View Full Version : Yellowstone?
fidgiegirl
5-19-13, 8:20pm
Kestra's thread has inspired me. :) DH and I are thinking about doing the classic American road trip, the trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, with a stop at Rushmore or other sites along the way.
We're not against camping, but not necessary married to the idea of camping, either.
Tips/ideas/etc?
We did that very trip a few years ago. If you're stopping by Rushmore, please enjoy some of the other local attractions such as Custer State Park, the Needles Highway, the Crazy Horse Monument and Deadwood. They're all within a half hour or so from Rapid City. We spent three days there on our way to Yellowstone and in retrospect, we should have scheduled five.
On your way to the Grand Tetons from Yellowstone, remember to dress warm if you're planning any camping along the way. We did a motorcycle trip from Yellowstone's west entrance down to Jackson Hole in mid July and were surprised at how uncomfortably cold it was at those elevations.
Since the following is a still image, you can't see my teeth chattering.
http://lefttoright.net/images/Grand%20Tetons.jpg
fidgiegirl
5-19-13, 9:15pm
You do look cold, though . . . your hands are clenched! Thanks for the tips!
flowerseverywhere
5-19-13, 10:22pm
when we went to Yellowstone in several years ago in early June it was snowing. some roads were not open. That meant, however that the park was very uncrowded, the wildlife was abundant, and it was beautiful. It gets very crowded in the summer. I would not have paid to stay in the Yellowstone Inn again, although a historical building I found it very overpriced. Grand tetons were spectacular. We also loved Mount Rushmore. When we travel we either fly and rent a normal car and stay in motels or drive from home. It is so much cheaper than rv'ing it, especially if you buy a cooler when you get there and hit a grocery store for drinks and some meals. our last stop is to donate the cooler to the local goodwill. We have found no problems travelling off season finding inexpensive hotels like days inns to stay. We use our phone app to search and call ahead as the day wears on. Outside of Yellowstone are some nice little towns to stay in. There was a beautiful hotel on a lake in Yellowstone that we ate in, I wish we had stayed there. The park is huge so keep that in mind. I believe you are in Education so going during the summer may be your only choice, but that would not stop me. I would be a little more careful to make reservations ahead of time. Check out a national parks pass - it may be worth it to get it before you leave, not sure of prices these days to get into the parks.
flowerseverywhere
5-19-13, 10:32pm
wanted to add I checked the route you would take by car. I loved the black hills and badlands when we travelled there. Both are really historically interesting and beautiful. A lot of the history is sad though, as we made treaties with the Native Americans and continued to break them as the gold miners sought riches. We tend to visit little museums and read the historical plaques and read as much as we can before we visit an area so we know the good and the bad. We also really enjoyed Custer State Park in South Dakota, home to several thousand buffalo. Quite a fascinating place.
goldensmom
5-20-13, 6:16am
Oh, do it!!! I did a ‘Classic American Road Trip’ twice, one with my family as a teenager then a camping/hiking trip with a friend as a young adult. It started with Glacier National Park, then Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Rocky Mtn., Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Blackhills, etc. and everything in between. Great trip, learned lots, had fun, much exercise, lost weight, learned I had allergies, would love to do it again. Another favorite theme trip was Civil War battlefields and everything between.
We did Yellowstone in early Sept and it was great! However, I recall y'all are beholden to the school year. I did a trip with friends to the Tetons another time in summer and the crowds were not too bad. We camped outside the park in BLM or Forest land but I am used to the rustic thing so that was fine with me. Getting reservations to camp in Yosemite midsummer is a 4 month deal; not sure about Yellowstone in high season. No problems after Labor Day except for when we wanted a certain backcountry site. At Grand Canyon we also camped in Forest just outside the park...great if you don't mind packing in/out TP and water. Maybe a bit much if you're not a serious camper. In any case, that whole trip sounds fantastically beautiful but this year it's been a much colder spring so you might go more toward the end of summer if you don't have a date set yet. Also look at campgrounds if you plan to do "improved" camping inside the parks. It may be a bit late for reservations at some of the more popular areas. No idea about actual lodging, but my impression is that you better book months to maybe a year in advance for in the park stuff. Some towns outside the park may be easier, but be prepared for small rustic towns. Or expensive neat towns in the case of Jackson WY.
I should add, it's very likely that camping will be much less expensive even if you have to buy a tent. A night or two in a hotel would be a good 3 season tent at REI. This may whet your whistle on the camping bit. Improved campgrounds will have bear boxes for food and trash, but if you're going to try at-large camping you may think twice about bear-resistant containers. A car may not cut it-not sure how far the bear issues have gotten in the Yellowstone area. They are OK in Colorado as far as I have experienced for car camping.
dado potato
6-7-13, 8:44pm
Devil's Tower might be a good spot too.
fidgiegirl
6-7-13, 11:06pm
Thanks everyone for the helpful tips. We are seasoned campers and have all the gear, but for some reason DH wasn't thinking we'd camp on this trip. Hmmm? Anyway I think now he realizes that may be the only way to do it! I'd rather, anyway. These tips have been helpful. Thanks all!
Hey Fidgie - I'm on my way up there now so will post here when I get there (unlike Alan I wimped out from riding the motorcycle am driving instead). I've been there many times and have lots of info you may be able to use but too hard to use this tablet computer in car so later when in motel. Wind River Nat Park and caves is a great place near Rushmore to visit too.
I live near Mt Rushmore, you probably don't want to come the first 2wks of August. Sturgis has a motorcycle rally then and the hills are FULL of cyclists. Motels etc skyrocket in cost. I enjoy the rally, but it isn't a good time to travel here.
fidgiegirl
6-18-13, 11:35pm
Thanks for all the tips. Starting to do a bit more planning and thinking of getting a rental car rather than putting the miles on ours. Do you think a compact or economy will cut it?
SteveinMN
6-19-13, 10:43am
A compact car certainly would cut it, though I'd give an edge to a hatchback if you get a choice. Just make sure there's something (even an old blanket) that will cover the cargo in the back (prying eyes and all that).
jennipurrr
6-21-13, 3:09pm
Thanks for all the tips. Starting to do a bit more planning and thinking of getting a rental car rather than putting the miles on ours. Do you think a compact or economy will cut it?
We did Yellowstone and glacier a few years ago...it was one of the best trips we've been on. We did a mix of rustic forest service cabins and the lodges/hotels. We stayed a night at the Old Faithful Inn even though it was pricey, and it was definitely worth it. The bathrooms are down the hall but they were very nice. The walls are paper thin...the people next to us had just gotten married and were on the first night of their honeymoon and DH and I probably embarrassed them with our giggling. But, seriously I highly suggest to spring for a night there!
The forest service cabins book up early, but they were a good option for us flying in. We just had to bring our sleeping bags instead of full gear. Here is their site - http://www.recreation.gov/ We stayed near Glacier, not sure if they have some near Yellowstone or if they were just booked up. They have a mix of electric/propane/nonelectric and I remember them being about $30/night. They were basic and totally in the boonies...DH always felt we might be in for a texas chainsaw massacure, but I loved being isolated. One of them was beside a river and we saw deer in the morning and other animals (bear, moose) nearby.
We were there over Labor day...we rented a little Nissan Rogue and we were fine. However, there were predictions of a "blizzard" and we overpacked all sorts of winter clothes. At that point we were nervous about the car. The blizzard was one day of sprinkling rain and so the worries were for nothing, but I do think the weather can be unpredictable.
It was one of our favorite trips...y'all will have a great time!
Thanks for all the tips. Starting to do a bit more planning and thinking of getting a rental car rather than putting the miles on ours. Do you think a compact or economy will cut it?
Fidgie girl - I just returned from doing a fly/drive thing to Yellowstone. I had planned to drive my truck out there (and actually started too) but my sister wasn't able to watch my dog long term like originally planned so I just flew instead. Got a cheap flight to Salt Lake City and picked up a rental car there. The flight cost $200 r/t - less than the fuel would have cost to drive from LA to SLC and back (approx. 1400 miles) - and the car rental was $128/week (a total of approx $300 for 2 weeks with taxes and fees). I used a CC that had both a 20% discount and a double up grade at Hertz so I got a nicer car for less money. It had free unlimited miles and I was allowed to take it out of that state (not all car rental companies allow that though). It worked out great and saved me alot of time driving up and back as well as wear and tear on my old truck. So I'think getting a rental car is a great idea.
Of course when I got there I couldn't find a place to stay (no reservations) and even all the campgrounds where full. So that's my first bit of advice - if you go in summer make sure you have a place to stay or a campground booked. Even the Motel 6 in Jackson was over $100/night!. My second bit of advice is don't go in summer :-)! It was horribly crowded and just terrible - even in the far flung areas. Last time I went it was in late spring (mid-May) and it was so much better. Hardly anyone around, low cost and availability everywhere and much more beautiful and green with wildflowers and many more animals and better weather (was hot now).
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