Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

Do the main attractions in YNP come up in GPS.We are planning to rent a car from after our arrival at Bonzane,MT airport and then drive to the park.
Based on your experiences will there be clear detour signs in case of road closures.
Is it a good idea to bring car seats or can we rent the cars with the carseats. we have a 6 and 2 yr old.

We will be flying from Newark,NJ. Need advice on which aiport is better to fly to,Jackson hole or West yellowstone airport. We are thinking to avoid flight cancellations and delays its a good idea to fly to a bigger airport.
We will mostly be visting Old faithful and the Lake area

We are planning to visit YNP in OCT 2009 with kids aged 6 and 2. This is our 1st time this park. Heard lot of good things about this park.So decided to make a trip. We are planning to stay for 4 days to look at Old faithful,Canyon,Roosevalt Water falls. Is it possible to find a place in the park with kitchen(like marriot residence inn). Someone suggested Hiliday inn on west side. How far is the drive from there to the main points of interest.
We are thinking of flying to Jackson Hole from Newyork.
Would appreciate any suggestions on the itenary too.
PS: we are not looking to hike.

My husband and I want to go to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc. We found a tour with tour4fun that includes Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Grand Teton, Salt Lake City and Arches National park in 7 days and 6 nights. Does that sound like a reasonable length of time to see all those places? Has anyone had experience with that tour company? Can anyone recommend a tour that would allow us to visit the parks? We are older and do not want to drive so we need tours. Thanks for your help!

We are going to be in yellowstone for the 4th July weekend. Are there any places where the chances of finding the big animals like bears, bison, elks are higher?

Can I also see wild life in Grand Teton? We are flying to Jackson Hole and I am thinking of spending some time in the park if there is a possibility of spotting wild life.

We flying to Jackson, WY on our way to a camping trip to Yellowstone (4th july weekend). We won't be able to carry all the camping gear on the plane. what is a good place to rent things like sleeping bag, stove, mess kit, Ice chest, kitchen knife, swiss knife etc? Either in Jackson hole or any where between Jackson hole and the park.

There must be an REI around there, but there costs are higher. I don't need super high quality gear as I am not camping in wilderness / high altitude.

Hi all,

My wife and I will be visiting YNP in August for the first time and we need some advice. We can spend about 10-12 days there and have the following questions:

1. Since we are first timers, is it a good idea to purchase one of the packages from Xanterra Parks & Resorts? We are considering The Total Yellowstone Package. (http://www.travelyellowstone.com/Summer-Adventure-Packages-5623.html#16-30). Is this package a good deal comparing to visiting these places on your own? If you have experience with this package or any other Yellowstone packages by Xanterra, please share your experience.

2. If I don’t get the package, how hard/easy is it for us to see Yellowstone and Grand Teton on our own? We have a car can hike easy to moderate trails. Where would you visit and how many days would you stay at each location?

Thank you very much for your help!

Is it easier and shorter to drive to Lamar Valley from Gardiner than from West Yellowstone?

My husband and I are going to Yellowstone in August 09. Since it's late, I can't find good lodging in the park, but have located a cabin at Sleepy Hollow Lodge in W. Yellowstone for 4 nights. Is W. Yellowstone a good location to stay for the entire stay? Can I drive comfortably to all areas of the park and get back there without spending hours in the car?

First I'll offer a bit of my own advice: if you're going to Yosemite in CA, visit Hetch Hetchy or Tuolomne Meadows in leiu of the valley. The main valley is Disneyland compared to the Hetch Hetchy area.

Now on to my own question: my girlfriend and I will be visiting the area from Northern California for 3 days, 2 nights, July 2nd and 3rd (then onto Montana). I can imagine this is a pretty busy time for YNP. What areas in or around Yellowstone should we book a campsite or cabin (that would still have spots available).

We don't mind other folks, but are looking to get away from any traffic jams or other hustle and bustle. Anything with great views or water features nearby would be appreciated. Any insider advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

We are planning a June trip for two weeks to YNP...oh, yeah, with our 4 children (ages 11, 10, 7, and 2)...we feel this is our best opportunity to get us all out together before adolescents strikes, sooo, here we go...We would love to know the best to take around the park so that we can see the most in 3-4 days without wasting our time backtracking around. Are there places for them to swim in some of the streams? Is it possible to do a horseback ride and have our 2 year old ride along with one of us? My husband and I have been there a few years ago alone, but even then didn't get a chance to see as much of the park as we would have liked...we could certainly use some advice from someone who has been with children and what worked and what didn't...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Hi:-) My husband and I will be staying in a cabin at the Sleepy Hollow Lodge in West Yellowstone. It is 6 blocks from the entrance to West Yellowstone. Has anyone stayed here before and knows what it is like. Also we are there for 8 days. We want to know where is the best place to see moose and bear and what hiking trails are the best to see wildlife and falls. Any suggestions on what not to miss while we are there would be great too! We will be there from 7/17/09 to 7/25/09. Not expert hikers but can handle easy to moderate trails. We are soooo excited and want to see it all:-)

Thanks, Suzanne and Jeff from sunny south Florida

My husband has cancer and I am looking for the perfect campsite to take him to . We have a conversion van that we sleep in instead of the tent but we reaaly enjoy being by water. Does anyone have a suggetion as to where to go for Peace (low noise level) and Tranquility that is close to water. Thanks! We will be there May 22th through the 25th.

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?

I am taking a trip to YNP in June Or July this year I have no clue where all to go how much I can do in a day where to stay???? I need some sample vacations that you have been on that have worked or you can recommend. We want to see water falls wildlife hiking. I have a 5 and 7 year old and a 58 year old grandparents that will be joining me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi

I would like to visit Yellowstone Park for a week - any cheap flights from Seattle or Vancouver, Canada - any suggestions regarding accommodation? i will be travellling alone so I would like to join a tour group? any suggestions. Thank you.

I have taken previous advise and dropped Glacier NP as part of trip. Would a week be long enough for a car trip thru Yellow stone and Grand Teton's? Again, recommendations for airline arrival location and departure location, suggested car route and places to stay. Much appreciate any recommendations. Probably try to spend 5 days with airline on either end (7 day total).
Jetfixer

Two couples wanting to plan a car trip thru YS, GT, GNP's. Friends will fly in from NY and my wife and I from OK. Plan on renting a car/SUV and spend a week touring the National Parks. Anyone have recommendations on trip plan (arrival location, lodging recommendations, specific sights, departure location? Appreciate any info to help the planning.

thanks
jetfixer

Hi all,

This summer I will visit Montana and spend a week on a ranch with a friend. After that I would like to visit Yellowstone, but unfortunately my friend can't join me for that. When browsing through the Yellowstone tips and the forum it seems like most people hire cars and do self-guided tours, but as I will be on my own I would prefer to join an organised tour for a couple of days to see the main attractions of the park and to do some hiking.

Has anyone here been on such a trip, and could recommend a tour company?

Birgit

Hi. We are planning a trip to Yellowstone in early June and will be participating in a week long program at the Yellowstone Institute. We will be arriving on Sunday the 7th and staying at Mamoth for the first two nights. After the program ends, we will be staying at Old Faithful Inn until we head back to New York on Sunday the 14th. Bozeman and Jackson Hole airports offer the best flights for us. Is one airport preferred over the other? I know Bozeman is closer for our arrival at Mamoth, but Jackson may be closer for our departure from Old Faithful. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

My wife and I have just booked a 2 week holiday in Oct 2009.

Flying from UK to LA on 12th Oct staying with friends for a couple of days until we fly over to Vegas on the 15th for a week.

22nd Oct we are flying over to Denver where we intend to hire a car and travel upto Yellowstone.

We fly back to the UK on the 26th from Denver.

I am now trying sort out things to do in the few days we have at Yellowstone and also best places to stay.

The problem i seem to be coming up against is finding accommodation in the area.

Can someone please give me some good advice.

Thanks.

I am planning a camping vacation for myself, my husband and 2 of our children as well as a handful of friends. We plan to visit Yellowstone during the last week of June 2009. We enjoy tent camping and are looking to find great camp areas for our one week stay. We will be leaving from Kansas City and we are not sure which areas of Yellowstone will give us the most out of our vacation. I do know that we would like to visit a geyser, do some minimal hiking, visit Mammoth Hot Springs and eventually head to the Weber Factory in Montana (near Logan I believe?). We are open to ideas and suggestions for great places to visit and camp...we have loads of great camping gear and would love to put it to use! Please feel free to forward any ideas on great camping locations and attractions or any itineraries...any and all will be greatly appreciated!

Thank You!

Can I purchase a Christmas ornament with Yellowstone Park on it? The one I had broke this year. Thanks

If anybody needs a ride from Salt Lake City, UT to West Yellowstone, MT - driving there this Friday morning Jan 9th and back on Saturday night Jan 10th or Sunday morning Jan 11th - then please feel free to contact me. I will have a rental car and wouldn't mind some company for the long drive. :-)

Hi everyone. I'm in the process of planning a trip to Yellowstone in late June of 2009 and would like for someone to review my plans and give any input you may have. It will be me,my wife,and 2 kids (10 & 8).Nothing set in stone yet but this is what I'm thinking of...DAY 1- fly out of NYC to Denver . Drive up to Casper for the night (Best Western Ramkota)maybe stop at Cheyeene or Ft. Laramie on the way. DAY 2- Drive to Cody (stay in Cody Cowboy Village) check out museums and rodeo. DAY 3- Drive into YNP (stay in Lake Lodge Western cabin for 4 nights) The only choices I had were Lake Lodge or Mammouth Springs with no bathroom. That would give me 4 full days to tour YNP. Day 7- Drive to Grand Tetons spend the day sightseeing. (stay in Jackson at Cowboy Village Resort). Day 8- Hang around in Jackson, shop, enjoy Fourth of July activities ( Cowboy Village Resort again). Day 9- Drive to Salt Lake City airport Depart for NYC. Any ideas on driving times to Casper from Denver and to Cody from Casper? I'd really appreciate any input. We have never visited the area before and I can use any help you can give me. Thanks Rob

In the planning stages for our visit to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in September 2009. Flying into Kalispell and out of Jackson. We will do some easy hikes because we are not great hikers. Don't mind driving around for the scenery and wildlife.

1. Would 7-10 days be enough time?

2. 2 nights in Glacier (suggestions on places to stay inside the park (5 adults)

3. One night traveling from Glacier to Yellowstone (where to stop and stay for the night?) Or should we make the trip in a day and add a day at the end of our trip?

4. 3 - 4 nights in Yellowstone - suggestions on where to stay (inside the park) and should we break it up and stay at two different locations in the park? At this time, there are rooms available at the Canyon Lodge & Cabins (High Range Room and Westeren Cabins), Grant Village (Mid-Range Rooms), Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins), Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins (Frontier Cabin), and Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins) and Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins (Western Cabins) for the beginning of our stay and for the second half of our stay Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins), Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins (Frontier Cabin) and Old Faiful Snowlodge and Cabins (Lodge Room and Western Cabins)- which would we get the most room in.

5. Are Lake Lodge Cabins and Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins in the same location? If you had to pick, which would you suggest?

6. 1 night at Grand Teton (inside the park)any suggestions?

7. Is this enough time in each park or too much time? Open for suggestions.

Thanks for any help you can give us.

I made a last minute decision to spend the labour day long weekend at yellowstone. Because my flight arrives at Bozeman on Saturday around 3pm, I will rent a car, drive south and spend the night somewhere in the park. This allows a full day in the park on Sunday and overnight at BZN for my return flight early monday morning.

I am trying to go budget this time. I dont know think I will have any chance to get a campsite in the park (Can I?) Will I be able to just park my car off the main road and sleep overnight there? Will the park allow that?

Or any suggestions?

Thanks a lot!!!

I'm planning a trip to yellowstone and will be driving a large RV and towing a vehicle from Los Angeles. Getting to Salt Lake City is a no-brainer, but then there are many different routes that lead to the park. What is the best/fastest way to get to the south entrance/w. thumb area. We want to avoid steep inclines and windy roads as much as possible.

Hi,

My wife and I will arrive in Yellowstone from Teton Park on this Sunday for 6 days. We have reservations for 3 nights at Grant campground, then for 3 nights at Canyon campground.

What is the best way to spend our days? - Where to go, etc. We would like, ideally, to move some distance from the main road to get far from crowds and hike in solitude, while staying in interesting and beautiful places. Is this realistic?

What car is better to rent? Does it make sense to get a convertible or an SUV?

How long will it take me to get back to the airport form Canyon campground?

Hi - We are planning a trip to visit Wyoming and Montana in August 09. We will be limited for time (2 weeks) and therefore want to see the "best bits". We will be flying to possibly Denver or Seattle from UK with a day to get over jet lag and then taking flight to Montana/Wyoming. Would really appreciate an idea of what would be a good route to take and what to see along the way, where to stop for a night etc. We particularly want to include the geysers in Yellowstone and also Glacier, Montana. Looking forward to all your advice. Many thanks JD