Dallas to Yellowstone
Windows down, the open road, a stocked cooler, Tom Petty on repeat… My friend, Paige, and I were one of the many cabin-fevered quarantiners who hit the road this summer to explore some uncharted territory. We traveled from Dallas, Texas up to Yellowstone National Park and even drove through the tip of Montana just to say we’d been there. It was a non-stop couple of weeks but a trip we’ll never forget.
Here’s the route we took and some places we discovered along the way.
Stop 1: Santa Fe, New Mexico
After a 10-hour drive from Dallas, we relished a rooftop margarita at the Coyote Cafe & Cantina downtown. This area is perfect for walking around and getting a feel for the city’s unique architecture and local art. We then escaped to our desert oasis, which was a favorite on the trip, for a much-needed night’s sleep.
Stop 2: Colorado Springs, Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins
The next day, we drove into central Colorado for a quick, whirlwind tour. Our favorite places were Garden of the Gods, an outdoor, socially distant cider at the oldest bar in Denver, and walking around charming Fort Collins.
Stop 3: Vail, Colorado
We then got our mountain fix for a couple of days in Vail, where we hiked through Eagle’s Nest Wilderness in White River National Forest and enjoyed a pitcher of (strong!) margaritas at a restaurant in the heart of Vail. This area is après ski at its finest, right beneath the slopes, with the lively Gore Creek weaving through it.
Stop 4: Arches National Park
From Vail, we drove through the picturesque Glenwood Canyon along the Colorado River until the terrain slowly changed to desert. Before we knew it, we were in Arches National Park, which is one of the coolest-looking places I’ve ever been. Think giant red rock formations where the dinosaurs used to roam. (We bought a National Park Pass before heading out on this journey, by the way, which saved us tons of money in entry fees to the parks we visited.)
Stop 5: Moab, Utah
After that, we briefly swung through Moab, Utah for some groceries before heading north to camp for the night. Moab is an interesting place for sure! It’s a few blocks of bohemian-style shops and restaurants in the middle of the desert filled with people who look like they just left Burning Man.
Stop 6: Park City, Utah
We ended our marathon day at a charming little campground outside of Park City, Utah, where we set up our tent and built a fire for the first time. We cooked some hot dogs, roasted some marshmallows, and had a grand old time. (Check out my Camping Trip Packing List before heading out on your next adventure!)
Stop 7: Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The drive from Park City to Jackson Hole was particularly stunning as the snow-capped mountains grew larger and larger and the beautiful Snake River showed us the way. We were delighted to arrive at the Anvil Hotel and treat ourselves to dinner at the Glorietta Trattoria next door. We couldn’t resist stopping into the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar afterward, where we saw more boots and cowboy hats than we’d seen since leaving Texas.
Stop 8: Grand Teton National Park & Yellowstone National Park
At last, we arrived at the shining star of our trip, Yellowstone National Park. We cruised through Grand Teton National Park, too, which was right on the way. It started to sleet as we approached Old Faithful so we ran into the gift shop for some hats, gloves, and toe warmers. Midway Geyser Basin, Dragon’s Mouth Spring, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone were some of my favorite sites, although we weren’t able to check out the entire park. We camped at the beautiful Grant Village Campground that night and slept snug as a bug despite the 30-something degree temperatures.
Stop 9: Teton County, Idaho
The next day, we exited through the wide-open west side of Yellowstone, where we had a close encounter with a bison. This was my favorite drive of the trip, where the signature Teton mountain range stood majestically behind the lush green cornfields of Idaho. We stayed in a yurt that night, nestled in a magical dandelion-filled meadow under the aspen trees.
Stop 10: Zion National Park & Bryce Canyon
I won’t link the campsite we stayed at here because it wasn’t the best experience. But, we did enjoy the company of friends around the campfire singing Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty. Zion National Park was breathtaking and Bryce Canyon was incredible, as well. And, our exhaustion was swiftly soothed by a slice of boysenberry pie at Bryce Canyon Pines Restaurant. It was heavenly!
Stop 11: Flagstaff & Sedona, Arizona
Our plan was to head to the north rim of the Grand Canyon next, but a wildfire re-routed us to Flagstaff for the night. Before cooking the last of our supply of hot dogs at our cozy Airbnb, we drove down to Sedona out of curiosity. We actually wish we had stayed the night here, because its unique blend of mountains, red rocks, river, trees, and LA-esque shops and restaurants were so inviting.
Stop 12: Grand Canyon
Alas, Flagstaff’s closer proximity to the south rim of the Grand Canyon made it the better choice for us this time. It was Paige’s first time to see it, and since it’s such an iconic part of this country, we made sure to stop by.
Stop 13: Santa Fe, New Mexico
At last, we finished where we began for a satisfying full-circle moment before heading back down to Dallas. This time, we treated ourselves to a stay at the iconic El Rey Court. We made a toast to future adventures at the vibrant Paloma restaurant and chatted the night away with our friendly, art-graduate waitress.