Yellowstone in June - Itinerary critique?
 

Hi,
I'm making last minute plans for a trip to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons this June. I currently have two nights in Grant Village, but I'm checking everyday for cancellations. Here's what I'm planning to do:

Day 1: Land in Jackson at 4p. Stay the night in either Colter Bay or Signal Mountain Lodge.

Day 2: Grand Tetons - Grant Village (Night in Grant Village).

Day 3: Explore lower loop: see YS Lake, Canyon, Old Faithful. Back to GV for the night.

Day 4: GV - Gardiner (Night in Gardiner).

Day 5: Lamar Valley, mammoth. Back to Gardiner.

Day 6: Gardiner - grand tetons.

Day 7: Catch flight out of Jackson.

What do you guys think? I'm most worried about the looong drive from Gardiner back down to Tetons, but I wanted to avoid moving every night. Any suggestions appreciated!
Thank you!

Sounds like a wonderful trip. We were out there this fall. The trip from Mammoth Springs to the South Entrance is 90 miles via Madison and Old Faithful. Then it is 64 miles back to Jackson. I would think this distance would not be a problem for you. Be sure and drive Moose-Wilson Road in the Tetons and you just might see moose. We did. Have fun.

hi GC. I'm assuming you won't be doing any sort of hiking? The drives between OF, lake area, etc are slow going. You won't have much time in each place in that one day.

Hi blocker and Maria_so, thanks for your replies! I'll be sure to check out Moose-Wilson. Wildlife is one of my main goals for this trip (and mountains...what can I say. I've been in the midwest too long.).
Maria_so, I'm probably going to do some of short hikes only, since I'll be there with my parents. But I can always come back for a more in-depth visit :).

On your "southern" loop day, I'd probably skip Yellowstone lake, it's a pretty lake and worth spending the time if you have it, but with limited time, I'd prefer to get out and do a short hike around either OF or the Canyon. I think both those areas are more unique than the lake, and you'd do better exploring one of them more fully than doing all of them quickly. But that's a personal choice. It's hard to find anything bad about any spot in Yellowstone.

I don't quite understand what you are planning for Day 4. Travelkitty is right. You have a lot planned for Day 3. I would split that day up between Day 3 and 4. You could see Norris Geyser Basin on the way to your overnight to Gardiner. It is one of the best thermal areas. If you want to see wildlife, the Hayden Valley (between Lake Yellowstone and Canyon) is a good spot, as is the Lamar Valley. Try to get out for at least a short hike. It gives the Park an entirely different feel.

Day 3, skip Old Faithful and focus on Lake, Hayden Valley and points north. Get up early. You can sleep later. You can also see the Upper and Lower falls.

Day 4. See Old Faithful on the way north. You can also check out West Thumb since its so close. Head on up to Gardiner. If its earlier than you expected, cut over to Canyon and go to Gardiner the long way.

Day 5. After Lamar Valley, head up to Dunraven Pass. There were several grizzlies up that way last June.

Don't get so locked into an intinerary that you become inflexible. You may well get there and find some things that you like more than you expected.

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions! I've modified my trip a bit, so now I get to spend an extra day in Yellowstone! Woohoo~
For the rough itinerary I posted above, I just mapped out the direction I'll be driving by listing the major spots along the way. But no solid plans other than getting to Lamar Valley early. Wolves and grizzlies, here I come :) Hopefully I'll have some good pictures to share when I get back! Thanks again, everyone!

We saw no wolves or grizzlies but the large number of other animals was incredible - mainly moose, antelope, and lots of bison in Lamar and Hayden Valley. Be prepared for animal jams on roadways.

Day 6 - the drive from Gardiner to Grand Teton will take longer than you think - not that this is bad, since your flight is the next day. In mileage it seems like it would not take so long, but between animals, big RVs, places you just have to stop at it takes a while.

Sometime during day 4,5,6 stop at Boiling River (do a search here - it is a hot spring you can sit in)

All of our grizzly sitings were near Yellowstone Lake (Fishing Bridge area) so I suggest that you don't skip the Lake. Besides, how often do you get to see a Lake with steaming vents and geysers! It is quite a place!
We loved the Norris Geyser Basin - so incredible and the fascinating boardwalks through Old Faithful's geysers. The sounds, sights and even smells are so unique! You'll appreciate that extra day in YNP. We saw every mammal we could possibly see in YNP (including wolves) except moose which we saw plenty of in Tetons.
Although we did a lot of driving around the park, it was never too much since we were stopping constantly for wildlife or for walks thru the amazing thermal features. We stayed at 3 locations over our 6 nights and it was perfect! (2 nights each at OFI, Mammoth, and Canyon).
I would only suggest that you keep calling to reserve nights somewhere other than Grant. We didn't stay there but it seemed the least desireable to us. It was so great to be in OF area so we could walk through the geysers at dawn - quite an experience.

Last June, we saw wolves in the Lamar Valley in the early AM, and there were grizzlies at Dunraven Pass every morning and evening during our stay.

I agree with the other posters - You have a lot planned for Day 3. If you can, find someplace other than GV to stay as it may seem central, but if you are coming into the park from Grand Tetons, take the extra few minutes (not far) and stay at the Lake - we had a western cabin at the Lake Lodge and it was fine.

Gardiner, Montana was a cute little place but unless there is something specific or you are heading north into Montana, it is somewhat out of the way.

We stayed in the cabins at Colter Bay and they were fine. Food at Signal Mtn. was fabulous as was the sunrise from the top of Signal Mountain Summit Road.

The beauty of both of these parks is found by getting out of your car and walking/hiking/sitting. We spent 2 hours one morning watching a grizzly and the Hayden pack of wolves fight over a dead elk. Allow yourselves some 'margin' to see the beauty of the parks and to do more than stop, snap a photo at the most touristy areas and hop back in the car. Get up and at them early, too...

Have a blast - it is beautiful country.