meh. We have driven up from Denver the last two 4th of Julys and haven't had any issue with finding camping spots in the parks(Yellowstone and Tetons) nor really any issue with crowds.

Five days will really be pushing it to see most stuff. You'll have to be humping it. The short list of what you should see is everything. Stop at every pull out, drive on every road, stop every chance there is to get out and see something, go on every hike you're capable of. I like the North, North East and East entrances the best and think you should definitely drive out and back in through each. The northeast can take you over Bear Tooth Pass which you should do. The east side can take you to Cody which is also a great drive.

My advice is stay in the park if you can and get up early. People are lazy, if you get 50 yards away from a parking lot most places will seem empty.

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Posted by The Spleen

Member since Dec 2010

38865 posts

Posted on 2/2/19 at 1:18 pm to 8thyearsenior

quote:
if you get 50 yards away from a parking lot most places will seem empty.

Yeah, this has been my experience at every National Park. Blows my mind how unadventurous and lazy most Americans are. Most pull offs/parking lots have a trailhead fairly close by and a short hike often takes you to a different outcrop or view of whatever the pull off is there for. Yellowstone especially because it's so big people feel rushed to see it all.

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Posted by Tigris

Mexican Home

Member since Jul 2005

12421 posts

Posted on 2/2/19 at 6:06 pm to 8thyearsenior

quote:
We have driven up from Denver the last two 4th of Julys and haven't had any issue with finding camping spots in the parks(Yellowstone and Tetons) nor really any issue with crowds.

Your experience is very different from mine. We camped there 3 years ago in late July and every campground was full by mid morning. Lots of frustrated people who simply could not find a spot in the park and had to leave and try again the next day. And quite a few parking lots were full with people circling around waiting for a spot to open. Glacier was similar for the camping. I'll be back to both, but not at peak season.

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Posted by Cash

Vail

Member since Feb 2005

37259 posts

Posted on 7/1/19 at 8:14 pm to 8thyearsenior

We have done Jackson Hole/GTNP/Yellowstone. Great trip but didn't have enough time in Yellowstone.

I'm thinking next summer to do a few nights in Big Sky then a few in Yellowstone.

How does Big Sky compare to JH other than the obvious of being next to GTNP.

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