Into the Tetons and Beyond
After the raw power of Yellowstone’s geysers and the crowds that came with them, we were ready for a change of pace. The next leg of the journey led south into the tranquil majesty of Grand Teton National Park. This chapter of Yellowstone or Bust traces the road from Jackson Hole through the Tetons, across the plains, and all the way to Titletown, USA – before finally turning the wheels toward home.
Day 8: Jackson, Wyoming
After the hectic tour of Yellowstone yesterday, we decided to keep day 8 lower key and headed to town to shop. Downtown Jackson greeted us with wood-board sidewalks, art galleries, and an unmistakable western charm.
We wandered through downtown Jackson, browsed the shops, and posed under the famous Antler Arches before heading to the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, a place I’d enjoyed on a past visit, known for its saddle bar stools and live country music that once struck the perfect mix of kitsch and character. Unfortunately, as I learned more than once on this trip, things change.
We arrived about 45 minutes before opening, joining a line of tourists, families with kids, bikers, and older couples. Everyone seemed in good spirits, chatting and waiting for the doors to open. From time to time, staff peeked out to gauge the growing crowd. Finally, noon arrived, and the line began to move. Just as it was our turn to enter, an employee stopped us and asked our kids for IDs. It turned out no one under 21 was allowed inside.
There were no signs indicating this, and the last time I’d visited, I wasn’t yet 21 myself. After waiting 45 minutes, we were turned away, along with every other family in line that had underage children. It was frustrating, especially since staff had seen the mix of guests waiting outside the entire time and could have warned us.
Defeated, hungry, and a little annoyed, we walked the square in search of a new plan and soon landed at Roadhouse Pub & Eatery, just around the corner. The staff was friendly and efficient despite the rush. I sampled a flight of local craft beers that quickly turned my mood around. With our bellies full and spirits restored, we spent the rest of the afternoon wandering downtown Jackson, exploring souvenir shops and art galleries. After the previous days of constant motion, slowing down in Jackson felt like a reward.
Day 8 Summary
Miles driven: 1.2 miles
Overnight: The Lodge at Jackson Hole
Day 9: Exploring Jackson and the Tetons
We rose at the crack of dawn for a special event that I had planned well in advance, a wildlife “safari” tour. The Brush Buck Wildlife Tour offered another chance to see elk, moose, and bison in their natural habitat, this time without the Yellowstone crowds. We signed up for the four-hour dawn tour, and unanimously agreed it was the high point of the entire trip.
Our guide, Cade, wasn’t your typical college student moonlighting as a tour leader. He held a degree in something like biology or zoology and had once pursued a teaching career before realizing he preferred the classroom walls to be made of pine and sky. He’d worked on field studies of various species, and with Brush Buck, he found the perfect blend of his passions, education, wildlife, and conservation. You could tell immediately that he’d found his calling, and the quality of the tour reflected it.
Cade seemed to have a sixth sense for spotting wildlife. Moose, pronghorn, osprey, even bears, he found them all. His knowledge extended far beyond animal names and habits; he wove in stories about the region’s ecology, geology, and history, painting a picture of how everything fit together.
With his photography background, Cade also brought gear that made the experience even more immersive, a spotting scope with adapters for phone cameras so everyone could capture close-up shots. To top it off, the tour included Woolrich blankets to keep off the morning chill and a spread of snacks and drinks that hit the spot at sunrise.
It was an early wake-up call, but absolutely worth it. I could probably write an entire post just about this experience. And I’ve told everyone I know, if you ever find yourself anywhere Brush Buck operates, do not miss the opportunity. As if all that isn’t enough, the company is 100% veteran-owned, which makes supporting them feel even better.
Later, the Bridger Gondola at the world famous Jackson Hole Ski Resort carried us high above Teton Village, giving panoramic views of rugged peaks and alpine meadows. Dinner at the Mangy Moose Saloon delivered hearty food and live music before we wound down at the hotel, grateful for a day of equal parts adventure and rest.
Day 9 Summary
Miles driven: 22.4 miles
Overnight: The Lodge at Jackson Hole
Day 10: Grand Teton National Park Scenic Drive
Day 10 was our last in the Teton Valley and our lodging that night would be elsewhere. We took the time seeking out those last great views of the mountains, lakes, and fields. Mirror-still Jenny Lake reflected the jagged Tetons like glass. We traced Teton Park Road, pausing at Cathedral Group Turnout and the Jenny Lake Overlook for postcard-perfect views. From Signal Mountain, the Snake River wound below like a silver ribbon. Crossing Teton Pass into Idaho was steep and breathtaking, and that night’s stay at the Super 8 in Driggs proved quiet and comfortable, the perfect small-town stop after a day in the high country.
Day 9 Summary
Miles driven: 117 miles
Overnight: Super 8 by Wyndham, Driggs
Hotel rating: 9/10 – This hotel sits on the back side of the Tetons, reached by a steep winding mountain drive from Jackson that I would be terrified to attempt in the winter. While the immediate area isn’t particularly exciting, the price is about one-sixth of what we paid in Jackson. At only a 40-minute drive back into Teton Valley, I’d gladly stay here again and skip the overpriced accommodations in Jackson. The rooms were clean and comfortable and the service was exceptional.
Day 11: Bozeman and Billings, Montana
After a restful night in Driggs, we turned north, trading alpine peaks for rolling plains. At the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman we learned that that area of the US had a large concentration of dinosaur fossils. The displays reflected that and impressed with towering dinosaur skeletons and detailed exhibits on Montana’s frontier past. In addition to the regular displays, there was a visiting exhibit on Vikings which was really interesting.
The drive from Bozeman to Billings was a picture postcard with scenes straight out of the movie A River Runs Through It. Winding trout streams had me convinced that I needed to take up fly fishing in my retirement if nothing more than for the awesome views. I definitely need to return to this area to spend more time exploring. A few more hours brought us to Billings, where the Billings Hotel and Convention Center offered a welcome dose of city comfort before the next day’s long drive east.
Miles driven: 320 miles
Overnight: Billings Hotel and Convention Center
Hotel rating: 5/10 – Large hotel with good location next to the highway. It was pretty crowded and the decor was dated. Had a water slide so the kids got to play. Reasonable for what it was.
Day 12: Across the Plains
The suggestion to stop at Little Bighorn Battlefield came from one of my wife’s co-workers, and I’m grateful we took it. Standing on those quiet hillsides, surrounded by white memorial markers and interpretive signs, was profoundly moving. The site tells the story of a pivotal and tragic chapter in American history, one I knew little about before this visit.
The park ranger gave an excellent overview of the battle, weaving history and human stories into something unforgettable. What makes this memorial unique is that the headstones mark the actual locations where each individual fell. The U.S. soldiers are remembered with white markers, the Native American warriors with red, and even the fallen horses are honored.
After a few hours of exploring (and carefully avoiding the rattlesnakes), we hit the road toward Bismarck, where the Comfort Inn awaited. The mountains were behind us now, replaced by endless sky and open prairie.
Miles driven: 470 miles
Overnight: Comfort Inn, Bismark
Hotel rating: 5/10 – I honestly barely remember this stay as it was just a dark room and beds, a pit-stop along the endless road. It was neither remarkable enough to recall it being bad nor impressive enough to recall it being good. It was adequate.
Day 13: The Long Haul to Wisconsin
Wind turbines, grain silos, and the return of trees signaled our approach to Wisconsin. By evening, the AmericInn in Chippewa Falls offered comfortable beds, a warm shower, and the sweet promise of being almost home.
This was the marathon drive, nearly eight hours through North Dakota and Minnesota farmland. I would share some pictures but they’d just be out the window of the truck showing mile after mile of interstate, not very exciting!
Miles driven: 524 miles
Overnight: AmericInn by Wyndham, Chippewa Falls
Hotel rating: 6/10 – This was your standard Midwest hotel that was well furnished and comfortable.
Day 14: Arrival in Titletown
Rolling into Green Bay felt like crossing a finish line. Lambeau Field rose from the city skyline like a monument to Midwestern pride. The Packers fans in the truck felt like they had arrived at home.
We were staying with our friends that live in Green Bay so this evening was spent knocking off the road grit, enjoying some (several?) adult beverages while the kids swam in their pool, and catching up. After two weeks on the road, this was the respite we needed and that evening did more to recharge our batteries than any other stop on the entire trip. We needed those batteries because, tomorrow we’d be neck deep in football history.
Mileage: 181 miles
Day 15: Lambeau Field and Packers Heritage
As diehard Packers fans, we booked the extended guided tour of Lambeau Field, a behind-the-scenes experience that took us from the stadium’s inner tunnels to the luxury suites we could only dream of watching a game from. Walking through the players’ tunnel and stepping onto the field was pure goosebumps.
The Packers Hall of Fame was a celebration of legends, Lombardi, and the team’s one-of-a-kind community ownership story. Afterward, we wandered through the Lambeau Field Pro Shop, spending far more than we planned but enjoying every minute of it. Dinner at 1919 Kitchen & Tap, located inside the Lambeau Field Atrium, capped off the day perfectly.
We returned to our friends’ home full, content, and ready for one final night of rest before the last leg of our journey.
Mileage: 5.6 miles
Day 16: The Road Home
The final stretch carried us across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the one thing that signifies home for every Michigander, the Mackinac Bridge. Seeing that engineering marvel soaring over blue water, marked both a crossing and a conclusion. By nightfall, the familiar roads of home came into view. The trip had covered thousands of miles, yet somehow ended too soon.
Mileage: 493 miles
The Journey Comes Full Circle
After more than two weeks and thousands of miles, our Yellowstone or Bust adventure finally came full circle. From the geysers of Yellowstone to the jagged peaks of the Tetons, from quiet plains steeped in history to the proud energy of Titletown, every stop offered something different, beauty, perspective, and a reminder of just how vast and varied this country really is.
The trip had its share of long drives, surprises, and lessons, even an argument or two, but it also gave us memories that will last a lifetime. There’s something special about watching the landscape unfold mile by mile, connecting places you’ve only ever seen on a map, and realizing how each one shapes the story of the journey.
Stay tuned next week for the final installment of Yellowstone or Bust – Part 4: Reflections and Lessons Learned, where I’ll share what went right, what I’d do differently, and what this road trip taught me about travel, planning, and embracing the unexpected.
👉 How do you feel when a long trip comes to an end – satisfied, nostalgic, or already planning the next one? Let’s hear about it in the comments.