Opinions...Please!
 

I think I've finally hashed out an itinerary for our YNP/GTNP vacation for this August which doesn't involve too much backtracking AND incorporates drives on both the Chief Joseph and Beartooth highways.

Aug 12-- arrive Jackson airport, pick up rental and drive to Lake Yellowstone Hotel for 3 nts.

Aug 15--depart early and exit E entrance to Cody for 1 nt. See Buffalo Bill museum and
do rodeo at nite. Spend a couple of more hours at BB museum in morning, then out
on CJH and BH to Cooke City.

Aug 16--Cooke City for 2 nites(?). Explore Lamar valley.

Aug 18--head to Canyon Village or Old Faithful area for 3 nights

Aug 21--Jackson Lake Lodge for 3 nights

Aug 24-- Fly home from Jackson

Does this sound like a reasonable plan? We plan to do short hikes, search for wildlife and basically introduce our 13 y/o daughter to this great part of our beautiful country.

We do have the possibility of adding 1 or 2 more days to our travel plans.

Thanks, everyone, for your input!!
Lori

Your plan seems reasonable. On a purely personal bias I'd add the day and include an overnight in Red Lodge, MT before driving the full length of Beartooth.

Aug 16--Stay your 2 nights at Roosevelt
Aug 18- Stay at Old Faithful Inn or other lodges there.
You want to spend a lot of time in and around all the geysers in the Old Faithful area. The wildlife(which you are doing) and the geysers are the star attractions.

In August you might want to take a dip in the hot springs area that is not far from Mammoth area of the park. or even a swim in the Firehole River.

Get your lodging ASAP. They fill up in a hurry.

Thanks, all! Right now, Roosevelt and OFI are fully booked. I plan to make alternate lodging reservations(hence, Cooke City) and keep checking back with the park lodges.

At this time call several times a week at least. As you get closer call every day and even several times a day.

There are a lot of units and people cancel all the time.

You may even find lodging that doesn't exactly match you current plan but you could change some of the locations to make it work.