We have 8 days planned for Yellowstone and Grand Teton next early Sept. 04. I just found out that I may have 4 or 5 more days. Should I just add that time to those parks or should I do a third place? Where would you suggest for the time allowed for the last week of August - not too hot - that will give us the best bang for our buck?? Is Glacier National Park too far? Any other suggestions? Thanks, Sue

We will be out in Wyoming for 10 days, starting next week. It's our second trip there. Most of our time will be spent in the Grand Teton, our favorite of all the national parks. We've also planned on spending 2-3 days in the Wind River Mountains area, just east of the Grand Teton. The more we research the area, the more it interests us.

West Yellowstone has alot of fun things to offer: the IMAX theatre, shopping, good restaurants, etc. But our favorite place to go is Jackson Hole, south of Yellowstone. So much to do; river rafting trips, hiking, shopping, horseback riding, etc. Post which place you're going and I'll let you know which hotels are the best. Have Fun!

I agree with the suggestion to spend some time in Jackson. It's an upscale western town and we found it to be something different to do than the parks. 2-3 days is plenty of time to spend there, and then you could add a day or two in the parks.

There is plenty to do in the area. Drive out on the Beartooth Highway and go around to Cody and come back into Yellowstone. The Beartooth highway is IMHO the most scenic way in or out of the park. Cody is a fun little town and the Buffalo Bill Museum is worth seeing.

I would love to spend 12 days in this area!

Utahtea

I'd definitely head to Glacier.

NO! Don't go to Glacier these days. Part of the park is closed because of fires, plus, the lingering smoke from the fires is settling in the valleys!

As mentioned in another post the west side of the park is temporarily closed due to wild fires but the east side is still open to Logan pass. The valley has smoke early in the morning but it normally clears up by mid morning as the temps rise.
Come on out and enjoy mother nature doing her thing .

If nothing else, travel the Beartooth Highway. If you have time, head back to Cody and take rte 14A to 14 and loop back to Cody through the Big Horn mts. See the recent post "My guide to the Big Horn Mts of WY" for an excellent itinerary and photos. We drove trough them last year and all I could say was WOW.

To: LynnB. we will be a Jackson next week. Have you seen the Parkside Motel? an Opinion? Where is the best river rafting for two retired people?
Bob205

Spend ur time in the parks, and go to Jackson. If you really want to go somewhere else, head south to Rocky Mountain National Park.

I am new here and came to find out about the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area. I unfortunately will be in the area for only two days. Many of you here seem to be very familiar to the area, and so I hoped some of you could tell me what to do in the area with only two days. Also, have any of you stayed in West Yellowstone, Montana? I have three hotels I'm looking at...Days Inn, Gray Wolf, and Yellowstone Lodge...Which is the best? and/or worst?

Go to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
located in Keystone, SD; it's about a 7-hour drive from the Yellowstone area. You could also go to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
located near near Billings, MT; a 4-hour drive from Yellowstone.
Hope this helps.

West Yellowsyone is a fine tourist town. Two days is not enough, so you mine as well see one park one day, the other the other day. Also the motel we stayed at West Yellowstone was the Best Western Weston, It was the cheapest, and wasnt worse then any other around, and the staff were quite friendly.

If you are considering adding Glacier to your trip might want to consider stopping at the National Bison Refuge near Ravalli which is north of Missoula. They have two auto trips of different lengths and difficulty (cars ok) which when I was there gave me better wildlife photos than Yellowstone. Nearby in St. Ignatius is a historic mission church with beautiful hand painted murals. If you decide to go east towards Mt. Rushmore be sure to visit Custer State Park south of Rapid City (they have 1600 head of bison rounded up the end of Sept every year). Also nearby it are Blowing Wind Cave National Monument and Badlands National Park.

I just returned from Yellowstone/Grand Tetons last week. I was there for two weeks! What a great trip. The parks are very different: Yellowstone has a wide variety of things to see...lots of bison, geysers, and that beautiful view from Artist's Point of the Falls. I did alot of driving. The Tetons are gorgeous...I was happy to just sit and look when I wasn't hiking. To me Jackson is too Hollywood. I preferred the little gold mining towns around the parks, like Cooke City up north of Yellowstone. And even touristy West Yellowstone. I agree that the Beartooth Highway is a highlight. The northeast entrance is the best way in and out of the park. I very much enjoyed Cody as well. The Buffalo Bill museum is excellent; and don't miss a stop at Mustard's Last Stand on Main Street. Great hot dogs done many ways! Also, the drive from West Yellowstone up to Bozeman along the Galletin River is incredible.

I'm heading up to Glacier next, but I wouldn't go until the fires are out. One of the joys there is the highway that crosses the park, and I don't want to limit myself to the east side! Happy travels!! Pam