Yellowstone via Boise/SLC/Denver?
Dec 4th, 2005, 03:52 PM
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Yellowstone via Boise/SLC/Denver?
We are considering using our frequent flyer miles to go to Yellowstone this summer. Our airline goes to Boise, Salt Lake City, or Denver. What would be our best way to get there?
Dec 4th, 2005, 04:07 PM
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Of those three, Salt Lake is the closest, and therefore best.
But check with your airline. It may have a partner airline which you can use FF miles to fly to Jackson, Idaho Falls, Bozeman or Billings.
But check with your airline. It may have a partner airline which you can use FF miles to fly to Jackson, Idaho Falls, Bozeman or Billings.
Dec 4th, 2005, 04:55 PM
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We went thru this last summer - could have used ff miles to get to Denver or SLC - final destination Yellowstone. Primary motivation was that fares to Jackson were so high.
Since we had only 7 days, we decided to go, but pay for tickets - you lose essentially 2 days out of your vacation if you have to drive from one of these cities.
Also wondering which airline will only fly to these cities and not on the Jackson - or is it that you can't get flights on miles to Jackson (that was our problem - availability of seats, not that airline did not fly there).
Since we had only 7 days, we decided to go, but pay for tickets - you lose essentially 2 days out of your vacation if you have to drive from one of these cities.
Also wondering which airline will only fly to these cities and not on the Jackson - or is it that you can't get flights on miles to Jackson (that was our problem - availability of seats, not that airline did not fly there).
Dec 4th, 2005, 06:11 PM
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Depending on where you live, I think SLC is your best bet. If you can find a cheaper air fare into Boise, then go there.
But before deciding, get prices on rental car rates and airfares as a total package.
The driving times and distances are fairly close when considering SLC and Boise. I am not sure what the routing is from Boise, but I question the figures of more than 400 miles.
If you were to take the most direct route I think the distance is more like 390 to 400 miles. Those roads in Idaho are not very heavily traveled, and I have found I can drive about as fast on them as I can on the Interstates.
I have done SLC to Yellowstone and find that the route via Logan, Utah, is scenic. You could go one way and come back another.
The Teton Pass which is west of the town of Jackson is a spectacular drive. Parts of it are a bit steep. If ascending from the west to the east, there are some 11% grades. Compared to the 28% hill I rode up in Switzerland in a bus, 11% is nothing much -- if you have good brakes and a decent engine in the vehicle!!
I went up that pass in a car that lacked power. (Brand name intentionally omitted.) For some reason best known to the Allmighty the car had a tachometer on it along with an automatic slush pump. As I ascended, I had the car in a lower gear and the engine was revving about 5,000 rpm as we raced along at 35 mph. The engine was protesting so loudly that I thought the pistons were going to go through the hood and that the radiator would soon boil over.
My wife leaned over, studied the tach and the speedometer for several seconds and said, helpfully, "Keep at it. One of them is gaining." (It wasn't the speedometer!!)
By the time I got to the top, I had quite a loyal following. I pulled over to let them by and then hastened to descend because the heat needle was rising. Better keep that hunk moving, downhill.
But before deciding, get prices on rental car rates and airfares as a total package.
The driving times and distances are fairly close when considering SLC and Boise. I am not sure what the routing is from Boise, but I question the figures of more than 400 miles.
If you were to take the most direct route I think the distance is more like 390 to 400 miles. Those roads in Idaho are not very heavily traveled, and I have found I can drive about as fast on them as I can on the Interstates.
I have done SLC to Yellowstone and find that the route via Logan, Utah, is scenic. You could go one way and come back another.
The Teton Pass which is west of the town of Jackson is a spectacular drive. Parts of it are a bit steep. If ascending from the west to the east, there are some 11% grades. Compared to the 28% hill I rode up in Switzerland in a bus, 11% is nothing much -- if you have good brakes and a decent engine in the vehicle!!
I went up that pass in a car that lacked power. (Brand name intentionally omitted.) For some reason best known to the Allmighty the car had a tachometer on it along with an automatic slush pump. As I ascended, I had the car in a lower gear and the engine was revving about 5,000 rpm as we raced along at 35 mph. The engine was protesting so loudly that I thought the pistons were going to go through the hood and that the radiator would soon boil over.
My wife leaned over, studied the tach and the speedometer for several seconds and said, helpfully, "Keep at it. One of them is gaining." (It wasn't the speedometer!!)
By the time I got to the top, I had quite a loyal following. I pulled over to let them by and then hastened to descend because the heat needle was rising. Better keep that hunk moving, downhill.
Dec 4th, 2005, 07:13 PM
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Boise to Idaho Falls is 288 miles. Idaho Falls to Jackson is 92, over the Teton Pass, as described.
Yellowstone's Southern entrance is another 60 miles or so from Jackson. Or one can enter from the West. Both about the same distance, so dwooddon's figures are correct.
Teton Pass is indeed one of the steepest in the US.
Yellowstone's Southern entrance is another 60 miles or so from Jackson. Or one can enter from the West. Both about the same distance, so dwooddon's figures are correct.
Teton Pass is indeed one of the steepest in the US.
Dec 5th, 2005, 04:53 PM
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wow, thanks. I can see that I will need another flight to get closer to the park. I don't really have the luxury of driving for a couple of days to get there and back. Would it be a good plan to fly to Jackson Hole and rent a car from there or fly in closer to the park if I only have 7 days?
Dec 5th, 2005, 05:35 PM
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If you can fly into Jackson, you will save the travel time. I would suggest that destination if you are tight on time and don't mind the extra expense.
Boise to West Yellowstone is about 370 miles if you cut through Arco. That route takes you past the Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Near Arco there is an old breeder nuclear reactor that is open as a museum.
As I said earlier, those Idaho backroads are lightly traveled, except for the road from Arco to Idaho Falls at going home time. There is a Department of Energy installation near Arco and the traffic picks up around 4:30 PM.
The terrain across that part of Idaho is flat and you can move along at a good speed.
Boise to West Yellowstone is about 370 miles if you cut through Arco. That route takes you past the Craters of the Moon National Monument.
Near Arco there is an old breeder nuclear reactor that is open as a museum.
As I said earlier, those Idaho backroads are lightly traveled, except for the road from Arco to Idaho Falls at going home time. There is a Department of Energy installation near Arco and the traffic picks up around 4:30 PM.
The terrain across that part of Idaho is flat and you can move along at a good speed.
Dec 6th, 2005, 02:13 AM
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Jackson Hole is usually given as the closest major airport - although there are some smaller regional airports. Even Idaho Falls and Bozeman work - but all involve another flight after Denver, SLC, etc.
For us Jackson worked since it is at the southern tip of Grand Teton - we spent a few nights in Jackson, saw Grand Teton and then moved north to stay at several places in Yellowstone. It really is not possible to have a central place to stay - the distances are far greater than we imagined Roads thru Yellowstone are a basic "figure 8" and there is essentially one road north/south trhu Grand Teton.
Good luck with using your ff miles - we tried to use miles on Delta, AA, UA, and USAir partners to fly to either Jackson, Idaho Falls or Bozeman and could not do it without spending 50,000 per ticket (did not have that many miles!).
For us Jackson worked since it is at the southern tip of Grand Teton - we spent a few nights in Jackson, saw Grand Teton and then moved north to stay at several places in Yellowstone. It really is not possible to have a central place to stay - the distances are far greater than we imagined Roads thru Yellowstone are a basic "figure 8" and there is essentially one road north/south trhu Grand Teton.
Good luck with using your ff miles - we tried to use miles on Delta, AA, UA, and USAir partners to fly to either Jackson, Idaho Falls or Bozeman and could not do it without spending 50,000 per ticket (did not have that many miles!).
