Taking a trip next spring to Yellowstone. Looking for scenic drive

Fly into Cody, Wyoming. Founded by Buffalo Bill. Very cool museum there. Visit the Irma Lee hotel.

First thing to remember is that spring is different in that part of the country. I was at Yellowstone in late May several years ago and the northeast entrance and Bear Tooth Highway were still closed due to snow. What part of spring are you thinking about?

If you only going to be there a week, and want 2 or 3 days in Yellowstone, Phoenix may be starting too far south, that would be a heck of a drive. If you had a little more time that would be a great trip - hit Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, swing into southern Utah (Bryce/Zion/Capitol Reef) and then up 15 to Salt Lake, and then work your way into Yellowstone from there.

A shorter, but still interesting, trip would be starting in Sioux Falls, SD. You can take I-90 across, hitting Badlands and Rapid City/Mt Rushmore area. 90 carries on into Wyoming where you could go to Devils Tower and then into Montana at Little Bighorn. 90 continues on to Livingston and Billings, both gateways to Yellowstone. We went as far as Billings, then went south and stayed in West Yellowstone.

The later in that April/May time frame you can wait, the better your chances of having good weather are.

When we were there, it was a stop on the way to a wedding in Missoula. As I said, we were there I want to say the weekend before Memorial Day in 2007 and there was still snow on the ground in sheltered places and closing the roads in the highest elevations.

We stayed in West Yellowstone and saw all of the park by car in a day - including a drive down to Grand Teton. However, if you really want to explore, most travel guides recommend at least 2 days for Yellowstone itself, one day for the upper loop and the second for the lower.

The one nice thing about going when we did was the crowds were much smaller - there was very few of the congestion and traffic backups that the park is so well known for in the summer season. We were able to see bison, elk, moose and eagles. Bears were hiding away and/or still coming out of hibernation, and the wolves are very secretive creatures.

Before Memorial Day, you don't know what the snow issue is going to be. I was on the Beartooth on July 4th years ago and it was blowing flurries. I'd fly in to Billings or Jackson. Jackson Hole for a few days, the Western museum in Cody, Little Bighorn, Yellowstone for a couple.

IMO, flying in to Phoenix isn't practical. You're doing yourself a disservice. There's too much to see.

If you go in April/May, would you consider AZ? Perfect timing and tons to do. Sedona, Grand Canyon, a couple days at a resort in Scottsdale. Just an idea.

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If you go in April/May, would you consider AZ? Perfect timing and tons to do. Sedona, Grand Canyon, a couple days at a resort in Scottsdale. Just an idea.

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We both have stronger interest in things further north in the Rockies region with the exception of Gran Canyon and Zion NP. Have always heard that the Grand Canyon is one of those things that you drive up and look at then leave. We aren't interested in any rafting or horseback trips down in the canyon.

I guess flying into Vegas would be ideal to go to Zion then head north

We originally looked at snow skiing butthis time of year finding snow can be hit or miss too. We would actually enjoy some snow on the trip if it happened.

frick going to Cody from Yellowstone, Go to Red Lodge and the Beartooth Highway. One of the top 5 roads in America.

I've actually been around the Beattooth Mtn range and traveled in the Yellowstone River valley near Livingston. Beautiful country that made me want to relocate the family.

Considering moving the trip up to maybe do some snow skiing. Maybe get the best of both worlds and do Zion and then make the drive north to Brekenridge or maybe even into Montana