8 Days in Yellowstone/GTNP

Old Feb 7th, 2016, 06:54 PM
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8 Days in Yellowstone/GTNP

My husband and I are flying to Salt Lake City late at night on July 23rd, staying near the airport and driving to Yellowstone the next morning. We'll have 8 days to explore YS and GTNP. So far, I have a reservation for July 24/25 in West Yellowstone, 26th at Old Faithful Inn, 27/28 in Gardiner. I haven't decided on lodging in Jackson for 29/30 but will soon. We fly out on the 31st on a red eye out of SLC.
I've scheduled this trip around the one night we have inside the park.

I've read posts and trip reports galore but never having been there, I can't figure out what area to do when. Knowing where we're staying, can you suggest an itinerary? And also, if you think we should change lodging reservations to different days based on our OFI date? I'd love a second night at OFI and will continue to call reservations for a cancelled room.

Thank you very much for any advice you can give us!
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 03:34 AM
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We spent 6 nights in Yellowstone and 2 at Signal Mtn Lodge in Tetons. Yellowstone is incredible - lots of wildlife sightings and amazing thermal features. We spent 2 nights in OFI, 2 in Mammoth, and 2 in Canyon. The park is huge so this gave us easier access to different areas. Definitely keep calling for reservations in the park. We were up super early for great wildlife viewing. Took a pre-dawn walk on the boardwalks all around OFI - so incredible!

If you can cancel at Gardiner, call for a room or cabin in Mammoth. This puts you close to the Lamar Valley where we saw herds of bison and antelope, wolves, fox, and rutting elk, to name a few.

Be sure to check out all of the different thermal areas - Norris is amazing. Had a wonderful grizzly bear sighting along Yellowstone Lake, which is spectacular. We were there in early fall; I suspect it will be more crowded in July but you will still have an incredible trip.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 12:35 PM
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Staying in Silver Gate/Cooke City (outside of the northeast entrance) will also put you closer to Lamar Valley if you can't find accommodations inside the park.
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Old Feb 8th, 2016, 07:19 PM
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Thank you sharondi and Patty! Since I posted this yesterday, I found two nights in a row at Old Faithful Inn for August 7 & 8. Fortunately, we're flexible and Jet Blue has flights in August for the same low fare as in July. I've checked the website for inside the park lodging a couple of times today and just since yesterday, rooms in nearly all have opened up here and there but are for a single night. I do think between checking the website & calling I'll be able to find a couple more consecutive nights inside the park at one of the other lodges.

Patty, I'll check out Silver Gate/Cooke City too in case I can't find lodging for our 6 nights inside the park. Thanks for the suggestion!

Sharondi, did you spend the first two nights at OFI, the next two in Mammoth and the last two nights in Canyon? I'm trying to set up a tentative itinerary so we're not flying by the seat of our pants & running out of time due to backtracking too much, etc.

Thanks again!!
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Old Feb 10th, 2016, 07:10 AM
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We spent 3 nights in the Tetons, then drove up through the south entrance and spent 2 at Old Faithful, drove counter- clockwise and sepnt 1 at Canyon, then 1 at Roosevelt I loved this split of lodging and it allowed us to see different parts of the park early and late without the daytrippers. When we left the park, we spent 1 night in Red Lodge after driving the Bear Tooth Highway and then 1 in Cody for the very impressive museum and the rodeo. It was an amazing trip.
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Old Feb 12th, 2016, 06:43 AM
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db6040, thanks so much! We'd do that exact route except we want to end our trip in the Tetons and Jackson. Can I ask where you flew in and out of?
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Old Feb 12th, 2016, 07:28 AM
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We have flown in/out of Salt Lake City for this trip. You can start by heading to West Yellowstone, traveling eventually down through Yellowstone into the Tetons and to Jackson. From Jackson, you have several choices in routing back to Salt Lake city, all approximately the same amount of time. Allow at least 5 hours each way, and likely 6 is a better guess.
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Old Feb 13th, 2016, 03:46 AM
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Hi. We did 2 in GTNP and 6 at Yellowstone (and added last 3 in Driggs). Did a TR that was very specific. Check it out.
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Old Feb 15th, 2016, 03:45 AM
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We actually flew in an out of Denver as we combined the Yellowstone area with a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park as well. This did mean we had a very long drive on the day we left Rocky Mountain and went to the Tetons but we had a wonderful trip. If you keep calling Xanterra you may be able to get more nights in the park - which I would recommend. It is great to be inside the park and I strongly recommend it - it cuts down on driving and allows you to see the sites before and after the daytrippers and tour busses have left.

Coming from Salt Lake City (and looking very briefly at a map) it seems that you will be going right through the Tetons on your way to Yellowstone if you go the most direct route. You could just kind of drive through but not stay - and save your overnights there for your way home? I probably would just stay in the Tetons before Yellowstone if I was able to re arrange my lodging.
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Old Feb 15th, 2016, 04:15 AM
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The quickest route to YNP from Salt Lake is to West Yellowstone. Going through the Tetons makes for a very long day - I speak from experience, as we have done that. Once you are in the park, you will be traveling much slower.

But, as you travel to West Yellowstone, you will see the Tetons on your right. If you are only going to/from Jackson, then the travel time to/from Salt Lake is pretty much the same.
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Old Feb 15th, 2016, 05:29 AM
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Re-reading my post, I need to clarify - you do not "go right through the Tetons on your way to Yellowstone if you go the most direct route." You can, but it adds significant time to the drive. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that earlier.
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Old Feb 15th, 2016, 02:49 PM
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marthav - we flew into SLC and drove up to Jackson for a night, then drove through the Tetons and into Yellowstone for 2 nights at OFI, 2 in Mammoth and 2 in Canyon (in that order). Spent a night at Signal Mtn Lodge in Tetons, then drove back to SLC for flight home. Keep calling - you will find rooms. It changes constantly but you'll have better luck if you call rather than just checking the website. You'll love Yellowstone!
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Old Feb 16th, 2016, 04:33 AM
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Sharondi's itinerary sounds like it would be ideal for you. I would not bother to go through West Yellowstone at all. You could spent one night in Jackson on your way up from Salt Lake City - enter Yellowstone through the south entrance and tour the park (getting lodging wherever you can in the park) and then exit and spend another night in the Tetons/Jackson area if you like before heading back to Salt Lake City.
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Old Feb 16th, 2016, 05:25 AM
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sharondi's itinerary is good. I know you've already made reservations, but if you are able to change them, I'd recommend it. Staying in Jackson or Signal Mountain Lodge area on the first and last days cuts the drive down to reasonable. Also, you have several route choices that are scenic. If you need to drive straight to Yellowstone, that's when I suggest West Yellowstone (faster but not nearly as scenic). Just don't try to drive all the way through Jackson up into Yellowstone on one drive day.

In Teton Village (Jackson area), we have stayed at the Alpenhof and really enjoyed it. You can also enter GTNP from there without needing to drive all the way into town. It's an alternative to staying in Jackson itself for one of the nights, if you wish. http://www.alpenhoflodge.com/
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Old Feb 17th, 2016, 11:23 AM
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sharondi - your itinerary sounds perfect for us. And thank you all for your responses! So helpful to someone who has never been to this area before!

I like the idea of leaving SLC and staying one night in Jackson before heading to Yellowstone (but if we do that we probably would stay in Mammoth area just one night) then staying at in Teton Village on the way back. I just noticed I can get a Canyon Lodge premium lodge room for two nights in a row Aug 4 & 5. We already have Aug 7 & 8 at OFI. I think we'd be fine with just one night - Aug 6th - in Mammoth area. How does that sound?

Also, if I have a choice between Canyon lodging and Lake Lodge cabins, which would you choose? I also have checked Signal Mountain and Alpenhof and both would be great.

One more question please... I hate to admit it but I have a fear of driving (or riding) around the drop offs. I somehow made it through Rt. 12 through Zion to Bryce - there's a area of five or six switchbacks but it was a high anxiety several miles for me. I don't want to take meds which make me sleepy and could miss out on the gorgeous scenery. I love the mountains - even did Going to the Sun Highway but on the mountain side only, taking an exit and driving back on the highway. Loved it!! So, knowing this about me, and knowing I truly want to see the Tetons but would like to keep the anxiety to a minimum, which route would you suggest? I read one poster saying that going over Teton Pass was 'white knuckle' driving. Ugh.

I'm so appreciative of your help!!
Martha
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Old Feb 17th, 2016, 12:08 PM
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I wouldn't call it "white knuckle" exactly, but you might want to choose one of the other routes that doesn't take you up over the pass, say 189 or 89.
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Old Feb 18th, 2016, 10:44 AM
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Thank you sludick! I checked out the other routes to Jackson area. I also watched a couple of YouTube videos of Teton Pass and decided I can probably do that - as long as the car we rent can! ;-)

I was able to secure those two nights at Canyon Lodge. Now for the one night in between OFI and Canyon and also a couple in Teton Village/Jackson (and one at SLC airport). It's all coming together.

Thanks again!
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Old Feb 18th, 2016, 12:19 PM
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You bet! If the weather looks iffy, then take one of the other routes; otherwise, your rental car shouldn't have any trouble. Stop at the top for a picture with the retro cowboy sign.

I did the same thing when we drove the Freedom Highway to Bella Coola a few years ago. There was a webcam at the summit, and plenty of YouTube videos. Of course, we now have our own video, because it was a heckova ride.

If you stay at Alpenhof - they have a nice restaurant. Even the complimentary breakfast was tasty. Worth a dinner even if you don't stay there.

Make sure you take time to see the waterfall at the "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone." At a certain time of morning, you might get a rainbow picture from the spray.

If you plan to hike away from the boardwalk and populous sites, you can rent bear spray right at Canyon.
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Old Feb 19th, 2016, 03:19 AM
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Your plan looks very good. I think getting one night at Mammoth between Old Faithful and Canyon would be ideal. Another option would be to spend that night at Roosevelt for easy access to the Lamar Valley wildlife.

I think the switchbacks in Zion you are referring to are worse than the driving you will do in the Tetons so if I was you I wouldn't worry too much.
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Old Feb 19th, 2016, 10:43 AM
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db6040, that is very reassuring - thank you! I've been checking Roosevelt too and feel pretty confident I'll be able to secure that one night we need at either there Mammoth. But I'll make a reservation in Gardiner just in case.

sludick, we'll check out Alpenhof for dinner even if we stay elsewhere. We'll rent bear spray and definitely see the waterfall.

One last question please (for now ;-)... if I have at some point the option of changing the 2 nights that I have at Canyon Lodge to Lake Lodge (Western Cabin) would you suggest it? Pros? Cons? Thanks again!
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