We recently went on a 2-week Wyoming and South Dakota road trip and I’m here to share all the gems you won’t want to miss.
Taking a road trip to the Western US is on many people’s bucket lists. It’s a dream location for those looking to explore open country, search for wildlife, and take in breathtaking views.
With that in mind, I’m sharing 17 stops along Wyoming and South Dakota so you can make the most of your time!
How Many Days Do You Need in Wyoming and South Dakota
Knowing how many days to stay in Wyoming and South Dakota is really challenging. There are so many places to explore but there can be a lot of driving.
We stayed a week in Wyoming and another week in South Dakota, staying at a few spots in each state.
If you have the chance to do a roadtrip and stop along a few different spots, that’s a great way to not feel rushed but also get to see a lot of the state.
Traveling through the Wyoming and South Dakota may seem overwhelming with the countless options and way too many attractions to see.
If you can only stay in one spot in either Wyoming or South Dakota I would stay at least 3 days.
I’ll share our 2-week Wyoming and South Dakota road trip itinerary below you can have an example of what’s possible and how many days you may want in each location.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park
Deciding how long to stay in each national park is such a personal decision and depends on a few different factors.
For this trip we decided to spend 7 nights within Grand Tetons National Park. We never actually stayed within Yellowstone, but Colter Bay RV Park was close enough we could day multiple day trips.
In the future I would stay 4 nights within Grand Tetons National Park and the other 3 nights just outside of Yellowstone National Park.
Although we did enjoy the convenience of staying within the national park, it wasn’t as peaceful as we were hoping, and it was priced a lot higher than surrounding options.
What is the Best Month to Visit South Dakota and Wyoming?
We visited in September and the weather was lovely! The crowds were less than in the summer and there weren’t as many peak prices. We’d love to visit again in the spring time and even the winter!
We had the naive thought that traveling in September would mean less crowds in Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park, but we were wrong. There was still a lot of people!
Getting Around Wyoming and South Dakota
It’s essential you have a vehicle when visiting Wyoming and South Dakota. Not only because some of the places you visit might be remote, but you’ll want the freedom to go where the wind takes you!
One of our favorite ways to experience a new place is to go for a drive and Wyoming and South Dakota make for great scenic drive destinations.
Wyoming and South Dakota Airports
On our route, I flew into Jackson (Ben met with the RV and dogs) and then I flew out of Des Moines, Iowa.
If you get a chance to fly into Jackson, Wyoming – take it! The views are spectacular. I took tons of photos, but none do the view justice.
We love doing the split approach where Ben drives our RV out and I fly because it allows us to start at the furthest point away from home and then make our way to Maine.
If you have limited time, flying into Jackson and out of Rapid City may be your best bet. We went a little further and flew out of Des Moines so it was less driving for Ben on the way back to Maine.
Lessons We Learned Traveling Wyoming and South Dakota
When we go back to Wyoming and South Dakota we plan to make a few adjustments.
- First, we wouldn’t stay within the national parks again. While it’s always more convenient to stay with the national parks, we felt the price exceeded the benefit. In addition, we could have seen a quieter and off the beaten path part of the region versus the most popular sights. HOWEVER, if you prefer to stick to the main attraction, then by all means, book accommodation within Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park.
- We would skip downtown Jackson, Wyoming
- Who knew we’d love the small town of Spearfish, SD.
- A road trip in your first trimester is not recommended 🙂
Need help planning your trip? Make it easy on yourself!
Our 2-week South Dakota and Wyoming Itinerary:
Fly into Jackson, Wyoming airport (Ben drove the RV from Maine to Jackson)
7 nights at Colter Bay RV Park, Grand Tetons National Park
3 nights at Buffalo Bill State Park, Wyoming
3 nights at Spearfish, South Dakota
2 nights at Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Fly out of Des Moines, Iowa airport (Ben drove back to Maine from here)
If I could alter our plans I would have decreased our nights in Grand Tetons and increased our time in Badlands National Park.
Things to do in Wyoming and South Dakota
Here are 17 of our favorite things to do while visiting South Dakota and Wyoming!
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Grand Teton National Park will not disappoint. Everywhere we looked there were gorgeous views and wildlife.
We were surprised at how busy this park was given we were visiting in September, but the park is big enough that once you get off the main road it can become a serene escape.
We especially loved driving along the no name dirt roads.
Pick any dirt road, get your binoculars ready, and you’ll spot animals without the crowds!
This is how we saw a black bear, fox, and even a GRIZZLY BEAR!!!
Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail
If you’re in the mood for an easy walk, check out Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail.
This is a short 2.6 mile trail right from Colter Bay RV Park where we camped. Great views of the mountains!
Hike the Delta Lake via Lupine Meadows
For more of an adventure, don’t miss Delta Lake in Grand Tetons National Park. There are so many hikes to try in Grand Tetons National Park but we were so happy we choose this one!
This hike had some of the best views of our travels so far. It’s definitely a challenging hike for folks like me who aren’t avid hikers. And we both loved the scenery. We also saw wildlife! A few deer and those adorable little rodents called American pika.
And just look at these views!
Stop at the Mountain View Turnout
One of the best views of the Teton mountain range is right off the road. Be sure to check out Mountain View Turnout.
Find a Dirt Road and Relax
One of our favorite moments of visiting Wyoming was finding a dirt road, parking our chairs and taking in the views. It reminded us how taking time to enjoy your surroundings makes a trip even more special.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Within Yellowstone there are an insane amount of stops you could make. We wanted to focus our time on two areas. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Lamar Valley.
We were reaching hoping to see wildlife in Lamar Valley but weren’t so lucky. Also, there was a random hail storm as we were passing through!
Buffalo Bill State Park, Cody, Wyoming
We got the change to stay at Buffalo Bill State Park campground for two nights and was really surprised by how much we liked it. A highlight was walking along the local reservoir and dam and taking in the views of the canyon. Check out this 4 mile trail (you could make it any length you wanted to!)
There was so much more I wanted to do in Cody, Wyoming but I felt so nauseous in my first trimester we had to skip.
Chief Joseph Byway, Wyoming and South Dakota
My husband had his heart set on driving the Beartooth Highway while we were planning our trip to Wyoming and South Dakota. But if you’ve been on it then you know it’s a windy road! And as a newly pregnant person, this was not a good combination. So, we settled on driving the Chief Joseph Byway and loved it!
It’s the perfect route if you’re driving from Wyoming to South Dakota.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Badlands is one of my favorite national parks due to it’s calming presence and simplicity. There isn’t a whole lot to this park but you do have expansive views of the beautiful landscapes, wildlife, and the most gorgeous sunsets.
Mount Rushmore Memorial during Sunrise, South Dakota
If you’re going to visit Mount Rushmore, do yourself a favor and visit for sunrise! I know, it’s early and you’re on vacation. But trust me, it’s worth the early morning wake up.
It’s a truly special experience to witness a part of American history and culture just as the day is starting. Plus you won’t have hoards of people to wait behind.
Wind Cave National Park
We need to go back to Wind Cave! There were so many more trails we didn’t get to see and of course a tour of the cave system.
Custer State Park, South Dakota – one of the most beautiful state parks in the US.
We recommend Custer to anyone! Personally, we saw way more wildlife visiting Custer State Park in South Dakota than we did at Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park with virtually no crowds (but they don’t have bears).
Spearfish, South Dakota
Spearfish South Dakota has become my husbands favorite US town. It’s clean, affordable, friendly with great access to outdoor activities and sights. We fell in love with two local restaurants: Antunez for delicious mexican and Dough Traders for the ultimate pizza!
In addition to the great food, we also loved walking along the Spearfish recreation trail. It’s one of the best downtown walks we’ve been on!
Our Top Stops in Wyoming and South Dakota
If I only had a limited amount of time in both states here would be my top choices:
- Delta Alpine Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park
- Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Drive
- Badlands National Park at sunset
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the ultimate western US adventure, look no further than Wyoming and South Dakota. With multiple national parks, mesmerizing wildlife, and gorgeous views, this region of the US will not disappoint.
I hope this list of 17 stops in Wyoming and South Dakota helped inspire your trip!
Happy Traveling!
