That is gorgeous! Great find!

Any suggestions as to where to stay in West Yellowstone?

Hi SusieQ - I see you are hitting my favorite National Parks this fall with Yosemite and next spring with YNP and GTNP! How long are you planning to stay in West Yellowstone and is this an alternative to staying in Gardiner (if you can't get Mammoth lodging)? Anyway, what you will find in West Yellowstone (also in Gardiner) is primarily small independent or chain motels.

I've stayed in several hotels in West Yellowstone over many years (usually for 1-2 nights on our way somewhere else or before camping in the park). Some are better than others but generally they are all along the same motel theme. Maybe take a look at tripadvisor so you can get a feel. Most recently we stayed at the Kelly Inn (last summer) merely because it has a pool for my kids and is close to the Grizzly Center that they and my husband like to visit (I highly recommend the Grizzly Center if you are in West Yellowstone). It was perfectly fine and easy to walk to restaurants. Some people really love the Alpine Inn as an older but clean Mom/Pop motel- I've driven by but never stayed there.

IMO the 3 Bear Lodge in W Yellowstone is the best deal around. Would stay there again in a heartbeat.

Yellowstone=GRNP
 

So here I am a year and a half later, finally going to Yellowstone and can't wait. I have 4 nights at OFI, but am going to try to snag 2 nights at Canyon Lodge and split the time. My question is: should we stay inside GTNP or stay outside in Jackson or another town? I haven't booked anything yet for the GTNP part of the trip. How many days for GT. Basically like scenic views and animals. Thanks as always for any insight!.

If you like scenic and animals, you need to be at the Jackson Lake Lodge! Signal Mountain Lodge would be good too. Good alternative to both would be the Coulter Bay cabins if you don't mind more rustic lodging. This whole area is loaded with wildlife! Lots of nice hiking, kayaking on the lakes if you like that. So many beautiful views that it's hard to take a bad picture.

If you stay in Jackson you will be in a very busy, very touristy town. It's fun for a few hours of walking around, but that's about it. I have always loved Jackson, but that was long ago and now it's just too crowded.

We like Signal Mountain Lodge. 2-3 nights in GTNP.

Signal Mountain sounds great and hopefully I can get a room. Thank you so much!

Marlene, two years later, we are actually going the 2nd week in June and thinking of flying from SLC to OFI. What can you tell me about the drive. How long did it take you? Two years later, I'll be surprised if you see this, but if you do, thanks for your help! It is a difficult trip to plan!

The park can be very busy! I've been several times and my best recommendation is get up early. We got up at 5:30 or 6:00 and had major park landmarks and attractions all to ourselves. Our last trip there was in June and we were at the Lower Falls, in the snow, with no one else in sight! It was incredible. Oh, and while it could be warm in June, when we were there last June we saw lots of snow and it was cold most days. :) I hope you have an amazing trip!

Driving from SLC going through Jordan Canyon is as scenic a drive as you will ever have!

If you only have a week and can maximize your time in the park by flying into a closer airport, I would do that. Otherwise if you decide to drive from SLC, 89 through Logan Canyon to Bear Lake is very scenic.

Wow, that is amazing to think we could have snow in June, and I'll be it would be absolutely amazing. Thanks for the info, it will help me pack with colder weather in mind as a possibility. Anything but rain!

I originally had intended to fly into a closer airport, but from the East coast, nothing seemed to work really well. Nothing direct, and either fairly long layovers, or layovers so short (32 minutes) I was stressing out about missing the connection because everyone says driving in the park in the dark is not a good idea. If Google maps is correct, it's 2 and a half hours from JH to OFI. So we are thinking of flying in a day early (will get in at 11AM), and spending the day seeing whatever we see in SLC, and either spending the night or drive a little north and start out early for the OFI the next day. Have dinner rez for that evening and 4 nights at OFI. From OFI we go to Signal Mountain Inn (2 hour drive?), for 2 nights. When we leave the next morning we can stop in Jackson for a few hours and then head down to SLC, leisurely, for our direct flight home which doesn't depart until 11:45 PM. Does this make sense to those of you 'in the know'? lol!
I could never plan this type of trip without my Fodor Friends!

If you are in SLC on a Thursday night one of the true highlights of our trip was to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearsal on Thursday night. It was an experience I'll never forget.

Gretchen, that sounds so wonderful! We will get in on Wednesday and leave to head north on Thursday. I will try to push everything up a day, but doubt I will be successful as reservations at YSP are so difficult to get to begin with. But thanks for the suggestion, maybe I can tweak things a bit.

It was SO wonderful!! But if you can't, you can't. ;[o)