Island Park ID vs Jackson Hole WY to visit Yellowstone NP

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We are planning on visiting Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons next summer. I have some questions that hopefully you folks can answer. There are just the 2 of us so I am not interested in the suitability for children.

1. Would you choose Island Park Village timeshare in Idaho or Towncenter at Jackson Hole WY? I am considering the quality of the 2 resorts, location and ease of flying in and out from Southern California. We will rent a car.

2. We are warm weather folks so we are not interested in cold weather. Would late May/early June be good or should we plan for July or August. Doesn't have to be hot.

Any other info will be greatly appreciated

[chellej Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chellej]

John

weather in May and early June can be iffy. July/aug will have some hot days but it is a dry heat.

We love Island Park because there is so much to do in the area and we only spend 1-2 days in the park. Jackson is closer to Teton Park and Island Park is closer to yellowstone.

Our favorite time to go is late aug/early sept. Weather is wonderful, many of the tourists are gone, water is lower and fishing is generally still good. Jackson hole has more shops, the old west gunfight in the town square and lots of resturants.

Island Park has fewer amenities but lots to do as far as hiking, fishing, rafting etc.

You really can't go wrong either way but if you want to spend most of your time in yellowstone I would go with Island Park. (I have to admit being biased because I own 3 weeks there)

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

As soon as you know when you want to go, I would advise you to book a couple of nights in the park. You'll see much more of the park if you don't have to re-trace your path every day you want to go in. My advise would be to spend one night at the north end of the park and one night at the south end. Reservations are VERY quickly filled; many people reserve a year in advance. Cancelling is no problem, so if you decide you really don't care about staying in the park, you can always make some person who is reserving late really happy by cancelling your reservation.

If you want to keep costs of renting lower, rent the cabins. They are clean and really pleasant. It's a bit like camping as a child: the shower and toilet are a cabin or two away, but you have a sink in your cabin. If spending a bit more is o.k., the lodges are quaint.

For me, the experience in the park is totally different when staying a night or two in the park--but reservations early are essential. Consider the chuck wagon supper one night if you decide to stay in the park (only if staying at the north end).

[Holly Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Holly]

We have two nights booked at the Old Faithful Lodge this summer. What's the chuck wagon dinner? Can you share more?

[vkrn Member Find all posts View Profile Close vkrn]

Years ago the chuck wagon dinner was a wagon ride out into the valley and a dinner cooked over a fire, some music and a good time. It was fun and worth it. The scenery was AWEOME!

The weather can be iffy at any time. We went the last week of July/first week of August and we froze most of the time. Had to buy gloves and wear layers.

Do river rafting out of Island Park. It is a great time, if you are into that kind of activity. If you just want to shop and see the sceneryd, stay at Jackson Hole. The gunfight in the town square is fun to see.

I kind of think that flying into Jackson Hole would be easier, but I am not sure.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

Having spent an amazing 2 consecutive weeks last July at timeshares near West Yellowstone and then Jackson Hole, my advice is:

If you have 2 weeks, both locations are *very* worth it.

If you have just one, Island Park. There's way more to see and do in Yellowstone, whereas Teton NP can be seen in a couple of days. It's a further drive from Jackson Hole into Yellowstone NP than West Yellowstone - we did it once because we had more to see and do in Yellowstone NP than we could get to in a week, but it was a lo-o-ong day.

If you can get Worldmark at West Yellowstone, this would be my first choice in the future. (We had a 3-BR at Yellowstone Village - it was adequate.)

Resort quality mattered less than usual, because we spent almost every waking hour in the parks. I agree spending a night or 2 in the parks would be nice, but we really didn't mind having the timeshares instead, less trouble to pack up and move.

In 12 years of intensive timeshare travel, this was one of the best trips we've ever taken, and I can't wait to go back to Yellowstone!

You can fly into either location, and I agree that July/Aug is better than May/June.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

What all is there to do in Island Park. I've got Yellowstone & The Tetons on my most wanted list. shaggy

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

Good description of the Chuck Wagon Dinner. I think it's $70.00 per person, and it's really not possible to do unless you're staying in the north end of the park. (It books up almost as fast as the various lodgings do.)

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

As soon as you know when you want to go, I would advise you to book a couple of nights in the park. You'll see much more of the park if you don't have to re-trace your path every day you want to go in. My advise would be to spend one night at the north end of the park and one night at the south end. Reservations are VERY quickly filled; many people reserve a year in advance. Cancelling is no problem, so if you decide you really don't care about staying in the park, you can always make some person who is reserving late really happy by cancelling your reservation.

If you want to keep costs of renting lower, rent the cabins. They are clean and really pleasant. It's a bit like camping as a child: the shower and toilet are a cabin or two away, but you have a sink in your cabin. If spending a bit more is o.k., the lodges are quaint.

For me, the experience in the park is totally different when staying a night or two in the park--but reservations early are essential. Consider the chuck wagon supper one night if you decide to stay in the park (only if staying at the north end).

What kind of accommodations are available in the park? Cost is not very important. We don't like cabins or camping so that is out of the question. Do they have a nice lodge or hotel in the park. I looked at the official web site for YNP but couldn't get much info.

We wouldn't be opposed to skipping the timeshare and just staying in the park if they have nice accommodations.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I wonder why the weather is so much colder than in the Utah high country. We spent a week touring Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Zion last year at the end of May. The weather was great and not cold. We went swimming in the outdoor pool. The elevations are just as high or higher in Utah. We were well over 9,000 feet. We were in Spokane, WA and ID for 6 months and May and June were not cold.

[Elan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Elan]

I wonder why the weather is so much colder than in the Utah high country. We spent a week touring Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Zion last year at the end of May. The weather was great and not cold. We went swimming in the outdoor pool. The elevations are just as high or higher in Utah. We were well over 9,000 feet. We were in Spokane, WA and ID for 6 months and May and June were not cold.

Just further north.

Yes, Spokane can be nice in May/June, but it can also be in the 50's or lower for highs. I've been in Coeur d'Alene, ID, which is very close to Spokane, numerous times (~10) in late May/early June, and it's literally a crap shoot on weather. Anywhere from 75 and sunny, to 45 and rainy.

I've had mid-June golf tournaments delayed by snow in central Idaho, at an elevation of 5000ft.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Just further north.

Yes, Spokane can be nice in May/June, but it can also be in the 50's or lower for highs. I've been in Coeur d'Alene, ID, which is very close to Spokane, numerous times (~10) in late May/early June, and it's literally a crap shoot on weather. Anywhere from 75 and sunny, to 45 and rainy.

I've had mid-June golf tournaments delayed by snow in central Idaho, at an elevation of 5000ft.

I should have added that the day we left Spokane to return home, it was bitterly cold and miserable and that was in mid-September.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

I wonder why the weather is so much colder than in the Utah high country. We spent a week touring Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP, and Zion last year at the end of May. The weather was great and not cold. We went swimming in the outdoor pool. The elevations are just as high or higher in Utah. We were well over 9,000 feet. We were in Spokane, WA and ID for 6 months and May and June were not cold.

Don't know why, but we were in Park City the week b4 our July 4 Yellowstone week, and Yellowstone was much colder, 30's at night.

RCI resort directory has average monthly temps for most listings, by the way, very handy, you don't need to be a member to look up. Yellowstone basin is one of the coldest spots for some reason - here are West Yellowstone's:

High Low
January 24°F / -4°C ... 1°F / -17°C
February 30°F / -1°C ... 4°F / -16°C
March 38°F / 8°C ... 12°F / -6°C
April 47°F / 14°C ... 21°F / -2°C
May 58°F / 21°C ... 29°F / 2°C
June 69°F / 26°C ... 36°F / 5°C
July 78°F / 25°C ... 41°F / 3°C
August 77°F / 19°C ... 38°F / -1°C
September 66°F / 11°C ... 30°F / -6°C
October 52°F / 1°C ... 22°F / -12°C
November 33°F / -4°C ... 11°F / -17°C
December 24°F / 3°C ... 1°F / -11°C

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Don't know why, but we were in Park City the week b4 our July 4 Yellowstone week, and Yellowstone was much colder, 30's at night.

RCI resort directory has average monthly temps for most listings, by the way, very handy, you don't need to be a member to look up. Yellowstone basin is one of the coldest spots for some reason - here are West Yellowstone's:

High Low
January 24°F / -4°C ... 1°F / -17°C
February 30°F / -1°C ... 4°F / -16°C
March 38°F / 8°C ... 12°F / -6°C
April 47°F / 14°C ... 21°F / -2°C
May 58°F / 21°C ... 29°F / 2°C
June 69°F / 26°C ... 36°F / 5°C
July 78°F / 25°C ... 41°F / 3°C
August 77°F / 19°C ... 38°F / -1°C
September 66°F / 11°C ... 30°F / -6°C
October 52°F / 1°C ... 22°F / -12°C
November 33°F / -4°C ... 11°F / -17°C
December 24°F / 3°C ... 1°F / -11°C

Thank you very much. It is pretty obvious that July and August are the only months that will work for us,

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

The Old Faithful Inn (most difficult to get a room--we've never succeeded, though we've tried) is on the National Historic Places List, and the rooms are--I've been told--nice, nicer than El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, where I have stayed.
The following accommodations are available at Old Faithful Inn:

Suites
The suites have recently been renovated and feature a well-appointed sitting room with refrigerator and a bedroom with two queen beds. The private bathroom includes a tub/shower, sink and toilet.

Semi-Suites
These extra-large rooms include a sitting area along with two queen beds. Private bathroom includes a tub/shower, toilet and sink.

Premium Rooms
The premium rooms are well-appointed rooms and most include two double beds with a private bath. (Tub/shower, sink and toilet.)

High-Range Rooms
The high-range rooms offer attractive modern furnishings with either a queen bed or two double beds and a private bath. They come with either a Tub/shower or shower only.

If I were planning, I'd stay a night at the Old Faithful Inn and spend the afternoon of the day I arrived exploring the lake and doing the Old Faithful ranger walk, preferably for me, the last one of the day--cooler, more interesting light, and fewer people. The next day I'd head out early and drive up the east side of the park, stopping at .... well, everything--Mud Volcano, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, various animal sightings, which are sure to occur, waterfalls--they are everywhere, and I'd drive out of the park and secure lodging in Gardiner. I think you'll stand a much better chance of finding lodging you'll like there than at Mammoth. The second day I'd drive down the west side of the park and, again, stop at everything and do all the ranger talks. If you have the schedules in advance you can do all of them with minimal planning. Then, I'd go on to the timeshare, and if there are things you want to re-see, you could make trips just for those things, but you would have seen "the biggies" already.

Don't forget to sign up for the Chuck Wagon Dinner; it leaves from Mammoth.

Yellowstone is wonderful!