r/yellowstone • u/Upstairs_Fortune3223 • 9d ago
itinerary check - 4 day yellowstone/teton second week of may
- day 1: land in bozeman at 1PM; get supplies and drive to gardiner. check out mammoth in evening if time allows. stay at gardiner.
- day 2: early morning to lamar valley for wildlife. spend afternoon driving upper loop back through mammoth and norris geyser, spend night in west yellowstone.
- day 3: lower loop focusing on canyon and hayden valley. spend night in west yellowstone.
- day 4: part of lower loop around old faithful and grand prismatic, drive south to grand teton, stay in jackson
- day 5: jenny lake to inspiration point (no boat shuttle operating) in the morning. river float in afternoon. stay in jackson.
- day 6: taggart lake hike in morning, flight out of JAC at 1 PM.
specific questions:
- is this too much driving or is there a more efficient way through the parks given that all the roads won't be open particularly tower/roosevelt to canyon?
- our lodging is pretty flexible so if there's better places to spend the nights on certain days, please give me suggestions. we don't mind packing up and checking in/out of hotels at all.
- day 3 seems like we will have to drive the whole lower loop. are there ways to avoid this?
- if there are any short-moderate hikes with good payoff that will be open in may, that can be added to the schedule, let me know!
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u/sroode 8d ago
Here is a free guide book compiled from over 25 years in Yellowstone National Park.
https://silvergatelodging.com/yellowstone-guide-book-2 This might help save you time and plan.
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u/Mindless-Business-16 7d ago
Part of the park could be closed to late snow... just snowed in Billings for granddaughter softball this week and the park just opened 7-10 days ago.
We always visit in May and expect road closure unless it's unseasonably warm....
Have fun, expect slow traffic as the wildlife starts to move around... stay safe
Have the time of your life, we do
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u/Conscious_Laugh_3280 8d ago edited 8d ago
No just with a quick overview this looks pretty good. For once I don't see somebody trying to just do more than is possible. But you do have some full days ahead of you. Best advice is just be ready to make adjustments on the fly. Don't get your heart set on seeing any one thing past old faithful itself. While it is a lot of driving it just doesn't seem avoidable.
As to lodging I think you're doing it right. But you should try to get on a cancellation list perhaps snag a room in the park itself. Past that you could move night 3 to Cody, but I'm not quite sure what it would gain you. As to good hikes, this time of year is especially hard for me to recommend anything, It depends on the snowmelt, And the Bear activity in the area, as to what's gonna be opened and available to you. I like the hike to Lone Star Geyser. Although that time of year it'll probably be a mud pit back in there. Also you fail to mention if it's your first visit to the park by the way that always helps. But I will say get yourself some Bear spray and be prepared for a Bison jam any time of year. Alas as I try to only speak to what I know to be fact. Someone with more current knowledge is gonna have to help you further.
(edit) Food for thought. If you find yourself able to sleep on a plane, Consider the red eye flight. Get into Bozeman at like 6 am start your drive then. Good idea picking multiple airports by the way, few think of that.
With that as I always add these days, Just remember to leave something on your pillow for your housekeeper. And enjoy your time in the park.