Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary: 10-Day Wyoming Adventure
Written By Denae Karber
In this Wyoming road trip itinerary, I’ll show you the best way to spend 10 days! I just finished a 16-day road trip from Denver, Colorado, through Wyoming, Montana, and back! It has been a blast exploring these states, and I especially loved my time in Wyoming.
While Wyoming feels a bit more remote, there are tons of places to explore that aren’t nearly as crowded and popular compared to other states.
Wide open spaces cut through with jagged, dramatic mountains, two incredible national parks with tons of wildlife in them, plentiful rivers for fishing, and don’t forget they have hot springs!
I’ve put this Wyoming road trip itinerary together for the perfect 10-day road trip from Denver, CO to Bozeman, MT. Change it up to however it fits your needs, but I think flying into DIA and driving north is an amazing road trip! But first, let’s answer some common questions people have about traveling through WY.
The Ultimate Wyoming Road Trip: FAQs
How’s the weather for a Wyoming road trip?
- Wyoming’s weather can vary especially depending on where you are in the state and elevation. Summers are generally mild and sunny, but temperatures can vary. Winters can be cold with significant snowfall, especially in the mountainous regions. When planning a Wyoming road trip, it’s important to always check the weather! Storms can roll in at any time. I would always bring a jacket, even in the summer temps can drop once the sun goes down.
The Most Epic Scenic Drives in Wyoming
- Wyoming offers several amazing scenic drives. They have the Beartooth Highway, Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway, BigHorn Scenic Byway, and the Snowy Range Scenic Byway. These just a few examples that showcase the state’s beauty from your car!
What Wyoming wildlife can I expect to see?
- Wyoming has diverse wildlife, including bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and bears. Be cautious while driving, especially in rural areas; large wildlife, elk and moose, in particular, can often be near or on the roads. Before a huge road trip through Wyoming, be sure to read up on all wildlife safety tips and keep your distance! They are super fun to take photos of but not super fun to get hurt by.
Unique Events and Festivals to Add to Your Trip to Wyoming
- Wyoming hosts various events and festivals throughout the year. The Cody Nite Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Jackson Hole Elk Fest are popular and offer a taste of Wyoming’s culture! Jack Hole always has a ton of swing dancing opportunities and different small festivals going on. Be sure to check out the Jackson Hole website and check the events calendar.
What are some safety tips for a Wyoming road trip?
- Be prepared for long stretches between towns, and make sure you fill up on gas at every opportunity.
- Carry extra water, snacks, and emergency supplies here is a road trip emergency essentials list.
- Check road conditions, Local weather, especially during winter, and be aware of wildlife crossings.
- Respect local wildlife and follow park regulations.
When is the best time to visit Wyoming?
- The summer months between June and August are the best weather for road-tripping and when most attractions are accessible! However, when it comes to Wyoming road trips, late spring and early fall offer fewer crowds and beautiful landscapes. I did my trip on September 10th-24th. The temps dropped every night, but there were fewer crowds, which was nice, and the leaves were beginning to turn! While winter is mainly ideal for those interested in winter sports.
Wyoming Road Trip: 10-Day Itinerary Breakdown
The Epic Drive from Denver to Bozeman
Day One
✈️ Start your Wyoming road trip by flying into DIA, grab your rental car, and head north about 2.5 hours to Centennial, Wyoming. First stop in Laramie for some food and coffee! Hang out in Medicine Bow National Forest for the day. Spend the day hiking some awesome alpine lakes like “Medicine Bow Peak via Lakes Trail Loop” or “Lookout Lakes Trail” and spend the night camping in the national forest!
ALT first day
Start your Wyoming road trip by flying into DIA, grab your rental car, and head north to Longmont, where you’ll grab some coffee at Red Frog Coffee, for some high-quality coffee! Then you’ll spend your afternoon exploring Fort Collins, walking downtown, and visiting breweries! Stay anywhere in that local area.
Day Two
⛺️From Centennial or Fort Collins, continue the Wyoming road trip by making the long drive to Jackson, Wyoming, home to Grand Teton National Park. Other than Stopping in Jackson Hole, I would make a quick stop in Pinedale, WY, to get coffee, gas, or food along your drive.
When you get close to the Tetons, take your time finding an amazing campsite. There’s a ton, but they fill up quick, especially on the weekends. You’ll want to establish a good site during daylight with views for the next three days.
A lot of the photos I’ve posted were either from Shadow Mountain or Curtis Canyon! Both are free and gorgeous. They offer some paid sites as well. All are first come first served and some areas be more difficult to drive to without a higher clearance vehicle. Alt campgrounds near the Tetons: Lizard Creek Campground , Gros Ventre Campground, or Jenny Lake Campground.
Days Three – Five
🏔️ Next stop on the Wyoming road trip: the Tetons! Play and explore. The Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 and is full of rigid mountain scenery, alpine lakes, and a ton of wildlife! It’s known for its breathtaking landscapes that are filled with great hiking trails and wildlife. The Grand Teton National Park spans over 310,000 acres and gets millions of visitors annually!
What to Know Before Hiking in Grand Teton National Park
Before starting any hikes in a national park I always check in at the Jenny Lake visitors center. This is the best place to find updates on closures, trail conditions, and animal activities. Here you’ll get a map and some information. Ask as many questions to the staff as possible before heading out. The more info you know about your trail and how to pack the better! Make sure to ask about Wildlife activity on the trails you plan on hiking. Know how to handle wildlife encounters.
Always bring Bear spray. I once heard a park ranger call a Bear Bell a dinner bell… so I wouldn’t suggest using that as your noise maker. Try calling out, “Hey bear!” or talking loud if you’re in a group. Don’t be nervous about this information, though! Again, millions of people visit every year, and if it were too dangerous, the park wouldn’t be open. Just be prepared and know how to be safe in the unlikely event you come across a bear.
The Grand Tetons are gorgeous and inviting, but don’t go into them unprepared. Weather changes fast in those rigid mountains. Learn How To Pack Safely for a Day Hike.
There is very little cell reception. Download maps and trails beforehand.
🥾🏔️ Hikes in The Grand Tetons:
- Jenny Lake loop: 7 miles, rated easy
- Taggart and Bradley Lake: 6 miles, rated moderate and very popular
- Delta Lake: 7.5 miles, rated difficult super beautiful, though
- Moose Ponds Trail: 3 miles, rated easy
- Goodwin Lake Trail: (outside the park) 6.5 rated moderate
- Mormon Rows, Moulton Barn: .2 mile walk
☝️Things to do if you don’t like hiking:
- Scenic drives
Days Six – Nine
After a few days soaking in the Tetons, head north on your Wyoming road trip for about one hour to Yellowstone National Park. You’ll enter in from the South Entrance and spend the next three days there.
Camping Near Yellowstone NP
There is less free camping near Yellowstone. I would recommend camping between the Tetons and Yellowstone for your first night if you want to spend the day exploring more of the Tetons. There’s a place along Ashton/Flag Ranch Road with lots of free sites. Of course, any campground that is inside of Yellowstone NP would be best, they’re hard to get!
If you can’t get a site inside the park the second night either, head out the west side of Yellowstone and look for a KOA, there are two near each other just outside the West side… or look at Hebgen Lake which as both paid and some first come first serve sites out the west side as well.
What to know before exploring Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world! No wonder it’s so busy and full of people excited to visit! Yellowstone is known most for its geothermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mud pots, and fumaroles, and it is a must-do on any Wyoming road trip itinerary!
The most famous geyser in the park is Old Faithful, which erupts approximately every 90 minutes. I’ve seen it, and yes, it is very cool. Yellowstone is also home to one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America, sitting at 7,733ft. All that volcanic activity made a huge lake right nearby.
Wildlife in Yellowstone is a main highlight for many visitors, and the park’s diverse ecosystems provides a unique opportunity to see a wide variety of species in their natural habitats! Again always follow the same rules for here as the Grand Tetons! Visit the visitor’s center and ask questions! Take extreme wildlife safety measures here.
Yellowstone National Park can be a little more confusing than other parks due to the way it is laid out. There are a ton of ways to enter and exit this park. Make sure to look at a map of Yellowstone and print it off to understand more about where you’ll be driving.
Coming in from Grand Tetons you’ll head into the park from the South Entrance
.There is very little cell reception. Download maps and trails beforehand.
Pro Tip: if you’re looking for bison they say they often like the wide open fields. There are more fields on the “upper loop” of the park. Watch from the car or a far distance.
🦬 Hikes in Yellowstone:
- Mystic Falls and Fairy Creek and Little Firehole Loop: 3.5 miles, rated moderate
- Mount Washburn: 6.8 miles, rated moderate
- Lamar Valley trails: 7 miles, rated moderate
- Artist Point: .2 miles, rated easy
- Upper Terrace Scenic Drive Loop: 1.5, rated easy
- Upper Geyser Basin and Old Faithful View Point : 5 miles, rated moderate
- Old Faithful : .7 miles, rated easy
- Grand Prismatic Hot Springs: 1.5 miles, rated easy
- Avalanche Peak Trail: 4.5 Miles, rated Hard
If you don’t like hiking, there’s so much to see from the car! Drive every loop! or go hang out at the lake!
Day 10
Head north out the west side of the park up to Bozeman! Here is a great blog about the opportunities to stop along your way to Bozeman and while in Bozeman. Drop your rental car off and fly home! Or drive the 10 hours back to Denver!
Have extra time in Wyoming?
Consider adding these activities to your Wyoming road trip! Continue into Northern Montana or head East in Wyoming to see more iconic views in: Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, or the Thermopolis Hot Springs!
If you’ve been thinking of traveling to Wyoming, this is your sign to go. I hope this Wyoming road trip itinerary gives you inspiration for your next trip.
Be sure to check out my camping and car camping guide, which has everything you need for your road trip!
Have you gone on a Wyoming road trip before? What did you think of it? Comment below and let me know!
Hugs and Happy Hiking,
Denae
