yellowstone first trip
 

Hello all: We are a family of 3 with a boy of 11 and are heading to Yellowstone--like everyone else--late July and August. We have 12 nights. The first is in Jackson, since we arrive late, then we will head out to yellowstone and can stop in either 1)west yellowstone or 2)mammoth or 3)Gardiner based on what I'm reading here. (Old faithful is booked but I will keep checking)We can stay up to 4 nights at one place or two?? Obviously we're not in any hurry! And rustic places are fine. As long as they are reasonably comfortable. Then, we have reservations for lake Lodge frontier cabin for 4 nights, then 3 nights in coulter bay tents to enjoy the Tetons as we head out through Jackson. It's the first part of the trip I really need your help with. The pace is slow and easy and intended to create some old-fashioned fun for us and our son.
Thanks!

Gardiner is at northernmost part of Yellowstone - my first thought was to say West Yellowstone and then up to Gardiner, but another tactic might be to head to Gardiner and then work back during the trip as you head back towards Jackson - either would work.

It will likely take 3-4 hours to drive Jackson to Gardiner, even if you stop nowhere, since the animals in the road make you stop.

Since road is figure-8, you take one loop northbound and the other southbound and you see everything.

Go to Boiling River near Gardiner - your son will love it (details if you do a search here).

Gail:

Keep seeing your "Boiling River" posts and its been on my mind...we'll be staying in Gardiner for a day or so the last week of May - I'm assuming still too cold for a "dip" in the river at that time of year?

Thanks for your ideas. We are now thinking of going to Cody as well since we have time. Does that warrant one or two nights with an 11-year-old boy? I'm still split between staying in Gardiner or Mammoth or ?? Any ideas y'all have let me know...Annealex

Cody has lots of fun stuff for kids, museum of the west, an old town that has been reassembled, and other things. Worth a trip in case the boy gets overloaded on mother nature!

p.s. Gardiner is 1/2 mile past Mammoth, and has lots of newer motels (with hot tubs, pools, etc.); might be a nice break for the kid to frolic in the water after a day of geothermals and hiking! Plus the elk and pronghorn are all over the place there. West Y. also has lots of motels, but it's a longer drive into the park. Foodwise, the park is very limited and overpriced. You might want to consider comfort over the "romance" of Old Faithful (great to tour, but I've stayed there [in the old lodge], and it lives up to its name--old. Frankly, the park is very easy to tour whether you stay in the borders or out; just enter early if you come in from west or east.

Thanks for your ideas.

We live in Eastern Montana so have been to Yellowstone many times. We usually stay in West Yellowstone at the Three Bears Lodge. It runs about $100 a night. It is not fancy but it is clean and it has an attached restaurant. You get continental breakfast. Our favorite restaurant there is Beartooth Bar-B-Que. Make sure you check out the shows at the Playmill Theatre. They only cost $12.50 and are fabulous. You can find them both on the web. We try to make it there at least once a year just for the shows. Be prepared for a lot of slow driving through the park. We take the south loop to Old Faithful one day and the north loop to mammoth another day. The Grizzly Discovery Center is worth going to. Enjoy!

Hi
We're bringing our 11 yr old grandson to Yellowstone after a weeklong Intergenerational Elderhostel in the Tetons. (total trip 6/18-6/29) -- last 5 days in Yellowstone.
Was wondering if there's a tour we should take one day -- any suggestions?Anyone been to the W Yellowstone Rodeo?
Thanks
Anita
Anita