Hi! Working mom of 4 (ages 7-16) here who is late to the game of planning Yellowstone for this Summer. I know lots of things have filled up but hoping I can still find a reputable travel planner who can put something together for me. Preferably someone who has experience doing Yellowstone trips. Alternatively if you have a trip itinerary you posted & it worked out well for you please share. Thanks so much!

Worst case I'll find a place to stay and we'll just need to do some day trips. Planning for late July/early August. Thanks so much in advance!

This is the website for the 9 in park lodges. First thing to do would be to look on there and book any rooms you can find, even if you are not 100% certain about dates or exact itinerary.

https://www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/

Search here,. There are so many Yellowstone itineraries. If you search my user name, you will see mine for Yellowstone with young children. Getting lodging is going to be your big issue. Take what you can and then plan your trip from there.

“I shall plan for you. I have access to the human servant’s guidebooks. I am an excellent judge of ice cream stops and I have hygiene and energy of a fifth grade boy, so I understand your demographic. I only require dried fish chews and the occasional dropped piece of popcorn or broccoli as payment.”


I may be a little bored, but in all seriousness, Yellowstone is very easy. I easily covered what I really wanted to see in a day, but I wouldn’t recommend that. Keep in mind that if you have more time, you also have time for happy accidents, like viewing wildlife or geyser eruptions. And that stuff is partly what makes Yellowstone so thrilling. I would want to stay either right in the park or break up the stay into two different entry towns, maybe three, to reduce the time the kids have to spend in the car.

So look at what you want to see in the park, and factor in driving times. But given what I remember from being a kid, also factor in collecting souvenirs or stamps or attending ranger programs. And look into what they might enjoy doing in Cody, Gardiner, etc. you know your kids, so you ARE the best “travel planner”.

edit: also, if you post your dates and budget, you needs/dislikes, I’d absolutely help you look for vacancies. Like I said, I’m bored.

Here are the links to my trip, mid-September, 2 of us, no reservations except camping the first night. We were able to get cancelled accommodations each morning as we went, though I realize that'll be easier for 2 than for a family.

https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/por...-s-yellowstone