Yellowstone Help

[thrillme]

We MAY be able to take a trip to yellowstone this year. I have absolutely no clue how to plan this. I don't mind camping but there are a couple of members in our family that might prefer a hotel of sorts.

I MUST see the gyser...but I don't know what else to do...reservations to make...How impossible is it to get tours at the last minute (I don't know if we'll be able to go or not yet)...we are probably only looking at a couple of days...if we can go.

Any ideas how to plan a trip of sorts?

[Auntie B]

Check nps.gov for park info. There is some lodging inside the park. Xanterra operates them. We made ressies a couple months ahead of time. There is so much to see and do there - you will have a great time!

[Altair]

If you plan on camping, be aware that it is first come first serve with no reservations.
If you want to stay in park lodging start booking now. West Yellowstone, Gardiner or Cooke City are your best bets outside the park.
Allow four days to see the park, it is very big with lots to see and do.
If you are an outdoors type person, this is a trip of a lifetime.

[NJGIRL]

I don't want to be Debbie Downer, but depending on when you are planning to go, you may not be able to book a room or camp site inside the park for this year. July of 2010 (one year in advance) I called to make a reservation for July of 2011 and the only rooms left were something like $429 per night. Because of that and questions about the flight I scrapped plans for this year (we are going back to WDW instead). I called back last month and found out that bookings open up in May so I will be calling back and trying to get a reservation for July 2012.

If you were planning on the summer this year you may be too late, but try calling anyway because you may get lucky and scoop up a cancellation.

[thrillme]

Oh my...that's good to know. We may not be able to go. My absolute preference is to "tent" camp. I guess I'll give them a call and see what my possibilities are.

[princessjojo]

We're doing a trip to Yellowstone this summer as well. Lucky for me I'm not having to do any of the planning as its a trip my son's Honors/AP Biology class is taking. What I can tell you is we're flying into Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake for a swim, heading to Antelope Island State Park, then headed to Hayden Valley, West Yellowstone, Old Faithful Lodge, Jackson Hole, WY, then white water rafting down the Snake River. Not sure what's being done what day, but we'll be there for about a week.

I'm looking forward to some of the information others have as well since I've never been out there either.

[dnickels]

Regarding tent camping: - If you want to tent camp you shouldn't worry too much about finding a place. True it's first-come, first-serve, but as long as you're not showing up after mid-afternoon you should be able to find something. If you're getting in late the first day you might want to book a hotel somewhere that night then go to the campground you want to stay at first thing the next morning, find an empty spot or one where people are leaving, set up, pay for your day(s) and go out exploring. Remember it can be in the 30s at night even during the summer, so make sure you're ready for that type of camping. Also, with the size of the park it may make sense to camp for a few days on one side, then move for a few days to another area (i.e. two days at Madison campground then two days at Canyon campground).

When it comes to hotels it's just like Disney, people are always canceling/changing/making plans so something that's booked this morning may be open tomorrow. The prime hotels fill up just about as soon as the booking window opens.

The place is huge and there's so much to see and do that a couple days visit is going to be like trying to see all of Disney World in one day - you can probably just barely see all the highlights in that time but it's better than never seeing it. The Old Faithful geyser area is part of a huge geyser basin and there are two other basins nearby so just seeing the old faithful area can be a full day in itself.

If you're up for some hiking by all means do it, get away from the roads and the touristy spots. Seeing Old Faithful is amazing, but the boardwalk, hotel and thousands of other people watching at the same time don't really contribute to the feeling of being in the wilderness. There's a stat on the National Geographic website saying that 99 percent of Yellowstone visitors never leave the park roads (I'm guessing they mean roads/developed areas). It's just amazing to me to think that people go all that way, drive around, get out, snap some pictures then go drive around some more when there's so much more to see.

I could go on and on, Montana is my second home so feel free to ask anything and I'll try to answer.

[LVT]

Hi, We are from Iowa and go to yellowstone once in a while.
1. Hotels inside fill fast.
2. Outside hotels on the west and north side are not that far away. There are a few more tourist things to do at west side entrance.
3. It snows sometimes even in early June.
4. The distances are deceptive. IE: a 20 mile stretch of road may require 3 hours to cover. The traffic stops for animals and sightseers.
5. We stop at every sight with a parking lot.
6. We live in a low altitude state and it takes a couple of days to be able to hike at a reasonable pace, in the thin air. We plan for that now.
7. Read some guidebooks. The park does not change, so earlier editions of books are fine.
My must-see list
1. Old faithful and surroundings
2. Gibbon falls
3. Waterfall from several trials
4. Canyon

I love it there, as you may have suspected.

[NJGIRL]

Yellowstone, and all other national parks for that matter, just opened their lodge bookings for the Summer of 2012 just 30 mins ago.

Rooms go fast so if you are interested call 866-439-7375. It was busy when I called (everyone trying to get a room) so I booked online with Xanterra.

I can't believe I got the room I wanted! Happy Day

[Altair]

Where did you end up?

[luvdiznee]

We got our room at El Tovar for very late March. Any idea what is the weather in that Canyon then?zAnd even for Vegas at that time. Late March to early April.

[NJGIRL]

We got our room at El Tovar for very late March. Any idea what is the weather in that Canyon then?zAnd even for Vegas at that time. Late March to early April.

I think the Canyon will still be cold in March. When I spoke to the person at Yellowstone yesterday she told me that they still had snow on the ground there. When we went in October (late), it was chilly in the morning and after the sun went down. During the day it was warm and you didn't need a jacket.

I think you are going to love the El Tovar. It was so old fashion but still very comfortable and homey. The elk came up to the doors every night. It was so cool! To walk outside the lobby and see the views was breath taking. Make sure you make reservations for the restaurant right away. It has glass windows and again the views are amazing especially in the morning at breakfast.

[luvdiznee]

I think the Canyon will still be cold in March. When I spoke to the person at Yellowstone yesterday she told me that they still had snow on the ground there. When we went in October (late), it was chilly in the morning and after the sun went down. During the day it was warm and you didn't need a jacket.

I think you are going to love the El Tovar. It was so old fashion but still very comfortable and homey. The elk came up to the doors every night. It was so cool! To walk outside the lobby and see the views was breath taking. Make sure you make reservations for the restaurant right away. It has glass windows and again the views are amazing especially in the morning at breakfast.

I kept thinking about that cold Canyon. And I figure since it is going to be part of our Vegas trip, and I have always wanted to go to "Vegas Uncorked", so I moved our dates to early May.

So now I will definitely get making the dinner reservations.

[NJGIRL]

Where did you end up?

The Old Faithful Inn. I got a room on the East side with a geyser view, 2 queen beds and private bath. I am so excited! I think that we will be flying into Jackson. I wanted a non stop, but from Philly we can only get to SLC and that is a 7 hour drive to the OFI. If we fly into Jackson it is only a 2 hour drive. We will have to stop in Chicago but the plane from Chicago to Jackson is still a large plane (I won't fly in a small plane). Another plus was it looks like Jackson has more fun things to do than SLC, and we plan on staying overnight.

[CPT Trips]

The Old Faithful Inn. I got a room on the East side with a geyser view, 2 queen beds and private bath. I am so excited! I think that we will be flying into Jackson. I wanted a non stop, but from Philly we can only get to SLC and that is a 7 hour drive to the OFI. If we fly into Jackson it is only a 2 hour drive. We will have to stop in Chicago but the plane from Chicago to Jackson is still a large plane (I won't fly in a small plane). Another plus was it looks like Jackson has more fun things to do than SLC, and we plan on staying overnight.

Be sure to compare rental car prices between the airports you are considering.

[NJGIRL]

Be sure to compare rental car prices between the airports you are considering.

Why is Jackson alot higher?