Yellowstone To California Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide

Yellowstone to California road trip is one of the best journeys you can experience in the USA. The 1,041 miles of Yellowstone to California drive takes around 15 hours and 39 mins without stops.

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

6 Best Hotels On The Road Trip From Yellowstone To California

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

1. Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls: Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls is one of the best hotels where you can stay on the Yellowstone to California road trip. Driving from Yellowstone to Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls might take around 1 hour and 46 mins. Riverside views and quick access to downtown are just a few of the perks of this hotel. Situated next to the Snake River, guests can also take advantage of the riverwalk in Idaho Falls. Other amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, and bar – perfect for unwinding after a long day. Or, enjoy the stunning view from the back patio come summertime. Check the Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls, one of the best hotels in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on TripAdvisor and Booking.com for recent reviews, prices, and availability.
2. Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites: Another top hotel where you can choose the stay on the road trip to California from Yellowstone is Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, the hotel is 159 miles away from Yellowstone, and it would take 2 hours and 28 mins to drive. The Black Swan Inn offers luxurious theme suites, including the Mayan Rain Forest, Enchanted Forest, Atlantis, Egyptian, and Arabian Nights. This downtown Pocatello hotel is located just off I-15. If you want to learn more about the Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
3. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls: Didn’t our first two hotel suggestions interest you? So we would like to introduce you to the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls is located in Twin Falls, Idaho, and it’s 271 miles away from Yellowstone. You can arrive there with 4 hours of non-stop driving. The excellent location offers convenience to all travelers, whether on business, special occasions, or family travel. The101 beautifully appointed guest rooms will treat you with many of the comforts of home. Check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls for more information.
4. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino: If you are taking the road trip from Yellowstone to California, Reno, Nevada, is must have a place you should visit. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is one of the best hotels in town. It is Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 718 miles from Yellowstone, and it would take 10 hours and 38 mins to drive. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is located in the heart of Reno/Tahoe. The resort offers a variety of amenities and services, and the staff is always friendly and helpful. Grand Sierra Resort and Casino is a perfect choice if you’re looking for a great place to stay in Reno. If you need more info about the price and availability of Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, check the TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages.
5. Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo: Our next hotel is Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento, California. It will take 12 hours, and 37 mins of car ride o reach this hotel from Yellowstone. The front desk staff was excellent – amiable and helpful. The room was reasonably comfortable, with plenty of water pressure in the shower and the hot water immediately. The breakfast was also perfect. Check the Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo on TripAdvisor and Booking.com pages of Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo for reviews, prices, and availability.
6. Hilton Stockton: Another hotel you can accommodate on the road trip from Yellowstone to California is Hilton Stockton. It’s possible to arrive at this hotel in Stockton, California, within 13 hours and 23 mins drive from Yellowstone. The hotel offers complimentary WiFi, in-room mini-refrigerators, HDTVs, and large work desks. The rooms are clean and fresh, and the hotel offers a convenient location for walking to lunch or dinner. The hotel is quiet and comfortable. 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 Yellowstone to California. 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 who will take the same Yellowstone to California route.

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

6 Best Restaurants On The Yellowstone To California Road Trip

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

1. Copper Rill Restaurant: We would like to start our restaurant recommendation list on the Yellowstone to California road trip with Copper Rill Restaurant. Copper Rill Restaurant is located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is 109 miles from Yellowstone. It would take 1 hour and 47 mins of driving. Copper Rill offers a variety of dining experiences, from casual to formal, as well as catering and private party options. Their simple yet memorable cuisine, combined with a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, makes Copper Rill the perfect place to enjoy time with family and friends. For more information about Copper Rill Restaurant, you can visit the TripAdvisor or Google Maps pages of Copper Rill Restaurant.
2. Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello: Another top restaurant you can choose to eat at on the road trip to California from Yellowstone is Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello. Located in Pocatello, Idaho, Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello is 157 miles from Yellowstone and would take 2 hours and 26 mins of driving. The Pocatello location of the Sandpiper Restaurant opened in 1975. The restaurant specializes in steaks, seafood, and pasta and has been popular since its opening. If you want to learn more about Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
3. Elevation 486: Another restaurant that can be preferred by those who are fond of food is Elevation 486. It will take 4 hours of car drive to take 272 miles from Yellowstone to Elevation 486, Twin Falls, Idaho. On a clear day, you can see Soldier Mountain to the northwest, the Pioneer Range to the north, and Pomerelle to the east. The menu contains a variety of items, as well as exciting cocktails. For more information, you can check Elevation 486 on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
4. Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno: Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno deserves to be on our list. It is one of the most recommended restaurants in Reno, Nevada. We had a great time at Atlantis Steakhouse. We highly recommend the pork belly appetizers – they were excellent. The food was beautiful, and the waitstaff was very attentive and charming. They made us feel special. Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno, is 722 miles away from Yellowstone, and it would take 10 hours and 40 mins of non-stop car driving. If you want to learn more about Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno, you can check it on TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
5. The Waterboy, Sacramento: If you enjoy dining, The Waterboy, Sacramento, would be an excellent choice in Sacramento, California. It’s 851 miles from Yellowstone and would take 12 hours and 43 mins of car driving. If you love seafood, this is the spot for you. The oysters are some of my best, and the duck and pork belly are also delicious. 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.
6. Dave Wongs: Another restaurant we recommend you visit on the road trip from Yellowstone to California is Dave Wongs, Stockton, California. It will take 13 hours and 22 mins of driving to reach Dave Wongs from Yellowstone. The menu offered various choices, and the staff was amiable and accommodating, allowing us to sit on the patio to avoid an hour-long wait. The food was delicious. For more information about Dave Wongs, 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 Yellowstone to California. We hope these suggestions will help you turn your 1,041 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 California 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 Yellowstone to California. Keep reading.

6 Places To Visit On The Yellowstone To California Drive

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

• Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls: Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls, will be the first destination we recommend you stop by on your Yellowstone to California road trip. Located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls is 109 miles away from Yellowstone, and it would take 1 hour and 47 mins to drive. The park provides a great walking experience with pretty views. It is full of lovely metal sculptures of animals. The falls are exceptional for a city green space. There is also a lovely walk along the River. If you want to learn more about the Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls, you can check it on TripAdvisor or the official website.
• Swore Farms: Swore Farms, Pocatello, Idaho, is one of the destinations we recommend you stop by on the Yellowstone to California route. It’s 151 miles from Yellowstone, and it’ll take about 2 hours and 26 mins of driving. 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, including playing in 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 their website.
• Shoshone Falls: One of the stops you should not neglect to stop by when you take the road trip from Yellowstone to California is Twin Falls, Idaho. And if you visit Twin Falls, Idaho, we suggest you visit Shoshone Falls. You can arrive at Shoshone Falls after 4 hours of driving. There are multiple viewing platforms and a trail along the canyon at the park by the river. Although the road to the falls is narrow, with several sharp turns, there is plenty of space to enjoy the scenery. You can visit TripAdvisor and the official site of Shoshone Falls for more information.
• National Automobile Museum: Do you also like to travel and experience new things? Then, it would be best to visit National Automobile Museum, Reno, Nevada, on the Yellowstone to California road trip. National Automobile Museum is 720 miles from Yellowstone, and you can arrive there after the 10 hours and 38 mins of drive. 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—a collection of cars that tell the story of the automobile from the late 1800s onward. In addition, you should check TripAdvisor and the official website of the National Automobile Museum before going there.
• Old Sacramento: Located in Sacramento, California, Old Sacramento ranks fifth in our list of tourist destinations on the road trip from Yellowstone to California. You must take 12 hours and 44 mins of driving to arrive at Old Sacramento. This historic area, which has been restored with buildings, museums, and novelty shops, brings life to the Sacramento waterfront. With its well-preserved buildings and many small shops, souvenirs and restaurants, it’s 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 the official website.
• Historic Bob Hope Theatre: Another attraction you can visit on the road trip from Yellowstone to California is Historic Bob Hope Theatre, Stockton, California. Historic Bob Hope Theatre is 897 miles from Yellowstone, and it would take 13 hours and 25 mins to drive. The Bob Hope Theatre, also known as The Fox, is a historic entertainment venue in Stockton, California. The theatre was initially built in the 1920s and has been restored to its former glory. Today, the theatre hosts a variety of events, including movie nights. For more information about Historic Bob Hope Theatre, you can check their TripAdvisor page or official website.

FAQ of the Road Trip From Yellowstone to California

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

How Long Is The Road Trip From Yellowstone To California?

• With ideal traffic and weather conditions, the Yellowstone to California road trip takes approximately 15 hours and 39 mins to drive. Therefore, the driving distance between Yellowstone to California is 1,041 miles.
• If you want to make the Yellowstone to California road trip by bike, the time you spend on the road will be three days and 8 hours.
• If you are crazy enough and plan to walk the Yellowstone-California route, then you will have to walk for 12 days and 1 hour.

Where Do You Stop On Driving From Yellowstone To California?

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

1. Snake River Greenbelt, Idaho Falls: 109 miles / 1 hour and 47 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 933 miles / 13 hours and 57 mins of driving to California.
2. Swore Farms: 151 miles / 2 hours and 26 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 890 miles / 13 hours and 26 mins of driving to California.
3. Shoshone Falls: 266 miles / 4 hours to drive from Yellowstone | 781 miles / 11 hours and 57 mins of driving to California.
4. National Automobile Museum: 720 miles / 10 hours and 38 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 324 miles / 5 hours and 10 mins of driving to California.
5. Old Sacramento: 854 miles / 12 hours and 44 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 194 miles / 3 hours of driving to California.
6. Historic Bob Hope Theatre: 897 miles / 13 hours and 25 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 149 miles / 2 hours and 25 mins of driving to California.

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

There are many excellent hotels during your road trip from Yellowstone to California. 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 California From Yellowstone section.

• Hilton Garden Inn Idaho Falls: 108 miles / 1 hour and 46 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 933 miles / 13 hours and 57 mins of driving to California.
• Black Swan Inn Luxurious Theme Suites: 159 miles / 2 hours and 28 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 890 miles / 13 hours and 23 mins of driving to California.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Twin Falls: 271 miles / 4 hours to drive from Yellowstone | 777 miles / 11 hours and 42 mins of driving to California.
• Grand Sierra Resort and Casino: 718 miles / 10 hours and 38 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 326 miles / 5 hours and 11 mins of driving to California.
• Courtyard by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo: 847 miles / 12 hours and 37 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 194 miles / 3 hours of driving to California.
• Hilton Stockton: 895 miles / 13 hours and 23 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 154 miles / 2 hours and 29 mins of driving to California.

Where To Eat Between Yellowstone to California?

If you are thinking of taking a break and having a nice meal on your Yellowstone to California 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 Yellowstone To California.

1. Copper Rill Restaurant: 109 miles / 1 hour and 47 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 933 miles / 13 hours and 57 mins of driving to California.
2. Sandpiper Restaurant, Pocatello: 157 miles / 2 hours and 26 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 887 miles / 13 hours and 19 mins of driving to California.
3. Elevation 486: 272 miles / 4 hours to drive from Yellowstone | 777 miles / 11 hours and 43 mins of driving to California.
4. Atlantis Steakhouse, Reno: 722 miles / 10 hours and 40 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 328 miles / 5 hours and 14 mins of driving to California.
5. The Waterboy, Sacramento: 851 miles / 12 hours and 43 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 192 miles / 3 hours of driving to California.
6. Dave Wongs: 895 miles / 13 hours and 22 mins to drive from Yellowstone | 154 miles / 2 hours and 28 mins of driving to California.

Conclusion

So, there you have it- a complete guide to planning a road trip from Yellowstone to California. We have listed six hotels, six restaurants, and six places to visit on the Yellowstone to California 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 Yellowstone to California as enjoyable as possible.

Share Your Thoughts

Have you ever taken the Yellowstone to California 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 Yellowstone to California and your recommendations about this route by using the comment field below.