Help with Utah, Wyoming, Montana road trip
 

Hi! my fiance and i are looking for advice on making the most of a drive through these 3 states during mid December (advice on a winter route)

Our plan was for a 7 day trip & to fly into salt lake city and fly out of Bozeman, MT stopping in Jackson hole, WY. (scouting venues, and areas to relocate) willing to fly into or out of either state for a more seemless travel

We want to make the most of the drive and try and see some of Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.

Any help is appreciated!

You need to go to www.nps/YEL for conditions in Yellowstone and to see where and when and hoe you can visit. Most of the roads in the park are closed at this time. Some will open Dec 15 for the snow coach and snowmobiles. There is some access to the northern part of the park.

Before you start, keep an eye on the weather and be prepared for a plan B in case there are other road closures for snow.

The only part of Yellowstone you can drive yourself at that time of year is the northern road between the north entrance at Gardiner MT to the northeast entrance at Cooke City. Gardiner MT is about 90 minutes south of Bozeman. Cooke City at this time of year can only be accessed via the park as other roads out of Cooke City are closed in winter.

Starting December 15th the west entrance at West Yellowstone, the south entrance north of Jackson and the east entrance west of Cody will open to oversnow travel via snowmobile or snowcoach https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/parkroads.htm

Grand Teton is accessible via your own vehicle up to the south entrance of Yellowstone.

You'll need to keep at eye on weather and road conditions. Be prepared to be flexible and wait out storms. Due to winter closures it's a long drive between Jackson and Gardiner as you'll need to go around the park https://goo.gl/maps/qjCRoBMZsT4N5sgb8 This is the only route available. Teton Pass can be treacherous leaving Jackson and heading to ID if there's wintry weather. Gallatin Canyon along 191 is another spot that can be dangerous.

I understand that Bozeman is a cool, lively town but so many from California and elsewhere have moved there, housing is now expensive. Multi-millionaires and even billionaires have made Jackson unaffordable. I really like Cody which is 1.5 hours east of Yellowstone.. It has the world-class Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Old Trail Town, nightly rodeos in the summer, and the historic Irma Hotel built by Buffalo Bill Cody..

Keep in mind that from the Tetons you will have to go around Yellowstone to reach Bozeman.

Keep in mind that from the Tetons you will have to go around Yellowstone to reach Bozeman. You can't drive through Yellowstone. Rather than seeing Yellowstone by snowmobile etc. from the south side, do it from the west side, as that would be on the way to Boseman.