California To Yellowstone Road Trip: Top 18 Tips

California to Yellowstone National Park road trip is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 1,040 miles of California to Yellowstone National Park drive takes around 15 hours and 37 mins without stops.

This article includes 18 top tips that turn your California to Yellowstone National Park drive into an unforgettable journey. So if you’re looking for the best hotels, restaurants, and places to visit on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park, take your coffee and keep reading!

6 Best Hotels On The Road Trip From California To Yellowstone National Park

On California to Yellowstone National Park road trip, you may want to stay at some points on the way. Here is the top six hotels on California – Yellowstone National Park route!

1. Hilton Stockton: Hilton Stockton is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the California to Yellowstone National Park road trip. Driving from California to Hilton Stockton might take around 2 hours and 28 mins. Take advantage of complimentary WiFi, in-room mini-refrigerators, HDTVs, and large work desks during your stay. Our rooms are clean and fresh and perfect for unwinding after a long day. Plus, the central location is ideal for exploring the city on foot – plenty of great places to grab a bite to eat nearby. Check the Hilton Stockton, one of the best hotels in Stockton, California, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to Yellowstone National Park from California is Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo. Located in Sacramento, California, the hotel is 194 miles away from California, and it would take 3 hours to drive. The front desk staff at the hotel were excellent; they were friendly and helpful. The room was reasonably comfortable; there was plenty of water pressure in the shower, and the hot water came immediately. The breakfast was also perfect. If you want to learn more about the Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is located in Reno, Nevada, and it’s 325 miles away from California. You can arrive there in 5 hours and 11 mins of non-stop driving. The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is located in the heart of Reno/Tahoe. Every employee, from the Head of Security to Housekeepers, is a joy to deal with. It is absolutely the best place to stay in Reno. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino for more information.
4. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls: If you are taking the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park, Twin Falls, Idaho, is must have a place you should visit. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls is one of the best hotels in town. It is La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls, 777 miles from California, and it would take 11 hours and 41 mins to drive. The convenient location is perfect for travelers on business, special occasions, or family travel. With 101 beautifully appointed guest rooms, you’ll enjoy many of the comforts of home. If you need more info about the price and availability of La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites: Our next hotel is Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites, Pocatello, Idaho. It will take 13 hours, and 19 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from California. The Black Swan Inn entices visitors with its luxurious theme suites, including the Mayan Rain Forest, Enchanted Forest, Atlantis, Egyptian, and Arabian Nights. This hotel is located in downtown Pocatello and just off I-15. Check the Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites for reviews, prices, and availability.
6. Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls: Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls is another hotel you can accommodate on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. It’s possible to arrive at this hotel, located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, within 13 hours and 54 mins drive from California. The rooms at this hotel offer stunning views of the Snake River and are only minutes from downtown Idaho Falls. Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s proximity to the riverwalk or enjoy the indoor pool, fitness center, and bar during winter. The back patio is perfect for taking in incredible views. Before making the reservation, we suggest you read the latest reviews on TripAdvisor and Booking.com.

In this part, we explained six different hotels you can stay at on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. You can pick one of them that suits your taste. Don’t forget to share your experience by writing a comment to this post. It will help people take some California to Yellowstone National Park route.

Now, it’s time to discover the best restaurants from California to Yellowstone National Park. We have six restaurant recommendations worth your attention.

6 Best Restaurants On California To Yellowstone National Park Road Trip

If dining is a pleasure, some restaurants will please you on your California to Yellowstone National Park road trip. This section lists the six restaurants to dine at on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. Stay hungry and enjoy!

1. Dave Wongs: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on California to Yellowstone National Park road trip with Dave Wongs. Dave Wongs is located in Stockton, California, 153 miles from California. It would take 2 hours and 29 mins of driving. The menu has plenty of options to choose from. The waitstaff was friendly and let us sit on the patio to avoid an hour-long wait. The food was delicious. For more information about Dave Wongs, you can visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Dave Wongs.
2. The Waterboy, Sacramento: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to Yellowstone National Park from California is The Waterboy, Sacramento. Located in Sacramento, California, The Waterboy, Sacramento is 192 miles from California and would take 3 hours to drive. Although it’s a bit of a drive from Sacramento, this restaurant is worth it. An outdoor sidewalk seating area and the main dining room are in a quiet residential area. If you love seafood, this is the spot for you – the oysters are some of the best I’ve had. Besides seafood, the duck is excellent, and the pork belly is an all-time favorite. It’s a more fancy place, but that’s part of what I enjoy. If you want to learn more about The Waterboy, Sacramento, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno. It will take 5 hours and 14 mins of car drive to take 327 miles from California to Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno, Reno, Nevada. We had a great time at Atlantis Steakhouse. We recommend the pork belly appetizers – they were excellent. The food and waitstaff were very attentive and charming – they made you feel special. You can check Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno, on TripAdvisor or Google Maps for more information.
4. Elevation 486: Elevation 486 deserves to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Twin Falls, Idaho. On a clear day, you can see Soldier Mountain to the northwest, the Pioneer Range due north, and Pomerelle to the east. The menu contains a wide variety of dishes and interesting cocktails. Elevation 486 is 777 miles away from California, and it would take 11 hours and 41 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Elevation 486, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello: If you enjoy dining, Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello, would be an excellent choice in Pocatello, Idaho. It’s 887 miles from California and would take 13 hours and 17 mins of car driving. The Pocatello location for Sandpiper Restaurant opened in 1975. It was always intended to be a casual fine-dining restaurant specializing in steaks, seafood, and pasta. The restaurant continues to enjoy great popularity. If you want to learn more about the Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
6. Copper Rill Restaurant: Another restaurant we recommend you visit on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park is Copper Rill Restaurant, Idaho Falls, Idaho. It will take 13 hours and 54 mins of driving to reach Copper Rill Restaurant from California. Copper Rill offers a variety of dining experiences, from casual to formal, as well as catering and private parties. They pride themselves on their simple yet memorable dishes and inviting atmosphere that encourages you to be yourself around the people in your life. For more information about Copper Rill Restaurant, you can check the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of the restaurant.

This section lists our six restaurant recommendations for you to eat on your road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 1,040 miles journey into a feast of taste. Of course, you can choose a suitable restaurant from the list according to your preference. Remember, like you, people planning a Yellowstone National Park road trip need your opinion. Therefore, we kindly ask you to share your experience with us in the comment field at the end of the blog post.

In the next section, we list the destinations worth seeing along the route from California to Yellowstone National Park. Keep reading.

6 Places To Visit On California To Yellowstone National Park Drive

A unique experience awaits you in Yellowstone National Park. However, there are also some unique destinations, like Stockton, California, on your road trip. We want to explain the top six destinations we recommend on the Yellowstone National Park route.

• Historic Bob Hope Theatre: Historic Bob Hope Theatre will be the first destination we recommend you stop on your California to Yellowstone National Park road trip. Located in Stockton, California, Historic Bob Hope Theatre is 149 miles away from California, and it would take 2 hours and 25 mins to drive. The Bob Hope Theatre, known to some locals as The Fox, is a beautifully restored piece of Stockton’s history and an exciting entertainment destination. If you get the chance to attend an event or movie night at the Fox, you will be impressed with the magnificence of the building. It was restored several years ago to its former glory, so you can see what movie houses were like in the 1920s and 1930s. If you want to learn more about the Historic Bob Hope Theatre, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Old Sacramento: Old Sacramento, Sacramento, California, is one of the destinations we recommend you stop by on California to Yellowstone National Park route. It’s 194 miles from California and will take about 3 hours of driving. The Sacramento waterfront is a historic area with restored buildings, museums, and novelty shops. It is a great place to have a glass of wine or sit on a patio and enjoy the view of the river. If you want to learn more about Old Sacramento, you can check it on TripAdvisor or their website.
• National Automobile Museum: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park in Reno, Nevada. And if you visit Reno, Nevada, we suggest you visit National Automobile Museum. You can arrive National Automobile Museum after 5 hours and 10 mins of driving. The National Automobile Museum is one of the top Reno attractions. The museum has more than 225 rare, one-of-a-kind, antique, and collector cars with authentic street scenes and sounds that bring displays to life. The collection tells the story of the automobile from the late 1800s onward. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of the National Automobile Museum for more information.
• Shoshone Falls: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit Shoshone Falls, Twin Falls, and Idaho on the California Yellowstone National Park road trip. Shoshone Falls is 781 miles from California, and you can arrive there after the 11 hours and 52 mins of drive. Multiple viewing platforms and a trail along the canyon at the falls. Although the road to the falls is narrow with several sharp turns, the park by the river is spacious. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of Shoshone Falls before going there.
• Swore Farms: Located in Pocatello, Idaho, Swore Farms ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. You must take 13 hours and 23 mins of driving to arrive at Swore Farms. The farm’s mission is to enrich the community through healthy, delicious, fresh produce grown on-site; educate children and youth through summer programs; and offer opportunities for quality family fun late summer through fall with activities such as exploring the corn maze & pumpkin patch and learning about agriculture. If you want to learn more about Swore Farms, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Snake River Greenbelt: Another attraction you can visit on the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park is Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Snake River Greenbelt is 991 miles from California, and it would take 16 hours and 13 mins to drive. A park is an excellent place for walking, with beautiful cityscape views. The metal sculptures add an interesting touch, and the falls are a highlight of the green space. It’s also lovely to walk along the river. You can check their TripAdvisor page or official website for more information about Snake River Greenbelt.

FAQ of the Road Trip From California to Yellowstone National Park

Here we are answering the frequently asked questions about California to Yellowstone National Park drive.

How Long Is The Road Trip From California To Yellowstone National Park?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, California to Yellowstone National Park road trip takes approximately 15 hours and 37 minutes to drive. Therefore, the driving distance between California to Yellowstone National Park is 1,040 miles.
• If you want to make California Yellowstone National Park a road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be three days and 9 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the California-Yellowstone National Park route, you will have to walk for 12 days and 4 hours.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From California To Yellowstone National Park?

There are many beautiful pit stops along the way to Yellowstone National Park. You can visit Stockton, California; Sacramento, California; Reno, Nevada; Twin Falls, Idaho; Pocatello, Idaho; Idaho Falls, Idaho on the road. Here we list six places to visit for you. For more information about the best places on California to Yellowstone National Park journey, you can check the 6 Best Places To Visit On The Way From California To Yellowstone National Park part.

1. Historic Bob Hope Theatre: 149 miles / 2 hours and 25 mins to drive from California | 897 miles / 13 hours and 24 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
2. Old Sacramento: 194 miles / 3 hours to drive from California | 853 miles / 12 hours and 42 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
3. National Automobile Museum: 323 miles / 5 hours and 10 mins to drive from California | 719 miles / 10 hours and 35 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
4. Shoshone Falls: 781 miles / 11 hours and 52 mins to drive from California | 266 miles / 4 hours of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
5. Swore Farms: 889 miles / 13 hours and 23 mins to drive from California | 151 miles / 2 hours and 26 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
6. Snake River Greenbelt: 991 miles / 16 hours and 13 mins to drive from California | 275 miles / 5 hours and 29 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.

Where Should You Stay On The Road Trip From California To Yellowstone National Park?

There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. We have selected six hotels for you. These hotels are listed below. Remember, you can find detailed information about these hotels in the 6 Best Hotels On The Way To Yellowstone National Park From California section.

• Hilton Stockton: 154 miles / 2 hours and 28 mins to drive from California | 896 miles / 13 hours and 21 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
• Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo: 194 miles / 3 hours to drive from California | 847 miles / 12 hours and 35 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
• Grand Sierra Resort and Casino: 325 miles / 5 hours and 11 mins to drive from California | 719 miles / 10 hours and 35 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls: 777 miles / 11 hours and 41 mins to drive from California | 270 miles / 4 hours of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
• Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites: 889 miles / 13 hours and 19 mins to drive from California | 159 miles / 2 hours and 29 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
• Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls: 933 miles / 13 hours and 54 mins to drive from California | 108 miles / 1 hour and 47 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.

Where To Eat Between California to Yellowstone National Park?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your California to Yellowstone National Park drive, you can consider the six restaurants we have chosen. In addition, you can read detailed information about the restaurants in the section titled 6 Best Restaurants On The Way From California To Yellowstone National Park.

1. Dave Wongs: 153 miles / 2 hours and 29 mins to drive from California | 896 miles / 13 hours and 21 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
2. The Waterboy, Sacramento: 192 miles / 3 hours to drive from California | 850 miles / 12 hours and 42 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
3. Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno: 327 miles / 5 hours and 14 mins to drive from California | 721 miles / 10 hours and 37 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
4. Elevation 486: 777 miles / 11 hours and 41 mins to drive from California | 271 miles / 4 hours of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
5. Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello: 887 miles / 13 hours and 17 mins to drive from California | 156 miles / 2 hours and 25 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.
6. Copper Rill Restaurant: 933 miles / 13 hours and 54 mins to drive from California | 109 miles / 1 hour and 48 mins of driving to Yellowstone National Park.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park. We have listed six hotels, six restaurants, and six places to visit on California to Yellowstone National Park drive. We have also given you detailed information about each place so that you can make an informed choice about where to stay, eat, and what to see. We hope this guide has helped make your road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken California to Yellowstone National Park road trip? So, it would be perfect if you shared your experience with other travelers who want the same experience. You can share your thoughts about the road trip from California to Yellowstone National Park and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.