michigansandzilla wrote:
Thanks for all of the advice.
I guess I should have specified that I don't intend to spend all of those days in Yellowstone. We'll have 10 days for vacation in total. Hopefully 2 in Tetons, 3 in the Black Hills, and 5 in Yellowstone.
It doesn't really shorten the drive though. We'll have a "stop" in the Black Hills that's one day closer to home, but we'll still have to drive one day to the Black Hills from Yellowstone and then two days home.
Is it worth it to go to these places with this pace? I guess that's what I'm really asking.
Will I regret not taking my family to Yellowstone/Tetons/Black Hills because I didn't want to drive for 3 days to get there?
If you are strictly sticking to the "tourist loop" and not doing things like long hikes, fishing, or some other specific interest, five days in the YNP is a long time. Having done all of this many times over, I would pass on the Tetons, devote more time to the Black Hills, and plan on two nights and a full day in Cody. Finally, yes, you will regret not pushing through to YNP, the place is amazing.
We spent the forth there this year. When they speak of record crowds they are serious. We got lazy and left West Yellowstone at 11AM, one morning. We got about 45 minutes into the park and said the heck with this. The place was out of control. Parking lots at the thermal polls were stuffed full, with the driving lanes full of cars circling for spots. There was at least a hundred vehicles parked next to "no parking on the road" signs. The place looked like a department store early on a black Friday morning. The next day we were out the door at 4:30 AM. It was amazing. We went for twenty miles until we saw another vehicle. We spent the next five hours enjoying the park like it was off season. No crowds, lines, or traffic at all. Have a great time.
