WA - San Antonio TX 9d

Route: Seattle→Palouse Falls→Spokane Driving: 450km, 5hr drive plus stops

9days
35stops
Day 1: Day 1 · Seattle to Spokane
3 stops
Seattle Departure
07:00
Palouse Falls
11:30
Spokane Evening
17:00
Day 2: Day 2 · Spokane to Glacier
3 stops
Spokane Morning
08:00
Flathead Lake
12:00
Glacier NP West
16:00
Day 3: Day 3 · Glacier to Yellowstone
4 stops
Glacier Sunrise
06:30
Logan Pass
09:00
Beartooth Highway
14:00
Yellowstone NE
18:00
Day 4: Day 4 · Yellowstone Explorer
4 stops
Mammoth Morning
07:30
Grand Canyon YNP
10:30
Grand Prismatic
14:00
Old Faithful
17:30
Day 5: Day 5 · Yellowstone to Grand Teton
5 stops
Old Faithful Area
06:00
West Thumb
08:00
Oxbow Bend
11:00
Jenny Lake
14:00
Jackson Hole
18:00
Day 6: Day 6 · Grand Teton to Rocky Mountain
4 stops
Jackson Morning
07:00
Wind River Canyon
10:30
Laramie Stop
14:00
Estes Park
18:30
Day 7: Day 7 · Rocky Mountain Explorer
4 stops
Estes Park Dawn
06:00
Trail Ridge Road
09:00
Bear Lake
13:00
Moraine Park
17:00
Day 8: Day 8 · Rockies to Santa Fe
4 stops
Estes Park Departure
07:30
Great Sand Dunes
12:00
Raton Pass
16:00
Santa Fe Plaza
19:00
Day 9: Day 9 · Santa Fe to San Antonio
4 stops
Santa Fe Morning
07:00
White Sands
11:00
Carlsbad Caverns
14:30
San Antonio
20:00

WA - San Antonio TX 9d

Route: Seattle→Palouse Falls→Spokane Driving: 450km, 5hr drive plus stops

  1. Day 1 · Seattle to Spokane

    Highlight: Palouse Falls. Note: Early start for long mountain days ahead.

    • Seattle Departure

      Iconic market start, grab coffee to go

    • Palouse Falls

      200ft waterfall in scablands canyon

    • Spokane Evening

      Sunset walk on suspension bridge

  2. Day 2 · Spokane to Glacier

    Highlight: Going-to-the-Sun Road. Note: Check road status before departure.

    • Spokane Morning

      Quick breakfast then east to mountains

    • Flathead Lake

      Largest freshwater lake west of Mississippi

    • Glacier NP West

      Lake McDonald sunset, park orientation

  3. Day 3 · Glacier to Yellowstone

    Highlight: Beartooth Highway. Note: America's most beautiful drive, weather dependent.

    • Glacier Sunrise

      Early start for Going-to-the-Sun Road

    • Logan Pass

      Continental Divide, mountain goats

    • Beartooth Highway

      10,947ft pass, alpine tundra views

    • Yellowstone NE

      Terraced travertine formations at dusk

  4. Day 4 · Yellowstone Explorer

    Highlight: Grand Prismatic Spring. Note: Midday best for colors, bring binoculars.

    • Mammoth Morning

      Cool morning light on terraces

    • Grand Canyon YNP

      Lower Falls classic view, 308ft drop

    • Grand Prismatic

      Rainbow hot spring from boardwalk

    • Old Faithful

      Iconic geyser, historic lodge stay

  5. Day 5 · Yellowstone to Grand Teton

    Highlight: Oxbow Bend sunrise. Note: Keep bear spray accessible.

    • Old Faithful Area

      Pre-dawn departure for wildlife

    • West Thumb

      Lakeside hot springs, Yellowstone Lake

    • Oxbow Bend

      Snake River reflection, moose habitat

    • Jenny Lake

      Boat shuttle to Hidden Falls hike

    • Jackson Hole

      Elk antler arches, mountain town vibe

  6. Day 6 · Grand Teton to Rocky Mountain

    Highlight: Trail Ridge Road preview. Note: Long driving day, start early.

    • Jackson Morning

      Coffee then north through Wind River

    • Wind River Canyon

      Dramematic canyon, Bighorn River

    • Laramie Stop

      High plains town, quick stretch

    • Estes Park

      Gateway to Rocky Mountain NP

  7. Day 7 · Rocky Mountain Explorer

    Highlight: Trail Ridge Road summit. Note: Highest paved road in US, 12,183ft.

    • Estes Park Dawn

      Elk in meadows at sunrise

    • Trail Ridge Road

      Tundra world, pika and marmots

    • Bear Lake

      Easy loop with Hallett Peak views

    • Moraine Park

      Evening elk bugling, meadow sunset

  8. Day 8 · Rockies to Santa Fe

    Highlight: Great Sand Dunes detour. Note: Optional 1hr extension, surreal landscape.

    • Estes Park Departure

      South through Colorado front range

    • Great Sand Dunes

      Tallest dunes in North America

    • Raton Pass

      Crossing into New Mexico, 7,834ft

    • Santa Fe Plaza

      Adobe architecture, historic square

  9. Day 9 · Santa Fe to San Antonio

    Highlight: Texas Hill Country entry. Note: Long final push, rotate drivers.

    • Santa Fe Morning

      Art galleries then south on I-25

    • White Sands

      Gypsum dunes, otherworldly white

    • Carlsbad Caverns

      Optional quick descent, Big Room

    • San Antonio

      Mission history, trip completion