Grand Teton or Glacier

Some Teton trails are pretty flat, though. A walk around Leigh Lake and/or String Lake would be relaxing and scenic. Or rent something to get out on the water.

If you have never been to Tetons, it is definitely worthwhile and not to be missed as long as you're so close (Yellowstone). If you've been there before but haven't been to Glacier, then go visit Glacier.

The way I think of those 2 places is, Tetons inspires me to sit and enjoy the view, and Glacier makes me feel like driving or hiking. But that's probably just me.

Eliminating Glacier (wise), you have a 1425 round trip from La Grande, OR (not sure where you live). This is the route I'd take:

La Grande, OR I-84; I-15 spending a night near Burly, Idaho which is 300 miles.
From Burley take I-15 to Hwy 26 at Idaho Falls to 89.
Take 89 north into Teton Nat'l Park and stay at Gros Ventre dry campground (doesn't accept reservations but it has 300 sites and rarely fills) Colter Bay dry campground also has 300 non-reservable sites. Colter Bay RV has full hookups.
From the Tetons continue into Yellowstone.
From Yellowstone go to Bozeman.
To return home: Take I-90 through Missoula to Spokane to 395 south to I-82/84 to La Grande, OR. - 1-2 nights

I would plan at least 2 nights in the Tetons; preferably 3. There are mild hikes, a gentle float trip down the Snake River and you might even see a moose in the river with you; a boat trip across Jenny Lake and walk to the waterfalls; The Jackson Rodeo; major groceries are in Jackson. Lots to do.

Yellowstone: 4 nights is plenty.

Total driving: 1425 miles roundtrip. This would make a very nice 2-week trip. Have fun!

I visited all 3 this June and the Tetons are the by far the most beautiful of the 3. Don't miss the Tetons.

The day you spend driving to and back from Glacier can be better spent in Grand Teton, in my opinion. As far as hiking easily in Grand Teton, the hike to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point at Jenny Lake is a very easy hike as well. Also, the hike to Phelps Lake, in the Laurance Rockefeller Reserve, the newest part of Grand Teton, is really pretty easy and is very beautiful, especially when you get to Phelps Lake where the compound was that has now been totally reclaimed. Look out over the lake and see Death Canyon as well.

Haven't done Glacier yet but we wished we could have spent more time at the Tetons then the 4 days we were there. Of course we could have used another week in Yellowstone, we were hampered by needed road construction.

After we left Yellowstone we headed over to Jackson WY, I wanted to see the Elk horns that are stacked in a arch. We had a nice lunch got fuel than headed down to the Tetons. I also agree Colter Bay campgrounds is really worth staying at. Have a great trip.

Glacier is an amazing place, but it requires some serious hiking to get an appreciation of what’s there (especially to see wild life). Grand Teton’s on the other hand offer more to the car traveler or causal walker. In last 15 years, we’ve been to GT 3 times and Glacier once (approx. 5 days each trip). In GT, we saw average of 3 – 5 moose, and dozens of bison, antelope & elk, every day (we go out looking for them). In Glacier, we saw 2 moose and one grizzly in 5 days, and were fortunate to see them.

Caveat – the “Going to the Sun” road in Glacier is probably the most impressive section of road I’ve ever driven.

Looks like you will be spending a little time in the Wallowas of eastern OR, the state park just out of Joseph is a great place to spend a day or two. If you get a chance go down to the Imnaha River, but check with the locals to see if the road is what you would be comfortable with. It's been many years since we were in that part of OR, but it's still one or our favorite spots, hope to get down there when we visit Hells Canyon SP out of Lewiston ID.

kfrost72 wrote:
No reservation spots in Yellowstone. Our reservation for Canyon Campground is Friday - Sunday night labor day weekend. Does anyone have a feeling for how hard it would be to find a First Come/First Serve or cancelled spot that allows generators on Labor Day and the next day?

I can't answer the question, but I have one for you to ponder: Why do you need a generator for two days? You won't likely need A.C. in Yellowstone unless you plan to spend sunny days in the camper. I've been RVing for decades and never owned a generator. We regularly spend 4-5 days at a spot (with two batteries) and get by fine. That's running the furnace every night to keep it 65 degrees inside. (OAT of 40-45 degrees.)

Maybe we could start another thread on the generator need - or maybe there is one, I don't know. For us, we do not need - and have never had in 17 years RVing - a generator. That being said, we have never stayed at anyplace that does not have elec and water hookups - can get by for about a week without sewer hookups if they have a decent bathhouse to shower when we come in from hiking, etc.