Need help with Yellowstone and area starting in SLC
 

My husband and I are considering the Yellowstone and Teton area for a September getaway.
We would have to fly into SLC. Would get into airport at 2:00 p.m. We would get rental car and drive part way to the mountains and stop and spend the 1st night.

Because of the road closure within the park on the 14th, we would like to spend the 1st couple of nights in Gardnier and then move to another place.

Our main objective is seeing wildlife and some of the thermal features. We want to spend one night in Cody and also to spend 3 or 4 nights in Jackson.
We will have 2 weeks total.
My husband has been diagnosed with a muscular disease, so no more hiking for us. He now walks with a cane. He also does not want to limit himself too much.

I can not wrap my mind around the route to take and in what order to get to each place .
I have planned driving trips for us all over Europe, but this one is about to get the best of me.

Many thanks for any help that you can give us.

Tee

Jackson, Idaho Falls and Bozeman all have airports. Check schedules to see if you can get to the park earlier with a shorter drive.
There is a large elk herd in the Mammoth Hot Springs area not too far south of Gardiner.
The town other than Gardiner to look for lodging outside the park is West Yellowstone. How many of the roads in Yellowstone are closing on Sept 14?

I checked different airports,but I live in southAlabama and if we fly to Jackson or Bozeman,the cost per person is well over a thousand dollars. - less than $500 to fly into SLC.

The road that is closing for repairs for the season is the one going from the Roosevelt Arch entrance south .

I looked at the Lake Hotel and it is booked for September.
I thought maybe 1 night in West Yellowstone and then 2 nights in Gardiner before going to Cody. Then finally ending up in Jackson for a few days.

Will this allow us to see different parts of the park?

Thanks
Tee

Take a look at Google or MapQuest for your drive to the Tetons and Yellowstone. I'll try to post a link, but don't know if it will hold with the map.
We drove to Jackson via Logan canyon--route 89 directly north out of SLC rather than the interstate. It was one of the most beautiful drives we had in a 6 week trip through the west. And it is the same amount of time as on the interstate.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Salt...be31c4b163c294

On Sunday 8/3 I'm driving from a motel at the Boise airport through Rexburg and West Yellowstone to Gardiner. I have the PIT project starting on Monday 8/4.
I'll share any info I learn when I'm back.
If it is only the road from Gardiner to Mammoth that will be closed, you can still drive most of the figure 8.
The little town of Rigby Idaho is where Philo Farnsworth allegegly invented television while in high school.

Allegiant Air has flights to Idaho Falls 2 days a week from either Las Vegas or Phoenix/Mesa. https://www2.allegiantair.com/route-map
Their flights are cheap compared with many other carriers.
They also fly to Bozeman.

Doesn't help much from Alabama, Tom.

Yes. we are very limited here in South Alabama for any kind of transportation.
Would 2 days in West Yellowstone and 2 days in Gardiner let us see the thermal features and the wildlife in yellowstone before leaving out the east side of the park or is 2 nights in both places too much?
I understand that we will be limited in seeing anything at dusk when wildlife viewing is best, but this plan seems to be the best that I can do.

Thanks,

Tee

See if you can get lodging at Mammoth instead of Gardiner.
Which airports have you checked on flights from?
Allegiant has a flight from Shreveport LA to Las Vegas.
My upcoming trip will include 12 days about 10 miles N of Gardiner with free lodging (sleeping bag in cabin) and the Forest Service will feed me well (free).