2012 Trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons

[billy bob]

A few more to wet your appetite for your 2012 trip have a great time and let us see some of your photos


Genny Lake Grand Teton





Elk at Grand Teton near Moran entrance





Buffalo Jam just in side of south entrance to Yellowstone





Bull Elk at Lamar Valley Yellowstone





Mountain Sheep at Lamar Valley Yellowstone

[billy bob]

Grizzlies bed doesn't look veryi comfortable and of course Old Faithful

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by billy bob

Iggy sounds like you have got a lot of info....

billy bob we want everyones 2 cents. The more information will help everyone here. Great pictures.
Let's keep this going and maybe get a few interested enough to make the trip and we can have a small get together.
Thank you

[Oakman]

Since I host a fireworks display every year on the 4th I can’t possibly make it to Yellowstone in your time frame. Have a great time John.

Here’s a photo of the Crows Nest on the top floor of the Old Faithful Inn. An earthquake damaged it in 1959 so it was closed to the public. I heard that the NPS was going to make repairs to it, but I don’t know if that ever came about.

[Iggy]

Just received my confirmation from Grizzly Campground for the week of the 4th of July. So things are a go!
Now we just wait 7 months.

[BackInAction]

Slight thread hijacking...

We, too, are planning a Yellowstone trip for next summer. Probably the last 3 weeks in June (there is a slight chance it would be the first 3 weeks). We are driving in from Ohio.

Our current "plan" (changes daily as I read/learn more)...

• Drive 2 "very long" days to reach Badlands
• Spend 2 nights (1.5 days) in Badlands (possibly dry camping)
• Drive to Black Hills
• Spend 3-4 nights in Black Hills (hook-ups)
• Visit Devil's tower (<-- Not sure how we'll squeeze this one in)
• Drive to "somewhere" just outside of Yellowstone (North entrance? East Entrance? Northeast Entrance?) for 1 night
• Drive to Yellowstone's Canyon CG, spend 4-5 nights (dry camping), touring Northern third/half of Yellowstone
• Drive down to Flagg Ranch (or someplace else with hook-ups), spend 4-5 nights, touring Southern Half/Third of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons.
• Drive home via Colorado (2-3 nights).

For non-travel days, our goal is to getup/out early, each picnic lunch, and return to our camper around dinner. I want to make sure we have plenty of downtime each day otherwise we could get burned out and grumpy.

My biggest concern is everyone keeps telling me that Black Hills is "great" and you won't want leave.

[papap]

The DW and I also plan to make the trip this coming summer. We will be driving up from Louisiana in our Solera. It is 27.5 feet long. This will be our only way to get around. Is this going to be a problem???? We are thinking of going in late July and august. Plan to make the whole trip in about 3 weeks or just over. I work 28 days on and 28 days off. Hoping to see Mount Rushmore then head to Yellowstone and then drive down through Jackson Hole before heading home.

[KarenS144]

BackInAction,

I like your plans. I might have to copy & paste them into my itenerary! I made a quick trip through the Black Hills & Rushmore a few years ago when I drove my parents to CA from KY. I could have just stayed there! Beautiful country and something for everyone that enjoys the outdoors.

BUT...

I said the same thing about Utah when we visited this year!

[buckeyefan]

This is a great thread!
We are going the first two weeks of August 2012.
We are cheating... we are flying to Cody then renting a car. Staying 10 days - Canyon Lodge, Old Faithful Lodge, Lake Lodge...

Figured it was easier then sharing the road with the bike heading to South Dakota.

[papap]

Would we need to rent a car for Yellowstone or can we get around in Solera motorhome. Looks like we will be leaving Louisana last weekend in June. So we will make it to Yellowstone mid July.

[Oakman]

Originally Posted by papap

Would we need to rent a car for Yellowstone or can we get around in Solera motorhome. Looks like we will be leaving Louisana last weekend in June. So we will make it to Yellowstone mid July.

While some people do tour the park in Class C’s I personally wouldn’t do it. Driving the roads in the park will be no problem, the challenge will be finding a place to park in the parking lots at the major attractions in the park. You are going at the peak tourist season so I fear you will find yourself circling the parking lots with your Class C as you wait for a parking space to open that is large enough for your rig.

I would rent a car for touring Yellowstone Park. My opinion of course.

[papap]

We're would be the best place to pickup rental. We will be coming in from Mount Rushmoore.

[Oakman]

I can't really tell you the best place to rent a car in that area. The two closest towns that might have car rentals are West Yellowstone, MT on the west side of the park or Gardiner, MT on the north side. Other than that I would think that Cody, Wy or Jackson Hole, WY would have car rentals available.

[BackInAction]

If you are arriving from the Blackhills, I would think Rapid City, SD; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; and Cody, WY could be described as "on the way". But, you could drive through YS and pick up a car in West Yellowstone and/or from the south in Jackson.

Obviously if you pick up the car on the way from the Black Hills you'll need a one-way rental. Whereas if you pick it up in West Yellowstone or Jackson you could return it to the same location.

[bend302]

PAPAP:

X2 on the car rental.

You will be there in the busy season and Yellowstone can get pretty crowded. When we were there (in a car) we took a bus tour but they limit the time you can spend at a stop so the next day, we took the car and looked on our own.

Considering gas prices, you will pay for a lot of the rental with gas savings.

Bill

[ernest917]

I tried to respond earlier but it didn't go through so here we go again...

We spent two weeks in Tetons\Yellowstone last summer (5th time up there) in a 29' MH and drove it everywhere with not a single problem... No CG issues, no road issues, no parking to site see issues.... All-in-all - no problems.... We even pulled a 5X8 cargo trailer....

Some suggestions: would definitely recommend you stay one night (if not more) at Flagg Ranch just outside South entrance to Yellowstone... Great CG without the CG feel... We loved it!!

Also - strongly recommend you stay in the park at park CG's(Grant Village, Madison, Bay Bridge and Fishing Bridge). We stayed in each so my grandsons could experience the differences of each one... They loved them all.... Make reservations NOW!!!

In addition - drive up north in the park to Lamar Valley... Largest bison herd in the park lives there as well as elk and wolves... Great drive up there and yes, we did it in the MH... And we also drove to (and parked) at Old Faithful...

We went by way of Raton Pass (NM) and then to Denver and through the Eisenhower Tunnel (highest tunnel in elevation in the US) then through Rocky Mountain NP then to Jackson Hole, WY then to the parks....

In my humble (but correct) opinion, you don't need a rent car... Extra expense, extra hassle, etc. We like having the kitchen and restroom with us at all times... (also all out stuff - fishing rods, cameras, etc.)

Number one priority - have a blast... If I can offer any other help just let me know.... Have my total itinerary if you're interested....

[ernest917]

Also - forgot to mention.... There's an app for Yellowstone for your smart phone that we found really helpful....

[papap]

Is it called Yellwstone? Thanks for the info

[ernest917]

It's an app that is a map of the park that shows all CG's, sights, hiking trails, etc... Can't remember if it was free or not but it's worth it....

[papap]

I downloaded a free one and paid $4 for upgrade. It says official guide to Yellowstone.