We already have reservations for mid August for GTNP and YNP. BUT,I am double booked for the middle of my trip and need to cancel one place or the other. Here's what I planned...is it too much? (Pty of 4 adults, 6 and 11 yr old boys)
8/10 fly into Jackson, resv at Signal Mtn Ldg

8/11 Float Trip? or Hike Jenny Lake? in AM.
Then Chapel, Mormon Row, Oxbow Bend. Relax at Lodge? or Jackson Rodeo?

8/12 AM drive to YNP, Rsv at Old Faithful Snow Ldg, nothing but geysers,then 5pm resv at Old Faithful Inn for dinner.

8/13 Drive to Lake Yellowstone area. Resv made for 3 nights at Lake Cabins(Should I drop one?)

8/14 9am Cruise Resv on Lake Yellowstone (keep or cancel), then drive to Canyon area, Mud Volcano, Lamar etc.

8/15 Keep last night at LY cabins OR keep bkg made at Cowboy Inn, Cody? Kids do want to see a rodeo...

8/16 MY 40th Birthday...AM drive up Sunlight basin to Beartooth. Can I get to Roosevelt in time for 345pm Chuckwagon Cookout??
Resv 8/16 for Mammoth Lodge.

8/17 Long drive back to Jackson, brief stop at Norris. 8/17 Resv at Cache Creek near JAC airport.

8/18 830am flight home.

What do you think? Should I stay the extra night at Lake Yellowstone or drive to Cody. A rodeo is a MUST but we could do the one in Jackson on Sat. 8/11.

THANKS!!!!

I would drop the float trip IF you have to see a rodeo.(Floats can be a pain in the neck) YP is great and 3 days you should see alot of it. when at Old Faithful, take the asphalt path that runs away from the highway by the Lodge and it takes you to a far away spot that has the most beautiful blue pool and some cool gysers. It was worth the walk. Don't know about Roosevelt.

You didn't say what time you land. We got there about 11:30. You can hit Mormon Row and Oxbow bend on the way to the park. If you enter at Moose Junction, you get a pretty drive and a sneak peak at Jenny Lake on the way to the Lodge. If you take the northern entrance, you go right past Oxbow Bend. I'd especially hit Mormon Row on the way up.

I'd proably not do the cruise, but that's just me. I'd rather be lookin for wildlife.

I'd skip the cowboy cookout. Seems like you have a long drive to get to Beartooth (not clear where you're staying). You may get delayed in Lamar either direction. You may not go through there but you'll go to Roosevelt that way. You may really enjoy Beartooth and not want to rush back. The cookout was OK but not to the point of rushing Beartooth to get there.

Give yourself lots of time getting to the airport. They don't have room for the traffic they get and can get pretty backed up.

Not sure what to tell you about the rodeo. I'd probably do the one in Cody. It sounds like Cody has more to offer than Jackson. You just need to decide if you want to drive back to the park or spend the night. Spending the night in Cody will let you see more of that area.

Sounds like you've got a good trip laid out.

Ken;

Just got back from YNP, Cody last week - here's my suggestions:

-I'd cancel the last night at the Lake Cabins and stay in Cody. I know a great place - Cowboy Cody Village. Our stay here was the best of our 2 week trip (and the cheapest). It feels like a luxury property, which is a nice break from the cabins at YNP (which we also did).
-Do not skip the Roosevelt cookout!! My DH and I (no kids) thought it would be horribly cheesy, but it ended up being one of our favorite activites in YNP. Great food, great value, and a lot of fun!
-On the morning you leave Cody, head up north through Deer Lodge, MT and then take the Beartooth to the NW entrance of Yellowstone. If you leave at about 8 am, you should have no problem being at Roosevelt (first stop from NW entrance on loop) by about 2pm. You'll also get to enjoy the Lamar Valley along the way.
-If you go through Deer Lodge, stop at Bogart's (on the main drag) for pizza - honest-to-god, some of the best I've ever had. Then, there's an old-fashioned candy store right next door (Zagnuts or Chunkys anyone?). I promise, the whole family will love it.
-One more thing - this summer, there is a Grizzly mother and her 2 cubs hanging out on the loop road in between Canyon and Roosevelt at the north end of Dunraven pass. She may not still be there when you are, but since grizzlies are very territorial, it's a good possibility. Try morning for sightings of her (although we talked to people who saw her on the road in the afternoon, too). Ask a ranger.

I hope this helps - Let me know if I can give any more info...

-A

Thanks for the advice....glad to hear from someone just back. "Yotefan", the Cody Cowboy Village is were I am already booked so that is great to hear. I thought that the kids need at least some swimming pool time.

Did you have any contruction delays?

Also, I didn't think about heading up from Cody to Deer Lodge and over the Beartooth. I was just going to take the Chief Joseph Hwy (or Sunlight Basin Rd)to the Beartooth and turn around at "Top of the World". Wouldn't this save time??
Thanks again.

Ken;

We did encounter one short construction delay between Red Lodge and Cody - had to wait for a "pilot car"(!). So funny, we drove 5,000 miles on our trip, and the only construction delays we encountered were in the middle of nowhere, Wyoming!

But I digress - I misspoke big time! I meant Red Lodge MT, *not* Deer Lodge. Travel time from Cody to Red Lodge is only about 1.5 hours, and Red Lodge is at the beginning of the Beartooth pass. BTW, if you turn around at Top of the World, I think you'll miss some of the most incredible views on the Beartooth, IMHO. It's interesting to see how different the trip up and the trip down are as well. I also think it would be much quicker to go through Red Lodge.

We did this same drive, but the opposite direction. Left Mammoth HS at 8 am and arrived at Cody by 2:30.

I hope this helps - or did I just cause more confusion?

Votefan37

Glad you wrote to go all the way to Red Lodge instead of just to the Top of the World area. We won't decide until we get there depending on time,etc., but had also heard that you don't miss much if you turn around at Top of the World and go back.

Also just got back - stayed in Cody Cowboy Village and adored it -but pool is not a true swimming pool, it is smaller than it looks and is a hot tub with two small waterfalls, Several kids did enjoy it, but they were with adults at all times (we have no kids). LOVED CODY rodeo and corny gunfight at the Irma. Stop in Tacunesah Trading post across from Cody Cowboy village for the kids and you! We loved Buffalo Bill Museum, husband is into firearms,and we both love western art. I strongly suggest a wide brimmed sun hat WITH a tie - we saw several blow off in Yellowstone. We LOVED our guide Andy on the Float trip out of Signal Mountain (great place, esp lakefront retreats with view of Tetons) and saw Bald eagle and other birds on beautiful morning float. We felt hike around Jenny Lake and up to the Hidden Falls was exhausting. I know most tourists take the boat (however, we saw great nature and wildlife on walk and made it back to car at String Lake parking lot beofer it poured)Did not have energy to see Jackson rodeo at end of our trip. Restaurants in Jackson Hole are delicious, but very touristy shop after shop after shop.
Hope this helps (ps was unusually warm and dry in parks)