Which Yellowstone travel route would you take ?

Few days before our road trip to Yellowstone, we were discussing the route to take. We did not have much time - just two partial days (partial Saturday and partial Sunday, each) of touring the national park whereas the remaining time will be driving, and on the road. We planned to fly on a Friday night to Salt Lake City, Utah; set off driving to Yellowstone on Saturday, tour the park on Saturday and Sunday, then driving back to Salt Lake City, Utah on the same Sunday; and coming back to California on a Monday flight. Do you think it is a tight schedule ?

Our initial route was the direct route - taking I-15 from Salt Lake City to Idaho Falls, Idaho and switch to highway 20 to West Yellowstone. The approximate distance ~322 miles; time ~ 4hrs54mins. Link here



However, one of our friends suggested that we should go to Grand Teton National Park, at Jackson as well. We have purposely intended to miss it in our original plan but since he suggested and said so - we reviewed here and looking at the approx distance ~325 miles; time ~ 5hr 33 min, we thought it was not so much difference in terms of driving time and heed our friend's advice.



The verdict after our trip completion: I think we should have followed our original plan of going straight to Yellowstone National Park. Not because Grand Teton National Park was not pretty, just because we have seen bigger mountains, prettier lakes, and better sights in Canada Rockies, Banff, Calgary, Canada.