Has anyone stayed at Idaho Falls while visiting Yellowstone?
Jul 18th, 2000, 12:55 PM
#1
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Has anyone stayed at Idaho Falls while visiting Yellowstone?
We have a timeshare exchange in Idaho Falls, Idaho and was thinking about using it to visit Yellowstone and Teton. Has anyone stayed in this area and what did you think about it? My research says it is 25 miles to Yellowstone so it would be a short drive. I would appreciate any advice on other things to do in this city. Thanks
Jul 18th, 2000, 01:50 PM
#2
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Sheila, I suggest you restudy your map!
The Idaho Falls that I am familiar with is the one on I 15 in eastern Idaho 52 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho. If we are talking about the same Idaho Falls, the distance to Old Faithful is 145 miles!!! The distance to from Idaho Falls to Jackson, Wyoming, is something like 90 miles. And that leaves you 20 - 30 miles away from the main attractions in the Park itself.
Where do you come up with a 25 mile figure??
We are either talking about two different places, or you need a new map.
The Idaho Falls that I am familiar with is the one on I 15 in eastern Idaho 52 miles north of Pocatello, Idaho. If we are talking about the same Idaho Falls, the distance to Old Faithful is 145 miles!!! The distance to from Idaho Falls to Jackson, Wyoming, is something like 90 miles. And that leaves you 20 - 30 miles away from the main attractions in the Park itself.
Where do you come up with a 25 mile figure??
We are either talking about two different places, or you need a new map.
Jul 19th, 2000, 09:45 AM
#4
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Island Park is about 25 to 30 miles from West Yellowstone, which is right on the line of the park itself. From the entrance station to Old Faithful is another 30 miles east and south.
The Norris Geyser Basin is 28 miles, east and then north. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is 40 - 45 miles away from West Yellowstone. So a day's trip could easily see you driving 200 miles.
Given that the park is very crowded in the summer, staying away from it might be to your advantage. I cannot comment onthe condo of course because they come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are quite nice, very nice in fact.
The Tetons are quite a jump away because there is no direct road.
You are looking at a 100 mile drive, if you go through Yellowstone, just to get to the beginning of the Grand Teton National Park. There is a dirt road that cuts across from Ashton to the road between Yellowstone and Jackson Lake.
It don't know what condition it is in.
My son drove it last summer and said it was passable but rough. Some places were washed out because that is the wet side of Yellowstone. I doubt if it would save you much time because your average speed would be lower, which negates the shorter distance.
So the timeshare might be nice, but it is not on the doorstep of Jenny Lake or Signal Mountain!! And the northeast part of Yellowstone is a long drive.
But, what else is there to do except watch the idiot tube?
The Norris Geyser Basin is 28 miles, east and then north. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is 40 - 45 miles away from West Yellowstone. So a day's trip could easily see you driving 200 miles.
Given that the park is very crowded in the summer, staying away from it might be to your advantage. I cannot comment onthe condo of course because they come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are quite nice, very nice in fact.
The Tetons are quite a jump away because there is no direct road.
You are looking at a 100 mile drive, if you go through Yellowstone, just to get to the beginning of the Grand Teton National Park. There is a dirt road that cuts across from Ashton to the road between Yellowstone and Jackson Lake.
It don't know what condition it is in.
My son drove it last summer and said it was passable but rough. Some places were washed out because that is the wet side of Yellowstone. I doubt if it would save you much time because your average speed would be lower, which negates the shorter distance.
So the timeshare might be nice, but it is not on the doorstep of Jenny Lake or Signal Mountain!! And the northeast part of Yellowstone is a long drive.
But, what else is there to do except watch the idiot tube?
Jul 19th, 2000, 10:56 AM
#5
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Thanks Al. It does not sound like too good of an idea to stay there. Do you know anything about the town of Island Park? We would probably enjoy the trip better to forget the timeshare and stay in Jackson Hole. It seems like it would be a nice place to stay or in the park area. Thanks for your help.
Jul 19th, 2000, 12:36 PM
#6
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You just took me out of my realm with your last question. I know this much:
Jackson in the summer is expensive.
I drove through Island Park 3 years ago, and it seemed to me to be mostly summer homes and a few permanent residents.
If you are getting a good price on the timeshare, and like to play golf, you are in a good position. There is a lot to explore that part of Idaho if you don't mind excursions on unpaved roads. You could drive around the National Forests and visit some of the lesser attractions. The personnel in the Forestry Service office in St. Anthony, which is not far from Island Park, used to be very helpful. You might consider staying in Island Park with an overnighter to Jackson to visit the Grant Teton NP.
It depends on how much you are having to pay in Island Park and how much you like or dislike driving.
I would not dismiss it all until I looked at the full range of possibilities and facts. I don't remember many exact details about Island Park, so I am not that helpful on that aspect of your planning.
Jackson in the summer is expensive.
I drove through Island Park 3 years ago, and it seemed to me to be mostly summer homes and a few permanent residents.
If you are getting a good price on the timeshare, and like to play golf, you are in a good position. There is a lot to explore that part of Idaho if you don't mind excursions on unpaved roads. You could drive around the National Forests and visit some of the lesser attractions. The personnel in the Forestry Service office in St. Anthony, which is not far from Island Park, used to be very helpful. You might consider staying in Island Park with an overnighter to Jackson to visit the Grant Teton NP.
It depends on how much you are having to pay in Island Park and how much you like or dislike driving.
I would not dismiss it all until I looked at the full range of possibilities and facts. I don't remember many exact details about Island Park, so I am not that helpful on that aspect of your planning.
Jul 20th, 2000, 06:29 AM
#9
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To Bob: We are owners through a timeshare in Gatlinburg, TN. We exchange through Interval International at a rate of $99 or $109. We just put up our week and request another in a different area. There are not many in the Yellowstone area. It is a great way to travel once your timeshare is paid for. We exchanged for Maui in April of this year. Hope this helps.
Jul 20th, 2000, 07:41 AM
#10
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Hi Sheila, We used to stay in Island Park every summer at an old dude ranch. But I haven't been there for several years. There was not much there at the time but some small grocery stores, some lodges and a few good restuarants. The fishing spots were plentiful though!! We are avid fly fisherman. We used to drive into the park quite often. The scenery is beautiful!! The drive might be somewhat long, but worth it!!!
