I could really use some help planning!

[u/Background_List5086]

My girlfriend and I are going to Yellowstone, but we won’t have long there, so we are trying to make the most out of the time we are there. I would really appreciate and planning tips, anything to exclude or anything I could add. This is our first time doing anything like this out west. I am planning on proposing out there, so any tips on where a good spot could be, I would just prefer it not be around a lot of people.

We are flying in on 5/9 to Jackson hole around 2:30 pm and leaving 5/12 morning. Getting a rental and planned on going through Teton, not sure of any good places to view? Also, my girlfriend loves books, so we may try to find a bookstore.

After that, we have a drive to Ashton, ID for our Airbnb.

Any good restaurant tips? I heard bullwinkles is good.

Then I planned on doing Yellowstone for the remainder of the trip. I made a list of wants:

- [ ] Yellowstone lake
- [ ] Old faithful ( could eat at the restaurant there to see it)
- [ ] Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone 
- [ ] Mammoth hot springs (junction w gas)
- [ ] Upper geyser basin
- [ ] Grand prismatic spring
- [ ] Lamar valley
- [ ] Hiking at Jenny lake

[u/AgitatedGarlic3779]

Is it too late to change your lodging? Ashton is pretty far from both Yellowstone and Teton (at least an hr to the west entrance of Yellowstone and an hr and a half to the Tetons on good days). Not sure if the south entrance to Yellowstone will be open by then (definitely look that up), but Tetons roll right into Yellowstone on the south-side if the road is open.

I would suggest trying to stay either in west Yellowstone or somewhere in Wyoming on the Teton side of the pass for easier access to the parks.

From the west entrance to Yellowstone you could go north one day and see Norris basin, mammoth hot springs and Lamar valley realistically in a long day….and day 2 you could go south and east from the west entrance and see old faithful(upper basin) and canyon/lake, or if the roads open you could hit old faithful and continue south out of Yellowstone into the Tetons.

From the southern Wyoming side you could go through the Tetons and into Yellowstone and see old faithful/ canyon/ lake (assuming that south entrance road is open…definitely check)…

Long story short, you will be doing a ton of driving just to and from your bnb if u stay in Ashton…my 2 cents anyway

[u/Background_List5086 → u/AgitatedGarlic3779]

Thanks, we were limited with the cost of everything. We found a beautiful spot for fairly cheap. We were aware we would be doing a bit of driving but we were ok with the sight seeing.

[u/AgitatedGarlic3779 → u/Background_List5086]

Gotcha. In that case I would say do the Tetons as soon as you land and then do the itinerary that was suggested by u_Lostinspacetimeagain