Maureen

How long does the drive from Yellowstone to Tetons typically take by car in the summer? How many vacation days should one plan if they want to explore both National Parks (do some good hiking, photography, etc.? Is 12-14 days enough to cover both parks for two healthy and active 32-year olds? Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Howard

The time in takes will depend on which part of Yellowstone you are leaving from (it's a big park) and how much traffic there is. It's best to leave early before the daytrippers start arriving.
12-14 should allow you sufficient time to truly experience these two magnificent areas.

Phil

From the lake hotel to Jackson takes a day if you want to take it all in and stop along the way.

Take the full 14 days both parks are a real dream.

Phil
England

sluggo

If you want accomodations in the park, make reservations right away. I called last Dec 3 for late June and some places were fully booked. Accomodations are on the park website, accessible from www.nps.gov.

Maureen

Thanks for the input and advice. Are 14 days too much time? Everyone seems to be saying to take the 12-14 days. Is it "sufficient" or can we cover both parks in less time?

Connie

You can do both parks in 5-7 days. More time allows you to slow down.

Be sure to take a day to drive out the northeast entrance over to Red Lodge, MT along the Beartooth Highway, backtrack to the Chief Joseph Highway into Cody (neat town to visit) and then back into the east entrance of the park.

The two parks actually join so you go from one into the other. Like someone else said, it depends on where you are driving from.

Bob Brown

I think 12 - 14 days would give you time to see both parks well. I strongly agree with the comments about the Chief Joseph Highway and the Bearthooth highway. You might consider spending a night in Red Lodge as part of a short excursion outside of the parks.

The Tetons offer opportunities for hiking, even technical climbing. Unless you want to do that type of activity, however, the Tetons are a single-theme area: spectacular mountains and lakes. Yellowstone, on the other hand has the thermal features, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, and scenery.

Although the two parks are close, they are both quite large. Yellowstone is well spread out. How long it takes, depends on where to where. The longest possible route, say from the Northeast Entrance to the town of Jackson could take 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic. Despite their size, the two parks do not actually touch in terms of having a common border. Even so, the road between them is scenic, too and the boundaries are survey lines on a map as opposed to natural.

In the Jackson area, most people seem to think that the best rafting is south of town.
I am not a rafter, but my son is and that is his opinion. A float trip on the Snake River with the Tetons in view is scenic and interesting to do.