Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Grand Teton and Yellow Stone Natl. parks

alltheway
Does anyone have any recommendations for where to stay and use as a base to go in and out of these parks? I'll be with my family of 5 for about a week in mid Aug.

Is this a bad time to visit?

I was thinking about Jackson, Wy.

Thanks in advance.
0

Comments

18 comments

Date Votes
  • Permanently deleted user
    There are some hotels in the parks themselves...but they are probably very expensive and you'd definitely need reservations...
    0
  • Idahobound
    Idaho Falls would probly be the cheapest and only 2 hours from each.
    0
  • spanielsells
    Driggs, Idaho would be a lot cheaper, and is on the other side of the pass from Jackson.

    We stayed at a Best Western in Driggs. Took like 15 minutes to get from there to Jackson.
    0
  • pamtman
    My brother and his daughter stayed in a cabin in Moran WY. when we hunted elk in October,05. The rest of us ruffed it in the mountains.It was cheap and close to the park. GTP RV Resort, Moran WY. Tel#307 543 2483
    0
  • dpmule
    Bob Fosters "Mountain View Lodge" Tetonia Idaho about 1 hour from Moose (GTNP)and 1-1/2 hour from either the south or the west gate of the Park (YNP)this has the advantage of touring downtown Jackson or West Yellowstone without having to put up with staying there.

    I would personally would stay in Cody after making a tour of GTNP, more options, and of course the Buffalo Bill Museum and they have a nightly rodeo, whereas Jacksons is only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

    All depends on what trips your trigger

    send me a PM if you want
    0
  • CS8161
    Stay in the town of West Yellostone, great little town, the Pioneer Motel is cheaper than most but don't expect five star accomodations! The town of West Yellowstone sits right at the west entrance to the park and has good facilities. Gardiner, which sits at the north entrance, does not have any good places to eat, in my opinion. You have to book a room about 18 months in advance to get a hotel inside the park.
    0
  • Mossbergboogie
    I believe cody, WY is close by on the east side. Lots to do there as well as close to the parks.
    0
  • spanielsells
    quote:Originally posted by alltheway
    I appreciate all the suggestions guys. I'm going to start to look into them.

    The idea is to fly into Salt lake, visit there a little bit then drive up north for awhile. Then drive down to Dever and fly out.

    Thanks again.
    You do realize that Denver International Airport is located in Kansas, right?
    0
  • bgjohn
    Stay at the old hotel in the park at the North entrance. Teddy Roosevelt stayed there. It's an oldie but a goodie.
    JM
    0
  • gruntled
    The best time to go is just before the park formally opens. If the roads are clear they allow you to enter before the actual date.
    We had the place almost to ourselves & could stop anywhere we wanted & the parking lots were almost empty.
    We had tried to enter through Jackson Hole & found the entrance closed. We stopped back in Jackson Hole to eat & a policeman that was eating there told us he had heard the west entrance was open. He really saved the day with that information. We didn't even have to pay to go in.
    0
  • hdwrench
    stay in codyu ,it is close and less expensive !! while there be sure to visit the museum (if you like guns ,wild life and injuns ).we stayed in a camp ground 2 doors down from the super wallymart for 15 a nite with all hook ups .

    we also canped near teton ,was a little more but worth it .

    if you need more details email me and i get you the names and phone info on the places we stayed (campgrounds ).

    if not camping there are many hotels in cody also ..

    we went in august and hit snow so be prepares with alt clothing . it was a wonderful time there ,dont miss out !!take lots of cameras , there is a photo op around every corner .
    0
  • whiteclouder
    quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
    Driggs, Idaho would be a lot cheaper, and is on the other side of the pass from Jackson.

    We stayed at a Best Western in Driggs. Took like 15 minutes to get from there to Jackson.


    Gotta call BS on this one. I've made that trip a hundred times and even attempting 15 minutes would get you killed. It well over 30 miles across a steep mountain pass with switchbacks, on a two lane road you share with a caravan of RVs and motorhomes going 40.

    Try Victor, ID, alltheway.

    Clouder..
    0
  • gruntled
    quote:Originally posted by alltheway
    quote:Originally posted by gruntled
    The best time to go is just before the park formally opens. If the roads are clear they allow you to enter before the actual date.
    We had the place almost to ourselves & could stop anywhere we wanted & the parking lots were almost empty.
    We had tried to enter through Jackson Hole & found the entrance closed. We stopped back in Jackson Hole to eat & a policeman that was eating there told us he had heard the west entrance was open. He really saved the day with that information. We didn't even have to pay to go in.



    What time of year was this? I think that would be the best time to visit, but I wouldn't cut it so close. I got the feeling Aug. is the busiest month.



    We didn't do it on purpose, we just didn't know it wasn't yet open. I seem to recall that it was in April but I'm sure there must be a web site that would give the actual date. I suspect that if you got there a day or two early you could be pretty sure of getting in & if not then when it did officially open. The main thing would be to check on the weather as the deciding factor is if the roads are clear of snow.
    I have only been one other time & that was in 1956. Even that long ago the roads & parking lots were jammed. It was really neat to have the whole place almost to ourselves.
    0
  • Old hickory
    I just got back from a wedding in Livingston MT and it is HOT and DRY as of the last month. They had fires starting when we left. Livingston and Bozeman are great towns with lots to do and not that far from Yellowstone, I don't like the crowds at the park. I'd go there early in the AM see Old Faithful the lodge and drive around and then I'd get the heck out and go to the national forest in the Crazy Mountains 30 miles east of Livingston. You can camp for almost nothing on a nice clear stream and the sights are as good as Yellowstone Just my opinion but I've done it in 97 -98- 03 - and 07 Montana is a great place!
    0
  • dpmule
    +1 Clouder, I have made it in 15 but we flew a MP4 maule across just south of the grand.
    Years ago we could drive the length of "The Valley" in 15 minutes or at least from our place near Tetonia to the Knotty Pine or Timberline in Victor, nowadays aperson can't get from Driggs to Victor in 15 because of hankyheads and people headed aross the hill to work and traffic in general.
    .
    I do not know what interests you or your family, but
    Accommodations,

    Bob Fosters "Teton Mountain View Lodge " 208-465-2741 /208-456-2062
    or if Jackson has to be it, I thinlk the Virginian has some big family rooms

    Teton valley interests
    go to ski hill ( Grand Targhee)and ride the lift to the top of Freds, they have horseback rides there also.

    Check out what Kevin and Deb have going at thier web site, they also have trail rides up the rode at Harriman state park, really super people,good horses, and yes they are my friends
    Mtnhttp://www.dryridge.com/

    Jackson Rafting, safe and dry, operators on the scenic part of the snake above moose.
    wet and wooly run the canyon with Barker_Ewing or one of the other float trip operators.
    After that's all done, and the GTNP and YNP is seen, head for Cody you won't regret it

    As for snow, this is the high country man, should definitely be seeing some frosts by the time of your arrival and snow is a dsitinct possibility, factoid: July 4th parade was cancelled in Driggs in mid 90's because of snowstorm. believe it. bring stuff to layer on and peel as the day goes on and put back on as the shadows lengthen.
    0
  • bgjohn
    quote:Originally posted by bgjohn
    Stay at the old hotel in the park at the North entrance. Teddy Roosevelt stayed there. It's an oldie but a goodie.
    JM


    We went right after Labor day and it was almost empty. It was great!
    JM
    0
  • texaswildman
    You owe it to yourself to stay at the Old Faithful Inn/Lodge in the park one night. It will require reservations and you may be to late. At least try - it is to historic to miss. When we fish the area (NE), we normally stay in a place called Antlers Inn in Cooke City, MT @ the NE entrance - not as touristy or crowded - also not a five star place. I have stayed in West Yellowstone and Jackson also - very touristy of course. The Park is very big and takes time to get around, maybe you should consider a couple of bases.
    0
  • CS8161
    This is the worst time to visit Yellowstone, the traffic thru the park will be horrendous. Every time someone spots a squirrel by the road they stop their car in the middle of the moving lane to jump out and take three thousand photos of it! Traffic back up for miles! If a deer, elk, moose or even worse, a bear is spotted, it becomes a feeding frenzy of picture taking! Its always fun watching the city folks walk up to a moose or bison to get a close up photo and then scramble for their vehicle when the animal takes a step towards them!
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity