Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Salt Lake City - Jackson Hole - Yellowstone National Park - Missoula - Whitefish - Spokane - Seattle
100% customisable for you
Don’t worry about rushing to the airport this morning. Thanks to a mid-afternoon flight, you’ll have time to do some last-minute list-checking and packing. Once at the airport, stock up on snacks and maybe a new magazine for the ten-and-a-half-hour flight to Salt Lake City, Utah.
After landing, whizz through border control and customs before transferring to your centrally-located hotel for the night. Make sure to set an alarm before you slumber, as tomorrow morning your road trip begins bright and early.
It’s already time to say goodbye to Salt Lake City, because today is all about road-tripping. Pick up your rental car this morning and hit the open road for roughly five hours, crossing the state line to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where it’s all about wildlife and Wild West spirit.
Drop your bags at your modern mountain hotel (your base for the next three nights) and spend the remainder of the day getting acquainted with the town’s false-front roof lines, covered wooden walkways and saloons. Art exhibits and museums abound in the town, too, so if you fancy escaping the heat, admiring colourful canvases in air-conditioned galleries is sure to do the trick.
Your next two days in Jackson Hole are for grand adventures in Grand Teton National Park. Choose between a sunrise or sunset safari and prepare to be amazed as you weave beneath craggy peaks to crystal-clear alpine lakes and coniferous forests. Watch as elk, bison, antelope, black bears and mule deer come to the lake for their morning or evening drink, and with the help of your knowledgeable naturalist guide, discover how these creatures have adapted to the area’s harsh conditions.
For the rest of your time here, we recommend doing as locals do – sipping on craft ales in saloons, cheering on riders at the rodeo and taking dips in the nearby hot springs. You can’t leave without learning how to swing and line dance at the local honkytonks either. Now you’re really embracing the rhythm of local life...
The next leg of your road trip takes you two-and-a-half hours to Yellowstone National Park, where the great plains stretch out before you and the 13,000ft-tall Teton mountain range rises in the distance. Greet the resident bison and deer as you cross the park boundary and speed past showstopper geysers and hot springs. After checking into your accommodation for the next two nights and enjoying a well-earned lunch, head to the world-famous Old Faithful geyser. Old Faithful erupts more frequently than any of the park’s other large geysers, so time it right and you could see a fantastic fountain of water and steam shoot skyward.
After seeing Old Faithful, explore a scenic selection of Yellowstone’s other natural beauties, including Artist Point, the Morning Glory Pool and Norris Geyser Basin, which bubbles like a kettle at over 232°C. Reserve your evenings for drinks and dinner back at base, and stargazing after dark.
Another day, another state. Back in your trusty rental car, it’s just a two-and-a-half-hour drive north to Gardiner. Located on the border between Wyoming and Montana, this town boasts the best of both worlds. The Yellowstone River runs through the heart of Gardiner, so once you’ve settled into your cosy accommodation for the next two nights, there’s plenty to explore along the riverbanks on boat and foot.
A stay in Gardiner isn’t complete without a visit to the famous Lamar Valley, near the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. With a private naturalist guide leading the way, you’ll have no problem finding the best vantage points to spot wild animals, with wolves, bears, bison, antelopes and birds waiting to be snapped for your holiday album.
Today, leave small-town America behind for small-city America. After a quick (in US terms) four-hour 280-mile car ride, you’ll be right in the thick of it in Montana’s second-largest city, Missoula. Steeped in history, this university town has star status. It’s been everything from a pit stop on Lewis and Clark’s famous expedition (crossing the newly acquired west after the Louisiana Purchase) to a filming location for Brad Pitt’s A River Runs Through It.
Nowadays, it's best known for its vibrant art, culture and literary scene. See a ballet, opera or play, or catch a concert or festival at the bustling Caras Park on the Clark Fork River. Need to stretch your legs after sitting in the car? Head on a hike up to nearby Blodgett Canyon Overlook – a three-mile trail that delivers excellent views for relatively easy effort.
With Missoula’s skyline shrinking in your rearview mirror, it’s onto your next destination: Whitefish. Put your hire car in cruise control for the two-and-a-half-hour drive along the US-93 and Highway 35 to this small mountain town, nestled in the neck of the state’s Big Mountain. This vibrant spot was built around a shared appreciation of the wild, so expect the next few days to be all about the great outdoors.
Head into its surrounding 3,000 acres of uncrowded terrain or venture further afield to Glacier National Park for ranger-led tours and biking and hiking adventures. With a three-day reservation for the park too, there’s plenty of time to see all it has to offer. Spend your evenings relaxing and reliving the day’s escapades or head into the town for dinner and drinks at local grills and boat club bars.
Today, you’ll be up and at ‘em for another four-hour road trip across state to Washington. Just across the state line, in Spokane, drop your bags at the downtown hotel where you’ll spend the night. Freshen up in your room, before heading into town for a spot of retail therapy and a mooch around Spokane’s many museums and art galleries. If you time it right, you might catch an ice hockey game (cheering on the Spokane Chiefs, of course) or a baseball game at the Avista Stadium. For dinner, consult our Dossier and pick a spot to eat from our list of recommended restaurants.
Hit the highway one last time to Seattle. The journey should take just over four hours, so crank up the tunes, grab a bite from a drive-thru’ or two (it's the American way, after all) and enjoy the open road. Once you’ve reached Seattle and dropped your bags at your hotel, the day is yours to explore the ‘Emerald City’.
If you’re peckish, head to Pike Place, a farmers market brimming with local specialities and foodie treats. Feeling thirsty? Get in line at the nearby Starbucks (the very first branch of this coffee world empire). And, if you’re craving a hit of contemporary cool, spend a few hours at the city’s Museum of Pop Culture. It showcases all things popular culture, from guitars and grunge to horror movies and hip hop, on display in a unique, uber-modern building that’s a work of art itself.
A stay in Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a trip up the futuristic Space Needle. Originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, it has since become an icon of the city. Take in the 360-degree vistas at the top and, if you fancy food with a view, enjoy lunch in the rotating restaurant.
Want to venture further afield? Head out of the city to Discovery Park, which offers 534 acres of lush respite from the urban hustle and bustle. Take on its 12 miles of walking trails, encompassing coastal bluffs, tidal beaches, serene meadows and wooded groves. Or hop on the ferry to Bainbridge Island to potter around its bookshops, boutiques and cafés, and take an easy hike along the shore in Waterfront Park & City Dock. End your stay in Seattle with a memorable meal, checking our Dossier for somewhere special to toast your final night stateside.
Today, say ‘see ya’ to Seattle and the USA as you begin your journey back to the UK. Fortunately, you don’t fly until the evening, so spend the day ticking off any last-minute sights, souvenirs or American snacks. Your nine-and-a-half-hour flight lands in the UK the next day, just in time for lunch (although we can’t promise the portions will be sized like they are in the States).
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
