Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

My boyfriend and I want to drive through Yellowstone on our way to Banff from California in late May. We don't have much time to stay, but figured the drive alone might be worth the visit. We'll be spending the previous night in Well's Nevada. The first option is to drive through Targhee National Forest and enter Yellowstone from the West entrance where we would spend the night and spend the next half day exploring parts of Yellowstone around the West side before we start heading north toward Butte. The second option is to drive through Grand Teton where we would spend the night, and spend the next day driving up through Yellowstone with some quick stops along the way. Given this quick time frame what are some must see quick stops along these two routes? Which route would you recommend to see some good sites without overdoing the driving time? Where would be a good place to camp? Am I trying to cram too much into one short trip? Thanks for your incite!

i would go via Grand Teton, and do the southern end, then head out to butte, via the nth exit. A must see is old faithful.

Definetely go the Grand Teton route...a park which, in many ways, rivals even Yellowstone for beauty.
You can drive through the outer perimiter road, around to Oxbow bend then, spend the night at Jenny Lake Lodge...get up early and have breakfast at Jackson Lake Lodge and continue on to Yellowstone.
Now, this is where it gets tricky: depending on what you're wanting to see (yes, I've driven the entire park in one day but, it's hectic)..more info on THAT itinerary in a moment.
First Option: Drive northwward, past Grant Village, Lake, and on to Canyon.
Stop off at the various scenic look outs to Canyon...drive on to Tower Falls and then on to Mammoth and overnight in Mammoth.
This will take you through Hayden Valley and the many buffalo herds.
Second Option: Go left at Grant Village and drive on to Old Faithful, explore this area and watch Old Faithful erupt...continue on to Madison Geyser basin, Upper and Lower Geyser basins and end up at Mammoth.
A third option can even combine a little of both, by doing Old faithful, then, once at Norris, heading due East and catching the road to Canyon Village.
Continue from there...
Again, the more you add, the less you see, but you should be able to catch many of the highlights.

Definitely, Mammoth should be your stopping off point for the Yellowstone trip.
Make your reservations early! This park fills up rapidly, as much as 6 months in advance.

Email if you have any other questions.
Homer

Hi

I did this drive a few years back, first night in Winnemucca and then on to Jackson via route 93 to Twin Falls, then followed the Snake river to Idaho Falls and via Swan Valley (route 26) to Jackson. This route touches the southern part of the Targhee forest and gets you to Grand Teton which I must say I found more spectacular than Yellowstone. Overall, the drive through Nevada and Idaho was not that interesting apart from the wide open spaces and some waterfalls in Idaho. The real scenery started as you approach Jackson (worth staying and good accommodation options there)and Grand Teton. There is camping at both Yellowstone and Grand Teton (village). You can then drive through Yellowstone the next day (do the geyser et al)and come out at Gardiner in Montana and then up to the freeway (191) through Butte to Canada. I stopped at Whitefish (interesting town) and then through Waterton Glacier NP, although the road through this NP may be closed in early May. Waterton Lakes NP (Canada) is also worth seeing and then drive through Sparwood/Fernie via the Radium Hot Springs to Banff. This longer route is more interesting as the drive up to Calgery is quite flat with farming country.

As for cramming too much in, you need to get up north some how and this way is as good as any, if not more interesting.

Have a nice, safe trip.

Towns that are in or near the area is Jackson Hole, Wyoming on the south side and West Yellowstone, Montana. My wife and I took this road trip last year and there are many things to see and do in Jackson Hole. Driving up to Yellowstone past the Grand Tetons and the Snake River, gives you magnificent views. Up through Yellowstone and out the West Yellowstone exit, lets you see many of the wild animals, geysers, mud pots, and waterfalls. We stayed in Jackson Hole, mnay motels, and left early in the morning for Yellowstone. It was 5 pm before we got to West Yellowstone and stayed at the Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort. The next day we did the upper Yellowstone area. Fantastic time.

I live 50 miles from Yellowstone, and a quick day through won't even begin to touch the park, but it will give you a taste, and maybe you'll come back some other time. As everyone said, if you come through Grand Teton National Park, you will have some spectacular views. The mountains rise up steeply from the plains, with no foothills to obstruct the view. These are sharp and rugged mountains, just gorgeous. My favorite part of Yellowstone for shear beauty is the Canyon with its two magnificent falls, but they are on the east side of the park, so if you think you will make a trip back to the park, I would recommend leaving it for next time, even though I consider it one of the highlights of Yellowstone and a not to miss activity. I think this canyon’s stunning view is as grand as the Tetons, but it is hard to compare as one is mountains and one is a huge canyon with spectacular falls. Old faithful is the most famous geyser, and very nice, although I must confess it isn't my most favorite of all. If you come in the sounth side and turn left, Old Faithfull should be your first stop. Go to the visitor center there and find out when Old Faithfull, Beehive, and Great Fountain are expected to errupt. Beehive is my favorite, although I have only seen it errupt once, the sound itself is awsome. Beehive is in the same geyser basin as Old Faithful. if you have a long wait, then walk around the area and look at some of the other geysers. Be sure to go inside the old log hotel there, just look up to the ceiling, it is really an amazing structure. During the big fire we all worried about it, you will see why when you view it. Then you can head on up to Norris to view more geysers and hot pools. If Great Fountain is going to be erupting around that time you will see the side road on the park map when you get it. This is probably my second favorite geyser, and although is quite pretictable it is a number of hours between erruptions, so you may not be able to see this one. The side road to Great Fountain is between Old Faithful and Norris. From Norris you can continue north to Mammoth. Be sure to drive the upper terraces at Mammoth.

NOW if you don't ever expect to return to Yellowstone, and can give up seeing Old Faithful, then this would be another suggestion. Enter from the south; take a right turn at West Thumb and drive along the Yellowstone Lakeshore. Then head up to the canyon. Stop at Artist Point. Unfortunately if you wish to see more of the canyon you will have to drive north to Canyon Village, then take the fairly short loop road back down south. This is a one-way road, so it would dump you a little ways back north and you would have to retrace your route back to Canyon Village. Along this loop road you would want to stop at Lookout Point, Inspiration Point and Grand View. Then turn west and drive to Norris, explore that area’s geysers and pools, try to catch Echinus if you can, then up to Mammoth.

Both of these suggestions leave you at Mammoth for the night. If after dinner you aren't too tired to explore, drive the northern route through Lamar Valley. This is my very favorite drive for looking for wildlife. If you are really lucky you might even see a wolf here.

One more option is that if you have already seen the Tetons, or would rather be able to see both the Yellowstone Canyon and its fantastic falls and Old Faithful then come in through Madison on the east side, then turn south (right turn). Drive down to Old Faithful, and spend some time there. Then continue driving the loop road that will take you over to Yellowstone Lake and back up north to the Canyon. Explore the Canyon area, then from there you can either turn left again and head for Norris than up to Mammoth, or you can just continue on up north from Canyon to Tower where if you have time you could walk to Tower Falls, also a very nice waterfall, then turn left and drive through part of Lamar Valley to Mammoth.

Oh, and I agree with Homer, Mammoth has a campground, but you must reserve early. If you are driving an RV, however, there are not hook-ups here. Grand Tetons also has a campgrounds, again reserve early.

I like Homanded's third option. Go through Grand Teton, (get as far north as possible to cut down on the drive time the next day, staying at say Colter Bay). Then head up to Old Faithful, make a stop. Then go over to Norris (maybe stopping at fountain paint pots), turn right and go over to Canyon, make a stop at Upper Falls viewpoint and Artists points to see the waterfalls. Then go north to Mammoth via Hayden Valley. If you can't get a reservation in Mammoth then you may need to look outside the park in the Gardiner area.

Doing this will not do justice to the park of course but you would see the first two must sees in my book: Old Faithful and Yellowstone canyon.

Yes, I also agree with Homer's #3 (actually all of his options are good ones) and Segolily's suggestion. This option would also give you a chance to drive through part of Lamar Valley.

When camping, we always try to stay inside of the National Parks, so I would do this with each park you plan to visit, but you must reserve ahead to be sure you have a site. If you can't get reservations inside the parks, and plan to stay outside, but close to a National Park, you will still need to reserve ahead.

Go to this link to see a map of the roads within Yellowstone. This will help you to get a better picture of the park, and a referrence to compare the different suggestions against.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/yell/interactivemap/index.htm

the South Entrance is the gate you would come through if you come through the Tetons. The West Entrance is the gate you would come through if you come in from West Yellowsone. Notice that if you choose Homer's #3 route and you have time and are not too tired, you could also take the walk to Tower Falls.

Thanks for all the greats tip everyone! Does anyone have any suggestions for specific campsites for our night in the Grand Tetons? I'm having a hard time finding many that take reservations. All the campgrounds I've found inside the park seem to be first come first served. We will be tent camping and don't care too much about amenities, but would like a scenic spot.

The Flagg Ranch in Moran, Wyoming takes campsite reservations. You can call them at 800 4432311 or go to their website: www.flaggranch.com
As for the best chance, the Gros Ventre campgrounds, closer to Jackson,seem to be first come, first serve, but there are 360 campsites. See website:www.wyomingtourism.org

Also, Signal mountain lodge, also in Moran is a good choice and I have used them before.
Try this:

http://foreverlodging.com/foreverinfo.cfm?PropertyKey=69&ContentKey=23244

I would have you refer to your second last sentence. Don't spend so much time driving that it ruins your trip. Depending on how much time you have allowed you may want to go full steam then stop a day or two and rest. The smaller roads slow travel. If you come through Idaho Falls take hwy. 20 to West Yellowstone. That's the west entrance to the park. You can explore and come out the North entrance at Gardiner and take 89 to Livingston and pick up I90. The route from the park to Livingston is 60 miles through Paradise valley. The valley of the Yellowstone River. It's gorgeous, straight and travels at 70MPH.

This web page which is part of the parks official page:

http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

advertises the following campground for reservations.

Flagg Ranch Campground

Open
05/25/2007 - 09/23/2007

Phone
(800) 443-2311

Details
Concession operated, located in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, just south of Yellowstone National Park's south boundary and five miles north of Grand Teton National Park. 175 sites in the spruce-fir forest. Call for reservations for both trailer sites and tent sites.


This is their description of Colter Bay campground:
Colter Bay Campground

Open
05/25/2007 - 09/23/2007

Phone
(800) 628-9988

Details 25 miles north of Moose, with 350 sites, 11 group sites, trailer dump station, showers, and laundry nearby. Fills in the afternoon, if at all. Colter Bay is a wooded campground with larger sites and easier access if you are traveling with a camper, trailer, or RV. Close to Jackson Lake with plenty to do close by. These are first come first serve sites.

Notice that it states that it doesn't always fill up. However, Colter Bay CRV Park, which has 112 RV sites, and I believe is part of the Colter Bay Campground does have advanced reservations available. These are for RVs only, no tents, and is probably more expensive.

Between Flagg Ranch and Colter Bay I would chose Colter Bay, cause I think it is more scenic. (It is on the lake)