Cbbi

We are making our first trip to Yellowstone during the last week of May. We're driving up from Denver and will spend our first night in Jackson, 2nd night at Old Faithful Inn, 3rd night Lake Yellowstone Hotel, 4th night ????, and final night in Cody. I was planning to drive the Beartooth Highway (assuming it is open) and spend the 4th night in Red Lodge. Does this sound like a good plan or would you suggest we overnight again in Yellowstone or Cody area? Thanks in advance for any replies.

utahtea

I'd spend more time in Yellowstone. There's just so much to see and do, you might as well see it all. I'd spend two nights at Old Faithful if I could, a night at either Mammoth or Roosevelt so you have time to visit the Mammoth Area, then do the Beartooth and come back and spend the night at Yellowstone Lake.

Utahtea

girlwilltravel

Hi Cbbi.
utahtea has it right - spend more time in Yellowstone. You will be disappointed if you don't when you get there and see all that is around you. Old Faithful Inn has been going through renovations to restore it back to it's original structure and should be fantastic to spend more time in. We always make it our "home base" when we visit Yellowstone.

RedRock

You need to check the opening dates for things in the Yellowstone area. Most things don't open until mid June. The WX in late may can be cold and wet. Any season in YS is great but its best to know what to expect. Check the NPS site.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Unless you are just planning on driving the Grand Loop Road one or even two days is no where near enough. You also may want to plan your entrance or exit of the area via the Bear Tooth Highway (if open). Unless you would just like to spend the night in Read Lodge you may want to skip that for another in the High Country.

http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/06jul/03.htm

utahtea

We've visited Yellowstone twice on the first week of June. All roads were open (unless under construction) and most facilites were open. I've heard that the last week of May is the time to go and avoid the crowds. We were planning on being in Yellowstone last year at the end of May but they had a big snow storm headed that way so we postphoned our departure from home for a few days...this was easier because we were camping and hadn't made any reservations yet.

Utahtea

wjinmd

I would stay in one location in Yellowstone. You do a lot of driving that way, but I think it's more exhausting to keep changing hotels. My favorite is definitely the Old Faithful Inn.

Also, if you have the time, I'd spent some time in the Tetons. They're magnificent.

Cbbi

Thank you all so much for the replies. I will follow your advice and do Thursday night in Yellowstone and then drive out over the Beartooth on Friday roundabout to Cody.

I was planning a night in Mammoth at first instead of Lake Yellowstone but when I asked the fellow who helped with booking which he would choose - he said usually Mammoth but on those dates I'd pick Lake Yellowstone because "we are really expecting a lot of bear sightings near there at the end of May."

I know many of the activities won't be open until June but since this is our first trip -just seeing the sights will be awesome enough for us. Thanks for the heads up on the weather - he also suggested we be sure and pack rain gear and coats/jackets. I know later in June would be better weather wise but hopefully things will work out. We are planning 2 days in Grand Tetons and 4 in Yellowstone.

For anyone else reading this thread and planning a first trip to Yellowstone - I strongly suggest calling Xanterra and talking with the folks there rather than booking online. I prefer online ressies but I read somewhere to call and I was really glad I did. There are rooms available and answers available by phone that you don't get otherwise. They are really helpful.

Utahtea - After Yellowstone we are heading to Frisco, Colorado for a month (husband will fly and forth on weekends). During the month we plan on a trip to Utah - and I have read and re read all your posts on Arches, Canyonlands, Moab area, etc. Thank you so much. You are a blessing.

wjinmd - I agree with changing hotels being exhausting but everything I read said it was best to move around the park to save on driving. Since we are driving up from Louisiana that sounded like a good idea. Hopefully I'll be able to pack wisely so that it's just one bag a night that we have to tote into the hotel. We're pretty easy travelers. We got smart and started having the kids tote their own luggage (instead of Daddy toting it). Now they have learned that it's much better to wear the same jeans/shorts a few days in a row than lug the bags around.

Again - thank you all so much for the adice. Now if you could just work some Fodors magic and drop the gas prices for us - we'll be all set!

Cbbi

Sorry - should be thanks for the "advice" on that last line.