Lorraine

We've never been to northern Colorado or anywhere in Wyoming, so I'd appreciate your evaluating our proposed travel, which will precede a wedding in Boulder. DH and I are very excited about Yellowstone, as we're interested in geology and wildlife.

We're not fond of long stretches of driving, but it was so much cheaper to fly in and out of Denver than flying into a location closer to Yellowstone. We'll want to break up long drives by walking in places of interest--suggestions welcome as long as they don't add driving time!

I've reserved lodging in Yellowstone, but it has us moving around every night (because those were the places with availability). I understand availability changes daily, so I could alter reservations if I knew what locations make the most sense for us (middle-aged couple).

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tues 9/9: Arrive Denver in the late morning; rent car and drive 2.5 hours to Laramie, WY, stopping in Ft Collins (and Cheyenne??) to walk around. Overnight there (or is Rawlins more interesting)??

Wed 9/10: Drive 6 hours to Grand Tetons. Overnight Signal Mountain Lodge???

Thurs 9/11: Grand Teton NP and into Yellowstone; reserved Old Faithful Inn.

Fri 9/12: Yellowstone; reserved Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

Sat 9/13: Yellowstone; reserved cabin at Canyon Lodge.

Sun 9/14: Yellowstone; reserved cabin at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel & Cabins but need to change, as it doesn’t have bathroom.

Mon 9/15: Yellowstone; reserved Grant Village.

Tues 9/16: Drive 6 hours to Saratoga, WY (returning the same way we drove north). Overnight there.

Wed 9/17: Saratoga, then drive 3 hours to Grand Lake, WY (for Rocky Mountain National Park). Overnight in Grand Lake or Estes Park, CO??

Thurs 9/18: Rocky Mountain National Park; in late afternoon drive 1.5 hours to Denver Airport to pick up relatives.

The next several days are spent in Boulder for a wedding.

BayouGal

The experts will get to this and help you far more than I can. Some pointers from my own experience. Call, call, call Yellowstone. That time of year you will probably find some openings. Talk to them and tell them how excited you are, your situation, etc. It's amazing what sometimes comes available for off season first timers.

I do not recommend the little cabins at Canyon unless they've been redone in the past two years. Try for Dunraven (has an elevator) or Cascade Lodges (Cascade did not have an elevator last we were there). I wouldn't stay at Grand Village unless you have a special reason. Not too close to much of interest except the south gate for exit home. You just as soon drive out of the south gate from Old Faithful area or Yellowstone Lake area.

For wildlife, Canyon is kind of close to both Lamar and Hayden (lots of wildlife). Lake Yellowstone is close to Fishing Bridge (bear sighting area). Elk will be all around, but especially at Mammoth. They are all over the lawn. You will likely hear elk bugling in many areas - truly a National Geographic experience. The bulls might already be with their harems while you are there. Go for a ride around twilight to see bulls and harems feeding and bugling. We heard the bugling and wolves howling while staying at Canyon area. Try to get on the road to Lamar before daylight. If you get their very early, you will see far more animals than later in the day. One of our favorite things to do is park on the side of road at Lamar and have a picnic lunch or even breakfast (there are a few pull offs and few people seem to stop for long). You will be amazed how much more you'll see if you just sit there and watch awhile. Also, any hike off the road will likely offer more/closer wildlife sightings. Bring your binoculars!

I have several threads about planning our trip to Yellowstone a couple of years ago. Please search and read all the old threads you can. You'll learn so much about the area just by reading. Make sure you take a dip at Boiling River north of Mammoth (bring water shoes). There is another place near Norris Basin but the water was too high when we were there last, around the same time in Sept.

We loved Signal Mtn lodge. Great location, as is the Jackson Lake Lodge. Jenny Lake too expensive for us. Plan some driving around time at GTNP too.

boom_boom

1. Rawlins is far less interesting than Cheyenne.
2. I think you've underestimated the time from Cheyenne to Grand Tetons.
3.Unless you are starting from Estes Park I think you've under estimated the time from Rocky Mountain to Denver International/

jere1mt

This won't help you much if you already have your plane tickets but if not look at flying into Billings driving into YNP via the Beartooth Hwy an amazing road then doing your park route but you would have no back tracking and a lot less total miles. I am in Billings if I can answer any questions.

Gretchen

You are essentially doing the same return trip (at least through Wyoming).
I really don't have much idea of distance/time, but we drove from Denver to Salt Lake City and then up to the Tetons and YP. It was a beautiful trip.

LauraStenicky

Good morning...

I have driven Denver to Jackson Hole, 25 north to 80 east then up 189 .. it took me 10 hours.

I have lived in JH on and off. You cant go wrong with Signal Mountain Lodge. Beautiful.

I have also stayed in Gardinier Montana, which is just outside the north entrance of Yellowstone, just north of Mommoth. There are some nice places to stay there. I believe it was a Best Western, it had a "annex" building on a rapid River. Walked to a great restaurant in the same parking lot. Cute little breakfast place in town. There are other more upscale hotels in Gardinier if you dont like a BW. The lodge at Mommoth looked really boring.

If your at all interested in changing your itinerary, maybe go out the east entrance into Cody. The Shoshone National Forest is really beautiful. In Cody there are some Historic Lodges.

In addition in the town of Wapati (between Yellowstone and Cody) there is a neat hotel that I have always wanted to stay at, its called the Elephant Head Lodge. We stopped there and looked at it but already had reservations in Cody.

http://www.elephantheadlodge.com/

Its family run, its so cozy, they had a great little bar there, and its tucked into the Shoshone Forest.

Personally, I think your wasting to much time going from hotel to hotel within the park. Its a big park, yes but not to be doing a nite here and there. I would rethink staying at Grant Village and Lake Yellowstone. Theres not much to see on the east side of the park.

You might also consider a day or two in Jackson Hole and spend a few days in Grant Teton NP, as I think its much more spectacular than Yellowstone.

Oh and September is going to be breathtaking with the fall foliage!!

Please let me know if I can help in any other way...

Laura

Lorraine

Thank you all. I have taken your warnings about distances to heart, and after much research into flight and car rental options decided not to drive between the Yellowstone/GTNP area and Boulder. Instead, we'll be flying into Bozeman to visit both parks and then returning to Bozeman to fly to Denver, for that portion of the trip. We'll have two separate rental cars.

I think this will produce a more leisurely trip, as we'll have 8 days (!!!) to divide between the two parks. Now to figure out what to do each day...

Thanks again.

ncsu83

We liked Signal Mountain Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. We liked Dunraven in Canyon Village. The central location of Canyon Village is a plus. I wouldn't stay in the cabins in Canyon.