After our little car rental incident during our Ultimate Southwest Road Trip only three months earlier, I was determined to not make the same mistake on this southwest family road trip. While making the car reservation, I triple checked the rental company address was directly on-site at the JAC airport. We landed and we were feeling good, we headed straight for the car rental desk, but it was nowhere. We were informed by an airport employee that we needed to walk to the shuttle bus, and we would be transported to the car rental company in town!

As usual, I started to feel my heart race, but like clockwork, the shuttle pulls up, loads our belongings and we are on our way into town. Thrifty Car Rental was about a 20-minute drive from JAC. The Toyota Four Runner was sitting there waiting for us and all things were back on track in my mind. This was still during the COVID supply chain issues when car rentals were extremely exceedingly difficult to come by.

We were feeling good. They will ask you if you need bear spray – get it! Better safe than sorry and you may need it. For this Wyoming family road trip, we had bear spray in a backpack and within arm’s reach.

Across the street from Thrifty was Hatch Taqueria and Tequilas and we went straight there – famished and dehydrated. We were one of the first ones to arrive, so we were able to get a table. It is difficult to get a seat at this restaurant so book early before you arrive in town. It is worth it and a must do on your Wyoming family road trip.

We checked into our hotel, Snow King Resort, a couple of miles from the town square. There is so much for kids to do at this resort in the summer and winter, it spans over four hundred acres, and the main reason for selecting it for our very first night. We unloaded all our things in the room and hit the pool.  Definitely make sure and add this resort to your Wyoming family road trip.

Then we met up with family in town and hit the shootout in the town square. This event is held every night at 6pm.

We had an early morning the next day, so we ordered pizza to go from Hand Fire Pizza and ate it in the middle of the town square. After the shootout, the square is full of people and every restaurant immediately fills up. It is a good idea to have a reservation or order take out and sit in the little square in the center of town to eat.

Day 2 – Jenny Lake & Grand Teton National Park

We ate breakfast at the Snow King and then moved on to Grand Teton National Park. First stop was Jenny Lake. Get there early because the parking lot fills up extremely fast in the morning. We arrived around 8am and it was mostly full.

The views at Jenny Lake are incredible. It is a MUST SEE so make sure and add it to your Wyoming family road trip! A breathtaking backdrop.

We took the shuttle boat across the lake and hiked to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It is an easy hike for kids. Snack breaks were at every corner for us. We took it easy. . .as you can see.

We were hoping to see a moose but never came across one. We took the shuttle boat back over, got our cooler out of the back of the car and had lunch on the lake. We could have chilled here all day. Relaxing and fun.

We drove around the park before we checked into our hotel, Signal Mountain Lodge, in Grand Teton. This was a basic national park hotel room, but the views were utterly amazing. They could not be beat! This is sitting on our back porch.

We ordered take-out from the restaurant on site and brought it back to our porch and enjoyed dinner with a view.

The kids were excited to walk around at dusk to see all the wildlife.

Day 3 Yellowstone (Old Faithful Lodge)

Next day, we woke up, jumped in the Four Runner, and hit the road to YELLOWSTONE. We could not wait to get there. This was our sunrise view from Signal Mountain Lodge, and it was difficult to leave and definitely a worthwhile stop.

We stopped at the little store on property at the lodge for a limited selection of breakfast items. We made it work so we could hit the road. We entered Yellowstone and after about 10 minutes. . . a black bear walked across the street in front of our car and to the river – it was an incredible scene as if I could not believe my own eyes. The kids loved it.

We drove to our hotel, Old Faithful Inn, to check in early, if possible. We booked a year in advance, so we were ready to see this historical inn. It is grand.  If you are planning on stopping here on your Wyoming family road trip, make sure and make reservations far in advance.

We walked to Old Faithful, just outside the back door of the hotel. It erupts every 35 to 120 minutes and it had just stopped when we walked up so we proceeded to walk around the wooden boardwalk, the Upper Geyser Basin, which has the largest concentration of geysers in the world.

We drove over to Grand Prismatic Spring, which is another MUST SEE on any southwest family road trip! Before walking up on the massive spring, the boardwalk passes by many geysers. This was Excelsior Geyser Crater.

There is usually a line on the boardwalk to see Grand Prismatic. We waited about 20 minutes to get up close. Hold on to your hat. My JAC hat blew off and landed in the steamy spring after these pictures were taken.

Afterwards, we hit the Biscuit Basin Trial. Maven loved the Shell Spring.

We drove back to Old Faithful Inn and toured around the hotel for the rest of the evening and ate dinner at the house restaurant.

Day 4 and Day 5 – Yellowstone Adventures

We do not usually plan tour guides, but for Yellowstone, we decided it was well worth it. They know where to find wildlife. They have walkie-talkies and keep each other updated on where to find the grizzly bears, the wolves, etc. Three months prior, we booked a private tour with Tied to Nature for two days. Day 1 was the wildlife tour and Day 2 the lower loop. We covered all of Yellowstone in these two days.

Adam was extremely knowledgeable about the area and taught the kids new things about wildlife and the park. He knew the answers to our questions, and he had all the things we needed – spotting scopes, binoculars, water, drinks, snacks, delicious lunch, etc. You name it, he had it. His van was spacious and super clean.

We really enjoyed our time with Adam and would recommend his company for a Yellowstone tour.

Hayden Valley

Bison are everywhere.

Checking out the mountain goats. This was super cool seeing the baby goats climb and jump on the side of a mountain.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Yellowstone Lake

Bluebell Pool over Yellowstone Lake

Lilly Pad Lake

Lamar Valley. We saw this grizzly bear through the spotting scope.

Delicious picnic lunch both days in a relaxing shaded area.

Feeding the trout in Yellowstone River

Chocolate Pot

Virginia Cascade

Mammoth Hot Springs

After a whirlwind two days with the tour guide, we stopped by Yellowstone River with a cooler and snacks and chilled out with our bear spray in hand.

Day 6 – Jackson Hole, WY

We checked out of Old Faithful Inn and headed back to Jackson Hole.

We played putt-putt at Snow King Resort.

We rode the Alpine Coaster at Snow King Resort.

On our last leg of the trip, we had a room at Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa. Definitely worth putting on your Wyoming family road trip places to stay.

Day 7 – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

On our last day, we drove to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and role the gondola to the top of the mountain. There is a restaurant and hiking trails.

The next morning, we flew out of JAC. We would love to head back to JAC to experience this cute town in the winter, I know it is even more beautiful if that is even possible.  Everyone in our family agrees our Wyoming family road trip was amazing!

See you soon Wyoming,

Kim