Planning two week fall trip for Sept 2006. Flying into Jackson Hole and out of Kalispell-Sept 16 thru Sept 30th.Do I need hotel reservations that time of year? Want to see these parks and Cody. How many days each place? Not a hiker/no kids. Florida person never been in mountains. Any tips appreciated.Not sure how to route trip.Lodging suggestions?

At Yellowstone, in-the-park lodgins, according to their website (Xanterra.com) is filled for September. There are many other places to stay for Grand Tetons and Yellowstone - Jackson is a good base for both parks, but Yellowstone is huge so you may want to move to western or northern entrance for a few days. Cody is at eastern entrance and also has lots of hotels. I am sure you could find a hotel without reservations in September - we just booked hotels for next week without any vacancy problems.

Try to include a float trip while in the Tetons. You'll get beautiful views of the park/mountains with no hiking required. click on my name for a trip report on Teton and Yellowstone, including our lodging choices. Coming from Florida, you'll really notice the change in altitude. Plan to take it easy the first few days and drink lots of water.

Just finished a two week trip. Great places to visit. Since you are planning for next year, hotel reservations should be no problem.
Recommendations:
2 days min Grand Tetons
3-4 days min Yellowstone
3-4 days min Glacier
- recommend Signal Mountain Lodge at Grand Tetons (resonable price lodge with great views)
- highly recommend the Old Faithful Inn (although currently going renovation, if it is open then, it is the best place to stay in the park). I would recommend a couple days at Old Faithful and maybe one day at Yellowstone Lake.
Glacier lodges are also nice (but not as nice as old faithful.
Have a great trip! This is a beautiful part of the country

We traveled this same trip in June 2004.
Jackson, cute town saw gunfight reinactment in town square about 6pm
Went to Teton Village and up in tram - good trip.

Grand Teton - recommend Signal Mtn. Lodge very cute and rustic

Yellowstone - two nights at Old Faithful Inn - saw sights on western and northern side of park (excellent dinner at Inn)
two nights at Lake Yellowstone Inn - very different from Old Faithful Inn - saw sights on southern and western side of park - Don't miss lower waterfall of Yell. River WOW! We took several walks with rangers and you learn a lot.
Cody was okay. Took a nice and calm river rafting trip with Wyoming River Trips - fun.

Drove beautiful Chief Jos. Hwy. and Beartooth Hwy. to lovely Red Lodge, MT where we stayed at the Pollard Hotel.

On to Glacier We stopped in Helena, MT and visited the beautiful state capitol. Also stopped in Great Falls and drove quite a ways to see the Great Falls which are overshadowed by a dam - not worth the time

Glacier Park is gorgeous. Loved staying at Many Glacier Hotel, took ranger walks and then drove GTTSun Rd. At hotel we heard David Walburn who was most entertaining. Others have told us we missed the best park by not going into Canada to Waterton but we had planned to take a hot air balloon ride in Kalispell but the weather didn't cooperate. In Kalispell we stayed at the historic Kalispell Grand Hotel where they serve breakfast and then homemade cookies in the afternoon - cute town.

I agree with Yahiker1, (almost) 2 days min. Grand Tetons, 4 days min. Yellowstone and 3 to 4 days Glacier.

Keep in mind that the Beartooth Highway is closed this year because of mudslides so check to make sure it's open next year. If it is open, then it is a must see.

I've never been in September so don't know when things start closing for the season. I'd heavely research Glacier before going in late September. Maybe watch weather.com this year to get an idea.

I camp, but I also know that if you want to stay in Yellowstone you need to make reserervations.

Utahtea

We just returned from a trip to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Jackson Hole. We spent one night at the Mountain Pine Motel in East Glacier, and two nights at the Swift Current Inn in Many Glacier. We had time for two boat rides, 3 hikes--one a 10-miler and a side trip to Waterton Village for lunch.

We did not spend the night in the western side of the park but did stay at the Kalispell Grand Hotel in Kalispell. Very nice room and super delicious chocolate chip cookies.

We spent four nights in YNP--one at Mammoth Hotel, one at the Cascade Lodge in Canyon Village and two at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge. The room at the Snow Lodge was the best--very nice but hot at night--followed by Cascade Lodge. Room at Mammoth was spartan but very clean, although the lobby is great. I would not, under any circumstances, stay in the cabins in Canyon Village, but that might just be me.

We spent one night at Signal Mountain Lodge in a lake front room accomodation and two nights in a tower room in Jackson at the Ranch Inn. Large, nice room. We did a boat ride/hike (Jenny Lake) and a whitewater raft trip down the Snake River. Would recommend both, even though you aren't really hikers.

Have a good trip.

Lynda
Would stay at all of these properties again.