Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

I have a grandson who lives in the Dallas area that is very interested in volcanoes and that kind of thing. I want to take him to Yellowstone on the way to a visit to Hawaii to see the volcanoes there. It will be just me and him. My husband and his parents won't be with us.

The last time I visited Yellowstone it was July 4, 1948, so I don't know current conditions. In those days we could go right up to the Morning Glory pool. We were camping by sleeping on a ground cloth in sleeping bags and in Yellowstone we rented a cabin because they wouldn't let us stay without a tent. My sister and I had sparklers for the 4th.

I would like to go as early in June 2010 as possible to reduce the amount of traffic. It looks like I will have to fly to somewhere near there. Although this child (who will be 12.5) is very good with maps, and I don't mind renting a car to drive around the park, I don't want to drive very much. I'm also not into either camping or hiking ATM.

I tried to find a tour that would go to the park but all that I found were quite expensive and did not do what I want to do which is primarily to look at the thermal activity - wildlife is secondary and most tours seem to focus on the animals.

One of my other daughters went in June last year and flew NW into Jackson Hole and then did Grand Tetons and Yellowstone and some other stuff. They said it snowed quite a bit while they were there. They stayed at the Old Faithful Lodge and it seems like that would be a good idea for us too.

So - to my question.

What is the easiest way to get to Yellowstone from Dallas?

At the bottom of this URL is a list of cities with scheduled air service.

If you go to Kayak.com, you can ask for prices flights between two airport and any nearby airports -- thus your search will check any flight from either Dallas Airport and into any airport near West Yellowstone.

From the airport, your best bet BY FAR is to rent a car.

You can still go near to Morning Glory Pool, but you'll have to walk -- autos driving nearby were literally destroying the pool. And PLEASE tell your grand child to **NOT** throw anything into the pools. The copper from pennies thrown into these pools was also literally destroying their color.

As for snow, that can happen anytime of the year -- even on July 4th. The heavy snowfall in this area is one of the reasons it's such a wonderland.

www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/directions.htm

If you don't want to drive much then fly from Dallas to Las Vegas and catch an Allegiant Airlines flight into Idaho Falls. That will put you just outside the west enterance or even the south. Not as close as flying into Jackson Hole, but probably cheaper.

Otherwise you could fly directly to Salt Lake City and drive. Hwy I-15 is an easy drive.

In my day I don't remember throwing in pennies - it was Kleenex. But I wouldn't do that anyway.

I find that I can fly to Bozeman, Cody, Jackson Hole, Billings, West Yellowstone or Idaho Falls. I think I can get a direct flight to Bozeman from Dallas and it wouldn't be too far to drive from there.

I also find that I can't make any reservations this far in advance :-(

If you come in from Bozeman, there are a couple of options on how you can get to Yellowstone. You can go through Gardner, which is about an hour 1/2 drive. You go in though stone arches. Gardner is a neat little town with lost of tourist stuff there. http://www.bozemannet.com/gardiner/ is a good place to find out what is there.

Or you can go through West Yellowstone, which again is about an hour-/12 drive. It is a forested drive with a good chance to see wild life. http://www.westyellowstonechamber.com/ is a good way to find out what is there.

If you come in from Billings you well enter through the Cook City High way. It is a little over an hour to Red Lodge and then you start one of the most spectacular - breath taking highways anywhere! Although if you are afraid of heights, I do not recommend this drive! It is a little over an hour's drive to Cook City on slow switch back high way. (I always found the movie Horse Whisper funny, because in the drive out here they stop at the battle field over by Harden and then the next shot is of them going over this highway. Only thing is, they run parallel to each other and they would not take both highways. LOL) The Alpine Hotel in Cook City is a nice place. My brothers use it year after year when they go snowmobiling up there. http://www.allredlodge.com/cooke_city/ is a good place to see what is there.

If you are a senor, you can get special rates for getting into the park. It does cut a fair amount off the cost, as they often charge by the vehicle. And once you get this fair, you can then use it to enter any of the parks. I think my mother has one she purchased so she never has to pay to get into any of the parks again.

Sounds like the "thermal features" will be the main attraction for your grandson. I would advise renting a cottage in Mammoth Springs ( they are adorable and cheap) which is the North Entrance/Gardiner. You need to reserve those 12 months in advance. From the cottage you can walk over to the
travertine terraces formed by all of the thermal goings-on... really cool.
Has that sulfur smell tho. It's a nice little hike.
About 15 minute drive from Mammoth is the Boiling River (back towards Gardiner, the Entrance) I think your Grandson would enjoy soaking in it, it's where
really HOT water empties out into the River. Mixing together it makes a very nice "hot tub". There is no longer any sign, you may have to ask someone at the Lodge for specific directions.It's on the road to the entrance,
at the bottom of a hill, a narrow bridge crossing what looks like a creek.
There's a small parking lot and about a 1/4 Trail to get to the "hot tub" :)
My kids loved it.

Then about 90 minutes south of Mammoth is Old Faithful Inn and the Geyser Trail on the boardwalk. That will be the highlight for him. Bubble pots and geysers everywhere. You can book a very reasonable room at Old Faithful Inn a year ahead. Morning Glory is a half hour hike from Old Faithful. They do have a railing around it but you can still walk up to it.
He will love the Ranger Programs about the Thermal Activity at Yellowstone,
the history of the calderra , etc. My son was 12 when we visited, still talks about it. Those are the main highlights, there are different geo thermal sites all along the western road of Yellowstone, moreso than the eastern road.(more wildlife) You dont need a tour guide, just check out a good book with a map on Yellowstone at your Library and you will have no problem finding the well-marked sites. The road at YNP is a figure 8 , easy to navigate. Go in early June and you will miss the crowds.

Cant wait to go back.

Please remember that the spot where the hot water drops into the river is only legal to dip in during the day. It is called Hot Potting. I found this out in college and it was not the legal way, but with a jug of wine. Oh well, live and learn.