In the planning stages for our visit to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons in September 2009. Flying into Kalispell and out of Jackson. We will do some easy hikes. Don't mind driving around for the scenery and wildlife.

1. Would 7-10 days be enough time?

2. 3 nights in Glacier (suggestions on places to stay inside the park (5 adults)

3. One night traveling from Glacier to Yellowstone (where to stop and stay for the night?) Or should we make the trip in a day and add a day at the end of our trip?

4. 3 - 4 nights in Yellowstone - suggestions on where to stay (inside the park) and should we break it up and stay at two different locations in the park? At this time, there are rooms available at the Canyon Lodge & Cabins (High Range Room and Westeren Cabins), Grant Village (Mid-Range Rooms), Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins), Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins (Frontier Cabin), and Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins) and Old Faithful Snow Lodge & Cabins (Western Cabins) for the beginning of our stay and for the second half of our stay Lake Lodge Cabins (Western Cabins), Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins (Frontier Cabin) and Old Faiful Snowlodge and Cabins (Lodge Room and Western Cabins)- which would we get the most room in.

5. Are Lake Lodge Cabins and Lake Yellowstone Hotel & Cabins in the same location? If you had to pick, which would you suggest?

6. 1 or 2 nights in Grand Teton (inside the park)any suggestions? Or should we stay 1 in Grand Teton and 1 in Jackson Hole.

7. Is this enough time in each park or too much time? Open for suggestions.

Thanks for any help you can give us. L

I think your 10-day time frame would be OK.
At Glacier, I like the Lake McDonald Lodge. The Many Glacier Hotel is also good, but to me is a bit removed from other parts of the park.
Consider a stop in Missoula or Great Falls, dependig on where you exist the park. A great Charles Russell musuem in Great Falls.
The only place I've stayed in Yellowstone is the Old Faithfull Inn, and we loved it.
Signal Mountain Lodge and Jackson Lake Lodge are good in Grand Teton. IF you can get and and afford it, Jenny Lake Lodge is the best. I'd spend my time in the park with some easy day hikes, lots of options, maybe a float trip down the Snake River. Have fun!

If you stay at the Old Faithful Inn, do NOT stay on the 1st floor. It's the number 1 attraction in Yellowstone and people seem to forget there are people actually staying in the rooms--very noisy in the halls--even late at night. I really enjoyed staying there but I'll never stay on the first floor again.

Be aware that the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier can close in mid September. If it's closed you will have no way of seeing the majority of the park.

Personally, I would never go to Glacier if it was closed.

Hi GG,
We stayed in Jackson at the Red Lion Inn, and it was great. We did not feel like we missed out on anything by not staying in the park.
At YNP we stayed at the
old Faithful Lodge for one night and the Lake Yellowstone Hotel for one night. I liked the Lodge better. The hotel was old and the rooms were not great. It does have a gorgeous lobby and great view though. Enjoy your trip!

I agree with staying in Jackson. It's a long way into Jackson from the park lodges and there's more to do there in the evenings. You can easily take day trips into the park from there.

We plan to be in Glacier from Sept 8-10. Do you think the highway will be closed at that time?

I would not stay in Jackson if I were there to see GT and Yellowstone. I would stay in Colter Village Cabins if they are open while in Tetons. Cabins are large. I haven't stayed at any of the properties cabins you listed. I did stay at Lake Hotel. While this is the nicest property in Yellowstone, there is the least to do there. Yes, there is plenty to do there, but more so at other places, in my opinion. I don't fish, so maybe that is part of my problem with it. I do think it warrants taking a day to see the area and certainly dining in the Lake Hotel, but I think spending your entire time there would be a big mistake. Our favorite section of Yellowstone is near Old Faithful Inn Geyser area and The Tower and Canyon area.

So I would stay two nights in Canyon area, and two at snow lodge. Cabins are the way to go, in my opinion. They are somewhat rustic.

I think 10 days would do it; 7 is pushing it if you want to see all 3 parks.

Count us in the group that much prefers to stay inside the parks. But it depends on what you want - if you want more activity at night, Jackson probably works better for you. We saw lots of wildlife in early morning and late evening inside the parks and the drive into Jackson for occasional dinner etc was fine. And the views from most lodging inside the park is spectacular, and better than in Jackson IMO.

We spent a week at Jackson Lake Lodge and another time a week at Jenny Lake, so I can't comment on the places you list. Jenny Lake is a wonderful place to stay if it's within your budget; if not, suggest at least a dinner there. Excellent food and service.

Both Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake are in GT, but we found the day trips to YS very easy - and a gorgeous drive.

There are some easy hikes by Jenny Lake on the other side of the lake from the lodge. The GTNP web site has a good list.