Yellowstone National Park Travel Forum

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

My Husband and I (from Texas) are flying into Jackson around noon on the 23rd. Picking up our car and heading north through the Grand Teton National Park to Yellowstone. We are booked in the Old Faithful Lodge Cabins (frontier) for 5 nights. At first I had planned to go back to the Grand Tetons and spend the next 2 nights, 28th & 29th at Jackson Lake Lodge but then someone mentioned to my husband a fantastic museum in Cody (winchesters). Now I'm thinking we could go to Cody for a night and then to Jackson for the last night. Has anyone driven from Cody to Jackson?
Best route? Prettiest route? How Long? ANY suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi! My family and I would like to go camping over the 4th of July, but cannot get down there until the late morning on the 4th, does anyone know the chances of securing a campsite late notice like that? And, what if I want to go to a different campsite each nite, do you think that is out of the question on a 3 day weekend? Thanks so much for your help!

Can anyone give me a link or a general idea where morning glory pool is in yellowstone national park please

My family and I are excited to visit Lake Yellowstone and the park in mid July. I have a 3 year old, 5 year old, and 7 year old traveling with my wife, and I and we are looking for fun and adventures in your region. We will be in the area for 2 days and are looking for trip ideas that will enhance our experience. We want to use our time in the best possible way, and are an adventurous family looking for the best use of our time. I am looking for your input on anything and am looking for detail suggestions on the following areas: 1- best places to visit 2-best family hikes 3-places to eat 4-best places to water river rafting (company to recommend) 5-best scenic horse rides that are family friendly (company name) 6-best places to fish or guide to recommend (what do we need for gear and equipment) 7. unique shops or places of interest 8. places to rent bikes and places to ride them. 9. any other ideas you can suggest : )

Help - I'm headed for Yellowstone tomorrow and the NPS web site traffic conditions page is down and the phone message is from Sunday (This is Wednesday). Does anyone know if Dunraven pass is open?

Thanks

I am a wildlife biologist from California and am going with my 11 yr. son and husband to see Yellowstone in mid September. I would love some advise on which "wildlife tours" and horseback riding tours are best. Was thinking about the "Bearman" wolf tour and Skyline horseback outfit in the northeast section of YS. So many to choose from and hard to tell on-line- any personal advise would be great. We would like to get off the beaten path and into the wilds...Thanks

I'm from Texas and have never been in that part of the world. I need advice on a very short trip to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone. Where is the best place to stay on a budget of sorts in both places and we would also like to rent some horses. Is this even possible? I have no idea how far apart these sites are. Are they within driving distance for a 3 or 4 day trip or should I just see one site??? Thanks ahead of time!

I'm ashamed of myself for asking this, but my husband runs a small business and it would be helpful for him to be able to check his email while we're on vacation. Does anybody know if there is internet access anywhere inside Yellowstone? I'm torn between wanting the convenience and hoping the answer is no on general principles

acprincess

Does anyone know of a combo white water rafting on Class 3 to 5 & Yellow Stone Park site seeing trip combination vacation tour company? My wife & I are interested in going June 5 to June 10.

Hi Everybody,
I LOVE how helpful everyone is to eachother on this site so I was hoping this would be helpful to me as well.

There will be 3 of us adults and 3 kids (ages 15, 6 & 5) traveling to Yellowstone/Tetons this summer in mid July. Can anybody suggest the best route from Denver Colorado going through the park? Are there any MUST SEE stops to make?

We will be leaving 1st thing on a Friday morning and returning on a Monday evening. That's all the time we'll have to explore this time around.

Does anybody have any inexpensive camping/lodging suggestions while we're there? We are all on a budget seeing as how we have kids but we want them to experience the wild without us having to sleep outdoors. We plan on taking coolers with 3 days worth of food and a tiny little BBQ to cook on. Good idea?

I would be open and welcome to any help in planning a 4 day, 3 night trip seeing as how I have never been to Yellowstone and feel completely lost here.

Would you mind terribly emailing me directly at: AngieWaltr@aol.com
Thank you very much,
Angie

We are planning on camping yellowstone late June. How are the mosquitoes and what about the biting flies? Are they only bothersome at dusk or are they around all day long. I've camped in both situations and will never camp where the mosquitos are bad again. Not worth it. Any recommendations on campgrounds inside the Park?

Has anyone participated in any of the Yellowstone winter packages? We have reservations for January 2008. Currently looking into the Nordic Heaven or Snomo Package. Any information would be very helpful. We will be staying at Old Faithful Snow Lodge.

Thanks

We will be staying at the Old Faithful Inn and have a mid-morning flight out of Jackson and were wondering how much driving time should we give it. Also how long would it take to drive from the Old Faithful Inn to the Lamar Valley to see the wolves and when is a good time to go to see them? Thanks for your information and advice.

We are planning a long trip out west and have left only one day to drive from Custer State Park (SD) to Yellowstone. Is this realistic? There are 2 adults no kids.

My family is traveling from Bozeman Montana to Jackson Wyoming. I'd like to drive thru Yellowstone and spend one night somewhere in Yellowstone. Not familiar with my options at all and what the kids would enjoy (ages 16,14,12,10) . Keep in mind we are doing a White Water rafting trip on the Snake river when we get to Jackson. Any ideas?? I really sound like an East Coaster don't I!! Thanks in advance

We are driving across country and would like to spend 2-3 days in Yellowstone, our route takes us through the park, entering from Idaho Falls and exiting on the eastside hwy 14. We are driving a camper van and would like to pitch a tent. Of the campsites in the park, does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks,

Laura

p.s. 2 adults 2 teens

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!

Which is more enjoyable,scenic etc. Yellowstone, or Yosemite?ntravelf