lyntom

My family of four--two boys 23 and 11 with parents--are planning a trip to Yellowstone in July. We also would like to visit Glacier National Park and Grand Teton National Park.

We would fly from D.C. on a Sat. and have to fly back on the next Sat. I've thought about flying into Salt Lake City and renting an SUV and dring to each park, but it seems a long drive to go to Glacier from there and to have to drive all the way back.

I've also considered flying into Kalispell, MT, renting the SUV and driving to each park but then flying back from either Missoula or Salt Lake City.

Do either of these seem reasonable? Is it better with only a week to limit our visit to just Yellowstone and Grand Teton? I'm open to any suggestions, including places to stay and eat and things to do. We floated down the Colorado River at Page, AZ last summer and loved it. My husband and older son love to fly fish.

I anxiously await all of your suggestions.

Thanks!!

Lynda

HowardR

With just a week, I'd say do just Yellowstone and the Teton. Adding Glacier is just too much in that short a period of time.

utahtea

With only 6 full days, I would just do Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. There's plenty to do and see in Yellowstone alone for a week!

Utahtea

noblesm

I would just visit Yellowstone & the Tetons. My wife and kids and I flew to Salt Lake City in July 2003 and drove to West Yellowstone. It is a beautiful drive up through Idaho to Yellowstone, but the drive back to Salt Lake City was less than exciting. If you are able to fly in and out of Jackson Hole, you will have more time to enjoy the parks.

You will get differing opinions on which park is better, but we preferred Yellowstone. With that being the case, I would stay 5 nights in Yellowstone and 2 nights in the Jackson Hole area (Tetons). You could stay 2 nights in Canyon, 1 night in Mammoth and 2 nights in Old Faithful. The park is too big (IMO) to try to base camp at one spot. Based on 7 nights, this is how I would do the trip:

Sat: Arrive Jackson Hole, drive to Canyon stopping along the way to see the large yellow hotel at Lake Yellowstone. There is a nice restaurant inside that you could eat dinner. Arrive Canyon Sat night. Stay for two nights!

Mon: Depart Canyon around noon and drive to Roosevelt for the cookout for dinner Monday night. This is a beautiful drive, but I heard that the road is under repair and will reopen in 2005. You can call the park for more info. After the cookout, drive to Mammoth for 1 night. Tour Mammoth early on Tuesday. If the road is closed to Roosevelt you can still drive to Mammoth through Norris. This is actually a shorter drive, but less scenic.

Tuesday: Drive to Old Faithful and stay in the Old Faithful Lodge for 2 nights.

Thursday: Leave Old Faithful and drive towards the Grand Tetons, stopping along the way to see Jackson Lake Lodge and Jenny Lake. Stay either in the park or in Jackson. A float trip along the Snake River would be nice. Also, take the boat trip across Jenny Lake and hike up the mountain.

Saturday: Depart for home!

sluggo

I too would confine myself to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. If you are planning to stay in the parks, you need to make reservations ASAP.

lyntom

Thanks to all. I probably will follow your advice and visit only Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. As Utahtea knows from my trip to Arizona last year, I like to see as much as possible.

I guess even if we add an extra day, all three parks would be too much. I just hate to be so close and yet so far, knowing I'll never get back again.

Noblesm, thanks for all the great tips. I will look into everything you've suggested.

Again, thanks to all. If there are more specific activities anyone would suggest in the Yellowstone, Grand Teton or surrounding area, please let me know. We definitely want to do a raft trip and I would like for my husband and older son to be able to fly fish if is not too expensive.

Lynda

noblesm

Regarding fly-fishing: I must have seen more than 100 hundred people fly-fishing on our July trip to Yellowstone and I never saw a single person even get a bite. I love to fish myself, but I would make sure the fishing is good before you decide to wet your line.

lyntom

If we do decide to fly into Salt Lake City (the price is so much better, especially since my son's fiance will now be with us)what is the best route to take. Should we go to West Yellowstone and start from there or still go to Canyon and work our way around and back to Jackson Hole and then on back to Salt Lake?

Your point is well-taken on the fishing. Especially since we do have great fishing here where we live.

We are in the mountains of VA, and although our mountains are noting like those out west, they still are beautiful and we are used to the hiking, fishing, etc.

Thanks again.

lyntom

noblesm:

I'm sorry that I asked the question about where to go from SLC. I just read your post again, and the answer was there!

Lynda

noblesm

If flying in & out of SLC, take the earliest flight possible on your outbound and a mid-late afternoon return flight. If you can add an extra day to your trip, do so!

Sat: Arrive afternoon: Drive to W. Yellowstone, MT (about a 5 hour drive).

Sun: Leave early and drive to Mammoth to see the hot springs. You can tour this area in about 2 hours. Drive to Canyon for 2 nights. Again, there are two routes you can take. If the road construction is completed, take the Roosevelt/Tower Junction route. Stay 2 nights in Canyon (we stayed in a cabin.) While based in Canyon, drive to Lake Yellowstone late one afternoon and eat dinner at the historic Lake Yellowstone hotel one evening.

Tues: Leave Canyon & drive to Old Faithful. Stay 2 nights in the historic Old Faithful lodge.

Thurs: Leave Old Faithful and drive to Jackson (Grand Tetons).

Sat: Leave very early for an afternoon flight out of Salt Lake City.

Diz01

I'm glad you have decided not to try and do Glacier as well. We spent 2 and a half weeks just doing Yellowstone and GT last September!

I am not a fisherman but I understand there is lots of great fishing in the Lamar (sp?) Valley up beyond Roosevelt. When we there there were a lot of people on the river.

utahtea

lyntom,

I remember you! Please trust me and everyone else who has said not to try to do Yellowstone & Glacier in such a short time. Yellowstone will keep you busy...I promise!

Save Glacier and do it in combination with Jasper & Banff and the other Canadian National Parks some year when you have 10 days or more!

Utahtea

lyntom

utahtea--I promise, we are not going to do Glacier, but would like to work in a day to Cody, WY if you think it is worth it.

I'm now looking into flying into Bozeman and out from Jackson Hole or maybe switch it around as noblesm suggested. That will save a lot of driving time and maybe give us enough time for Cody.

By the way, my son is in 6th grade and there was a picture of upper Antelope Canyon in his Science book this year. He was so excited; he took his pictures to school.

Lynda

utahtea

The Buffalo Bill Cody museum is good.

Is there are big price difference in flying into Billings instead of Bozeman? If not, you might consider flying into Billings and taking the Beartooth Highway 212 into the park, but instead of going all the way into the park you could then take the Chief Joseph's Highway 296 into Cody and spend the night there so you could explore the museum before entering Yellowstone. We haven't done Hwy 296, but I hear it's really scenic. I have done the Beartooth and it's the most dramatic entrance to Yellowstone!

Just an idea since you want to see Cody.

Utahtea

jere1mt

might also consider flying into Billings making the loop and flying out of Bozeman or back to Billings. Vehicle drop off charges might add a lot depending on where you drop it off. Also the road from Cody to the park may have some construction closings again this summer.