West Yellowstone or Gardiner?

Veebyes, I appreciate the concern, it is a pretty ambitious schedule. But like I've mentioned previously, we'll actually be taking about 2 1/2 days going out. We'll have 4 days there, and 2 days on the return with the option for a third if we need it. Plus I will have a relief driver to help with the driving duties.
As for going somewhere closer instead, we originally was considering Rocky Mountain NP, but after some intense lobbying from my wife and sister-in-law who desperately want to see Montana, I agreed. I thought we could spend 2 or 3 days in Yellowstone, and take a day trip or two into Montana. Now, that isn't set in stone, I'm still researching areas of Montana where we could possibly land in one spot and just spend a few days exploring the immediate area. Any suggestions?

Don't worry about the grade, we travel that about three times per summer with our FW and boat in tow and it's not that bad, especially if you have engine braking. If you do decide to take this route, make sure you stop at the overlook viewing area just before you turn the corner to Togwotee Mountain Lodge. The view of the Tetons is spectacular and shouldn't be missed. As far as traffic, don't worry about it, you are there to enjoy the Parks, not speed through them so you can go home and tell your friends you visited them. Have a great trip.

Cup fan wrote:
Just out of curiosity, once we top Togwanee pass, what kind of a downhill grade are we looking at toward the Tetons?

From the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers and RVers':

For westbound - 6% grade for 17 miles but it is not a steady descent. There are rolling hills most of the way down. It is a good two lane road with some 40 and 50 mph curves.

Count your blessing that Fishing Bridge was booked, the place is a dump. Go to West Yellowstone, much better, plus it's closer to most of the attractions of Yellowstone, even being outside the park.

WOW! 2 days hard drive out & 2 days hard drive back with only 3 days between. That is one killer trip. To get there is miles & miles of miles & miles.

I know, YNP has the name, Old Faithful, the geysers but for mountain scenery only the Canadian Rockies between Banff & Jasper tops the Tetons. If this trip is anytime in the summer traffic in TNP will be horrendous. Don't let bison be anywhere near the road. Bison jam to rival any big city stoppage.

Have you considered seeing spectacular mountains a bit closer. Rocky Mountain NP is a whole lot closer though still a pretty good commute.

Littlemo, that is the route that I'm looking at, sounds like an awesome drive up the valley. Although my wife is lobbying to run up north through Sheridan because she wants to see the Little Bighorn battlefield. If we do that then we'll drop into West Yellowstone from the north which adds about 150 miles to the trip. We've got time to get that figured out between now and then. We won't be bringing the dogs on this trip, we'll have a family member look after them. Just out of curiosity, once we top Togwanee pass, what kind of a downhill grade are we looking at toward the Tetons?

2gypsies wrote:
Wow! Are you aware of the mileage for this trip? It's 1400 miles from Lebanon, MO to W. Yellowstone. Pulling a RV, that's a very long two-day drive counting on no maintenance issues, etc.

The route you would take is I-80 getting off at Rawlins, Wyoming on Hwy 191. Take 191 which will bring you into Grand Teton Nat'l Park. Coming in from this entrance will at least give you a wonderful view of the Tetons since you have no time to stay there.

Then continue north into Yellowstone via 191/287/89 and to West Yellowstone. Skip Gardiner.

Then you only have four nights for Yellowstone and something in Montana. I would suggest going to Ennis/Virginia City for your Montana 'experience'. You just don't have time to get any further and you could do this side trip from W. Yellowstone.

Then you're planning two days to return to Missouri. You are in for some long, long driving days. I hope you have others in the vehicle that can share your driving.

I also see that you have two dogs. I'd suggest you leave them at home in care of someone else for this trip. Dogs are not allowed on the trails of Yellowstone, including boardwalks. Some of the best features of Yellowstone is walking on the boardwalks to get to them.

Here's is Yellowstone's official site with lots of good information. Explore it thoroughly, included the pet regulations.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Good advice. Another route I would consider to come out right at the Tetons is to get off of Interstate 80 at Rawlins and take 287 up through Lander and you will have the most awesome view of the Tetons as you travel up Togwotee Pass.
It would only take an hour or two to drive through this beautiful park and then head north and you are at the entrance of YNP or follow 2 Gypsies route to West Yellowstone.
You may be ready for a "rest stop" by the time you get here also and want to spend the night at one of the parks here in the Tetons.
Don't short yourselves on this vacation and try to see too much. Yellowstone will take your whole 4 days+. Anyway have a great time!

Both are nice we prefer West Yellowstone as there are more choices in parks.

2gypsies, yea I'm aware that it's going to be a long haul, especially pulling a 35' TT. Our travel days will be Saturday and Sunday, but we will cheat that a little bit by leaving out on Friday afternoon once my wife gets off work. If we can get to Nebraska City Friday evening, then that gives us about a 300 mile head start for Saturday morning. Also there will be at least 2, possibly 3 others with us on this trip including my brother-in-law who was an OTR truck driver for many years. So I'm comfortable with letting him spell me behind the wheel.
As far as the return trip goes, we've got a couple of options. One, would be to move to Colter Bay on Thursday once we are done exploring for the day to give us a bit of a head start Friday morning. The other is the fact that nobody has to be back to work until Monday, so we have an extra return day if we need it.
Padredw, that's not a bad suggestion. I seem to remember an article in Trailer life a few years back that covered that area of Idaho outside of Yellowstone and that sounded like a wonderful area...thanks for the reminder, I'll explore that option.
Kohldad, we did do the black hills 2 years ago (without the TT), we rented a cabin at Cheyenne Crossing just outside of Lead, S.D. We had a great time getting to know the other guests at the nightly community campfires. The Indian tacos at the little cafe next to the cabins are to die for! In fact I still have a large baggie of gravel that I dug out of a local creek that I still haven't panned for any gold.

I would not want to miss Old Faithful, Geyser Basin and Hayden Valley.
These can be pretty much hit by doing the south loop. West Yellowstone to Madison, to Old Faithful, to West Thumb, to Fishing Bridge, to Canyon Village, to Norris and back to Madison. Long day!