Should I book a night in Yellowstone?? Other trip planning questions

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

Got my West Yellowstone Village exchange for July 4-11, 2009 (YEAH!). I need major help with this trip but for now, here's my burning questions:

- Should I book one night in the park somewhere to cut out alot of backtracking? If so, which place would probably make the most sense? Do they book up a year out as Grand Canyon lodging does?

- If I fly into SLC (not sure of that at all but it's the closest commercial airport I've read), and it's 350 miles or so, is there a good stopping point along the drive to YNP for an overnight stay? I imagine we'll get in mid to late afternoon as we are flying in from FL and can't imagine that doing that drive rstraight thru would be too smart.

Related to the SLC question, is there a route that makes sense that would have us start at an airport (which one??) , drive to Glacier NP (stay 2-3 days... is that enough?), then to YNP? After YNP we are thinking of staying in Jackson Hole for 2-3 days before flying out (from where??) to go home. We have 2 weeks to play with total for this trip.

DH is going to pick up a slew of state maps from AAA this week so I can lay them all out and start really understanding where stuff is

All input, ideas, etc. are welcome!! I am also eager to hear from people that have stayed outside the park and just done "drive ins". What route plan worked best, what you'd do differently now that you know better, etc.

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

We're going a month after you and staying in Jackson Hole. I plan on staying one - two nights in Gardiner, just to make it easier for us while spending time in Yellowstone.

As far as the routes go..here is a website that may help with the planning coming from SLC.

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

We went into Yellowstone at 8:00 a.m. from the East, having stayed overnight at Cody. We went south to the lake, then drove toward Mammoth, where we stayed the night. We arrived at Mammoth at dusk and just had time to eat. The next day, we started toward Old Faithful, where we arrived about 4:00; we took the last ranger led tour. I realize we were working from the opposite side of the park, but in my opinion, you'll be happy if you book a night and perhaps follow the plan we did. From Old Faithful to the lake is a short drive; you could do it from the west side and be there about when we were. You could then go north on the east side and spend the night in Mammoth. The next night, you'd be back on the west side.

In our day on the east side, we did a ranger talk at two spots and stopped at just everything that came up--moose, buffalo, bear on hillside, walk back to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, you name it, we did it. As we went down the west side, we did ranger talks at Norris, Old Faithful (and one other that escapes me just now). The next morning, we drove back to the lake before we headed south for Jackson Hole.

One other point, make a reservation in Yellowstone NOW if you still can. You can always cancel, and believe me, the park fills up utterly and completely (to be redundant). Better to have a reservation and cancel than to want one and have no way on earth to get one.

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

One other point, make a reservation in Yellowstone NOW if you still can. You can always cancel, and believe me, the park fills up utterly and completely (to be redundant). Better to have a reservation and cancel than to want one and have no way on earth to get one.

EXACTLY my concern and why I am asking over 1 year in advance!

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

If you fly to SLC and want to split up the drive to YNP, then I'd recommend stopping in either Pocatello or Idaho Falls. They are about 3 and 4 hours north of SLC (in traffic, less if you miss rush hour in SLC). You ought to check the cost of flights to Pocatello and IF since they sometimes aren't too much more than SLC. You could also fly into Montana (I forget which airport is closest) or Cody, WY (I think there's an airport there). My experience is really with the Western side of Yellowstone.

As far as staying in the park or just outside, I don't think it's a huge time difference, but the cost difference might be fairly significant. West Yellowstone is just outside the park, less than an hour's drive from Old Faithful. Cody is also fairly close to the Eastern entrance of the park. Gardiner is near the North Entrance, but I believe there are more accomodations in Cody and West Yellowstone.

As far as adding Glacier to the itinerary, it can be done, but it's not just a little additional driving. If you stopped in Pocatello, it'd still be at least 7 hours more driving to Glacier and then almost the same amount back to Yellowstone. You need to budget time for it. Adding in Grand Teton National Park and even Craters of the Moon National monument are much more manageable detours.

You're talking about my backyard, so let me know if there's much more you need to know.

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

We lived in southeast Idaho for 10 years and visit Island Park often. We usually fly into slc and drive to Idaho falls , stop and have dinner, pick up groceries and then on to Island park. With the time change (it will be 2 hours behind florida) you should be able to get in late morning/early afternoon. I would probably plan to spend at least one night in the park and do the chuckwagon dinner - it is an old fashioned cowboy cookout and is a lot of fun and the drive out would be late if you go back to yellowstone.

From West yellowstone you can go to madison junction and do the north loop to Mammoth, tower, Canyon and back to madison junction

You can go another day from madison junction to old faithful to grant village to canyon and back to madison. The only back tracking is the section from Canyon to the west entrance.

There is also lots to do outside the park, Quake lake, fall river, upper and lower mesa falls, sawtell peak, float the snake river, fly fish, feed the fish at warm river, visit Harriman State park and big springs.

In west yellowstone, visit the grizzley/wolf center, yellowstone museum, and Imaxx theater.

I would then go down through grand teton park, spend a night or two in grand teton or Jackson hole. Lots of shops and things to do in Jackson and then back over teton pass to Idaho falls and south to SLC.

You could go north to glacier for a week but there is plenty to do in the Yellowstone area to keep you busy for 2 weeks

DS just accepted an internship in Jackson Hole for this summer - I am sooo jealous. It is a great place to spend a summer - and get paid to boot!

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

I would suggest flying to Jackson, WY from FL and staying there in Jackson Hole 3-4 nites to enjoy the town and the two trips you’d probably want to take in the beauty of the mountains at Grand Teton National Park before heading to West Yellowstone. While in Yellowstone, you may want to plan your week in the park to go east one day, north another day, etc. You have to drive everywhere but you want to make sure you cover all the main roads! Our goal at Glacier NP was to drive “Going to the Sun Road” from the east to the west and to keep on going towards home…..not much else to do there for a whole week unless you’re into a lot of hiking.

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

Ok, based in input, I am crossing off any thought of going to Glarcier on this particular trip. It'll be Yellowstone and Grand Tetons and surrounding areas.

What about the idea, similar to Faust's, of flying into SLC (or Jackson - I have to look at the map for that one) and driving to Jackson Hole that first night (looks to be about half way on the one map I have), then entering YNP from the south and doing the SW part of the lower loop (Old Faithful area) the next day and ending up at the TS for the night? We'd do the other parts of the loops during our week. At the end of the week, we'd go back to Jackson Hole for 2 more days before going home...

Here's another question I am struggling with. How long does it take to travel abut 60 miles in the park? Taking into account stopping to check things out, animal jams, crowds, etc. I know it will vary but we can we get a range idea?? I got 60 miles from reading another post... so I am using it right now to plan. Is 60 miles for a full day realistic... or way low and we'll be done in 4 hours... or there's NO WAY to get that far and see things along the way....?

Using the 60 mile per day number I have booked into Roosevelt Lodge and Lake Yellowstone one night each. I will probably keep Roosevelt as we want to do the Cookout Dinner and horse back ride and being able to enjoy the evening and crash right there has alot of appeal. But I am totally willing to cancel the Lake Yellowstone night if we really don't need it and can do the east side of the Grand Loop and get out at the west entrance to go to our timeshare for the night... that is about 103 miles for the day. We can drive straight thru the last 40 miles or so as we'd already have or will spend time specifically for that part of the loop (Old Faithful area).

Any thoughts?

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

If you fly to SLC and want to split up the drive to YNP, then I'd recommend stopping in either Pocatello or Idaho Falls. They are about 3 and 4 hours north of SLC (in traffic, less if you miss rush hour in SLC). You ought to check the cost of flights to Pocatello and IF since they sometimes aren't too much more than SLC.

I will look at the cost of the regional airports. I also have to factor in the cost of getting a rental vehicle.... SUV or minivan depending on if MIL comes too. I am kinda thinking that rental cost of cars would be higher at regionals vs. bigger airports but I will check it out. Thanks for the ideas!

I'd sure like to not pay for additional lodging in the park (and be wasting a TS night to boot!) but I will be traveling with a then 10 yr. old and a 79 yr. old and their needs are pretty well matched as far as rest areas, food, tolerance, etc. are concerned So I can't plan on super long days. Hence my "60 miles in a day" question in another the previos post.

I appreciate any words of wisdom you have!

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

You are going to be there about a year later than us. I'll try to take notes on the park, and let you know travel times, etc.

We are driving from Minneapolis to Rapid City for two nights, then on to Big Sky MT where we are staying. We will be traveling from there to the park.

It will just be us two adults, so we are not going to checking out the kid friendly stuff.

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

You are going to be there about a year later than us. I'll try to take notes on the park, and let you know travel times, etc.

We are driving from Minneapolis to Rapid City for two nights, then on to Big Sky MT where we are staying. We will be traveling from there to the park.

It will just be us two adults, so we are not going to checking out the kid friendly stuff.

Wow - that would be great! Thanks!

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

Another option is to fly into Billings, MT. It is a much larger airport than the other regionals mentioned here, and that may give you better / less expensive choices. It is a little over 100 miles closer than Salt Lake City.

Also, if you drive to/from Billings you could go to the park via Bear Tooth Pass, which is absolutely amazing.

Just another option to throw into the mix...

Kurt

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

Just another option to throw into the mix...

Kurt

Great. Just what I need...more options

Seriously, I do want them all so keep 'em coming!

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

Getting from SLC to Jackson is doable in one day, but that's a pretty big drive and most of it's not on interstates, particularly after a fairly long flight. You could mapquest it to see exactly how long.

The 60 miles in the park could easily be done in a day. If it's your first visit to the park, then with stops it will probably take most of the day. I don't know that you'd need to schedule two days of lodging in the park if your TS is in West Yellowstone (or close to there). That's really one of the closest entrances to the fun stops that are available in the park.

If you are taking anyone with signficant medical needs (hopefully the 79-y.o. is fairly healthy), then you might want to be aware that the nearest hospitals of even decent size are in Jackson, WY; Cody, WY; and maybe Driggs, ID. There is a small clinic in West Yellowstone.

Hope that helps.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Great. Just what I need...more options

Seriously, I do want them all so keep 'em coming!

Have sent you a PM.