Need Vacation Trip Advice
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:03 PM
#1
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Need Vacation Trip Advice
My family of four is planning a vacation trip out west this June. We are planning to fly out of Augusta, GA on Thursday, June 16 to Denver, Co. and fly back from Denver to Augusta on Sun. June 26th. We have two boys ages 18 and 21 and we all love the outdoors. We would definitely like to see Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. We need suggestions on where to stay, how much time to spend at the parks, other must see places in the area, and anything else that would help us get a plan together. Thanks so much for your help.
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:14 PM
#2
If you want to see Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons you need to change your airport. Denver isn't going to help you very much. You only have 10 days. Fly into airports closer to those parks - Jackson, WY, Billings or Bozeman, MT, etc.
Have you looked at a map to see how far Denver is to those parks? If not, use google maps to get started with your planning.
Have you looked at a map to see how far Denver is to those parks? If not, use google maps to get started with your planning.
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:22 PM
#3
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If you have done car camping before, you might want to do it on this trip. Buying cheap camping equipment at a Sports Authority, K-Mart, Target, etc. upon arrival and to donate it to Goodwill at the end of the trip will probably be cheaper than staying at motels and eating out every evening.
It's 9+ hours from the Denver airport to Grand Tetons NP.
It's 9+ hours from the Denver airport to Grand Tetons NP.
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:22 PM
#4
Your plan to fly into Denver in order to see Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons makes as much sense as someone flying into Washington DC to see Augusta, GA? You could DO it - it just doesn't make any sense to choose an airport so far away.
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:28 PM
#5
Agree with starrs on airports. If you want a major airport, Salt Lake city is several hours closer. If you do go with Denver, depending on when you get out of the airport, spend a night at Estes Park to get used to the elevation change. Get a look at Rocky Mt. NP then head for Cody. It's about 3.5 hours from Cody to Old Faithful. Tour Yellowstone then Grand Teton and spend a night at Jackson before heading back to Denver by way of Rock Springs and Laramie. The route I laid out is 1300 miles and 24 hours plus many side trips.
Apr 21st, 2011, 01:35 PM
#6
You were interested in the Browning gun museum in Salt Lake in your other thread. The boys will enjoy the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill museum -
http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/
They could spend hours in there I'm guessing - and that's just part of the musueum. I'd spend two nights in Cody to have enough time and to also go to the rodeo there.
http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/
They could spend hours in there I'm guessing - and that's just part of the musueum. I'd spend two nights in Cody to have enough time and to also go to the rodeo there.
Apr 22nd, 2011, 04:05 AM
#7
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I guess flying into Denver does seem crazy, but it was less expensive to fly in there than it was to fly into places closer to Yellowstone. I thought that we could see some interesting sights along the way to the parks. I so hate to think of spending the majority of the vacation driving though. I guess that we could pay the extra airfare to get closer and save on driving fuel.
When trying to decide where out west to go, we thought Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. The boys seemed to be more interested in the Yellowstone area so that is why we are trying to plan for that area. I know that they would really enjoy the Browning Museum, so Salt Lake City may be the best choice to fly into. Anyother ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
When trying to decide where out west to go, we thought Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. The boys seemed to be more interested in the Yellowstone area so that is why we are trying to plan for that area. I know that they would really enjoy the Browning Museum, so Salt Lake City may be the best choice to fly into. Anyother ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!
Apr 22nd, 2011, 04:43 AM
#8
1000 miles to just get to and from where you want to go = $250 in gas and 2 out of your 10 vacation days in driving.
That's a pretty hefty price to pay. Nothing is wrong with flying into Denver is you want a Colorado vacation or even heading over to the Grand Canyon too. But for Yellowstone? Not to be rude but you've been planning this for months. Have you looked at a map yet? Compare the distance and then for comparable distances on the east coast. You are truly suggesting the equivalent of flying into Washington DC to get to Augusta GA. You're adding in two long days of driving in just a 10 day trip. Denver is great. Colorado is great. Wyoming is great. But honestly, two days of driving between Denver to Jackson isn't a great use of time, gas money and isn't that interesting of a drive to begin with. I really wonder if you've looked at a map yet.
That's a pretty hefty price to pay. Nothing is wrong with flying into Denver is you want a Colorado vacation or even heading over to the Grand Canyon too. But for Yellowstone? Not to be rude but you've been planning this for months. Have you looked at a map yet? Compare the distance and then for comparable distances on the east coast. You are truly suggesting the equivalent of flying into Washington DC to get to Augusta GA. You're adding in two long days of driving in just a 10 day trip. Denver is great. Colorado is great. Wyoming is great. But honestly, two days of driving between Denver to Jackson isn't a great use of time, gas money and isn't that interesting of a drive to begin with. I really wonder if you've looked at a map yet.
Apr 22nd, 2011, 04:46 AM
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When you price out the trip, be sure to include the cost of renting the car. Denver is one of the places that has high car rentals, in my experience. I haven't done SLC so can't comment on that, but it might be better.
I would pick Yellowstone/Grand Teton as the first NP's for kids to visit as there is such a variety of things to see/do in them.
Have a fantastic trip.
I would pick Yellowstone/Grand Teton as the first NP's for kids to visit as there is such a variety of things to see/do in them.
Have a fantastic trip.
Apr 22nd, 2011, 05:18 AM
#10
Good suggestion to check the rental car rates. Denver does have a reputation for very expensive rental car rates.
Today - roundtrips from Atlanta -
Denver - $313 - Delta
Jackson - $383 - United/Frontier combo
Billings - $480 - Delta
SLC - $417 - Delta
If you fly into Jackson you are right there, ready to start your trip as soon as you land.
If you fly to Billings, you are a short drive away.
If you fly to SLC, you've got about a 6-7 hour drive.
If you fly to Denver, you've got a 9 to 10 hour drive just to get there - and then 9-10 hours to get back.
Flying out west = 10 days - 2 flight days = 8 days of real vacation
Flying into Jackson = 10 days - 2 days flying and you are THERE and can start your vacation within the hour
Denver = 10 days - 2 flight days - at least 2 driving days = 6 days of real vacation (and 1000 miles in the car watching mostly prairie go by)
Today - roundtrips from Atlanta -
Denver - $313 - Delta
Jackson - $383 - United/Frontier combo
Billings - $480 - Delta
SLC - $417 - Delta
If you fly into Jackson you are right there, ready to start your trip as soon as you land.
If you fly to Billings, you are a short drive away.
If you fly to SLC, you've got about a 6-7 hour drive.
If you fly to Denver, you've got a 9 to 10 hour drive just to get there - and then 9-10 hours to get back.
Flying out west = 10 days - 2 flight days = 8 days of real vacation
Flying into Jackson = 10 days - 2 days flying and you are THERE and can start your vacation within the hour
Denver = 10 days - 2 flight days - at least 2 driving days = 6 days of real vacation (and 1000 miles in the car watching mostly prairie go by)
Apr 22nd, 2011, 08:36 AM
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We did this same trip 10 years ago with our 3 kids and flew into and out of Denver. We had 14 days and wanted to make Denver and Rocky Mountain National Park part of the trip. I think it makes sense to fly into Denver only if you have an interest in that city. It's about an 8 hour drive to Grand Teton National Park from Denver and there is nothing to see along the way. We split up our trip as follows: 3 days Denver and surrounding area, 2-3 days Grand Teton National Park, 4 days Yellowstone and 3 days Rocky Mountain National Park. Have fun, it's a great trip!
Apr 23rd, 2011, 05:39 AM
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Well, I'm going to agree with the other posters on the airport. Unless you've already got your tickets I'd plan on SLC or Billings, Bozeman, Jackson. Jackson is _right_ there so that would be closest.
If you've already got your plane tickets, I'd include Rocky Mt National Park in your plans. It's pretty cool and y'all would be amazed at how much snow will still be there, especially coming from Augusta.
I've driven from Yellowstone to Denver and although it was a long time ago I don't remember a lot between the two. I think you'll be able to find some Wild West flavor in Wyoming, though. Alternately, you could go through Utah and stop at Dinosaur National Park/monument if that's your kinda thing.
I'd plan to allow a minimum of 3 days in Yellowstone and really it should be more like 4 or 5, IMO, if not more. Yellowstone covers a large geographical area. You might want to consider lodging or camping at different spots in the park. Lodging in the park is probably pretty booked up now, but if you keep checking the websites or keep calling you might chance on a cancellation.
If you just want to gawk at the mountains from your car or an overlook I think you could do the Tetons in a day or two, but if your boys want to get out and hike, etc, you could easily spend a week or more there. There are a lot of hiking opportunities also in the Tetons and plenty of potential outdoor activities like rafting on the Snake River.
A search on "Yellowstone" and "Teton" here on these forums will bring up lots of threads with good advice.
Best of luck!
If you've already got your plane tickets, I'd include Rocky Mt National Park in your plans. It's pretty cool and y'all would be amazed at how much snow will still be there, especially coming from Augusta.
I've driven from Yellowstone to Denver and although it was a long time ago I don't remember a lot between the two. I think you'll be able to find some Wild West flavor in Wyoming, though. Alternately, you could go through Utah and stop at Dinosaur National Park/monument if that's your kinda thing.
I'd plan to allow a minimum of 3 days in Yellowstone and really it should be more like 4 or 5, IMO, if not more. Yellowstone covers a large geographical area. You might want to consider lodging or camping at different spots in the park. Lodging in the park is probably pretty booked up now, but if you keep checking the websites or keep calling you might chance on a cancellation.
If you just want to gawk at the mountains from your car or an overlook I think you could do the Tetons in a day or two, but if your boys want to get out and hike, etc, you could easily spend a week or more there. There are a lot of hiking opportunities also in the Tetons and plenty of potential outdoor activities like rafting on the Snake River.
A search on "Yellowstone" and "Teton" here on these forums will bring up lots of threads with good advice.
Best of luck!
Apr 23rd, 2011, 06:35 AM
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I too will join the chorus - Denver is probably not the best airport to fly into for a Yellowstone vacation. And for what it's worth, I wouldn't fly into Denver to visit the Grand Canyon either.
But, if Denver does end up being your choice, then prepare yourself for about a 10 hour drive from there to Yellowstone - and be forewarned that about 90% of that drive is pretty flat-out, wide-open-spaces boring.
One of the most direct routes for you to take involves going from Lander, Wy. to Moran Jct. in Grand Teton N.P. via US Hwy 287/26 over Togwotee Pass. While dramatically scenic, Togwotee Pass is the site of a huge, multi-year construction project. Twenty-three of the 38 original miles in the project are still under construction with much of those reduced to dirt and gravel. Stoppages of traffic near the summit of the pass can reach up to 45 minutes to allow for one-way passage of traffic. It's passable (I did it last September towing a fifth wheel), but it's slow.
But, if Denver does end up being your choice, then prepare yourself for about a 10 hour drive from there to Yellowstone - and be forewarned that about 90% of that drive is pretty flat-out, wide-open-spaces boring.
One of the most direct routes for you to take involves going from Lander, Wy. to Moran Jct. in Grand Teton N.P. via US Hwy 287/26 over Togwotee Pass. While dramatically scenic, Togwotee Pass is the site of a huge, multi-year construction project. Twenty-three of the 38 original miles in the project are still under construction with much of those reduced to dirt and gravel. Stoppages of traffic near the summit of the pass can reach up to 45 minutes to allow for one-way passage of traffic. It's passable (I did it last September towing a fifth wheel), but it's slow.
