On arrival into Salt Lake City International Airport, collect your bags and transfer independently  to your downtown hotel. The rest of your day is free to explore the city.

You may like to start by visiting Temple Square, where you can take a free guided tour around the Salt Lake Temple, Assembly Hall and other historic buildings.

You could also tour the Utah State Capitol building to see the governor’s office and supreme court chambers, as well as the numerous murals, sculptures and other artwork that adorn the walls.

The Peery, Salt Lake City, or similar

This morning you can collect your chosen motorhome from the depot and begin your circular journey into Idaho and Wyoming. Head north out of Salt Lake City on Interstate 15 and then join highway 84 towards Boise.

As you approach the City of Rocks National Reserve, the road changes to unsealed, and rolling hills become progressively taller and contain spires and domes that early pioneers named ‘The Silent City of Rocks’.

The park itself has a good campground and it is an International Dark Skies Park with virtually no light pollution, making it a perfect location for staying overnight.

If you have time in the afternoon we recommend hiking the CIrcle Creek Trail, which follows a gentle two mile loop through the heart of the rock formations.

168 Miles

This morning you may want to begin your day with a short walk on WIndow Arch Trail, which offers dramatic views that come alive in the early morning light.

Depart the mountains as you continue on towards Oakley (where the road becomes paved again) and continue through the prairie landscapes towards Twin Falls.

As you approach the town of Twin Falls the landscape appears deceptively flat, which makes what comes next even more dramatic. The Snake River has carved a massive canyon through the rocks, but you can’t see it until you’re near the edge.

You can stop at the park by Twin Falls, but the most spectacular views are to be had at Shoshone Falls. Located about 5 miles from downtown Twin Falls, the Shoshone Falls plunge 212 feet into the plunge pool below, giving them the nickname “The Niagara of the West”.

You can follow the Canyon Rim Trail and Parkway for spectacular views of the winding river below, and there are excellent viewing platforms and hiking trails along the canyon rim.

90 Miles

In the morning you may like to stop by Dierkes Lake Park, downstream from Shoshone Falls for some more canyon views and the possibility of a swim in Snake River before continuing your Idaho discovery.

Today’s route to Boise, follows the Snake River, but we also suggest a brief detour to visit Bruneau Dunes State Park. This unexpected gem in the high desert features huge sand dunes that rise up to 470 feet above the sagebrush. You can hike up and through the dunes, and you can visit the observatory that takes advantage of the dark skies.

From Bruneau Dunes continue on to Boise, the capital of Idaho. Boise sits where the high desert meets the mountains, with the Boise River running through its heart. It’s surprisingly green and tree-lined. There are several campgrounds along the river, that will enable you to park up and explore the city.

The Boise River Greenbelt includes a 25 mile pathway that follows the river through the city, linking parklands with downtown and the Hyde Park neighbourhood.

160 Miles

You can continue your exploration of Boise today, perhaps starting with breakfast along 8th Steet. Then you could head to Grove Street, part of the ‘The Basque Block’ that celebrates Boise’s unique Basque heritage. You can visit the Basque Museum to learn more, but even a quick walk through this area will give you sense of this distinct Spanish culture.

The Idaho State Capitol is a beautiful building with a stunning rotunda. There are free guided tours, but you can also have a wander by yourself if you prefer. The Julia Davis Park is part of the Boise River Greenbelt, but it also contains the Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Museum and the Boise Zoo, all worth exploring along your way.

The Old Boise Historic District is easily identified with is brick block streets and renovated buildings that now house boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants. It is good for some shopping along with the Hyde Park area of the city.

Boise is an eminently walkable city, but if you want to cover more of the 25 mile Greenbelt area, we recommend renting some bikes to cycle alongside the river.

Today’s drive is truly one of the great scenic routes of the Great American West. It will take you through dense forests and alpine meadows with views of dramatic mountain peaks.

Depart Boise on Highway 21 towards Idaho City. The initial section climbs gently through the foothills of the Boise National Forest.

Idaho City is a historic mining town, where you can still pan for gold in a nearby stream bed. Once a booming gold rush town in the 1860s, the town now proudly preserves its mining heritage. The town centre has preserved buildings and the museum highlights its colourful past.

At Mores Creek summit the road crests the foothills and there are viewing areas to stop and take in the dramatic landscape. The road then follows the South Fork Payette River as it climbs its way northward.

Lowman is a small mountain village situated alongside the river. It is pleasant place to stretch your legs and look in the small shops and cafés. North of Lowman towards Banner Summit the road becomes steeper and the forest becomes denser.

In the shadow of the dramatic Sawtooth Mountains is the Stanley Valley where you can spend the night. The town of Stanley is small but well established as a mountain retreat, with campsites, restaurants and other lodgings available. Just north of the town, Stanley Lake is the perfect destination to view the sunset.

145 Miles

From Stanley continue eastwards on the Salmon River Scenic Byway that follows the twists and turns of the river all the way to the town of Challis. Approximately 12 miles from Stanley you can make a stop at Sunbeam Hot Springs. You can take a dip in the warm springs or just relax and take in the mountain scenery.

The road continues through the Yankee Fork area which historically is associated with mining, but today is a State Park, with over 400 square miles of forest and mountains. It is also home to a number of ghost towns which became abandoned after the initial gold rush. Continue following the river along the road until its end where it joins Highway 93.

The scenery now changes from peaks to ranches and farms, sandwiched between the Sawtooth Mountains and the Lost River Range. The Lost River Range is Idaho’s highest mountain range, stretching approximately 80 miles from near Challis to the Snake River Plain in the south. The range features seven peaks over 12000 feet including Borah Peak, Idaho’s tallest mountain.

After the dam and scenic reservoir at Mackay, the scenery transitions again into the Snake RIver Plain, with increasing arable agriculture on the way to Idaho Falls.

200 Miles

Depart Idaho Falls heading north on Highway 20 towards West Yellowstone. The drive initially passes through farmland and forested areas. Along Highway 20, you can look for antelope and elk grazing in the fields, eagles and hawks sitting on fence posts, and ospreys on specially constructed nests. You can also spot moose and elk near marshy areas and small ponds along the highway.

The road then follows the meandering ‘Henry’s Fork’, part of the Snake River, as you begin climbing into forest. Just off the main road, within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest are two powerful waterfalls that form the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls. This makes for an excellent scenic picnic stop.

After crossing into Wyoming, but before entering the National Park you may like to stop at West Yellowstone or the Island Park area to stretch your legs and stock up on supplies.

There are a number of official campgrounds within Yellowstone National Park that accept large motorhomes and RVs. Areas like Norris campground and Canyon Village are good central locations. We highly recommend that space in these campgrounds is reserved in advance of your stay.

150 Miles

If you are staying at the Norris Campground is is a short stroll to the Norris Geyser Basin, home to the world’s tallest active geyser, Steamboat, as well as a kaleidoscope of hot springs and fumaroles. From there, head east to Canyon Village, where the mighty Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone awaits. The combination of dramatic cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and scenic lookouts such as Artist Point and the Brink of Lower Falls provides some of the most memorable views in the park.

Continuing north, the route passes Tower Fall and, if time allows, you may choose to detour into the wide-open landscapes of Lamar Valley, where bison herds roam and wolves or bears are often spotted. The loop then brings you to Mammoth Hot Springs, with its striking limestone terraces and the historic buildings of Fort Yellowstone. Returning to Norris via Swan Lake Flats, keep your eyes peeled for elk and other wildlife grazing in the meadows.

70 Miles

Today offers a journey through Yellowstone’s most famous geothermal wonders. From Norris, follow the loop south-west to the Fountain Paint Pot area, where bubbling mud pots and hissing steam vents create an otherworldly scene, before arriving at the dazzling Grand Prismatic Spring, best admired from the overlook trail. A little further on lies Old Faithful, whose iconic eruptions remain a highlight for visitors of all ages. Allow time to wander the boardwalks of the Upper Geyser Basin, where colourful pools and smaller geysers add to the spectacle.

From Old Faithful, the route continues to the West Thumb Geyser Basin, where hot springs steam gently on the shores of Yellowstone Lake. Travelling north along the lake’s edge, you can stop at Fishing Bridge and then cross into the open expanse of Hayden Valley, another excellent area for wildlife watching. The return journey brings you back via Canyon Village, where you may wish to pause once more at the canyon viewpoints before completing the loop to Norris Campground.

96 Miles

Today’s journey south takes you through the heart of Yellowstone and into the spectacular landscapes of Grand Teton National Park. The road passes through Hayden Valley, where you may catch sight of bison herds and perhaps even elk or bald eagles before following the Yellowstone River towards Fishing Bridge. Skirting the northern shores of Yellowstone Lake, the drive offers wide, open views across the water, with opportunities to pause and enjoy the scenery.

Beyond the South Entrance, the landscape gradually shifts as you enter Grand Teton National Park. The jagged peaks of the Teton Range rise dramatically ahead, creating one of the most iconic mountain skylines in America. Scenic pull-outs such as Oxbow Bend, Jackson and Jenny Lakes provide perfect photo opportunities, while the route itself meanders past lakes, meadows, and forests rich with wildlife. Continuing south, the road brings you through the park and finally into the welcoming town of Jackson, where wooden boardwalks, Western-style shops, and lively restaurants mark the perfect end to a day of unforgettable scenery.

126 Miles

Before exploring downtown Jackson, you may like to start you day with an aerial tramway ride from Jackson Hole. This cable car runs from Teton Village up to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, an elevation of over 10,000 feet. The views from the top are spectacular and the trails give can reward you with wildlife sightings and views of the Snake River, as well as Yellowstone on a clear day.

In the afternoon, downtown Jackson is a delight to explore. The Town Square, with its iconic antler arches, is surrounded by boutique shops, galleries, and cafés, while the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum provides insight into the area’s frontier past. Later, you could sample local cuisine at one of the many restaurants before rounding off the day with a visit to the famous Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where live music and Western décor create a lively and memorable atmosphere.

Leaving Jackson, the road south follows the Snake River, with the rugged peaks of the Tetons gradually giving way to gentler hills and wide-open valleys. As you pass through the town of Alpine, the scenery shifts to dramatic canyon walls flanking the Palisades Reservoir, a beautiful stretch of water often dotted with fishing boats and framed by forested slopes. Continuing south into Idaho, the route rolls through small farming communities and open landscapes, where red barns and fields of hay sit against the backdrop of distant mountains.

Crossing back into Wyoming, the road climbs once more into alpine terrain near Bear Lake, often called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its striking turquoise-blue waters. It makes a perfect place to stop for lunch or a short walk along the shore. From here, the drive continues into northern Utah, where the mountains rise again around Logan Canyon, a winding and picturesque pass with limestone cliffs, aspen groves, and frequent wildlife sightings. Emerging from the canyon, the final stretch takes you past Pineview Reservoir before descending into the peaceful town of Huntsville, nestled in the Ogden Valley and surrounded by mountain ridges, the perfect end to a varied and scenic day’s journey.

220 Miles

From Huntsville it is only a short drive back to Salt Lake City. Return your motorhome to the depot again and transfer to Salt Lake City International Airport in time to check in for your flight. Whether you are returning home or continuing your American journey you will have memories of some the most scenic landscapes of Idaho and Wyoming.

50 miles