This was one part that we really enjoyed and made the trip worth it, in spite of the crowds at Yellowstone. The drive truly was awesome. For us, the problem was we were just doing a drive by of sorts, hoping to hit a few high spots in a couple of days on our way from Minnesota ending up in Oregon. With the crowds you just can’t do that and with my young adult kids and their issues I couldn’t really venture too far from the car. If one had more time and was willing to get off the beaten path it could still be a good experience.
Yeah, it's true that Yellowstone is not a "pop-in" experience like Bryce Canyon, Zion, Devil's Tower. If you plan in advance, it's a great stay. The roads will always suck. Two lanes, curvy roads, and RVs everywhere. You just gotta know that the driving will involve following. We actually were able to get-up-n-go one night when the traffic thinned, but the surroundings are so rewarding when you get to them.
You can spend 5 days in Yellowstone and still not see it all. When we were there, 90% of the people never got further than 1000' from the aprkign lots so if you don't mind doing some hiking, you can get away fromt he crowds The park is two different places. In the early am and in the late afternoon most of the "day trippers" not staying in the park are there and staying in the park allows you to visit the popular areas during those hours and then go hiking away from parking lots when the day trippers are there. We spent 8 days in Yellowstone, 2 in Cody Wyoming, and 4 days at Grand Tetons but we like to hike. If you do go to YS, try and get lodging in two different areas to limit your drive time. It is almost impossible to get lodging in the park unless you book far in advance. If I couldn't stay in the park, I would pick another destination. Be aware that Yellowstone (and Bryce) are at altitude. We were in YS in early July and it snowed one morning. Bryce in June was in the 30's in the am. We have been to almost all of the parks out west and so many are great so you can't go wrong if you pick YS, Utah, or Glacier. If you are a fan of western history, there is a museum in Cody Wyoming that is truly world class. Just outside YS and you could spend two days going thru it but one would be enough. Buffalo Bill Center of the West | Museum in Cody, WY
Been to Bryce and Zion. Those were great. Will do hiking but not camping although would consider glamping. Guess we’ll time things based on available in park lodging
We liked the hiking better in Teton (from the french canadians for big tits) than Yellowstone but Yellowstone has a lot of can't miss sites. My sons and I take a 3 week road trip every year and have visited about 320 or the 450 or so National Park sites (parks, monuments, historic sites etc.) For probably the most varied experiences in one place, Olympic NP is tough to beat. Glacier is amazing also really liked Great Basin NP, a very tall mountain in the middle of the Nevada desert. 115 deg. at the bottom, and 50's at the top with snow still on the ground in July. There are a great many places to enjoy all across the country.
My favorite self-own Yellowstone experience was driving into the park from the south, seeing 1-2 buffalo a few hundred yards in, pulling over and marveling, taking distant pictures, that we were fortunate enough to see a buffalo so early in our trip, checking that off. We then got back in the car, drove some more and seemingly saw 50 every mile, then and throughout most of the week. I then realized I was the western version of the tourists on Florida beaches that wander out and can’t believe they spotted a pelican that quickly.
if you haven't been to canadian rockies it should be on your list. Banff to Jasper, some amazing scenery and hiking. we did glacier and the canadian rockies over 3 weeks. Keep saying we are going to go back but still exploring new places. Peru in September to visit Machu Piccu and other areas in the sacred valley ever been out to the wave? some of the coolest, most amazing geologic formations I have ever seen. daughter is in first pic for scale 20160627_100531 by bluewaterfever, on Flickr IMG_0927 by bluewaterfever, on Flickr IMG_0941 by bluewaterfever, on Flickr 2016 Colorado, Moab, ZIon, Page, Sedona | Flickr
daylight to around 9 am and then the last two hours of the day are the times to move around. middle of the day is for a nap and off the road, away from the parking lot activities. hence why it is critical to stay in the park imo
I do in Alaska when we hike or fish. I also carry my bear whistle on certain hikes where there is known bear activity and always try and fish around someone carrying one when stream fishing as the 44 is too heavy to leave strapped to my chest when doing that type of fishing and I wouldn't leave it on the bank. Fortunately, we can leave both at MIL house and don't have to transport or buy another as bear spray can't legally be packed. I also carry a small portable air horn which is best non lethal tool to startle and discourage a bear and it doesn't weigh much. That sharp loud sound is totally unnatural to them and likely to scare them off unless they are defending a cub or protecting a kill. A "pacifist" guide taught me that. He said if the horn and the bear spray didn't work he guessed the bear would win. I don't like bears THAT much. You don't have to wait until they close distance to deploy the air horn but it would be useless in close, unexpected encounter. Also talk loudly, sing, or play music to let bears know we're coming and they usually will try and avoid you edit..have definitely felt more threatened by moose than bears and moose attack more people than bears and wolves combined
