My husband and I are planning a trip to Jackson Hole at the end of August. We will spend most of our time in the town of Jackson and Grand Teton NP, but we would like to take a day trip to Yellowstone. Would we have to rent a car for that, or are there shuttles or chartered day trips you can take? Any recommendations would be great. Thanks!

We were in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson Hole in June. You really should consider a car, even though I'm sure there are tours you could take of both parks on a bus (I know there is a full day Yellowstone tour). The reason is that these parks should really be seen on foot and on your time, not a tour's time. If you rent a car for a day or two in Yellowstone, you can go as early or late as you'd like to see wildlife and to escape the crowds. Sure, you could take a bus into Grand Teton, wouldn't you rather drive in at sunset to see the light bounce off Jackson Lake?
Consider taking a rafting trip on the Snake River (grand teton). Also be prepared to find Yellowstone, enormous and so interesting you'll want more time there!

Rent a car, definitely, its a big area and you'll want to get around to see a lot. That Snake River float is great - lots of eagles.

ditto x

Here's a vote for taking a tour. First of all you'll have someone showing you what you need to see. You'll be able to look over the cars and see the sights. Otherwise you'll have to do research, find your way around and the driver doesn't get to see that much.

Gray Line has two tours that leave from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One is an 8 hour tour of Grand Teton and costs $65 per person. The other is an 11 hour trip to Yellowstone and coss $75 per person.

Relax and leave the driving to someone else. Then you can enjoy the scenery.

You can contact Gray Line at 800-443-6133 or on the web at www.graylinejh.com.

Have fun.

Rent a car and you will not regret it. You will have the freedom to see what you want to see at your pace, not herded on and off the bus like cattle.

We did a 3 week bus tour of Great Britain last October, and never will we go by bus again. We did see a lot on the surface, but we missed much more by not renting a car.