Planning on a Yellowstone trip arriving May 16th. Is everything open by then or do we need to reconsider our arrival date? Staying outside NE entrance.

It depends on the wx.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/hours.htm

We were there mid-June this past summer, and several of the roads were closed. It snowed a lot this past June. Luckily, most of the roads opened the day we arrived. I had called the day before and several of the roads were closed. We flew to Billings and the flew out of Jackson. Our only reason for flying to Billings was to drive the Beartooth. It was closed, so we didn't get to drive it. I would reconsider your dates, and I would stay in the park, not outside. I would imagine the NE side to have a considerable more amount of snow in May than what we saw in June.

Anytime before mid-June can be "iffy" for Beartooh, in fact, the only time I've been snowed on in July was over Beartooth. Inh mid-May much will still be closed even if the roads are passable. If you want to avoid some of the crowds that come with June-July-August look at mid-to-late September as an alternative.

Spirobulldog,

I am looking to purchase the same open jaw airline ticket for next July from Chicago.May I ask where you flew from and what you would consider a good price?

We flew from Tulsa, OK connecting in Denver on United. Flight was expensive, compared to some open-jaw flights. I imagine I paid a good $200 to $250pp more for this situation. I think I paid about $570 per ticket. Sometimes a rental car is a lot more expensive with the drop charges. It wasn't this time, I don't know how they figure that.

If it were to do all over again, I would simply fly in and out of Jackson and just take a day to drive out on the beartooth and return on the beartooth. We did dirve the Chief Joseph HWY, which was supposed to be very scenic. It was nice, but not super or anything in my opinion.

The airlines lost my luggage and believe it or not, they had someone bring it all the way to Old Faithful Inn the next day.

letsgo,

If you are staying in the park, I hope you have your reservations for that already.

Thanks Spirobulldog!

That gives me a starting point for my airfare search.

We have rented condo in Gardiner (with a pool)as we will have GS with us.We have been to the area a couple of other times. Our plan is drive from Kentucky to Chicago and pick up Grandson.Drive to Rushmore for 2 nights than to Cody for 2 nights. Drive to Billings to meet son who will be flying to Billings from Chicago. Than on to Red Lodge for 1 night and drive the Beartooth the next day on our way to our Condo in Gardiner. We have 5 nights in Gardiner and than head to Jackson for 2 nights.DS and GS will fly from Jackson back to Chicago and DH and I will drive back to Kentucky the southern way.We opted not to stay in the park due to the price of 2 rooms at OFI and the fact that we have stayed at many basic accomadations in the National parks over the years.

trg-

That really is early to go to that area. I would imagine many of the roads will still be closed.