A road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park takes you from one of America’s most beautiful coastal cities to one of the oldest, most famous national parks in the world.
Your expedition will cover around 1,000 miles and take more than 14 hours to complete. You’ll travel across rivers and mountain ranges, through the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, to a legendary destination that has to be seen to be truly appreciated.
So, if you want to see the wonders that a road trip like this has to offer for yourself, I highly recommend reading on.
A Road Trip From San Francisco To Yellowstone National Park: How Far Is It, How Long Will It Take To Get There & What Is The Best Route?
There are two routes you could take for a road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park.
The “short” route will see you cover 940 miles and takes 14 and ½ hours to complete. The longer route covers 1,040 miles and takes 16 hours but adds enough value to the trip that it will be well worth the detour for the majority of people.
The Short Route
Begin by heading east on I-80 and follow it for 555 miles, until your reach the town of Wells, Nevada. Use Exit 352 to take US-93 north into Idaho. Just outside Twin Falls, join US-30 and follow it east into the city.
US-30 will eventually veer south but continue heading east on Addison Avenue and follow it until it terminates at a junction with Idaho State Route 50.
Turn left and follow Route 50 across the Hansen Bridge, one of the tallest in the United States, across Snake River, before merging onto I-84 going east.
Follow this until Exit 222, where it veers to the south and you continue heading east on I-86. You’ll take the I-86 for its entire 63-mile duration, before merging with I-15 and going north.
Continue until you reach Idaho Falls, where you’ll switch to US-20. This takes you the final 110 miles, to the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park in West Yellowstone.
The Scenic Route
The scenic route begins the same as the short route, heading east out of San Francisco on the I-80. This time, however, you’ll take it 730 miles, all the way to Salt Lake City, Utah. You will then use Exit 121 to start heading north on I-15.
Take Exit 362 onto US-91 and continue following it east when it merges with US-89. This will now take you the rest of the way right into Yellowstone National Park.
Best Places To Stop On A Road Trip From San Francisco To Yellowstone National Park
While you could potentially complete a road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park in a single day, most people are likely going to want to break it up, so that they can enjoy all of the attractions along the way.
While you have plenty of options over the 1,000 miles you will be driving, we feel the following are the best options, based on the sheer quantity and quality of attractions and amenities they have on offer.
Sacramento
The Capital city of California, Sacramento is also the 6th most populous city in the state and among the fastest growing. While best known as California’s centre of government and finance, Sacramento is also extremely popular with tourists.
The most popular part of the city is Old Sacramento, a riverside neighbourhood comprised of cobbled streets and historic buildings, designed and built in the 1800s.
The fabulous collection of restored and preserved destinations provides the opportunity to see how California would have looked around the time it was first settled. You even have horse-drawn carriage and steam train tours, to help you complete the historic experience.
Then there is the great collection of art galleries and museums in the surrounding districts of Sacramento, which help you dive even further into the history and culture of the city.
Beyond the historic attractions, Sacramento is also home to one of the largest LGBT communities in the United States, as well as an extensive Chinatown area.
Combined with a fabulous array of hotels, restaurants, bars, shops, and music and film venues, Sacramento is a city where everyone is guaranteed to find something they enjoy.
Located on the outskirts of Old Sacramento, on the bank of the Sacramento River, the Delta King Hotel is a fabulous property, surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic attractions.
Its sun terrace is an ideal choice for anyone who wants to relax and take in views of either the city or the river.
The fabulous bar and restaurant serve stylish food and a wonderful selection of drinks, where you can kick back and unwind after a long day of exploring. It also serves a choice of American or Continental breakfasts each morning, to prepare you for the day.
Meanwhile, the rooms are all designed with a stylish simplicity, which is perfect for those seeking comfortable luxury, without any pretentiousness.
Air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a CD player, computer, coffee machine, and flat screen TV come as standard in each unit, offering an incredible level of convenience throughout your stay.
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City is the capital and most populous city in the state of Utah, as well as the 22nd most populous city in the United States, located on the southeast shore of the Great Salt Lake.
Settled by the Mormon Pioneers in the 1840s, the city has a unique history that is intertwined with The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, an infamous branch of Christianity.
Religious historians and anyone interested in the Mormons travel from miles around to see their holy locations and try to get a better understanding of this highly secretive offshoot of the religion.
Aside from its Mormon roots, Salt Lake City is best known for its connection to outdoor recreation. A wonderful collection of city parks combines with a location surrounded by lakes and mountains to create a destination perfect for hikers or adventurers to get out and explore.
It is also a hotbed for winter sports, specifically skiing, with a number of prominent resorts in the area. As a result, Salt Lake City was even selected as the host of the Winter Olympics in 2002.
Throughout the main city itself, you also have a dense range of art galleries, museums, and performance venues to enjoy. Playing host to countless vibrant exhibits, festivals, concerts, plays, and events like rodeos, there is plenty in Salt Lake City to appeal to people of all interests.
Salt Lake City is even home to the most significant LGBT community in Utah and one of the larger such communities in the United States.
With numerous bars and shops, as well as being at the heart of the Utah Pride parade, it makes Salt Lake City ideal for anyone seeking a truly diverse location.
Located in Downtown Salt Lake City, the Grand America Hotel is a fabulous, 5-star hotel. The ornate, elegant exterior features stunning architecture and a beautiful fountain, while the interiors all boast the highest level of quality and style.
Its Garden Café serves gourmet American cuisine, while the communal lounge offers a bar where guests can sip on a drink and relax in style.
Other communal features include a choice of indoor and outdoor swimming pools, fitness and business centres, a tour desk, and a full-service spa.
The rooms themselves feature a similar level of luxury, with touches like marble bathrooms and private balconies with stunning views, ensuring you can truly spoil yourself. This is then complimented by amenities like iPod docking stations, Wi-Fi, and luxury bathrobes and slippers.
You can even order food and drink from the restaurant and bar direct to your room 24 hours a day, so you can spend every second enjoying your home away from home if you so choose.
Best Time For A Road Trip From San Francisco To Yellowstone National Park
When selecting the best time for a road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park, most people will want to consider the period from mid-June to the end of July.
Mid-June to early September is the period with the best temperatures in the park, however the months of August and September are the height of wildfire season in California.
By taking your trip between mid-June and the end of July, you will ensure all parts of the park are open and you can enjoy the attractions in pleasant conditions, without running into any nasty surprises along the way.
Top Attractions On A Road Trip From San Francisco To Yellowstone National Park
Determining the top attractions on a road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park is quite a tall order, as there is simply so much to see and do along the way.
That said, the following list contains those destinations that are simply too good to miss, no matter what your personal tastes may be.
Oakland, California
Oakland sits just on the other side of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge from San Francisco. California’s 8th most populous city, it is a destination filled with attractions like music venues and arts and culture institutions, such as museums and galleries.
While many often pass on visiting Oakland, due to San Francisco being more famous, it still has plenty on offer. What makes it particularly stand out though, and the reason it is among the fastest growing tourist destinations in the country, is its affordability.
With San Francisco being notoriously expensive, Oakland gives you the opportunity to experience a similar style and location, for a fraction of the price.
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is located on the northeast shore of San Pablo Bay, around 30 miles north of San Francisco. Despite being one of the smaller towns in California, Vallejo still has a number of attractions that regularly draw tourists to the area.
You have Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, an enormous amusement park that features numerous rides and roller coasters, as well as a fabulous collection of animal attractions.
With more than 40 different attractions, Discover Kingdom is a destination that offers fun for all the family.
You then have the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, a California Historical Landmark that was the first U.S Navy base established on the west coast when it was built in 1854. Since its closure, it has become a great stop for anyone interested in America’s naval history.
Aside from the main attractions, Vallejo itself has a history that will make it an entertaining stop for many people.
This includes having one of the oldest LGBT communities in America, as well as being a central location in the case of the Zodiac Killer, the infamous serial killer from the 1960s who was never identified.
Donner Memorial State Park
Donner Memorial State Park is a site dedicated to the preservation of the Donner Camp. A National Historic Landmark, it is the location where the Donner Party of pioneers famously got trapped by the snow in the winter of 1846/1847 and resorted to grizzly means in order to survive.
Among the prominent attractions are the Emigrant Trail Museum, which houses numerous artefacts and exhibits dedicated to the party, as well as Native Americans, the builders of the First Transcontinental Railroad, and the surrounding area as a whole.
You also have the Pioneer Monument, a beautiful memorial to not just the Donner Party but to all pioneers who made the treacherous journey west during the 1800’s.
Started in 1901, it is located near the site of the cabins where the party sheltered during their fateful stay here. It was eventually completed and dedicated in 1918, in a ceremony that featured the surviving members of the Donner Party.
Besides these dedicated attractions, the park also boasts beautiful forests, lakes, and other natural landscapes, which are popular for activities like boating, camping, fishing, and hiking.
Lake Tahoe
Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in the United States, as well as the largest overall outside of The Great Lakes. It is well known for its beautifully clear waters and stunning panoramic views.
Its location allows it to provide seasonal activities throughout the year, with swimming, sun-bathing, and water sports during the summer, while snow and a range of ski resorts make it a tourist hot spot in the winter.
It is also one of the most popular destinations in America during Spring Break. There is even a collection of casinos on the Nevada side providing entertainment 12 months a year.
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the largest city in Nevada outside of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area and is affectionately known as “The Biggest Little City In The World”.
Much like most of Nevada, it is a city best known for its casino and gambling industry. Its collection of establishments provides a wide range of gaming and entertainment options that closely resembles Downtown Las Vegas (as opposed to the strip).
With great hotels and restaurants, and natural destinations like Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains just a short distance away, Reno is a wonderful place for people to treat themselves, without the sort of crowds you would find in its big brother down south.
Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area
The Humboldt State Wildlife Management Area is located at the end of the Humboldt River and includes a collection of salt marshes and lakes that are home to a wide range of species of animals.
While the exact species of fish and mammals that will be present at any one time is dependant on the level of flow of the Humboldt River, there is always an incredible number of bird species, making it a perfect destination for bird watchers.
As an important stop over on a major migratory route, species including American avocets, American coots, Canada geese, ducks, hawks, mallards, and owls are among the most sighted.
Outside of bird watching, camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking are among the most popular activities in the area.
Garden City, Utah
Garden City is a small town in northeast Utah, which is known for its rural style and local atmosphere. Wood carvings of animals like bears litter the town, with everything from benches to bus stops having been turned into pieces of art.
It is also renowned for its locally grown raspberries, which are used to make jams and pies, as well as being sold to simply enjoy eating fresh.
Perhaps the best-known attraction of Garden City though is Bear Lake, which it sits on the western shore of.
Split between Utah and Idaho, Bear Lake is the 2nd largest lake in Utah and is known as the “Caribbean Of The Rockies”, due to its picturesque, crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Recreational visitors arrive throughout the year but especially during the summer, with activities like biking, boating, four wheeling, hiking, horse riding, hunting, ice fishing, jet skiing, sailing, skiing, snowmobiling, swimming, and water skiing all available.
Jackson, Wyoming
The 10th most populous town in Wyoming, Jackson is a historic location, known for its strong links to western culture.
It has been a popular destination since the 1930s, when it was used as a shooting location for screen legend John Wayne’s first starring role, “The Big Trail”.
At the heart of the town, Jackson Town Square is a stunning location that is home to Jackson’s famous elk antler arches.
Surrounding the park, you then have locations like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the Stagecoach Ride, as well as western themed shops and restaurants.
These will transport you back in time to experience a true sense of the old west.
Other attractions in and around Jackson include the National Elk Herd, one of the largest elk herds in the world and largest in the U.S., with an average of around 7,500 elk.
This is also where you’ll find the National Museum Of Wildlife Art, with its fabulous collection of sculptures and paintings.
Depending on when you visit, you may even be able to enjoy a sleigh ride round the reserve or a trip to Elkfest, an event where they sell the antlers shed by the herd.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is the 5th most visited in the Unites States, located in the southwest corner of Wyoming. The park is based around the Teton Mountain Range, one of the youngest and most majestic in the country.
The peaks tower over 6,000 feet high, while the valleys below are full of stunning rivers, lakes, forests, and historic structures.
Grand Teton is a popular destination for activities like hiking, fishing, boating, biking, climbing, and mountaineering, as well as a number of different winter sports.
Throughout the park, you will encounter an incredible collection of wildlife, which includes bison, black bears, grizzly bears, elk, moose, mule deer, pronghorn, and well over 300 species of birds and fish.
Conclusion
A road trip from San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park is a fantastic journey that takes you between two of the most beautiful locations in the United States. Exploring Yellowstone is a dream vacation for many and a road trip like this is the perfect way to do it.
Whether you decide to make the journey over a number of weeks or even try and complete it in a single day, you are guaranteed to find plenty of things to keep you entertained from start to finish.
All that’s left is to decide how long you plan to take when you make your own trip and choose which cities and hotels to stay in. That way, you can get everything booked and start looking forward to going on your own adventure as soon as possible.