Jackson, WY + Yellowstone Trip Recommendations

We just did this trip over the Summer. We took two weeks and hit Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Yellowstone was the main part of the trip (most time), but if I did it again Grand Teton would be the center piece. We have done several National Parks and Yellowstone has felt the most touristy and Disney like of all of them. Not trying to downgrade it, as it is an amazing and beautiful park. It is just so damn huge, you have to drive and park to see every attraction. Each of those attractions are packed with tourists. If you get away from the big ones though, it can be quite peaceful. Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic, Mammoth and Canyon areas will be packed probably. We did get some peaceful hikes in though away from those areas.

Wildlife is all over and you will get tired of looking at Bison. Hayden and Lamar Valleys are the primo spots. Hayden is going to be near you at Canyon and Larmar will be out the NE side of the park. I thought Lamar was better overall, Hayden was mainly Buffalo. Bears are the ones to find, wolves are damn near impossible.

We stayed outside the park (Covid restrictions in park at time) and the places were Cody (WY), Gardiner (MT) and West Yellowstone (MT). Skip going to West Yellowstone.

Cody - It is a commute to the East, but from Canyon it will not be that bad. Maybe 1.5 hours. This town is worth going to for the Rodeo and if you want to do it right do the Chuck Wagon/Rodeo combo. I cannot recommend this enough. Here is a link - https://www.thecodycattlecompany.com/

Gardiner - This was our favorite stay in the whole trip and also were we went rafting. We stayed at the Yellowstone Basin Inn North of town and this was our view from our room (their picture, but the room we were in)


Gardiner is right out the North Entrance of the park and the Yellowstone River goes right through it. I totally recommend Flying Pig for a rafting excursion if you want to go. https://www.flyingpigrafting.com/. We were unlucky finding bears in Yellowstone park, however there was a journal in our room in Gardiner were other people recorded their stays there. Reading through it, people said go up to Tom Miner road (15 miles further north) to see bears. Sure enough we saw a black bear and deer running from a grizzly. I could retire on Tom Miner Road. After rafting we did the hot springs just North of Gardiner as well, very relaxing. https://yellowstonehotspringsmt.com/

Grand Tetons was the last item we added to our trip, so it was not well planned. Since we were driving (from Texas), we decided to do it since we may not be back this way again with the kids. You essentially leave Yellowstone from the South Entrance and you are in Grand Tetons National Park 20 minutes later. We got a hotel downtown in Jackson. It was The Lexington, not a bad little hotel and walking distance to Jackson Square area.

We only got about 1.5 days here and boy did we screw up. Grand Tetons is probably the most beautiful places I have been. It was far more peaceful and felt more National Park like. We did a fairly large hike around Jenny Lake an up into the Canyon Trail. Crossed paths with 2 different moose (nice large male and female). Went swimming in Jenny Lake (yeah, it is cold). Granted GT is going to be less attractions, it was just so dang cool there. It knocked off the Badlands on our favorite list. If I did it again, I would setup shop in Grand Tetons and commute to Yellowstone.

My family and I did this trip this past May. Best trip of our lives. Yellowstone was great- hit the attractions early. But the scenery in the Tetons is just unbelievable. Looking at those mountains every morning just makes you feel alive. Spend as much time near Jenny lake as possible.

Here is my trip report from earlier this year:
LINK

There's a lot of threads on this so I'm not going to say a ton as I recommend going through them.

My father in law had a place in Teton Village so I'm partial to staying there. Tons of activities for kids in the summer from mountain biking down the ski lifts to tennis lessons, short drive to Jackson which is about a half day visit. Highly recommend drinks and appetizers on the Gondola at Piste as the view is amazing as well as taking the tram up and hiking around the top of the mountain.

I don't know if the deck at Dornans is open but highly recommend a beer and lunch there for the view if so. Have seen bears on the creek from the deck as well as moose from the deck there.

I recommend 2-3 days in Yellowstone and to move around every night. The road is basically a huge figure 8 so not really going to make sense to return anywhere.

I thought the Grizzly and Wolf Musuem in west yellowstone was worth it just because they are rare. But its not huge.

I could alternate between Jackson Lake Lodge and Dornan's every day during the summer. I wish I had discovered the place 30 years ago.....

Jackson Lake Lodge:




Dornan's:

I guess this is true for everyone. But Dornan’s is one of my favorite spots.

Either after a hike, or when you want to get out of town to get something to eat.

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I thought the Fairy Falls Trail up to Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook had one of the coolest views.

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Good call out, if you are doing Grand Prismatic plan on doing this hike or you really miss the beauty of it. GP from the ground is nothing like seeing it from elevation. Easy little hike as well.

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Cloudveil

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That’s my recommendation too.

Signal Mountain Lodge Upper lake room if you can afford it. We stayed there about 4 years ago and it was $400 a night. I just looked and it’s $511.

We've stayed at the Wort Hotel every time we've been to JH. Going back in September as well. 2 nights in the Wort and 4 nights at Jenny Lake Lodge.

We stayed in Jackson last summer bc we had Hilton points. Our main focus was hiking. Wake before dawn and drive to trailhead. Return in afternoon for a nap then dinner in town. Rinse and repeat. It was perfect for us. Probably spent an hour walking the town outside of dinner and ice cream.

I guess it’s all about why you are going and who you are with.