<p>OK, so H and I have been tuning in to some of Ken Burns National Parks show…and we can’t believe that we have never visited Yellowstone. So now we’re thinking it would be a very cool graduation trip with our son next spring. He went with us to visit so many other national parks and he said he would love another trip!
Sooo…any ideas on where to stay and what not to miss? Where do you fly in to? We’re thinking a week and maybe staying at 2 or 3 places. Is early June OK or are we risking snow storms…lol?</p>
<p>Hi,
We did this trip a few years ago. I think the best thing is to fly into Jackson, Wyoming. We rented a car for the very short drive into Grand Teton National Park and stayed at the Jackson Lake Lodge. 2-3 days in Grand Teton would be fine and then you drive north into Yellowstone. Yellowstone is much larger and to do it justice, I think you would need to spend a minimum of 4 days. We have also visited a number of the national parks in the U.S. & Canada, and I think that Yellowstone is a “standout.”</p>
<p>Yellowstone is so large that we stayed in one of the national parks hotels in the south end of Yellowstone and then moved to another further in the northern end of Yellowstone. I will try to dig up my travel folder and give you the exact info. I’m sure you know that the national parks hotels/motels within the park system fill up VERY quickly, so if you do want to stay in the park, you need to make your reservations very soon.</p>
<p>The National Park Service lodgings within the parks open in either late May or early June, so you should be fine. I believe we stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge near the southern entrance to the park for the first couple of days of our trip and then moved north to explore, changing our reservations to the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. We made this trip in August because of our kids’ school schedules.</p>
<p>We went end of August and it was beginning to get cool. We also stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge. In Yellowstone we camped. It was a great trip. (we drove from Ca)</p>
<p>Our trip to Yellowstone and the Tetons is one of our all-time favorites. We flew into Billings, but we were on a two-week trip. Another, closer possibility is Cody, Wyoming.</p>
<p>Yellowstone really is huge. Staying in two different locations is a good idea. We stayed in Gardiner, Montana, just outside the park gate (the one Teddy Roosevelt dedicated, shown in the Ken Burns series). We wish we had moved further south for part of the trip, just because of the time we spent on the road. In the Tetons, we stayed in a cabin at Colter Bay Village and loved it.</p>
<p>Some outdoors purists turn up their noses at Yellowstone (and the Tetons, too) because they’re crowded. I don’t care–they’re so incredible. There are many online and print sources of driving tours. We used the Falcon Guide Scenic Driving series. If I had to pick two highlights, which is hard to do, I’d choose the raft trip on the Snake River (flat and smooth) from Jackson Lake Lodge and the view of Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (tied with Grand Prismatic Spring).</p>
<p>YAY! Go in EARLY June. We did it and while there were some negatives, it seemed to work well for us.</p>
<p>Pros
- Not as crowded.
- Baby Animals
- No Traffic problems.
- Snow at Old Faithful (really cool), Jackson Hole (so pretty), and one of the passes (would have been hard if we had to cross) was closed for 2 days.
- No bugs!</p>
<p>Cons
- Snow at Old Faithful (really cold), Jackson Hole (wet shoes), and one of the passes was closed for 2 days (had snowball fight when it reopened).
- Service at the restaurants is bad because everyone is new.</p>
<p>We spent 9 days iin Yellowstone and that was prob. 3 days too much. If you want more information in way too much detail - PM me.</p>
<p>Lisa</p>
<p>That would be a great trip! We found the lowest rates were flying into Salt Lake City. We went in July and stayed in Jackson, WY (cute town, nice shops), Jackson Lake Lodge for 2 nights (my favorite), Cody, WY (great cowboy museum), Roosevelt Cabins (horseback riding to the cookout) Gardner, WY ( white-water rafting), and the last night at Old Faithful Inn (second favorite, be sure to take the geyser tour in one of the old 1930 touring cars).</p>
<p>One of our best family vacations ever was to Yellowstone/Tetons. We flew into Bozeman MT where we rented an SUV. We stayed within the park for a full week, staying at both the southern end (Old Faithful Lodge) and the northern end…another Yellowstone property. We went on many hikes and saw more wildlife on this trip than any other national park. It was fantastic. We went mid June and there was snow in the higher elevations…but easy to hike because the trail was cleared. That hike was when we saw mountain goats. Our kids were younger at the time and did the Junior Ranger program, which made the whole experience even more memorable as we all were even more engaged as they tried to discover everything to earn the Ranger badge.</p>
<p>Our only regret was that we didn’t allow any overnight time in the Tetons–just did a day trip. It’s spectacular. If doing it again I’d stay 2 nights there for sure.</p>
<p>You are making a superb vacation choice. Other recommendations–book lodging NOW to ensure you get what you want. I remember booking our lodging within the park 10 months early. The Natl park properties get full fast, particularly once school is out.
By going early/mid June, many of the west coast kids are still in school, meaning it isn’t as crowded as it will get in later June and throughout the rest of the summer.</p>
<p>I’m envious!
PS Definitely do at least one ranger-led tour–we did the geyser one and learned so much. It really makes the experience better. Those guides are excellent.</p>
<p>I love both those parks. The last time we stayed in Grand Tetons, we stayed in cabins inside the park. I think they were in the Colter Bay area. They were private and comfortable. We even saw foxes right outside our window. Do get reservations early.</p>
<p>I still remember my kids’ reaction to the Grand Tetons: “yeah, they’re pretty, can I go back to my book?” Yellowstone, however, was a HUGE hit. I agree with the person who suggested early June. It was lovely and quiet there then.</p>
<p>I went in mid-May and still had a wonderful time, although most of the hiking trails were still closed due to bears, snow, or both. There were baby buffalo calves everywhere!</p>
<p>We flew into Bozeman, MT and stayed at the Bar N Ranch, a very nice private property in West Yellowstone. It’s just a few minutes from the west entrance of the park.</p>
<p>I visited in the wintertime, and my favorite memory is an all-day snowmobiling trip which culminated in a delicious hot meal at a lodge. It was amazing. I have no idea what it would be like in June, but I really enjoyed seeing the place when it was covered in snow, and feel that it is one of the best trips I have ever taken.</p>
<p>D worked this summer in the Grant Village. And I’ve been to Yellowstone 5 times in the past 25 years.</p>
<p>Be cautious about going to the Park before Memorial Day. This year, when D arrived on May 16th, several of the paved higher mountain passes were still closed due to avalanches. Yellowstone Lake was completely frozen over until well after June 1st. Hiking trails and lakes in the eastern and southern sections of the Park will not be open until mid-June or later.</p>
<p>Except for lodges at Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, in-Park lodging does not open until Memorial Day weekend. Many of the campgrounds don’t open until then either. Only campgrounds at Mammoth, the lower geyser basin, Lamar Valley and usually Fishing Bridge are open. Very few campgrounds in the Tetons are open. (Only those closest to the Rockefeller Parkway.)</p>
<p>Mid-June through August is high bug season. If you plan on walking anywhere near water–take plenty of bug dope. Bugs don’t dissipate until late August-early September when the nights get cold(er).</p>
<p>Dogs are not allowed in most areas of the Park and must be kept leased in those few areas where they are.</p>
<p>Expect snow at all times. D had 4 " of snow for the 4th of July at Grant Village.</p>
<p>Transportation: Yellowstone is BIG Park. (D managed to rack up 7000 miles on her car over the summer–most of it driving inside the Park.) Traveling from North Gate to South Gate will take 2 1/2 - 4 hours, depending on traffic. Ditto for going from the East or Northeast Gate to West Yellowstone.</p>
<p>Frontier Airlines flies into Jackson, WY, Bozeman, MT, and Billings, MT. All are decent sized airports. I’ve flown in/out of both Jackson and Bozeman.</p>
<p>Cody, WY also has an airport, but I don’t know anything about it.</p>
<p>You will be flying prop planes in/out of all 4 of these locations. </p>
<p>Jackson is about 1-1/2 hours from South Gate and an incurable tourist town. Driving from Jackson to South Gate is via the Rockefeller Parkway through the Tetons. Gorgeous scenery, but summer is construction season with lots of traffic delays. Check on planned construction projects before taking this route. (This summer delays were often measured in the hours.)</p>
<p>Bozeman is about 1 1/2 hours from West Gate. Drive is along good 2 lane paving through the Gallatin Mountains/ Gallatin River Valley. Gorgeous drive! I loved Bozeman–very comfortable and “real” town. Home to Museum of the Rockies-- which has some of the best dinosaur skeletons outside the Smithsonian. Jack Horner is the curator. He’s probably the best known paleontologist in the US. West Yellowstone is a decent sized town–tons of hotels, shops and restaurants. But while West Yellowstone is right at the entrance to the Park, most of the Park’s attractions are 45 minutes or so away from this entrance.</p>
<p>Billings is about 1 hour north of North Gate/Gardiner, MT. Drive is good 2 lane paving through Paradise Valley. Again a gorgeous drive. Gardiner is right at the North Gate-it’s a smallish cluster of hotels, restaurants, shops and a casino. Easy town to stay in and have immediate access to the Park’s attractions. Mammoth is about 15 minutes away.</p>
<p>Cody to East Gate is about an hour. Another hour to Fishing Bridge. Neither D or I are particularly fond of Cody, but it does have a Sierra Trading Post Outlet–discounted outdoor clothing & equipment. Again–lots of hotels, shops and restaurants. And a WalMart. The East Gate entrance goes through the highest elevations in the Park and road closures early in the season are possible. Check on the snow/ road conditions if plan to enter from this direction before late May/early June.</p>
<p>D spent every moment she wasn’t working this summer hiking, road cycling, mountain biking and kayaking in Yellowstone or the Tetons. She was regular tour guide–she took friends of mine and parents of several of her HS friends on trips through both Parks. She has lots of great ideas of what to see/where to go. If you have a particular interest, I can ask for her recommendations.</p>
<p>If you are interested in Yellowstone history, stop by the Park Headquarters in Mammoth. There is an archive/historical museum there, staffed by a full-time archivist and several summer fellows. Lots of artifacts, pictures and documents. Ken Burns borrowed heavily from it for his documentary. There are tours offered between June 1 and Sept 15.</p>
<p>As to when would <em>I</em> go? Easy. Early September. Tourists are gone. Bugs are gone. All trails/lakes are open. Streams are out of spring flood and access to trails is better. Lodging and campgrounds are still open. The trumpeter swans have arrived on the Madison River. And the mountains are golden with aspen.</p>
<p>And a fun fact, D learned as part of her training at YPSS–98% of Teton/Yellowstone’s tourists never get out of their cars when visiting. Which is sad–because there’s so much more to see than what you can see from the road.</p>
<p>WayOutWestMom,
That’s so funny that you mentioned about how people don’t get out of their cars. We heard that 98% of visitors never get more than 200 feet from their cars. We have an autographed photo book (the author was doing a signing at the Old Faithful Lodge bookstore) and he asked where we had been. We told him about a hikes that we took along the rim of The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. He called us 2 percenters and wrote that in the inscription - so fun!</p>
<p>We live 2 hours from Yellowstone. Have been many times. Kids do weekend field trips there for science class. Feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Do not miss Lamar valley to NE entrance. Better to go further through Beartooth Highway all the way to Red Lodge. But the Valley is a MUST.</p>
<p>WayoutWestMom,
That is so funny about the 98%'ers! When we went to the two parks, I think we spent 98% out of the car! (Exaggeration of course because of the size of Yellowstone!) It was in the parks and on the hiking trails that I came to the realization that I had given birth to mountain goats! ;)</p>
<p>We combined it with a trip to Glacier National Park, which I actually liked even better than Yellowstone. It lacks Yellowstone’s amazing physical features, but it also felt completely wild. Almost no other tourists (though this was about 22 years ago!). We were there in early spring, the first day after Going-to-the-Sun road had been (mostly) cleared of snow. And… I saw a wolverine! We flew into Kalispell.</p>
<p>Choteau is also a beautiful area.</p>
<p>But yes, Yellowstone is wonderful. Colleges get out early so you should have no problem beating the summer rush.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great responses.
We are 2%ers for sure…but I think we’re a little worried about grizzlies based on what we’ve seen on tv. We will be out there…even if it’s with a ranger or guide. I hate staying in the car!
I’ll start researching where to fly in to. Someone mentioned Salt Lake…isn’t that far?
I think we’ll go with early June. We could go in May but it sounds like it might be too cold. Sept is out…busy for us and hopefully dear S will have a job by then!
Glacier National Park also sounds great. We did the Canadian Rockies (not too far away) a few years back and it was awesome. How far is it from Yellowstone?
I have lots of planning to do…I may pm some of you who offered over the next couple of weeks. Thanks and keep the tips coming!</p>
<p>Grand Teton Nation Park is 275 miles NE of Salt Lake City, so yes, it’s a drive, but an interesting drive. We had six in our party and saved a lot on airfares by choosing SLC.</p>
<p>Other tips would be:</p>
<ol>
<li>Check out the travel forums at [Reviews</a> of vacations, hotels, resorts, vacation and travel packages - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com%5DReviews”>http://www.tripadvisor.com).</li>
<li>All the park lodging will probably be all booked up now, but if you keep calling, you will eventually find vacancies, as people do cancel.</li>
<li>Buy a telescope and a stand for viewing wildlife. </li>
<li>Look for parked cars along the roadways when you get there. Often times this means that people have spotted something.</li>
<li>If you want to see wolves, get to Lamar Valley by 5am.</li>
</ol>
<p>My sister’s advise: Don’t miss the opportunity to stay at the Old Faithful Lodge, something my family missed because we camped. She just raves about staying there–hopefully we will take a second trip and enjoy a few nights there. Book early–like now–for a good viewing room at the lodge. </p>
<p>Don’t let crowds discourage you on your trip. We found the vast majority of YS visitors don’t get out of their car! If you hike off the beaten path (read: main roads), even short distances, you’ll find the most beautiful country–SO quiet and peaceful! We had a great time camping, fishing and enjoying the parks programs. Kids became Junior Rangers and had a blast! …One of our best family vacations!</p>
<p>OK, just started doing some research and here’s what I came up with. I haven’t called yet so I don’t know about availability but I’d like to put this out for reactions.
Fly into Jackson Wy
Signal Mountain Lodge for 2 nights
Old Faithful (Hotel or Cabins) for 3 nights
Canyon Lodge for 2 nights
Fly back from Jackson
Is it too far to get to the airport in Jackson from the Canyon Lodge on our last day? Should we stay somewhere on the way?
Will we be able to visit Cody and Thermopolis (sp?) from where we are staying?
And advise is welcome before I start making calls!<br>
BTW, we’re active types. Love hiking, rafting etc. OK with viewing from car a bit but need to get out A LOT. Also like the idea of soaking in hot springs…especially after all that activity!</p>