for lunch in Chugwater, Wyoming (don’t blink or you’ll miss it!). Purchase some famous Chugwater Chili at their store. Or, if you want to actually eat a bowl, you’ll need to drive down the road a couple blocks to Stampede Saloon and Eatery or the Chugwater Soda Fountain. (3) Visit Fort Laramie and learn about its significance as a military post and key stop for pioneers heading West through the Northern Plains in the 1800s.

Stay: Residence Inn in Rapid City, South Dakota (stay two nights)

Tip: Pick up some groceries to make your own dinner in your hotel room (equipped with a kitchen) or order pizza. Do laundry if needed.

DAY 5 – TOUR MT. RUSHMORE NATIONAL MONUMENT AND THE BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK WITH A STOP TO SEE CRAZY HORSE

Tip: When visiting Mt. Rushmore, earlier is better for fewer crowds. Don’t waste time in the touristy area of Keystone just outside of park entrance. Go to the town of Custer afterwards instead.

Stop: After touring Mt. Rushmore, drive to Custer for lunch and to explore the quaint town. We ate at The Custer Wolf Food & Drink and highly recommend it. (Crazy Horse Memorial is in Custer if you want to add that stop.)

Tip: We took the most “direct” route from Custer to the Badlands (Route 40) and ended up on the Pine Ridge Reservation where we got lost and the folks weren’t too friendly. If you want an adventure, proceed with caution. Plenty of signs will tell you to “turn back” along the way). If you want to play it safe, take the longer route on the main highway (I 90).

Eat: For dinner, try the Dakotah Steakhouse (just across the street from the Residence Inn in Rapid City). Be sure to try the local favorites of fresh fry bread (served with honey bourbon butter) and the Three Sisters Soup (beans, corn and squash). If you order a steak (which is the main reason to eat here) be sure to ask for Cowboy Butter on top.

DAY 6 – DRIVE FROM RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA TO CODY, WYOMING, WITH A STOP IN SHERIDAN (OLD WEST “COWBOY TOWN”) FOR SHOPPING AND LUNCH.

See/Stops: (1) As you’re leaving Rapid City, take a short detour through Sturgis (home to Harley Davidson and the famous destination for the annual motorcycle rally). (2) Drive through Sheridan (an old western cowboy town) and have lunch on the way to Cody. It’s a smidge out of the way but well worth it, especially if you want to purchase any authentic western wear. (3) When staying in Cody, if you have time (or want to stay an extra night), visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West to learn about life in the West or take a driving tour around the area.

Stay: The Chamberlin Inn, a charming B & B in the heart of town. We stayed in the Hemingway Suite (in the actual room where Hemingway once stayed).

DAY 7 – DRIVE THROUGH PART OF YELLOWSTONE ON THE WAY TO PRAY, MONTANA

See/stops: Yellowstone National Park (from Cody, take Route 14 to Yellowstone Lake then up through Canyon Village to Route 89, and then on to Pray). This route takes you on a scenic mountain road that eventually winds along Yellowstone Lake. Watch for bison (we saw several) and other wild animals along the way.

Tips: (1) If you want to spend more time in Yellowstone or cover more area, consider staying within the park for a night or two (depending on the time of year). Since we have a senior pass, we weren’t worried about the entrance fees of visiting the park on more than one day and decided to drive through one part of the park on the way to Montana and a different part on the way back. (2) Try to avoid the summer months, which are hot and crowded, with traffic jams and limited parking. We went in late May just as the snow was melting and was already getting busy. Fall is a good time. In the Winter, some of the roads are closed.

Stay: three nights at Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana.

DAY 8 – GO FLY FISHING IN A STREAM WITH PRIVATE GUIDE

Go flyfishing with a private guide in the morning and book massage appointments back at the Lodge’s spa in the afternoon. (Of course, many other outdoor options/activities are available if fishing isn’t your thing.)

DAY 9 – DRIVE TO HISTORIC LIVINGSTON FOR LUNCH AND EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING AREA

Eat: Montana Rib & Chop House is located in an old train depot and has a good variety of options on the menu.

Other options: check out the Chico Hot Springs (which also has less pricey accommodations if that is important) or go rafting on the Yellowstone River (depending on time of year).

Tip: You may want to extend your trip by several days to see more of Montana, including Glacier National Park, the college town of Missoula, Great Falls and Bozeman.

DAY 10 – DRIVE THROUGH WESTERN PART OF YELLOWSTONE ON WAY TO JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING

Tip: From Pray, Montana, take Route 89 to Hwy. 90 to 191 to the Western Entrance of Yellowstone Park. Once in the park, stay on 191. This route takes you by all the geysers (including Old Faithful) and other geothermic phenomena.

Stop: Visit the Grizzly Bear & Wolf Exhibit just outside the Yellowstone Park West Entrance.

Stay: three nights at Hotel Jackson, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Jackson Hole

DAY 11 – EXPLORE GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

DAY 12 – DRIVE TO DUBOIS TO TOUR NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY VEHICLES

https://nmmv.org

DAY 13 – EXPLORE SHOPS AND SITES IN AND AROUND JACKSON HOLE

Tip: Be sure to walk around Jackson Square in the center of town with archways made of antlers on all four corners.

Eat: Snake River Grill was recommended to us by locals, and it did not disappoint. Be sure to try the green chile onion rings as a starter and save room for one of their unique desserts.

NOTE: Depending on where you live, you may want to stop your trip here. If you are a skier and want more time on the slopes (winter) or want to take a rafting adventure or spend more time hiking in the Tetons, plan to stay more days.

DAY 14 – DRIVE THROUGH PART OF IDAHO ON WAY TO CEDAR CITY, UT

Tip: Instead of taking the most direct route straight south through Wyoming to Utah, take a scenic detour through part of Idaho along the “Oregon Trail.”