6 Road Trip Stops From Yellowstone National Park to Kansas City

When vacation is over and it's time to come home, the trip can seem so incredibly long. But that's the beauty of road trips, you'll still have places to look forward to all the way home. Last summer, our drive back to Kansas City from Yellowstone was filled with so many fun destinations we never really felt sad coming back home.

If you are planning a drive to Yellowstone from the midwest, be sure you bookmark these spots to keep your crew entertained. If you need ideas for getting to the park, be sure to check out these 7 stops for your drive to Yellowstone National Park.

First up is the park that Yellowstone's South entrance leads directly into. Convenient, right!?

1. Grand Teton National Park

Time Needed: half-day (at least)

This national park is filled with picturesque mountain ranges. Sure in Yellowstone there are mountains, but these just hit a little differently. If you make the visit, you’ve gotta try kayaking on Jenny Lake. You get to paddle up close and personal with these gorgeous peaks.

The rentals are first come first serve so be sure to head here first before it gets crowded.

2. Jackson Hole, WY

Time Needed: 2-3 hours

Grand Teton National Park flows right into this quaint WY town. Fun fact: this sanctuary has been known to be a refuge for stars like Harrison Ford and it’s easy to see why. The downtown streets are lined with small shops and eateries to reacquaint you with civilization. The local playhouse puts on a nightly performance of the Town Square Shootout. You won't want to miss this if you are visiting during the summer months.

3. The Great Salt Lake

📍Salt Lake City, UT

Time Needed: ~1 hour

It was neat learning about the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere and the critical habitat it provides for tons of creatures. While we were there, I really wanted to see how buoyant the water was but I was not prepared for all the HOT SALT we would have to cross. I’II have to come back in the early morning or another time of year to ✓ this off my bucket list.

4. Utah Olympic Park

📍Park City, UT

Time Needed: 2-3 hours

Are You as obsessed with the Olympics as I am? Even if you're not, it's worth stopping at the site of the 2002 Olympics for an interactive museum and see for yourself what it takes to become a winter athlete. If you are lucky you might even catch some future Olympians practicing - we were able to watch some of Team USA’s divers practicing ahead of the 2021 games in Tokyo.

5. Arches National Park

📍Moab, UT

Time Needed: half-day or more

This was not on our OG itinerary but I love this park SOO much, I knew the 4hr detour would be worth it. This is one thing I love about a loosely planned road trip - when something sparks your interest you can go and explore it! Do you find yourself wandering away from your original plans on your trips?

6. Driving Through the Rockies

📍Starting point just after Grand Junction, CO

Time Needed: 4ish hours

I know this isn't really a stop, but driving through these mountains always gets me. The roads that weave through this range provide such a unique view of these mountains while also being slightly terrifying at the same time. We were lucky enough to be driving through around sunset and the views were even more spectacular.

What road trips are you dreaming up for the summer & beyond?