Hi all...

I need a little feedback regarding where to add an extra night onto our trip. Originally my husband and 2 young daughters were going to spend 2 nights in Gardiner, 2 nights at Old Faithful Inn and 2 nights in Grand Tetons, but we recently found out that my husband will have an extra day towards vacation and would like to add it into our itinerary. I initially felt that it made more sense to spend it in Gardiner or OFI, but having never been to the parks before I find myself going back and forth on where to tack on the extra day. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

I think it will be easier to add a night in Gardiner if you are planning for this summer.

At this date, I think you will add it where you can find a place to stay.

Let me make a suggestion: Red Lodge, Montana.

Ok. Why Red Lodge?

So you can drive out of the Northeast Gate of Yellowstone and drive over the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge.

The Beartooth is a fantastic road. Remember Charles Kuralt? This high route was one of his top favorites.

An alternative would be to drive out the East Gate and go to Cody.
Then take the Chief Joseph Highway from Cody to where the road turns north over the Beartooth Highway to Red Lodge.

Then re-enter Yellowstone via the Northeast Gate and drive south along the Lamar River. This road passes along the flats of the river where I have seen herds of bison. It also passes through the area where sometimes people get lucky and see a wolf. Rare, but possible.

Either way, the Beartooth is an incredible route.

We did it one year on the first day the pass was open in the spring. Snow was piled higher than the roof of the car and snowmobilers were still whizzing around on top.

I think you can find a motel room in Red Lodge, but it is a popular place because of the Beartooth.

Of the 3, I would probably pick Gardner for the extra night. There are many different directions you can go from that part of the park.

Two nights at Old Faithful should give you enough time to see the geyser areas in the southwestern part of the figure 8.

It kind of depends on when you are going to be in the Tetons and which entrance you will be exiting (or entering) Yellowstone from. You can stop at West Thumb either on your way to or from the Tetons and there really aren't too many other attractions on that portion until you get to Fishing Bridge, Mud Volcano, Hayden Valley, etc.

Whatever you choose will be fine.

1travelbug -- I give a resounding second to bob_bown's idea of Beartooh Highway to Red Lodge. It is one of the most fantastic drive's I ever had. Enjoy!

Thanks for the feedback...we are actually going next summer but I can make my park reservations on May 1st so I needed to figure out beforehand where to add that extra day/night.

I think I will book the add'l time in Gardiner. That's where our "comfiest" accommodations will be (Above the Rest Cabins) and it seems that there will be plenty to do in the northern Yellowstone area.

Bob and Maj, I have the Beartooth drive on my list, as well as many, many hikes throughout the parks. After 5 days of Yellowstone we'll end up at the Signal Mtn. Lodge in Grand Teton. In between the park activities, I'm also booking a horseback ride near Gardiner and a Snake River float trip in GTNP. Hopefully the trip will be as relaxing as it is exciting for this NJ family!

Thanks again!

You will be on a great trip.
I have not been to Yellowstone in a few years, and I feel the urge to return. Maybe next year.

At any rate, I hope you can catch Grand Geyser in full bloom. It is the most spectacular of the "predictable" geysers. Castle also puts on a show that lasts about 50 minutes from the start of the water phase until the end of the steam phase.

The good thing about Castle is that you can find a spot in the pines to wait if the predicted time is between 10 am and 4 pm.

There are benches at both places, but in the summer, they are usually full of spectators.

Of the major geysers, Riverside is the prettiest but not the largest. The water plume from the eruption plays out over the Firehole River.

Lone Star Geyser is down a level trail a couple of miles. The pathway winds through trees in an unburned section (last time I was there) and at times is close to the upper Firehole River.

The geyser itself spurts about every 2 hours in two phases.

We were there once and a youngster of about 14 was sitting there waiting for the eruption. After Lone Star gave its first spurt, people started leaving. The youngster piped up and told them all about the geyser. Seems like his grandfather was a Yellowstone Ranger and had been taking his grandson to see Lone Star ever since he was a little fellow.

He knew all about the geyser and happily told us what he knew, which was considerable. Bright guy, really, and very well spoken.

I've lived in this area for most of my life and I have to agree with Bob. Beartooth is one of the prettiest drives in the Western U.S..... Gardnier is nice but Beartooth and then Red Lodge is great.

Bob and jnjfraz, how long would you estimate it would take to go from the northeastern entrance to Yellowstone to Red Lodge (one-way)? I'm trying to get it into my itinerary...I'm wondering if it's a bit far from Gardiner (and with a 6-year-old and 9-year-old in the car all the while it may feel even farther if you catch my drift).

travelbug,

If your question is, can you make it from Gardiner, over the Beartooth and back to Gardiner in one day (via the Lamar Valley and Cooke City), the answer is - Yes!

I live in Bozeman, we routinely drive the Beartooth from Bozeman, to Red Lodge and back home from Gardiner. It's a day trip and a fun one. It will take you less time because you don't have the extra Bozeman leg

Do it!

-doo

When in doubt listen to the natives when it comes to road conditions and driving!

I think you will find reasons to stop along the Lamar River as you drive toward the park exit.

It is a dry area of the park, so wildlife tend to get water at the river.

Once you turn onto the Beartooth Highway itself, route 212, look for a sign pointing to a Forest Service visitor center that is in an old fire lookout tower. The tower is now a museum and open to the public.

The climb up the steps to the old lookout perch is fun and the view from the top of the tower is fairly good, although it cannot rival the views from the road higher up the mountain.

I hope you at least spot a herd of bison along the Lamar River.

Bison of course are very migratory so they could be anywhere in the park that is fairly flat, near water, and has something to graze on.

In years past, I have spotted bison on the road between the Fountain Paint Pots and Old Faithful, on the road between West Yellowstone and Madison Junction, in Haydn Valley north of the lake and south of Canyon, and along the Lamar River.